Around WBC time, I was contacted about reviewing selections from the International Wine of the Month Club.
The International Wine of the Month Club is part of a larger group, Monthly Clubs, that also does beer, chocolate, flowers, cheese and cigars. Or, if you’re a fan of mixing and matching, they have a “Design Your Own Club” option.
I received two wines, both of which are from California: the 2010 Girard Russian River Chardonnay and the 2006 Pietra Santa Cienega Valley Estate Signature Collection Cabernet Sauvignon.
The 2010 Girard Chardonnay is a wine that could make the “ABC” (Anything But Chardonnay) crowd turn an about face. This wine is balanced, yet complex. On the nose, there’s a nice, citrusy fruit note, with hints of oak and spice. These flavors also carry over to the palate and are complemented by a nice buttery note (think about buttered popcorn with additional flavorings of your choosing…the butter complements the flavors and doesn’t overpower them).
The recommended food pairing is salmon, and while I can certainly see this as an option, I’d be more inclined to serve this with chicken or a pasta with a buttery cream sauce.
The 2006 Pietra Santa Cienega Valley Estate Signature Collection Cabernet rocked my socks off. This spent 45 months in the barrel…and damn…it delivers. Silky smooth. Sexy. This wine is well structured with a nose of dark fruit and spice. The palate adds hints of chocolate and pomegranate to the dark fruit and spice.
The recommended food pairing for this is Pan Seared Duck Breast, but dammit…this wine begs for a nice, thick, juicy steak, IMHO.
Both of these wines rank high on my “recommended” list. Do it. Seriously. Get them.
