The place for all things wine, focused on serious wine discussions.

WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

Moderators: Jenise, Robin Garr, David M. Bueker

no avatar
User

Tom N.

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

797

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:17 pm

Location

Soo, Ont.

WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Tom N. » Wed Dec 17, 2008 10:55 pm

Deep garnet red color. Intense nose of bing cherries and sweet vanilla oak. Balanced midpalate of sweet dark fruit, fine but grippy tannins and tangy acidity. Nice medium long finish of blackberries, tannins, acidity and some smokey oak. Nice medium bodied wine. :) Definitely new world style

Wine: 2005 Rioja La Montesa by Bodgeas Palacias Remondo 14% abv.

With food: Nice match with grilled ribeye. Best match was with a Hors d'ouvre that had a mushroom filling. Brought out the earthy fruit taste in the wine.

My favorite steak wines are new world cabernets and Spanish tempranillos, especially rioja reservas and grand reservas.

What is your favorite wine to match steak?
Tom Noland
Good sense is not common.
no avatar
User

Peter May

Rank

Pinotage Advocate

Posts

3795

Joined

Mon Mar 20, 2006 11:24 am

Location

Snorbens, England

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Peter May » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:17 am

For steak? Zin or Pin.

Zinfandel or Pinotage -- great with braaied meat.
no avatar
User

Bob Parsons Alberta

Rank

aka Doris

Posts

10773

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 3:09 pm

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Bob Parsons Alberta » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:25 am

braaied.....only in sanorbens!!!
no avatar
User

Carl Eppig

Rank

Our Maine man

Posts

4149

Joined

Tue Jun 13, 2006 1:38 pm

Location

Middleton, NH, USA

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Carl Eppig » Thu Dec 18, 2008 12:09 pm

Bordeaux or Cal Cab.
no avatar
User

Brian K Miller

Rank

Passionate Arboisphile

Posts

9340

Joined

Fri Aug 25, 2006 1:05 am

Location

Northern California

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Brian K Miller » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:18 pm

Bordeaux, California Cabernet, or Northern Rhone/Rhonish New World Syrah. or a Chianti Classico Riserva.
...(Humans) are unique in our capacity to construct realities at utter odds with reality. Dogs dream and dolphins imagine, but only humans are deluded. –Jacob Bacharach
no avatar
User

David M. Bueker

Rank

Riesling Guru

Posts

34220

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 11:52 am

Location

Connecticut

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by David M. Bueker » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:43 pm

Bordeaux
Decisions are made by those who show up
no avatar
User

wrcstl

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

881

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:20 pm

Location

St. Louis

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by wrcstl » Thu Dec 18, 2008 1:59 pm

Quality cabernet from west coast (no goop, oak or high alcohol please) with steak. Bordeaux with lamb. Can drink a good N Rhone with either.
Walt
no avatar
User

Mark Lipton

Rank

Oenochemist

Posts

4285

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 1:18 pm

Location

Indiana

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Mark Lipton » Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:21 pm

Perhaps because I like my red meat rare and my Bdx mature, I don't find that Bordeaux is a terribly good match for steak. My favorite steak wines are CalCabs, Ridge Zins and Syrah. A little tannin is helpful to me.

Mark Lipton
no avatar
User

Tom Troiano

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

1244

Joined

Mon Mar 27, 2006 4:22 pm

Location

Massachusetts

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Tom Troiano » Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:38 pm

Rib Eye - aged Ridge Zins

Filet Mignon - left Bank Bordeaux or certain Cal Cabs (e.g., Ridge MB and Ch. Montelena).

Tom T.
Tom T.
no avatar
User

Clinton Macsherry

Rank

Ultra geek

Posts

354

Joined

Tue Mar 28, 2006 1:50 pm

Location

Baltimore MD

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Clinton Macsherry » Thu Dec 18, 2008 2:39 pm

Brunello di Montalcino with steak. Everything else is just mouthwash.
FEAR THE TURTLE ! ! !
no avatar
User

Bob Henrick

Rank

Kamado Kommander

Posts

3919

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:35 pm

Location

Lexington, Ky.

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Bob Henrick » Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:16 pm

Tom N. wrote:My favorite steak wines are new world cabernets and Spanish tempranillos, especially rioja reservas and grand reservas.

What is your favorite wine to match steak?


Tom, I don't like to pick favorites among my children nor my brothers! I really don't know if I have a favorite, but a nice CndP with a bit of age is really nice with my Christmas prime rib roast. Probably the fatter the roast, the more tannin I want so if the roast does have a lot of fat, I might go with a youngish (under 10 years) Bordeaux, or a nice Cal Cab maybe from Howell Mountain, Mayacamas comes to mind also. I could name a couple dozen, but can't name one. :wink:
Bob Henrick
no avatar
User

wrcstl

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

881

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:20 pm

Location

St. Louis

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by wrcstl » Thu Dec 18, 2008 3:28 pm

Mark Lipton wrote:Perhaps because I like my red meat rare and my Bdx mature, I don't find that Bordeaux is a terribly good match for steak. My favorite steak wines are CalCabs, Ridge Zins and Syrah. A little tannin is helpful to me.

