Bourgeois Bob & Chateau Montelena

After chatting with my Dad earlier this week, the invisible lightbulb went off over our heads at the same time. It alerted us to the brilliant idea of having him write guest posts for my Blog. When my dad and I chat, we often talk about what we have eaten and the wine we've drank over the last couple of days. We are definitely a foodie fmaily. I honestly have learned everything I know about food and wine from my father, so there is no one else who could teach us all about posh food culture better than him. I hope you read, learn, enjoy, laugh a bit and walk away with a more refined palate. 

Me and my Daddio sailing in FL

OK don't get too used to this.

Dee suggested that I (her Father) contribute to her Blog. OMG.

I was very impressed that she initiated this, as she has plenty of creative ideas on her own, but with due respect, anything she learned about wine and food…well...

Earlier this week, Dee and I had our semi-weekly check in phone call. All was good in the World, and I was in heaven. Down in Florida, we had just roasted a 2 lb rib-eye accompanied by a 2005 Chateau Montelena Cabernet. Nums. Needless to say, I was sold on the idea of making a guest appearance on Dee's blog. After buttering me up a bit on my extensive knowledge and expertise, we decided I would focus on one of my favorite topics...wine.  So here we go...

Chateau Montelena is a lovely vineyard at the north end of Napa (that's in California). It's a bit outside the funky (is that still a word?) town of Calistoga; a great place with a spa that dates back to the early 1900s. I am still picking mud out of some orifices from my last visit. Of all the memories I have from the visit to Montelena, none will replace its charm and the memory of this lovely black swan that tried to bite me.

Chateau Montelena's Cabernet Sauvignon is an aromatic, rich, bold & full bodied red. It usually has berry notes with some cedar and spice, but the details will change depending on the year. These wines age well, so there is no harm keeping for many years before opening, just make sure they are stored properly. It pairs well with most food but best with beef and  lamb. 

Side note...I sent a bottle of Chateau Montelena back with Dee after one of her visits. Her and the NYC family opened the bottle for a Family Dinner and she reports it was out of this world.

In the future, we will explore dishes and wines that I have come to know and love. For example, the other night, I paired a beautiful coquilles St-Jacques (Gratineed Scallops) with a 2006 Louis Latour Montrachet. It was magnifique! I also hope to enlighten you to the fact that there is more to Chicken than you think. My hope is you will refine your palettes and expand your knowledge of the finer things in life. 

To wrap things up, my interesting wine fact for this post...we live in Southwest Florida and this weekend is one of the 10 top wine charity affairs in the USA, the Naples Winter Wine Festival. This event has raised more than $110 million for the Naples Children Education Foundation. See...stuff does happen in southwest FL besides retirement and bad drivers. 

Until next time...

As Sheldon says, "live long and prosper". 

As Alexis Lichine said, "Life is too short to drink bad wine."

Bourgeois Bob aka Dee's Dad

Thanks Dad.
d.eileen