Reformat and an Excellent Meal!

      I have been reading back through some of my previous posts, and I find myself bored by them, frankly underwhelmed. While factually accurate I think they lack personality and are too dry and so I shall endeavor to be more conversational and "bloggy." Never fear, however, I will not sink into using text or chat "speak" but will only seek to be more personal and less technical. I will appreciate any comment or feedback on either this new or the old format. Thank you, dear reader!
     
      The other night we had an amazing dinner of salmon grilled (with charcoal) on fresh cedar planks! I was surprised how much the cedar flavor soaked into the fish. It is definitely now my favorite way to eat salmon. It was easy and quick to prepare and versatile as well. It would go with a variety of side dishes and an endless combination of flavors could be basted onto the fish to make a new and fresh taste experience each time. We paired the cedar flavor with a good quality Sauvignon Blanc, Kim Crawford 2009 (now my favorite white wine), an excellent choice.

2007 Shiraz; Rocland Estate, South Australia, Rated 85 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

     The playful picture of a donkey with a lip-sticked kiss on its flank may convey an image of cheap-ness and in-elegance, however, the 100% Shiraz contained inside shows it to be a solid contender for your discerning palate in the 10-15$ class. I have to say I was certainly impressed with the solid and spicy presence of this intense and vibrant red wine. I paired it with an extra spicy supreme pizza one night and an oven grilled steak the next and I enjoyed each, my wife, however, could not handle the spice of the wine combined with the spice of the pizza. Her tastes run to sweeter wines and mine to drier ones so if you like the drier wines this would definitely be one to enjoy! I liked the fact that this wine is already more than three years old and still only $12.50/bottle, when generally for this price you can expect only to get a wine of 1-2 years old. I would definitely buy this wine again and if I were stocking a cellar I would find space for it as I think it would store and improve for several more years. I give it a 6 out of 10 for taste and texture in the 10-15$ class. More info can be obtained at Roclandestate.com   

                        ~C.R.