Something about being trapped upstairs working on taxes all day Saturday had me fair-busting to get into the kitchen on Saturday night and do something creative with some wild Alaskan scallops (which are denser, richer and sweeter than average). As I escaped the office where Bob and I were working together, Bob threw an ax in the works by saying, "Whatever we're having tonight, sure hope it involves red wine".
I didn't tell him. Instead I came up with was a no-saffron Carribean paella made with a very smoky Cuban chorizo and topped with pimenton-dusted seared scallops, and this cellar orphan purchased locally for $13 about six years ago. Should have bought a case: maroon in color, medium-plus body and burly tannins suggest a wine that's still on its way up. Must have been a monster on release. What is this, anyway, mourvedre? There's a bit of blood running among the dark red fruits, but no horse blankets. I have no idea about grape--Jumilla's not a familiar region--but it's too big for tempranillo and in fact it was a bit big and rustic for my dish, yet it was all in the right direction so not really a problem. Could have another ten years of life in it. Very good to excellent, especially considering the price. 2000 Boekenhoutskloof Syrah, South Africa
Last night's dinner was braised short ribs in a tomato-onion sauce served on crispy buttermilk biscuits with a mustard green pesto, and for that I thought the red fruit of a good syrah would be perfect. And it was. This wine's also still on it's way up: deep garnet color, nose of ash, bacon and plums. On the palate, roasted plums with a bit of a band-aid backnote and fennel segues into a dilly finish, suggesting American oak but I don't know what they use. Overall very big and elegant, and an experienced palate would guess it about ten years out in spite of the fact that it's probably only approaching it's peak years and has a good life ahead of it. Another orphan, wish I had more. Excellent.