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Wine Roulette: Who wants to play?

Smithy

By Smithy
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Smithy

Smithy

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Rebel Rose just came up with a great idea for a new game that we'll call Wine Roulette:

 

One person is selected to go to a wine shop, where they will ask the retail attendant to blindfold them and spin them around. Whatever wine they lay hands on first (within a specified budget) they must buy*.  They announce the wine to us (so we can all scramble to find a bottle if possible) and then they taste it, prepare a dish to go with it, and then we all discuss the wine, dish and pairing. 

 

* Recommending purchase of two bottles, one for tasting and meal planning, one for dish night.

 

 

 It sounds like a great way to explore wines and get new ideas for wine pairings, as well as a few laughs and...well, maybe 'ewwws'   :laugh:.

 

Who's up for playing? 

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Nancy Smith, aka "Smithy"
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"Every day should be filled with something delicious, because life is too short not to spoil yourself. " -- Ling (with permission)
"There comes a time in every project when you have to shoot the engineer and start production." -- author unknown

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Smithy

Smithy

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Me! :biggrin:

 

I live in the UK so will perhaps not have access to the same wines as most here. I'll join in when possible though.

 

Great!  I'm sure that there will be differences in availability even within one country; I often can't find a specific California label in a Duluth wine store, for instance.  The closest approximation will be acceptable; think of the discussion that may generate!

Nancy Smith, aka "Smithy"
Host, eG Forums - nsmith@egstaff.org

Follow us on social media! Facebook; instagram.com/egulletx

"Every day should be filled with something delicious, because life is too short not to spoil yourself. " -- Ling (with permission)
"There comes a time in every project when you have to shoot the engineer and start production." -- author unknown

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Kerry Beal

Kerry Beal

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DSCN2671.jpg

 

Was in Trader Joe's in Las Vegas - got Ruth to spin me around a couple of times in the middle of the wine dept while I kept my eyes closed.

 

Grabbed this.  I'm at a bit of a disadvantage in terms of being able to cook something with it while I'm here - but I have some lovely pate (thank's to Alleguede) and cheese (Beehive's 'Seahive' and 'Promontory') to enjoy it with later this evening. 

 

If your balance is a poor as mine - beware - blind spinning in the middle of a bunch of bottles might not be wise!

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the Chocolate Doctor
www.thechocolatedoctor.ca

www.eztemper.com

 

Confectionary Course • Confectionary Course Q&A
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Anna N

Anna N

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attachicon.gifDSCN2671.jpg

 

Was in Trader Joe's in Las Vegas - got Ruth to spin me around a couple of times in the middle of the wine dept while I kept my eyes closed.

 

Grabbed this.  I'm at a bit of a disadvantage in terms of being able to cook something with it while I'm here - but I have some lovely pate (thank's to Alleguede) and cheese (Beehive's 'Seahive' and 'Promontory') to enjoy it with later this evening. 

 

If your balance is a poor as mine - beware - blind spinning in the middle of a bunch of bottles might not be wise!

Even if I'm a poor sport and won't play, you must try the Malbec and report back. Don't think I've ever had it.

Anna Nielsen aka "Anna N"

...I just let people know about something I made for supper that they might enjoy, too. That's all it is. (Nigel Slater)

"Cooking is about doing the best with what you have . . . and succeeding." John Thorne

Our 2012 (Kerry Beal and me) Blog

My 2004 eG Blog

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rotuts

rotuts

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if this is at my TJ's

 

Ill play.   after all, after I chat this wine up w my  Wine Guys   (  should they have it  )_

 

I can Bring it Back  if it does not suit me !!!

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Smithy

Smithy

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Excellent, Kerry!  Thanks for taking the plunge, and for finding such an accommodating store!  Photos would be fun, if possible.  I'm glad there wasn't any breakage involved.   :laugh:

 

I know we have the Alamos Malbec in town.  I'll pick some up tomorrow.

Nancy Smith, aka "Smithy"
Host, eG Forums - nsmith@egstaff.org

Follow us on social media! Facebook; instagram.com/egulletx

"Every day should be filled with something delicious, because life is too short not to spoil yourself. " -- Ling (with permission)
"There comes a time in every project when you have to shoot the engineer and start production." -- author unknown

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blue_dolphin

blue_dolphin

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I'll play.  The Alamos Torrontés has been in my "house white" rotation for a bit but I haven't tried the Malbec.  I stopped by TJ's this evening and they only had the 2013 Malbec, not the 2012.  I picked up a bottle to try and will keep an eye out for the 2012 or another 2012 Malbec from Argentina.  I probably won't actually cook anything to go with until it cools down a bit - too dang hot at the moment!

