Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Fine Wine, Great Steak, equals Awesome Dinner

The other evening Chris and I considered going out to dinner--but then decided to buy two thick Angus steaks, do up some potatoes and crack open a special bottle of wine at home rather than paying incredible prices for something we can do at home in the dining room by candle light without the chaos and cost.

The wine we decided on was a special wine--1996 Henschke Mt Edelstone Shiraz from the Eden Valley in Australia--which is a Barossa Valley appellation. I have had this bottle since about 1999 and I knew it had been properly cared for and should be stunning. I was a bit afraid that it would be corked, since the last two reviews that I had read about the wine indicated that the wine was corked--but this bottle was not only not corked--it was awesome. I was amazed at how a wine right at its peak of maturity provides mature and smoothly integrated flavors.

The steaks were done on the grill over low hear after searing to seal in the juices. They were done to perfection, I took them off at 130 degrees (medium-rare) and they were the hit of the meal blending perfectly with the wine.

Fine meals--wine and food, are so expensive when prepared by restaurants. That bottle of wine would have been untouchable price wise when eating out. But I remember how much I paid for it, in Australian dollars, during one of my trips and while it was a very affordable, it was one of the most expensive wines I had ever purchased back in 1999.

I was excited that it had aged so well and for over a decade in my possession. It was almost like parting with an old friend.

But it was well worth the wait. The dinner was perfect. The conversation intriguing and best of all--it was in our own dining room.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

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