Raise a Glass:

Wine Picks for February 17

February 17, 2009

 

We don't eat a lot of steak.  It isn't that we don't like a good, juicy rib eye once in a while, but rather more about our physician's admonition to go "real slow" on red meat.  But no one said anything about abstaining altogether.  So the other night in a fit of "meat hunger" we got a couple of rib eyes, brushed them with garlic infused olive oil and sprinkled them with salt and pepper, and put them on the grill.  A few minutes on each side and they were perfect.  Earlier we had sliced potatoes into wedges, tossed them in olive oil and kosher salt, and put them in the oven to bake and brown.  A green salad and we were ready to go.

We have always liked Louis M. Martini cabs, and we had one on hand.  It was a 2006 Sonoma County that Robert Parker had given a rating of 90 points.  Parker wrote, "Fabulously sweet aromas of black currants, licorice, and cedar soar from the glass of this medium to full-bodied wine." 

This is a nicely layered wine.  We found cherry, blackberry and dusky herbs.  On the palate these were joined by  mild chocolate .  There isn't a lot of oak here and the tannins are fairly mild.  This isn't a big, in-your-face wine.  Rather it is refined and delicious. 

Vegetarians can enjoy this with marinated, grilled portabella mushrooms seasoned with garlic, salt and pepper, and grilled onions.  We have another bottle of the Martini cab waiting, so maybe we'll substitute the mushrooms next time.  Either way, this cabernet is a delight.

Available locally for around $18.