March 11, 2006

SNOW in San Francisco while we Drank a Malbec

It might have been hail, but it collected enough last night for our neighbors to construct multiple snowballs on their deck.
We watched from the local Peruvian restaurant, Fresca, as the hail pinged off the cars, creating a nice blanket of slush on 24th Street. I feared a few cars might come plowing through the restaurant's large front windows. Thankfully, they stayed on the road, a few veering left and right, barely missing each other during the slide-fest. Yes, California drivers are not used to the white stuff. So, get to the wine. We enjoyed a pretty fantastic Malbec with dinner (roasted pork with rice and pinto beans for me, a New York steak of some sort and mashed potatoes for the PIT (Partner in Tasting). We wanted something big enough to stand up to the steak but not so big as to overwhelm my pork. The waiter recommended a Malbec, a 2002 Catena Alta Malbec from Argentina. This was a ruby-colored, medium bodied and dark fruity wine. The finish was soft blueberry. The only problem? It typically costs $46. So it's a special occasion wine. (Yes, we were celebrating)
Since this blog is about wines that cost under $20, I am obligated to include an affordable recommendation. Here it is and it's not a red. It's a 2004 La Vielle Ferme Cotes du Luberon Blanc . This wine is everything I like in a white. It's crisp, light, and fruity. There's not a whole lot of complexity to this wine, but that's OK. You can drink it with a bit of seafood or toss it into a sauce while you are cooking. At about $7.99, it is also an easy to find bargain if you don't mind the screw top.

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