An over all conclusion we are coming to is that wine can not just be sipped at a meal or by itself randomly. One must first learn what pairs nicely with the wine. I found a little wine and food pairing guide that I am loving! It's like having a pairing genius right here in the kitchen with me!Neither of us have ever really liked Merlot and always just thought it was a dry red wine for the most sophisticated wine drinkers. Last night I decided to make a meal focused around complimenting this bottle of Merlot (in bold are the items listed to compliment Merlot). I made a green salad with plenty of Parmesan and pinenuts. We had grilled tri-tip marinaded with rosemary, lime, ginger and garlic; green beans also cooked on the grill. I caramelized onions and sauteed mushrooms to go with the steak. And of course after the kids were in bed we had another glass of Merlot with chocolate.
When I was sipping the wine with the steak and caramelized onions I tasted a distinct honey flavor. Later as I was enjoying the wine with the chocolate I thought the wine took on a berry flavor.
Andy's critique: The chocolate took away some of the bitter after-taste of the Merlot. I felt it was a much smoother finish when drank with the chocolate.
We will keep this winery in mind when looking for a Merlot in the future. Costco $14.99. CHEERS!
2 comments:
Hey rachel, I would love to know what guide you are using! I love your blog and can't wait to try some of these!!! Yummy!
I like how you put the ingredients that pair with Merlot in bold. That was a really good idea. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I'm enjoying it!
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