Six Inexpensive Pasternak Wines

On a recent Thursday evening, when my regular group of wine buddies got together, we tasted six wines I had received as samples from Pasternak Wine Imports. Pasternak is a national importer of wines and spirits from France, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, and California. The company is jointly owned by James Galtieri (President and CEO), and Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite).

The six wines were all inexpensive, costing no more than $12.99, so they had the potential to be value wines. Of these wines, three appealed to almost all of the tasters. Of the other three, two were generally disliked by all and one had a divided opinion.

The most expensive wine of the evening was the 2007 Dievole Pinocchio ($12.99), a wine produced in Sicily and made from 100% Nero d'Avola. It sees no oak and only has an alcohol content of 13%. Unfortunately, it was also a wine that almost everyone disliked. It had an overwhelming candy-like smell, several thinking it smelled like cotton candy. That overly sweet smell carried through in the taste as well, making it seem like liquid candy and just not too appealing.

The 2007 Les Deux Rives Corbieres Rouge ($9.99) was produced in Corbieries, France, and is a blend of 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, and 10% Carignan. This wine had a sour, off-putting smell though it did not carry through on the palate. The taste was ok, but nothing special. It was a rather forgettable wine, and not something my buddies would buy if they had a choice.

The 2008 Vina Los Vascos Sauvignon Blanc ($11.49) was produced in the Casablanca Valley, Chile and is made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Opinions were divided on this wine, but as several of my buddies really don't like white wines much, I was not surprised by those who did not care for it. This wine sees no oak and has an alcohol content of 13%. It had an intense grapefruit smell with some lemony notes. On the palate, you get both the grapefruit and lemon, as well as some minerality. This crisp wine lacks the grassiness of some other Sauvignon Blancs. I think it was a pleasant wine, and would be a good wine with seafood or light chicken dishes.

The 2007 Chateau De Jau Jaja de Jau Syrah ($8.99) is from the Roussillon region of France, and is made from 100% Syrah. This simple wine pleased most of my buddies. It had a pleasant red fruit and spice nose, and was a smooth, easy drinking wine. Besides the red fruit and light spice flavors, there was a slight herbal taste too. A step above the wines at this price point, I would recommend this wine.

The 2008 Terracita Tempranillo ($8.99) is a Vinos de la Tierra de Castilla from Spain. It was another wine that pleased most of my wine buddies. It had more cherry and raspberry flavors with hints of vanilla. The tannins were very mild, making this an easy-drinking wine and a good value for the price. A nice choice to pair with everything from pizza to burgers.

The 2007 Bodega La Rural Trumpeter Malbec ($11.99) is from Mendoza, Argentina, and is made from 100% Malbec. It undergoes about seven months of oak aging, 20% new American, 20% new French, and 60% second and third use American. This wine was the big winner of the night. It was dark red in color with an intense nose of black fruits and hints of spice. On the palate, there was plenty of concentrated fruit, including ripe plum, blueberry, and black cherry. Tannins were restrained and the finish was long and satisfying. Plenty of character for this price makes this an excellent value wine.

Stoneham Sun: Fresh Meat & More

My new column of "A Passionate Foodie" can be found in the November 11 issue of the Stoneham Sun newspaper. This is a weekly column that concentrates on reviews of local restaurants though it also sometimes touches on other food and wine topics.

The new column has been published today and will be available online soon. The new article is a review of Olde Redding Butcher Shoppe, a new butcher shop in Reading. Find fresh meats, deli meats, sandwiches, soups, salads, and prepared foods. A local shop, run by local residents, which promises excellent customer service.

If you have any questions or comments about my column, feel free to add them here.

Dine with passion

Gaylord India Restaurant: Las Vegas

Prior to seeing Penn & Teller at the Rio Hotel & Casino (which turned out to be a superb show), we decided to grab a bit to eat and chose Gaylord India Restaurant, which is located in the Rio. Once you walk past the lucky elephants, their trunks raised, you enter an elegant yet casual restaurant.

As we perused the menu, we received a couple complimentary papadums, crispy spiced lentil wafers. The menu is extensive with plenty of the usual Indian dishes, from pakora to vindaloo, from tandoori to biriyani. Most of the entrees range from $20-$30, making their prices more expensive than usual for such places. Even the appetizers seem a bit more expensive than usual.

