Montecillo 2007 Crianza and the America’s Disaster Relief Tamale Truck

Not only do I have a love of wine, I have a love of tamales. Good tamales that is, which are for some reason hard to come by in Tampa. A recent trip to the Seminole Heights Sunday Market introduced me to a rather odd combination. Helping the America’s Disaster Relief fund and the most amazing tamales I’ve ever tasted. This past Friday I ventured downtown and fought my way through the one-way streets, metered parking and hunted down the “tamale truck” at the Tampa Downtown Friday market. Once I had my target in sight, I attacked. Taking home four pork tamales, I devoured one before I even reached my car. A second tamale I paired later that night with a recent wine sample of Montecillo 2007 Crianza by Bodegas Montecillo. The Tempranillo and tamale pairing was truly divine.

The wine has classic Tempranillo aromas of spice and wood. Flavors are full of cherries with an abundance of acidity and a hint of sugar that I think rounds out the flavors. Finish is dry but doesn’t leave my mouth puckering and a need to suck down a glass of water like so many other Tempranillos. The price is right at just $12 and can be found nationwide.

So what’s so great about these tamales you ask…everything! The tamale is cooked in banana leaves making it moist and flavorful. The filling, your choice of pork or vegetable, is amazing. No tiny little strip of filling here, it’s the “Panama Canal” of filling! The other good thing, you’re doing something good for others. Proceeds of the $5 tamales go to the non-profit organization, America’s Disaster Relief.

Another thing you can do to help, click Like on the America’s Disaster Relief Facebook Page. Each click brings them closer to receiving important grants that allow the organization to continue helping others. Keep in mind all the terrible weather we’ve seen across the US in the past few weeks, it could be your friends, family or even you they help out next.

If you live or work in the downtown area and would like to see the Tampa Downtown Market be a year round event, click on this link and then click Market Survey and let your voice be heard. Even if you don’t live or work in the area, play hooky, take a long lunch, and claim you got lost on the way back to the office. Whatever the excuse you use, the tamales and the market are worth it.

2011© Kellie Stargaard. All Rights Reserved.
http://winechicksguidetoeverydaywines.blogspot.com/

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2009 JAMES OATLEY TIC TOK Merlot Mudgee, New South Wales

While perusing the wine section of my local Publix, I notice a small wine tasting. Not one to turn down a chance to sample new and free wine, I quickly parked my cart at the bar, uh I mean table. Before me was a line of wines I’ve not seen, JAMES OATLEY TIC TOK. I started with the Sauvignon Blanc and quickly added it to my cart. Next I moved onto the Syrah, again, this made its way to my cart. Finally the Merlot, which not only did I walk away with in my cart but the nice sample man filled my cup to the rim. I’m not talking about those tiny little Jello shot cups either; this was a decent size sample. So there I am, shopping is complete, wandering the aisles of Publix, drinking my wine when I decide it’s time to head home so I down the last of the wine in the art supple aisle. Tried the full bottle version last night and it really is quite nice. Sold for $12.99, the price isn’t too bad either.

Aromas of black berry, cherry and a hint of oak. The aromas carry over to the flavors in a fruit forward fashion and a nice balance of tannins. Body is soft and round. Finish isn’t as long as I would like but can’t win them all. I find the flavors are more developed than so many of the overly sweet Australian wines that seem to flood the inexpensive wine market these days.

Wondering who James Oatley is? I was too. James Oatley was born in Warwickshire, England in 1770. Skilled as a clockmaker, he went astray and stole bed linen. His sentence was life and he was exiled to Australia. Hmm, hope the linen was 600 count or higher, seems like a pretty extreme sentence for stealing sheets. So in 1815, James arrived in Sydney where he put his clock making skills to use. He was eventually pardoned from his crime in 1821 and was appointed the Keeper of the Town Hall Clock. He custom-built the clock that still stands at the Hyde Park Barracks, Sydney.

After seeing great success with their first line of wines, Rosemount Estate, the Oatley family started a second wine line under the direction of Robert Oatley, great-grandson of James Oatley. The family owns seven vineyards in Mudgee, New South Wales. The name TIC TOK seems a fitting tribute to Robert Oatley’s great-great grandfather and his treasured skill. Here’s to their continued success.

2011© Kellie Stargaard. All Rights Reserved.
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2008 Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon

Boy have I been a slacker! For the past few weeks I’ve only managed to post my blog once a week and this week I’m struggling to even get anything at all out. Sorry folks, I’ve been slammed with my day job and other responsibilities at home. Hopefully I can make it up to you soon. In the meantime how about a little something to hold you over. My most recent tasting adventure was, Hess Select and I’m not referring to premium gasoline. I found Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon at my local Publix and decided to give it a try. Well, I opened this up Sunday evening and the bottle is still sitting mostly full on the kitchen counter.

Black and red fruits on the nose. Tannins are almost over the top making the flavors are very dry and one dimensional. I had a hard time picking out any flavors really. I’m a little disappointed since this wine typically sells for $17. Maybe it was just an off day for me and my palate.

Blend – 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 5% Syrah
Alcohol – 13.5%
Appellation - 47% Mendocino County, 37% Lake County, 16% Napa County
pH - 3.86
TA - 0.55g / 100ml
SRP - $17, I think I found mine for $12

The Hess website claims they seek out the best regions for growing fruit-forward wines true to their varietal character. Wondering if my palate and taste buds were way off or if it was the bottle, I just gave it another try. I must admit while the tannins are a bit overwhelming I do detect more of the plum and dark fruit flavors of the Cabernet. The finish is dry but there is something that is slightly off in the finish. After the third sip, I start to detect more plum and less off taste in the finish.

Maybe we’ll give this one another whirl tonight. I do hate to throw wine down the drain after all.
So there you have it, that’s all I have for now but I should be a little less on the crazy busy side starting in May. I’ll continue posting, I just can’t promise it will be twice a week or even what day it will be.

2011© Kellie Stargaard. All Rights Reserved.
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