Dinner: Tea Crusted Ahi Tuna

Which Wine Would Barry Serve?

Dinner:  Tea Crusted Ahi Tuna
On the side:  Salad of Romaine Lettuce (+ Kale for SHE) croutons + Barrysentials Parmesan Dressing
On the other side: Baked Potatoes w/French Sea Salt and Butter
Dessert:  not even thinking about it after last week.

FEATURED WINE: 
2007  Santa Rita Carmenere -   This Chilean red wine goes beautifully with very red Ahi-Tuna that is seared for a few minutes on both sides.   We cover our ahi with black tea and hot Chinese Five Spice before searing.   The red wine does a great job of cooling the heat and matching the Ahi Tuna.
http://www.wine.com/V6/Santa-Rita-Carmenere-Reserva-2007/wine/95902/detail.aspx?ct=1

Cono Sur, 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile from the VISION label

HE and SHE both say: Our hearts go out to the Chilean people at this terribly tragic time.  As each natural disaster strikes our neighboring continents, we feel more and more like one people on one planet and it becomes clear that resources wasted on war become resources that are not available for natural disasters.  We are encouraging all of our readers (both of you) to honor and support Chile in this time by buying and drinking cases of Chilean wine.  If you need help drinking  it all, just call. We’ll help.

Cono Sur, VISION, 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Maipu Valley, Chile

And now, on to our listed wine:
Cono Sur, 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, Chile  from the VISION label

Like many Argentine wineries, Cono Sur has several brands under the name of Cono Sur.  First — can we say we love the play on words?   Literal translation in Southern Cone, as South America is shaped like a cone and most definitely in the south, but the play on Connoiseur is so delightful, yes?

The VISION label was designed to take advantage of the numerous micro-climates in Chile.  We haven’t been there yet, so we’re going to just trust them on this. Winemaker Adolfo Hurtado chooses each plot personally and Read more about the VISION label here.

On this bottle of Vision, Cono Sur, Cabernet Suavignon there is a beautiful drawing of a lock.  Apparently the grapes of the Maipu Valley were so precious that the vintners used heavy iron padlocks to secure the cellar rooms.  SHE SAYS: If HE ever does that to me, I have one word for him… lawsuit.

HE SAYS: This is a very easy drinking wine with traditional cabernet characteristics.  At $10.00 from our favorite wine store, this is a terrific value!  It’s not a wine you want to lay down for  a while, you’ll want to drink it now.   Supple plum and berry flavors.  Score:  15

SHE SAYS: Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…. just from smelling you, I can tell you’ll be a lot of fun.

Serve with: Serve with a nice steak, or as we did tonight, seared AHI TUNA. Ahi Tuna?  Really?  Really.

2008 Montes – Sauvignon Blanc, Leyda Vineyard, Leyda Valley, Chile

Montes, Sauvignon Blanc, Ltd. Selection

HE and SHE both say: Well, here we are, in South America again. Only figuratively speaking this time. A Chilean Sauvignon Blanc we picked up at Costco for about $10.  It was made by Montes, a pioneer in the Chilean wine industry, and the writeup seemed promising, so let’s give it a shot.
2008 Montes – Sauvignon Blanc, Leyda Vineyard, Leyda Valley, Chile, Limited Selection — (a very long name) –

After we’ve been drinking the wine for a few minutes . . .

HE SAYS: Smell it — what do you get?

SHE SAYS: Occasionally I breathe wine up through my nose!  (Purely by accident. Just thought you should know.)

HE SAYS: Uh, OK.  What do you taste? I taste a distinct citrus fruit. (And then he looks at SHE daring her to guess which citrus.)

SHE SAYS: (Visibly sorting through her limited mental notes on citrus) I’m going to guess. . . that the citrus you taste . . . must be . . . lemon?

HE SAYS: Grapefruit.

SHE SAYS: Ha, ha, ha!!!! So wrong again!  ( She lets one of her famous laughs rip through the night air and slaps the table.)

HE SAYS: This is a very nice sauv blanc. The nose was maybe a bit of butterscotch and grass.  Taste is grapefruit and light tropical flavors, nicely balanced with a crisp amount of acid. A good food wine, especially with shellfish. Quite nice, especially for the price.  Score: 15

SHE SAYS: This is a happy, friendly wine! Welcome to my summer table any day.  It would even be great with breakfast.

HE says: About Montes Premium Wines.  Aurelio Montes pioneered much of the quality production in Chile.  His Montes Alpha M line of premium red wines from the Apalta Valley garnered great accolades and really put Chilean wines on the map (and table) for the rest of the world. This Sauvignon Blanc is from the Leyda Valley in Chile, which is a new Denomination of Origen, about 6 miles from the Pacific Ocean.  This wine is fermented in stainless steel and has never touched oak.

SHE SAYS: They have a picture of a llama on their site, so I can’t wait to visit.  Can we consider a llama instead of a dog?