Wine – Page 3 – THE DUDE OF FOOD

Santa Monica Pizza – Paris, France

At the web site listed below you may find the information to the first sign I saw upon exiting the Métro at Place des Fêtes . Having left Santa Monica, CA 15 hours earlier you can imagine the surprise this sign caught me by. I laughed and knew I must go check it out.

After traveling for 15 hours I was ready to drop my bags off, eat and wander around Paris. The pizzeria was closed so I didn’t get to eat there until the second night of my stay and found Ismail and the staff to be friendly and hospitable. I went back as much as I could while in town. Merci.

check them out at-

www.lafourchette.com/restaurant/santa-monica/22029

or if in Paris – 15 Rue Henri Ribiere 75019 Paris

AQUINAS – Napa California Cabernet

AQUINAS 2011 California Cabernet Sauvignon

Named after St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), an Italian Dominican friar, priest and revolutionary scholar who used the laws of science to support his belief in the Almighty. This wine, like it’s namesake, is smart, bold, dedicated and has lots of good characteristics.

The Dude of Food rating: Give this a try.

RAVENSWOOD California Cabernet Sauvignon

Going to a party and can’t decide how much to spend and not buy some junk wine that was a waste of money and made you the indirect voice of ridicule as the tasters made their statements regarding your choice? Well there is another wine to add to the list. Reasonably priced, decent tasting. The Ravenswood line is alright.

Bodega ELENA de Mendoza 2010 Red Blend

This family of fine wine is named after the matriarch who came from Italy, Elena Napoli.

Bodega ELENA de Mendoza Argentina

2010 RED BLEND

62% Malbec 21% Syrah 17% Bonarda

This family has developed some of my top wines from Argentina. The Malbec and the Red Blend from Bodega Elena de Mendoza are my favorites.

According to wikipedia, the “legs” or “tears” of wine that run down the inside of the wine glass are a sign of low alcohol. The heavier the legs, the lower the alcoholic content of the wine. If this is in fact true, then these wines are low in alcohol and big in flavor.

This Red Blend, like it’s sister Malbec, are loaded with solid flavors. Not too sweet.

Not too dry, but just right. These wines will slowly undress for your tongue, landing softly, pleasure your taste buds and leave you wanting another sip.

Priced under $10.

MALBEC Review – Espuela del Gaucho Reserve 2012

This tasty limited edition Malbec was also grown and bottled in the Mendoza region of Argentina.

Imported by WX Imports, Novato, CA

www.espueladelgaucho.com

Another fine Malbec that is now on my Top 5 Malbec list. Not as good as my favorite, Bodega de ELENA, but gets close. This wine is a 2012, so maybe it needs a year, but still was a very good selection.

The Espuela del Gaucho has unique, slow running, heavy legs. It carries a lighter body, landing gently on the tongue, joyfully leaving hints of mixed berries grown in the fresh Andes air and then drifts away.

Another quality Malbec, that any California cab or Merlot drinker would enjoy for under $12.

Malbec – TERRAZAS de los Andes 2010

Another fine wine from the Mendoza region nestled in Argentina.

TERRAZAS de los Andes Reserva Malbec 2010

Produced and bottled by Terrazas de los Andes, Argentina

Selected grapes of the Mendoza region terraces, found a little more than 1,000 meters above sea level, make their way into this wine. The selectivity of this wine is probably why it is imported by the Moet Hennessy company.

Personally, this wine is almost as good as my still favorite Malbec, Bodega de ELENA. The Terrazas is kind of similar to the Elena, but I found it to be a touch lighter in body and flavor when landing on the tongue. The Terrazas is flowery and fruity. Perhaps the Terrazas could be imagined as a merlot version of the Elena if it were imagined as a cabernet of the same vinter.

The Terrazas is a good wine, reasonably priced and will be gone before the bottles of Mondavi that other people brought to the party.

For comments or contact with the Dude of Food, please visit me at

Yelp as Dude Food G.

Red Rock Malbec Reserve 2010

Vinted and bottled by Red Rock winery Healdsburg, CA

1.888.271-9463

This Malbec is grown here in California, not Argentina.

The flavor of this reserve wine lacks the depth of the Bodega de ELENA Malbec, which is my current favorite. It is not a bad wine, but if looking for a reasonably priced California red, I’d go Murphy-Goode Cabernet.

Malbec – Espuela Del Gaucho 2011

Product of Argentina.

The Dude of Food Wine Review — Espuela Del Guacho

Imported by WX Imports, Novato , CA

www.espueladelguacho.com

This low priced gaucho Malbec tastes more like the boot sweat of a gaucho.

I may have gotten a bad bottle, but this was my least favorite of

the bottles tasted by the Dude of Food.

MURPHY-GOODE Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Murphy-Goode Winery Santa Rosa, CA

MURPHYGOODE.COM

This wine posses a heavy thick leg but lands on the taste buds

gracefully, reminding the senses of a bouquet of sweet berry flavors.

The flavor doesn’t linger long on the red carpet, before it melts away,

providing opportunity for another pleasurable taste.

For under $13. this is a pretty good wine, not so much over $15. as

you have entered a region of price where premiere tastes become more

pronounced.

Murphy-Goode cab is not a bad wine, but if you like a heavier full

flavored red wine, then the Bodega ELENA de Mendoza offers a bit more

bang for a little less bucks.

Las Rocas de San Alejandro 2009

This product of Spain is a tasty red table wine.

Las Rocas USA in Hayward, CA.

This is a lighter wine than the Malbec’s and Cabernet’s.

The wine has thin streaky legs. The taste immediately

reveals sweet berries and then lightly tapers with a fume

of apricot and pear. Not heavy. Not too sweet.

Great for day sipping, happy hour or with meals. This

wine would go well with a meat, cheese and olive platter

as well as your favorite steak salad.

If you pay more than 10. it’s not a good deal. It is not the

average bottle, so be a unique wine buyer and try this.