Smoky Superhero October

There's nothing I like more than the smell of Fall: that delightful chill in the morning air, a soft breeze at night and smoky, fireplace-inspired wine and food to match.

On this night, it was an '08 Tulip Hill Petite Sirah, full of dark red fruit and damp earth. Trader Joe's smoked oysters met up with this leathery, sandalwood-redolent beauty and fell in love.

The meaty, wood-smoked bivalve's were a substantial friend to this wine, which I envision myself sipping beside a warm hearth in an Aspen ski lodge. Suddenly, Wonder Woman (1970's Lynda Carter version-best outfit, for sure) appears and tosses her truth lasso around Vino Chick, demanding that I reveal the source of these culinary treasures, all as she deflects the intense flavor of each sip and bite with her vintage bullet-proof bracelets......yes, I do have an active imagination... and yes, this stuff is THAT good...

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Epicuro and Champagne Uncorked On An Epic Night in the History of Phillies Baseball

It is no secret I bleed red...well red and white, that is. And I'm not talking the vino variety, although there has been some speculation that if a needle were to prick my skin, a lightly-oaked Syrah may spill forth. No, I am a die-hard Philadelphia Phillies fan, and our ace Roy Halladay was on the mound, the National League East Championship at stake. 

Naturally, I needed a good wine to accompany me as I watched this epic night in the history of the Fightin' Phils unfold. I chose a Salice Salentino from Epicuro, a terrific value red from Trader Joe's, and a wonderful companion during this two-hit shutout, title-winning performance.

This wine is full of big juicy fruit and earth, not unlike my salt-of-the-earth Phillies. It also has attitude and character, just like outfielder Jayson Werth, who racked up four RBI's on this historic night.

I whipped up some portobello mushroom ravioli topped with shaved black truffle cheese (my new food obsession) to accompany my bottle and ball game.

The combination of woodsy spores and forest-like berries were a great match for a classic finish, as seen in the video below: 

                 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jfvrm5swxG0

Thanks to Jayson and Roy Halladay...who uncorked their own piece of baseball lore tonight...and to my Broad Street boys, I'll be seeing you in October!!

Follow me on Twitter @vinochick75 and at mydesert.com/vinochick.

A Burger and Some Wine, From Venice to Bali Ha'i

I'm totally and helplessly in love with old films, specifically those that air on Turner Classic Movies.

So on a recent day off, I decided to treat myself to a bottle of Merlot and splurge on a smoky cheddar bacon patty and sweet potato fries from Grill-A-Burger in Palm Springs.

Turner was featuring a series of films starring Rossano Brazzi, a hunky Italian actor with blazing eyes and a smoldering screen presence. First up was Summertime (1955) with Katherine Hepburn.

This particular Merlot was from Echelon on the Central Coast, and full of blueberries and warm, smoky vanilla.

It was a great match for my juicy, chargrilled burger, and a terrific companion for the intense scenes between Brazzi and Hepburn, followed by his wartime chemistry with Mitzi Gaynor, leading lady in the epic and wondrous musical South Pacific (1958).

"I'm as corny as Kansas in August, I'm as warm as blueberry pie..."

Follow me on Twitter @vinochick75 and at www.mydesert.com/vinochick. 

Have You Any Dreams You'd Like to Sell? A Night of Mac and Wine

It is no secret that wine is my passion, but something else that gets my blood pumping is music; specifically the sweet sounds of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac.

I enjoyed the best of both worlds recently when PS Wine hosted a tasting and screening of the band's 1997 reunion tour concert DVD The Dance. The DVD was courtesy of loyal PS Winers Dale and Tanya; the Joel Gott Zinfandel spicy and full bodied, much like my 'Gypsy' Stevie.

There's something special to me about these classic 70's rockers and a nice glass of vino. Both are smooth and sultry, always hinting at something and leaving you wanting to share in more of their charms...here's one partygoers take on the magic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhuJTm7axh8

 'I can still hear you sayin' you will never break the chain...'

