We feared the worst and got the best! It was a deja vu of the 1984 Olympics with LA stepping up and staying off the roads and freeways. The only heavy traffic was seen by local businesses as Angelenos strove to keep their driving to a minimum. The other benefit – great excuse for a party and we did lots of that this weekend.
Friday, we welcomed home friends that had been abroad with a home cooked steak dinner and a yummy wine picked up at the local BevMo 5 cent sale. Ceibo is a 70% Malbec/30% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Mendoza area of Argentina. This 2010 vintage was good to go – full bodied, soft tannins and good structure. We spent the evening listening to their stories of visits to exotic locales in Greece and Turkey and finished our meal with Sette Erbe del Monte Fileremo, a liqueur from Greece that they had brought home for us to try. This bright green libation tasted of Rosemary and smelled like eucalyptus and mouthwash. We tried – just couldn’t wrap our palates around that one.
Saturday, while demolition crews were running ahead of schedule and with the biggest “incident” being some guy who thought it would be cool to skateboard on the closed 405, our friends gathered for a “car-meggedon” pot luck. Tri tip on the grill, asian noodle salad, Caprese stacks, scalloped corn casserole and plenty of wine.
Tri tip
Asian Peanut Noodle Salad and Caprese Stacks
Scalloped Corn Casserole
We started with what is now my new favorite chardonnay from Lioco. The 2009 Sonoma Coast is a blend of fruit from vineyards in the Alexander Valley, Carneros, Dry Creek and Mendocino areas. Totally fermented in stainless steel, this full bodied, well balanced wine features lemon in the nose and palate. Creamy mouthfeel and lingering finish make this a wine I’m going to want to get more of.
Lioco 2009 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
The best of the reds on this night was a standout from Rosenthal – the Malibu Estate. The 2006 “Block” M single vineyard Cabernet from Malibu Newton Canyon is a knock out wine! Deeply colored, the wine has aromas of oak and cedar, with cassis, black fruit, anise and spice on the palate. Beautifully balanced with soft tannins, this was a great way to end the evening.
Rosenthal 2006 "M" Block Cabernet Sauvignon
Today, the 405 opened at 11am, 17 hours ahead of schedule! And tomorrow traffic will revert to its prior madness. We spent the morning watching the Womens’ World Cup, drowning our disappointment in the US loss in Bloody Mary’s. Here’s to car-meggedon! Can we do it again next month?
I’ll Drink to That!