Palestra, 2007

Palestra, 2007

Earlier this summer we enjoyed a bottle of the 2006 Palestra and found it was quite delightful at a very good price. Now we just enjoyed a bottle of the newly released 2007 vintage, and once again were impressed. The Encostas do Douro Palestra is a blend of Tinta Barroca, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz. All these grapes are indigenous to the Douro Region of Portugal. This wine has a dark ruby/purple color and a rich nose of black cherry, blackberry and spice. This is a medium bodied wine with flavors of dark berry, cherry, licorice and lingering black pepper. This wine has a gentle and rich mouth feel from abundant, but well integrated, dusty tannins. The finish is soft and elegant, dry with no harsh edges. This 2007 vintage of the Palestra is another example of a great table wine, from Portugal, that can be found in the Seattle area for about $9. We enjoyed this nice wine with some tasty grilled chicken and vegetables on a great summer day! Seek out this wine.

Green Goat Cheese Spread

Green Goat Cheese Spread

Here is a simple spread that can be made in minutes and is interesting and tastes great. The Edamame are high in fiber and protein and beautifully compliment the Goat Cheese. Serve in a bowl alongside sliced baguette or sturdy crackers or spread on toasted slices of baguette as an elegant crostini.

3/4 cup Shelled Soybean Edamame
5 ounce Creamy Goat Cheese (Chevre)
1 Clove Garlic
1 tablespoon Chopped Fresh Thyme
2 tablespoon Milk

Baguette (narrow French bread) sliced and toasted

Add Edamame, Goat Cheese, Garlic, Thyme and Milk to food processor. Process these ingredients for about 30 seconds until well blended to a creamy consistency. Place in serving dish or spread directly on toasted slices of baguette. Garnish with a small sprig of thyme. This appetizer will pair will with a crisp, un-oaked Chardonnay.


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Woodinville Wine Cellars Merlot, 2003

Woodinville Wine Cellars Merlot, 2003

Woodinville Wine Cellars is an excellent winery that produces small quantities of handcrafted wines from grapes bought from several prominent Washington State vineyards. Their wines are fermented in small lots and barrel aged for up to 18 months, using French Oak selected to complement, not mask the terroir. Last night we went for dinner to the Purple Café, in Kirkland. After scanning our wine cellar, I decided to bring a bottle of the Woodinville Wine Cellars 2003 Merlot. This bottle was signed by the winemaker, Sean Boyd, and had been in our cellar for about 3 years. What a great wine! In any given year, there are a few wines that really “blow you away” and will be fondly remembered for the next few years. This Merlot is one of those. The color is a deep ruby red with a faint violet rim. This wine has a beautiful nose with concentrated aromas of blackberry, chocolate, cassis and a hint of spicy oak. On the palate, ripe black fruit, espresso, spice, marshmallow and mocha commingle to create a luscious and balanced wine. This is a medium to full bodied wine with abundant sweet, soft tannins and gentle acidity creating a closely woven texture and a long, long finish. We had tasted this wine 3 years ago and new it was good, however, three years of cellaring revealed this wines full potential. We purchased this stunner at Pete’s Wine Shop, in Bellevue, for about $20. Great job Sean!

Vega Sindoa Red Wine, 2007

Vega Sindoa Red Wine, 2007

This red blend is produced by Bodegas Nekeas in the Navarra region of Spain. The Nekeas valley is located at the foothills of the Pyrenees and is buffeted from the winds of the Atlantic. Warm summer days and cool nights help the grapes reach full maturity on the vines. The various micro-climates of the area allow for nice conditions for numerous grape varieties including Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Grenache. This is a blend of 70% Tempranillo and 30% Merlot. This is a simple, straight forward wine with a deep red color and pleasant aromas of black berry jam and licorice. This is a medium bodied wine made in a modern style with rich flavors of black cherries, strawberries, prune, slate and black pepper. This is a zesty wine with a smooth mouth-feel and gentle tannins that linger with the long finish. I am a fan of this winery that is run by Concha Vecino, the most acclaimed woman winemaker in Spain. This is another lovely wine imported by Jorge Ordonez. You can find this lovely value wine at Esquin, in Seattle, for under $10.