 

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Truffle and Wine, So Divine

Sometimes the most memorable meals are those that are most simple: fresh ingredients, an inventive recipe and a little passion go a long way when crafting that special repast.

An impromtu dinner with friends started with sliced Jersey tomatos drizzled with blueberry balsamic vinegar, a dash of salt and pepper and topped with fresh basil and grated Italian truffle cheese.

Their hunger temporarily kept at bay, I turned to creating our main dish as they sipped on a snappy and lemony Pinot Grigio from Contadino.

I seared scallops and shrimp in olive oil and butter, then added garlic, white wine and crushed red pepper. Served over linguini, I topped it all off with that same addictive truffled wonder.

Our wine was an '01 Payva Crianza, a blend of Tempranillo and Graciano grapes. Full of red cherry and cinnamon, it was great match for the earthiness in what has become our favorite cheese. The carmelized flavors of the sea were skillfully extracted by the warm, brandy-like flavors in the wine.

Smiles all around, with a built-in anticipation for our next feast.

Follow me on Twitter @Vinochick75 and on mydesert.com/vinochick.

Getting My Kicks On the Road with a Travel-Ready Bordeaux

The works of the Beat Generation writers have enchanted me since I was in my early teens. There is something intoxicating about the call of the open road and the spirit of being free. In that spirit, I recently curled up with a copy of Jack Kerouac's On the Road and a yummy '05 Bordeaux.

"All those lovely California cottonwoods and eucalpti brooding on all sides."

With that line, it is almost like Kerouac knew what my palate was experiencing as I sipped the Chateau Jalousie, a gorgeous wine full of earthy herbal notes, eucalyptus on the nose and dark fruit as formidable as  Route 66, that vintage highway to the West.

"Looked up and saw jackpines in the moon...mad drunken Americans in the mighty land."

Jalousie wants to take you places, its heady aroma reminiscent of a late-night excursion through a forest of pine trees, on a path well lit by a full Moon.

"Soon it got dusk, a grapy dusk, a purple dusk...the sun the color of pressed grapes, slashed and burgundy red...."

The wine is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and boasts a deep red hue with a hint of orange on its rim. With some hot jazz from Charlie Ventura providing the soundtrack to my retro evening, the only thing better would have been a visit from the Father of the Beat Generation himself, reading to me aloud as we sipped  together...well, a Chick can always dream, can't she?

Visit me on Twitter @VinoChick75 and at mydesert.com/vinochick.

Summer Sippin' at The River

As someone who has made a habit out of wine tasting, I always take into account the beauty of my surroundings. Tulip Hill's tasting room at The River in Rancho Mirage offers a smattering of Old-World style that adds a welcomed nuance to the experience.

The winery itself is located ninety minutes north of Napa Valley in Lake County, and produces primarily reds and a handful of whites. On this visit, I enjoyed a lemony and bright Pinot Grigio, followed by a series of interesting blends. Most notable was Delirious, a combination of Zinfandel, Sangiovese and Cabernet grapes. This one has exactly the effect that the name implies...the tasting notes never lie...

I prefer bold and fruit-filled reds, so the super-earthy, fresh soil of a 2008 Syrah wasn't exactly my style. I did enjoy the taste of Mirage, an '06 blend of that same grape with Merlot. A Sangiovese and Cabernet combo called Sangiovignon was no less fascinating, and its woodsy cherry-like flavor reminded me of a leisurely stroll through a mountain forest.

Here's tasting room manager Tom Montaney's take on the Cabepulciano, a Tuscan-inspired marriage of Cabernet and Montepulciano:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQQLejrrvXM

Can't wait to see what Fall brings to this little corner of the wine world...

Tulip Hill Winery at The River

(760) 568-5678

                           http://www.tuliphillwinery.com/                            

Follow me on Twitter @VinoChick75 and at mydesert.com/vinochick.