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Smithy

Smithy

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Actually, that photo looks to me like 2013, not 2012.  Kerry, can you confirm the year, for our curiosity?  At any rate, I picked up 2 bottles of the 2013 and will be opening at least one this weekend.  The vintage makes a difference, but for purposes of this game let's assume that it's less important than the winery and the wine in question.   :smile:

Nancy Smith, aka "Smithy"
Host, eG Forums - nsmith@egstaff.org

Follow us on social media! Facebook; instagram.com/egulletx

"Every day should be filled with something delicious, because life is too short not to spoil yourself. " -- Ling (with permission)
"There comes a time in every project when you have to shoot the engineer and start production." -- author unknown

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Kerry Beal

Kerry Beal

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Had a little glass of the Malbec this evening before dinner - perhaps I should say a styrofoam cup as glasses were not available.  A reasonably well rounded red - quite rich and a bit jammy.  Enjoyed it.  Sadly I was unable to take it with me to dinner to enjoy with my prime rib as I believe it would have been a very suitable accompaniment.  I suspect that showing up at the restaurant in the casino with my own bottle might have been frowned upon.  

 

Shared the remainder with the gang at the eG chocolate workshop this evening at our show and tell.  Also nice with chocolate.

the Chocolate Doctor
www.thechocolatedoctor.ca

www.eztemper.com

 

Confectionary Course • Confectionary Course Q&A
eGullet foodblog 2006 • eGullet Foodblog 2012

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rotuts

rotuts

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i tasted this wine last night.

 

first at room temp :  68 degrees and it was a bit harsh.  it also seemed a bit high test:   took a look at the bottle and its 13.5 %

 

cooled it down in the refrig to 60, about where I like red wine;  much much better. harshness more or less gone.

 

' a bit jammy' is a good term.  I dislike reds that taste of fruit first off that are not grapes:  cherries, raspberries   etc.

 

that's just my preference.  this wine tasted of grapes.

 

it had no 'off' tastes to my palate:  wines in the 4 - 15 $$ range frequently have a bit of chemical flavor to them:  touch of benzene etc

 

this did not.

 

this is a very nice fairly full flavored red table wine.  would be good w full flavored beef.

 

so  for $ 8 a winner.

 

if you get this wine Id be interested in the price where ever you get it.  even Tj's around the country.

 

very nice pick 

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blue_dolphin

blue_dolphin

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The Alamos Malbec is $8.99 at my local (So Cal) TJ's and about a buck cheaper, $7.97, at Total Wine.

Coincidentally, Total Wine's weekend coupons included a few other wines from Argentina.  Since I'm unfamiliar with them, I picked up two others in addition to the Alamos.

malbec.jpg

The 2011 Maipe Reserve Malbec was $14.99 (with the $5 off coupon) and the 2010 Flichman Tupungato Malbec blend was also $14.99 ($3 off coupon).  I also found a 2010 Cruz Alta Grand Reserve Malbec (not pictured) in my wine rack.  I have no recollection of purchasing that one, but I've clearly got some tasting to do :biggrin: !

 

I will wait until it's cooler to plan a meal around one or two of these but I did try the Alamos last night.   Similar to what rotuts said about tasting at warmer temps, I found the tanins and alcohol a sharp contrast to the bright, fruity nose.  It was probably around 80 degrees in the house at that point and I suspect it would be much more balanced when served at a more appropriate temp. 

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Smithy

Smithy

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I opened the first bottle last night.  Right out of the bottle it had a nose and taste of grape - as opposed to cherries or blackberries, for instance - but did seem a bit astringent.  After breathing for a while the flavors opened out and there was more of a sense of fruit to it, but this was not one of those wretched wines labeled as "fruit forward" that smack you in the face and give new meaning to the phrase "fruit punch".

 

We drank it last night with grilled steaks, a grilled vegetable salad (ramps, peppers and asparagus).  Chimichurri sauce was included in a nod to the Argentinian wine source.  

 

Malbec and steak resized.jpg

 

The wine and the meal complimented each other reasonably well: that is to say, everything tasted good together and separately, and nothing was overwhelming compared to the rest. I've had some wine and food pairings that were nearly magical in the way they brought out new flavors in each other.  This pairing wasn't magical like that, but it was good.

 

Today, the leftover wine - having sat in the decanter for over 24 hours - was still good. (Surprise!)  It seemed a little drier, as though some of the fruity compounds had evaporated, but it was still quite drinkable.  Wanting to test rotut's theory, I opened a new bottle, decanted some, then chilled the rest down to about 60 or 65F.  (Our room temperature is running in the low 70's right now.)  Chilling did balance the flavors better, perhaps toning down the alcohol compared to the fruity compounds.  Just a guess.  We paired it with a Southeast Indian Slow Cooker stew with a lot of lentils, onions, garlic, spices, spinach, chicken broth and more spices.  Did I mention it was spicy?  The wine and the stew didn't play together as nicely as the wine and steak did last night: instead of each tasting good together or separately, each seemed slightly bitter at the first taste after working on the other.

 

$10.99 at our best local liquor store is the normal price; I bought it on sale for a dollar or two less.  I'd get it again.

Nancy Smith, aka "Smithy"
Host, eG Forums - nsmith@egstaff.org

Follow us on social media! Facebook; instagram.com/egulletx

"Every day should be filled with something delicious, because life is too short not to spoil yourself. " -- Ling (with permission)
"There comes a time in every project when you have to shoot the engineer and start production." -- author unknown

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