Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon

2007
Sonoma County, CA


NICE. Finally, a good wine for the first time in awhile. While not quite a "budget" wine, the black fruit flavor with slight vanilla, and bit of herbs and creamy oak on the nice finish make it worth the price. It accompanied very nicely a pork loin roast I made (see recipe below) with mashed, buttered and peppered cauliflower.

Tonight, I am opening the Spanish Tres Picos Borsao (Garnacha) which I have not had in a couple years (since summer's July in Vermont, spent with my brother who introduced me to it). If I recall correctly, it is wonderful; with chocolate especially. I am looking forward to opening it once again. I am trying the 2008. I previously reviewed the 2007, so I will review tonight's bottle soon. Surprisingly, the price remains the same so I am wondering if flavor has been sacrificed with the more recent vintage.


Sage and Rosemary Pork recipe adapted from Arthur Agaston's The South Beach Diet Cookbook.

FILLING:
1-1/2 T chopped fresh sage
1 T chopped fresh rosemary
3 cloves garlic, crushed
3 T extra virgin OliveOil
2 t Dijon Mustard
1/4 t salt
1/4 t black pepper

PORK LOIN
1 boneless center loin pork roast (approx. 2 lbs.)
3/4 t salt
1/2 t black pepper
1 T extra virgin Olive Oil
fresh sage leaves for garnish
fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl, combine the sage, rosemary, garlic, oil, mustard salt, and pepper.

Butterfly the pork loin. Spread the filling across the loin and close up again. Rub entire loin with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Place the loin in a small roasting pan and position on center rack in oven. Roast for 1 hour, or until internal temp reaches 155 deg. F and juices run clear. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with sage leaves and rosemary sprigs.




Don't forget the time
I wooed him with red wine.
The devil he wore such a fine, fine shirt
and it stayed so clean while he dragged me through the dirt.
--Deb Talan, Rocks and Water--

8.25 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$19.99 / 750 ml. bottle

Sebastiani Merlot

2002
Sonoma County
California

First, thank you to "PasaRobles" for your comments and personal experience. Your wine worthy recommendations are noted. But I must say that the wine pricing is NOT the same - $10.99-$13.99 for a 1.5 L bottle - almost double the amount of wine for at least $6 less per bottle. So if it is a budget constraint, Yellowtail probably isn't that bad for the buck.

I might actually try the Chenin Blanc when I have fresh scallops next week.


There it is!!! I saw it! "Spike's Sexiest Bartenders" being advertised on my site by Google - not by me. I tried to visit Spike's and leave my comments but couldn't. I want to know where the hell the male bartenders are.


Whose Opportunity?

Renovations, BMWs, reservations at dining establishments so fine,
Darfur, Somalia, AIDs, orphans, no clean water supply.
Electricity run amuck, closets full of clothes, clean water flowing freely to beautify the lawn.
Amidst violence, oppression, hatred and the list goes on,
barefoot women and children walk for miles to reach a bacteria-filled water hole.
Helpless elders watch their offspring of blank stares and protruding empty bellies,
feeling far beyond shocked to either cry or console.
A well-meaning friend tells me "There's nothing you can do. You're born where you're born, get over it and move on."
In some ways she's right - feeling bad's not good enough in this messed up world of extremes gone wrong.
Blackberries, flat screen TVs, rooms full of toys, everything bigger, better, faster is the norm it seems,
Half a world away from both, drinking Sebastiani by candlelight, children safely within reach, and a roof over their heads, I am fortunate enough to know not either extreme.

Nice wine. As a merlot lover, it was very welcome for a change. Beautiful, velvety deep crimson color - you can see the warmth - makes me want to wrap myself in it and go to sleep. Cherry, dark chocolate, smoked mushroom-earthy taste with spicy heat. Long finish. This would probably be fabulous with a beef dish or stew. I enjoyed it with my pen and paper only.

8.5 out of 10
$16.99 / 750 ml bottle
13.5% alc. by vol.
http://www.sebastiani.com/