We began with an appetizer, the Lamb Samosa (2 for $9.95), a crisp turnover stuffed with spiced ground lamb. This seemed to be the freshest samosa I have ever had, and it was absolutely delicious with plenty of meat and a tasty blend of spices. The turnover was crisp and crunchy, without being overcooked. An excellent start to our dinner and a dish I would highly recommend.

The first entree was the Chicken Pasanda ($22.95), boneless chicken pieces in a mild cashew cream sauce. There was plenty of chicken, which was very tender and moist. It almost fell apart on its own. The cream sauce was very good, creamy with only a mild nuttiness to it and some restrained spices. The second entree was the Chicken Tikka Masala ($22.95), mesquite-broiled chicken in a mild tomato-butter sauce. The chicken was as good as in the Pasanda, and the sauce was also mild and restrained, with lots of subtle flavors and a nice creaminess.

I love Indian breads, and they are one of my favorite items whenever I go to an Indian restaurant. We ordered a Garlic Nan ($5.50) and Paratha ($4.20). I enjoyed the Nan, which had plenty of garlic, but the Paratha was a bit disappointing, seeming to be a bit overcooked from what I usually get elsewhere.

Service was excellent. Overall, the food was very good, though I am not sure worth the extra price. But it is in a Vegas hotel which could explain the higher cost. If you don't mind the extra cost, then you should enjoy your meal here.

Gaylord India Restaurant
3700 W Flamingo Rd
Las Vegas, NV
Phone: (702) 777-2277

Rant: Say Hello to Your Meat

If you only shop at large supermarkets, you may feel very distant from the meat you purchase. You may choose a wrapped package of meat, without thinking much about where it originated, without thinking about the animal from where the meat came. Is that though what you want? Do you really want to maintain a significant distance between you and the animal?

Would it bother you to know the name of the animal you were about to eat? Would it dismay you to dine on "Francine" the lamb or "Arnold" the pig? It does not bother me in the least. In fact, I rather like knowing such details about the animal. I think it creates a deeper connection between me and the meat, helping me better understand what I am eating.

In fact, I think it would be better for everyone who eats meat to get closer to the source, to understand exactly where their food comes from. Visit a farm, spend time with a butcher, chat with a chef. Do something to learn about your meat, to realize that it does not come from the back of a grocery store but actually derives from livestock. It is nothing to fear or be ashamed about.

If you are going to eat meat, to enjoy being a carnivore, then don't shy away from getting closer to the source. Educate yourself. Make that connection and learn how to appreciate your meat even more.

What do you think?

Sportello: More Quick Bites

Since my first visit to Sportello, I have dined there a couple more times and the food has been equally as delicious. Their new fall menu has plenty of interesting choices, much to tempt your palate.

Pictured above, the Chestnut Bigoli ($15) is made with lobster, sage, and brown butter. The pasta, cooked properly al dente, had a nice nutty and slightly sweet taste. There were chestnut pieces in the bowl too, adding to the overall nutty taste. There were five pieces of lobster in the bowl and were complemented by the brown butter and chestnut flavors. This bigoli has lots of potential and I could see it used in various dishes, maybe with a wild boar ragu or duck confit.

The Anson Mills Polenta Rustica ($14) with veal ragout and parmigiano-reggiano is the perfect remedy for a cold day. It is an ideal comfort food, a stick-to-your-ribs meal. You get a large bowl of hot polenta, the consistency of Cream of Wheat, with veal ragout in the center of the bowl, lots of tender and flavorful meat. The rich corn flavor is complemented by the ragout, which you can swirl into the polenta, mixing it up.

I should also give a shout-out to their Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, served at their bakery. The pumpkin cakes had a delicious flavor without overdoing the pumpkin taste. Pumpkin can sometimes be too overwhelming in a dish, but these cakes had just the right amount of pumpkin and spice. There was a creamy, vanilla filling between the cakes and I very much enjoyed this dessert.

Service was excellent on all of my visits. I continue to be impressed with Sportello and definitely recommend it to my readers.

Sportello
348 Congress St.
Boston, MA
Phone: 617-737-1234