Friday started another weekend of wine assimilation. Last night we got together with friends and decided to make wine the main course of the evening. The first bottle we corked was a ubiquitous Bogel Petite Syrah 2004. It's been some time since I had this wine, but I thought I'd see how my taste buds have changed. It didn't taste as good as I remember. I thought it had a juicy quality that I don't care for.
After polishing off that bottle we took a field trip to a liquor store adjacent to a Costco store. I know, this is sinful in the eyes of someone that has become accustomed to wine boutiques, but it wasn't a let down. First off, they had free samples from Martha Clara Vineyards from the North Fork of Long Island. Each wine we tasted was almost half of the price you pay at the winery, but we ended up buying two Cabernet Sauvignons from not so ordinary regions as well as a Merlot from Navarra Spain.
We opened an Argentine Catena Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza and tasted it next to a Cousino Macul Cabernet Sauvignon from Maipo Valley, Chile, both from the 2003 vintage. While being extremely different they both delivered for the prices we paid (around $13). The Catena was full very full bodied with concentrated dark fruit flavor and a touch of pepper. Very reminiscent of quality California Cabs for twice the price. The Cousino Macul had a remarkable dusty aroma that I could only associate with the odor of a moist cavern. Dark fruit flavor with sweet tannins that end on an earthy note. They were so different that I could not pick a favorite over the other. The Chilean one is much more interesting although it isn't as crowd pleasing as the Catena.
The Monjardin Merlot Deyo 2002 seemed to go over well too. This Spanish merlot was mysterious and it seemed to show a maturity and complexity I rarely taste in a straight merlot. All three of these wines were a bargain. There were several other bottles that caught my eye there at the Costco infected wine store including some Italian reds and a few Oregon Pinot Noirs.
Just discovered your wine blog today, very interesting, and do need to spend more time reading through. Have you ventured into the world of the Russian River appellation? Would be interesting to hear your thoughts, ideas, comments, adventures.......
Posted by: Mick Aguilera | November 06, 2006 at 06:19 PM
I noticed your zuppa crepe recipe and it is almost identical to my grandmother's. She was born in Cesacastina and immigrated to western NY as a young bride in the 1920s. Since you have a link to Dicamillos I'm guessing you have family in the area. I bet that my parents know of them. I would like you to contact me via email if you'd like to pursue this. I'm not a wine connaisseur but I liked looking through your blog. I do enjoy a good riesling now and then
Posted by: CarolinaBella | November 25, 2006 at 08:23 PM
I also found your recipe for crispelle, which we call scripelli. My great grandparents were Calandrelli' from Cesacastina, and immigrated to Niagara Falls, NY. We have Dicamillo's bread all the time, and I am wondering about your links to the area, as well as those of CarolinaBella, who also responded.
Posted by: rabaz | January 01, 2007 at 10:46 AM
Cesacastina is a very small village up in the hills above Teramo in the direction of L'Aquila. I have been there several times. There is an informal website for this village at: http://cesacastina.wordpress.com
Posted by: stefano ulissi | October 13, 2008 at 07:46 PM