Go Texan Wine Dinner

April 1, JH and I went to a wine dinner at Tramontana. The restaurant is near Preston and the Tollway (about a block from DSW for those who know that as a landmark). It is a great place that I tend to forget about because of the location. I get focused on my little East Dallas zone and forget to branch out occasionally.
Tramontana’s “Go Texan” Wine Dinner Featured the Texas wines of Kim McPherson, the Dallas cheeses of Paula Lambert, and the cuisine of very nice and talented local chef James Neel. Neel has a reputation for buying fresh ingredients each day and using what is in season. All were present, and McPherson talked about the history of making wine in Texas and what grapes work best in Texas and why. All the of the wines were nice.
I previously tasted McPherson Cellars Viognier at Times Ten Cellars in Lakewood. McPherson grows his Viognier in West Texas. Also grown in West Texas is McPherson Cellars 2006 Rose'. It was served with The 2007 was served with Roasted Beet Salad with Paula’s Fresh Texas Goat Cheese. Delish. Pink everywhere! It is a dry Rose' of Syrah/Grenache and screams Spring.
Next up was Slow Roasted JuHa Ranch Pork with Roasted Garlic & Mascarpone Risotto and Natural Pan Drippings paired with McPherson Grenache/Mouverdre 2007. I still can't pronounce Mouverdre, even though I keep trying. I can't tell you anything about this wine but can tell you this dish was fantastic! It was followed by Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper Rubbed Texas Beef with Creamed Spinach “Montasio Festivo”, another delish meat dish. The beef was wonderfully paired with McPherson's "signature" wine, the Sangiovese. We had the 2006 grown on the Texas High Plains. I don't know where that is, but it is a good place for growing Sangiovese.
Dessert was Fromage Blanc Ice Cream with Red Fruits. Yum again. I asked Chef Neel about fromage blanc... white cheese ice cream? When he was a poor student in France (any story can be romanticized when you start it that way, right?) he ate a lot of fromage blanc. Apparently it is kind of like yogurt there. Regardless, I like the ice cream - had vanilla beans, not overly sweet.
JH and I were probably the youngest folks there at 41. We met some interesting people and enjoyed some good food and wine. Good to branch out.
Tramontana is offering lots of specials the past few months for those of us who still want to eat out at nice places in the scary economy. I don't think their website has all the details, but you cold call or get on the email list.

"Don't panic."

Today I dropped off the only expensive purse I have ever purchased for some past due maintenance work at the cobbler's shop. I knew there were a few places that needed restitched, but once I got it in there, I saw how bad it really was. The leather was torn in one place and almost there in others. I decided to go ahead with the repairs, which are going to cost me a bit more than I expected, but less than a replacement would.
The guy at the counter took my contact info and told me it would take about two weeks so "don't panic." Though I showed no signs of panic, or even concern, he told me how he didn't like to rush the guy that does the repairs. He just needs to let him take his time. At this point, of course, I envision some half whacked guy in a shack in the woods who is some great leather artisan, but is a nut. "So don't panic." He wasn't kidding. He locale is near SMU and Highland Park. Maybe he has high strung customers who panic over their fancy bags. I found it patronizing. "I have way more stuff to panic over in my life than a purse," I told him. By the time I left, I thought he may be the half whacked guy in the woods. Geez. Weird.

Dallas Wine Trial

How cool is this?
Times Ten Cellars along with three other North Texas wineries are excited to announce the creation of the Dallas Wine Trail. Follow this link http://www.dallaswinetrail.com/ to learn more about the trail and wines produced by Calais, Fuqua, Inwood Estates, and Times Ten Cellars. All are located within the city limits of Dallas. Mark your calendar and join in on May 24th for our first official wine trail kick off party. Buy local and "Drink Dallas".

Other interesting goings-on from Times Ten Cellars...
Please join us at Hector's on Henderson from 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm for a selection of times ten cellars wines at $6.00 by the glass. Hector will provide complimentary appetizers. If you decide to stay for dinner they will offer a prix fixe menu for $19.95, includes your choice of soup or salad, and one of four entrees. Jazz pianist, John Freeman begins at 7:00 pm. Reservations are not needed, it is come and go.

Times Ten Jazz schedule for April
Sunday April 5th, The Rich Jasin Trio, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Sunday April 19th, The Carter Jackson Band, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Tuesday April 14th, Mike Drake, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Recent tastes

On a business trip, I sometimes get to taste wines that are well outside of my normal price range. I tasted two such wines last week. The most spectacular was the 1996 Heitz Cellars Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. I wasn't embarrassed to act giddy about how much I liked it. The professional associate who purchased a couple of bottles of this fine wine at the bar for us before dinner has a case of it in his cellar, which I have been told is amazing. (So I am sure he thought I was a dork for being giddy.) I want a wonderful cellar when I grow up. (Right now I just want a bigger wine frig.) I also had a ZD Cab, but don't know the year. The problem is that cocktails preceded these fine wines. I wish I could have experienced and appreciated them on their own.

Tasting the Heintz reaffirmed to me that I should do something I have been pondering for a while now. I want to get a few bottles and put them up for several years. I have never managed to keep anything more than two years or so. I have a 2004 Rutherford Hill Petit Verdot that I want to cellar (i.e., keep in my wine frig) for a few more years. But I think I am ready to invest in a few more bottles for later. Fortunately I shared a bottle of the Petit Verdot with a friend last year, so I have notes to compare the aged bottle when I decide to open it. I still don't know much about wine, but learning is much fun to me.

Now, that is is getting warm, it's white and rose' season again. I got a bottle of my favorite rose', the Miguel Torres Santa Digna Cabernet Sauvignon Rose' at Cork last week. It is the 2008. I loved the 2006 and really liked the 2007. Hopefully this will be good too. The price is still a whopping $10 for lots of juicy, but not sugary, fruit. Now if the Arboretum concerts would just hurry up and start!

Also good for light foods and warm weather is the Italian 2007 Barone Fini Valdadige Pinot Grigio at about $12 a bottle and the Milbrandt Vineyards 2007 Pinot Gris from Washington at about $13 a bottle. I believe they have the latter at Veritas.

Woman of a certain age

There comes a time in every woman's life....

Oh heck, why talk in third person?!

I recently found these cutoffs. They made me smile. But I quickly came to the realization that even if I could get my booty to be that size again (and I think I can) I am too dang old to wear these shorts. That ship has sailed.

But I still smile at the patches holding them together, and the little Grateful Dead dancing bears - Iko bears, we called them back in the day. I smile at the confidence and sass I had in those days and hope that ship hasn't sailed too.