Can Cupideleton Open The Bottle With an Arrow?

This super Tuscan style wine has a very deep extracted color with a honey spiciness nose of ancho chili and oak with earthy chocolate that follows to the palate with cassis, sour cherry, star fruit and mango and tongue wrapping tannins. This follows through to an incredibly long finish that also has hints of over-steeped black tea leaves. Drink now, well decanted with a grilled steak well herbed. Hold easily through 2020. 47% Cabernet, 31% Merlot and 22% Sangiovese.

Pairs Perfectly with:

 

Herb-Crusted Filet Mignon

 

What can be better than filet mignon? It's delicious and tender. This recipe calls for dried herbs though you can substitute with fresh herbs instead. If you are going to do so, double the amount that the recipe requires.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 4 filet mignon, about 1 1/2 inches thick
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 tablespoons of Creekview Vineyards 2011 Trilogy
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon rosemary
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon basil
• 1 teaspoon marjoram
• For fun, add 1 teaspoon of powdered Pablano Pepper (a form of ancho chili).
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preparation:

Heat olive oil and garlic in a covered microwave safe bowl for 50-60 seconds. Remove and allow to cool. Add herbs, wine and whisk. Place filet mignon into a shallow glass dish. Pour herb mixture over and turn steaks to coat. Cover and let marinate for 1-4 hours in refrigerator. Preheat grill for high heat. Remove steaks, remove excess oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place on grill and cook for 5-6 minutes per side. Remove from heat and serve. 

 

So...

What the Heck is a Super Tuscan?  

In the 1970s, some Tuscan producers came to believe that the legal rules governing the production of Chianti were too restrictive. (For example, they required the use of some white grapes in this red wine, and they prohibited blending in non-traditional grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Syrah.) Or these vintners wanted to make wine outside of the allowed Chianti zone. They coined the term "super Tuscan" to distinguish their wines from the inexpensive, low-quality wines that were associated with the term vino da tavola, or "table wine," that they were forced to put on the label.

Today, most super Tuscans use the legal appellation of IGT (Indicazione Geografica Tipica), which gives producers more flexibility than Chianti and other Tuscan DOCs and more prestige than vino da tavola. The wines tend to be modern, big and rich-and often carry a price tag of $100 or more a bottle [much more than our Trilogy].

Some super Tuscans do contain Sangiovese, either 100 percent or in blends. But others are made solely from Merlot (such as the famous Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Toscana Masseto), from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah (Riccardo Baracchi Toscana Ardito), or from even more unusual blends, like an amalgamation of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot (Argiano Toscana Solengo).

[Kudo's to Wine Spectator for part of this information!]

THERE ARE NO RULES!  

 

Wine Club Members Corner!  

If you are like many of us you may have had your credit card compromised late last year after shopping at certain department stores.

Note that in April we will be charging your credit card for the next wine club offering.  Please stop by or call us to update your credit card information if it has changed or we will not be able to reserve your wine for you.   

     We now have (see photo above) great Bistro seating with the bistro tables crafted by our very own Calvin Breed from Art From The Barrel.  Enjoy glasses or flights of wine while watching the Post Street scene or watching Tim and Sam do their thing!  And, of course, wine club members get their 20% discount on glasses or flights of wine during their visit.     

Also:
Join  us this Wednesday!  Creekview Vineyards will be pouring at the
Go to:
http://www.downtowncampbell.com/winewalk/