We're here in Hawaii for a week, celebrating our oldest daughter's college graduation. After getting up at 2am to watch the sunrise over the Haleakala Crater, then bike riding down the mountain and enjoying lunch in the crazy town of Paia, we stopped for a bottle of wine at Safeway (most boring part of our day). But the wine definitely was not boring. We enjoyed a glass before we headed to the beach to watch the sunset. This glass of wine was so much better than the one the waitress at Pineapple Grill recommended as full-bodied and smooth.
The Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is delicious. A bit of cherry nose, but yummy dark berries and currant on the palate. Even though it isn't as complex as I enjoy, this Cab is smooth without the acidity of so many wines these days. I think it would be great with steak and plan to get a few bottles when we get home.
Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon
J. Lohr, Paso Robles
2007
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Pineapple Grill, Kapalua
We arrived in Maui today and decided to have dinner here at Kapalua. We had done enough traveling (College Station to Houston to Honolulu to Maui to Kapalua), so we didn't want to drive anywhere. Instead we took the Resort shuttle to Pineapple Grill since it was recommended by our concierge.
The restaurant was nicely lit with candles and windows on 2 sides, giving you a nice view of the golf course and trees overlooking the ocean. I asked for a recommendation for a smooth red wine that might be full-bodied. The waitress recommended a Cab, that happened to be the least expensive on the menu. I was a bit surprised, because I thought a full-bodied wine would be more expensive. She also recommended a Merlot & brought me a sample. The Merlot was full of tannins that I didn't like, so I ordered the Cab. Unfortunately, it was worse than the wine I had on the airplane. Just cheap wine at $8.50/glass. I was a bit stunned because the waitress had high reviews for it. Another unfortunate . . . is I can't remember the name of the wine. However, I do remember it was the 2nd wine listed on Reds by the Glass.
The restaurant was nicely lit with candles and windows on 2 sides, giving you a nice view of the golf course and trees overlooking the ocean. I asked for a recommendation for a smooth red wine that might be full-bodied. The waitress recommended a Cab, that happened to be the least expensive on the menu. I was a bit surprised, because I thought a full-bodied wine would be more expensive. She also recommended a Merlot & brought me a sample. The Merlot was full of tannins that I didn't like, so I ordered the Cab. Unfortunately, it was worse than the wine I had on the airplane. Just cheap wine at $8.50/glass. I was a bit stunned because the waitress had high reviews for it. Another unfortunate . . . is I can't remember the name of the wine. However, I do remember it was the 2nd wine listed on Reds by the Glass.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Two Angels Petite Sirah
Last night the kids were all gone, so we enjoyed a quiet dinner by ourselves. I pulled out Two Angels' Petite Sirah and was pleasantly surprised. It is very fruit-forward and smooth to drink. There are wonderful blueberry flavors. At first, I wondered if it was a syrah because there weren't any spicy tones. As the wine opens up, a hint of spice is evident.
Two Angels
2006 High Valley Petite Sirah
The wine exhibits a core of ripe, juicy blueberry fruit and toasty oak backed by rich silky tannins.
The label is pretty cool, designed by Jacob DeBacker in 1591. The theme of the piece is the hilarity of inebriation and the trauma of the morning after. Excessive joy must be countered by equally excessive sorrow, with penitential atonement for pleasure.
Two Angels
2006 High Valley Petite Sirah
The wine exhibits a core of ripe, juicy blueberry fruit and toasty oak backed by rich silky tannins.
The label is pretty cool, designed by Jacob DeBacker in 1591. The theme of the piece is the hilarity of inebriation and the trauma of the morning after. Excessive joy must be countered by equally excessive sorrow, with penitential atonement for pleasure.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Tin Barn Vineyards
Earlier in the year I ordered some wines online. We tried one of them last night...Tin Barn Blend, mostly cabernet. It wasn't as complex as I like, but it grew on me. I think it got better the more it had time to breathe. We had a delicious chicken breast smothered with an artichoke-shrimp cream sauce.
Tin Barn is made of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. There aren't heavy tannins. I enjoyed the cabernet grape of dark berry the most.
Tin Barn is made of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. There aren't heavy tannins. I enjoyed the cabernet grape of dark berry the most.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Finally Found Frog's Leap
Several years ago we enjoyed a bottle of Frog's Leap wine at a local restaurant. I looked for awhile trying to find it, but never could. Always found Stags Leap instead.
A few months ago I found Frog's Leap Zinfandel at our local World Market and grabbed a bottle. This week we had the perfect meal to compliment it. I grilled a pork tenderloin with a rum glaze. The glaze had a habenero pepper in it and was wonderful. I also made a coconut-jalapeno sauce that the slices of meat sat on. Finally, I sprinkled cilantro and green onions on top. Wonderful.
The 2006 Zinfandel from Napa Valley was terrific. It was smooth with a dark berry taste. There were hints of smoke at times. It reminded me of a Shiraz with a bit of pepper. I am definitely heading back to World Market to see what other Frog's Leap wines they carry.
A few months ago I found Frog's Leap Zinfandel at our local World Market and grabbed a bottle. This week we had the perfect meal to compliment it. I grilled a pork tenderloin with a rum glaze. The glaze had a habenero pepper in it and was wonderful. I also made a coconut-jalapeno sauce that the slices of meat sat on. Finally, I sprinkled cilantro and green onions on top. Wonderful.
The 2006 Zinfandel from Napa Valley was terrific. It was smooth with a dark berry taste. There were hints of smoke at times. It reminded me of a Shiraz with a bit of pepper. I am definitely heading back to World Market to see what other Frog's Leap wines they carry.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Lava Cap Zin
Ohhlala...I love Lava Cap wines. I guess that's why we have a wine club membership there. We've been on the road over 2 weeks & I was ready to cook a great meal. We had chicken and garlic/cheese mashed potatoes. Yummo!
To top it off we enjoyed Lava Cap's Zinfandel. Their zin has a bold, spicy flavor that continues as you sip. I like the deepness of all their wines, including this one. It would also go great with our pork tenderloin that has a cumin & paprika rub. Lots of spice that goes well together.
To top it off we enjoyed Lava Cap's Zinfandel. Their zin has a bold, spicy flavor that continues as you sip. I like the deepness of all their wines, including this one. It would also go great with our pork tenderloin that has a cumin & paprika rub. Lots of spice that goes well together.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Rubicon Estates
WOW...what a terrific & yummy wine! Last night, we enjoyed a couple of bottles with the Vic & Lisa Johnson at our mastermind meeting. It was full of flavor - smooth, lucious and delicious...what more can I say. I enjoyed Lobster Bisque & Steak Oscar for dinner. The Rubicon Estate wine was a perfect complement.
Vic told us you can get a good deal on Rubicon at Randall's Food Market in Texas cities. We're looking this weekend when we go to Texas for a seminar. The price of wine at Morton's Steak House is a bit pricey!
Vic told us you can get a good deal on Rubicon at Randall's Food Market in Texas cities. We're looking this weekend when we go to Texas for a seminar. The price of wine at Morton's Steak House is a bit pricey!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