Mark Lipton


I agree totally. I do not drink young Bordeaux and old ones get lost with a hunk of (infrequent) med rare beef. For some reason I do not have the same problem with lamb and that is when I drag out the best Bordeaux.
Walt
no avatar
User

JC (NC)

Rank

Lifelong Learner

Posts

6679

Joined

Mon Mar 27, 2006 12:23 pm

Location

Fayetteville, NC

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by JC (NC) » Thu Dec 18, 2008 5:56 pm

Cal Cab aged long enough (perhaps a decade) to integrate the tannins. Sometimes a Cabernet-Sauvignon/Merlot blend (maybe from Australia). Haven't really tried steak with Rioja Gran Reserva but I can see where that would be a good pairing. Maybe I'll do that the next time I'm ready to open a Gran Reserva.
no avatar
User

Covert

Rank

NOT David Caruso

Posts

4065

Joined

Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:17 pm

Location

Albany, New York

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Covert » Thu Dec 18, 2008 6:50 pm

Cal Cab for steak.
no avatar
User

Tom N.

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

797

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:17 pm

Location

Soo, Ont.

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Tom N. » Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:22 pm

Well so far, here are the votes:

Cal Cab: 7
Bordeuax: 5
New World Cabs/Cab blends: 2
Syrah/Rhone/CdP: 4
Brunello: 1
Chianti: 1
Pinotage: 1
Tempranillo: 1

I like this lineup :D . I am not sure about Chianti and steak because I rarely drink them. But the rest seem to be good choices to me with the obvious provision for personal taste.
Tom Noland
Good sense is not common.
no avatar
User

Lou Kessler

Rank

Doesn't buy green bananas

Posts

3517

Joined

Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:20 pm

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Lou Kessler » Thu Dec 18, 2008 8:54 pm

CDP or Ca cab :)
no avatar
User

Paul B.

Rank

Hybrid Guru

Posts

2063

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:38 pm

Location

Ontario, Canada

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Paul B. » Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:40 am

Peter May wrote:For steak? Zin or Pin.

Zinfandel or Pinotage -- great with braaied meat.

Unbelievable - that was my answer too :shock:

Tom,

You might think my favourite would be a hybrid, but no, it is in fact Pinotage, followed closely by a good hearty Zin - same as Peter's reply.

Pinotage is my top choice, mainly because I like to go all out when I grill, and vastly prefer grilling over either hardwood (caveat: can't really do this in the city) or coals + woodchips, as opposed to gas. I have done this on a few occasions over a half-drum homemade braai, and so the South African motif was very much in place. Kanonkop Pinotage is my go-to wine during such cookouts.

That said, with grilling and barbecueing being such a significant part of our culture over here, Zin is also a great choice: it's got the density and fullness to stand up to a hearty beefsteak.

And if you're wondering, then I'd say that our Ontario red hybrid wines are pretty much interchangeable with Northern Italian reds for me, i.e. good with roasts, stews, lasagna, pizza, etc.
http://hybridwines.blogspot.ca
no avatar
User

Dale Williams

Rank

Compassionate Connoisseur

Posts

11112

Joined

Tue Mar 21, 2006 4:32 pm

Location

Dobbs Ferry, NY (NYC metro)

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Dale Williams » Fri Dec 19, 2008 11:47 am

I generally go Cal Cab, but have no problems with younger Bordeaux. For that matter, Burgundy is one of the best beef areas in France, and a young Nuits or Gevrey does fine. Similarly, if we do Bistecca alla Fiorentina, I can do Brunello or CCR.
no avatar
User

Tom N.

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

797

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:17 pm

Location

Soo, Ont.

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Tom N. » Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:00 pm

Paul B. wrote:Pinotage is my top choice, mainly because I like to go all out when I grill, and vastly prefer grilling over either hardwood (caveat: can't really do this in the city) or coals + woodchips, as opposed to gas. I have done this on a few occasions over a half-drum homemade braai, and so the South African motif was very much in place. Kanonkop Pinotage is my go-to wine during such cookouts.


Hi Paul,

I like pinotage myself but have never have had it with steak. I have a Graham Beck 2005 pinotage in my cellar that was gift from a friend. What do think of his pinotages? And, do you think it would go with steak?
Tom Noland
Good sense is not common.
no avatar
User

Paul B.

Rank

Hybrid Guru

Posts

2063

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:38 pm

Location

Ontario, Canada

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Paul B. » Fri Dec 19, 2008 9:49 pm

Tom N. wrote:Hi Paul,

I like pinotage myself but have never have had it with steak. I have a Graham Beck 2005 pinotage in my cellar that was gift from a friend. What do think of his pinotages? And, do you think it would go with steak?

Hiya Tom!

I posted a note on this very wine, and you can read it right here.

In general, I find Pinotage to go exceptionally well with beef in all its forms, and especially with steak.
http://hybridwines.blogspot.ca
no avatar
User

Sam Platt

Rank

I am Sam, Sam I am

Posts

2330

Joined

Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:22 pm

Location

Indiana, USA

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Sam Platt » Sat Dec 20, 2008 8:38 am

I agree with Dale's Burgundy suggestion. Gevrey, Volnay and Santenay all work very well with tender, lightly seasoned steaks.

Paul - Times being what they are, I've become a big fan of South African Pinotage and Sauvignon Blanc. People may chuckle, but the Sebeka Sauvignon Blanc from S.A. is hard to beat at about seven bucks a bottle.
Sam

"The biggest problem most people have is that they think they shouldn't have any." - Tony Robbins
no avatar
User

Tom N.

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

797

Joined

Thu Mar 23, 2006 10:17 pm

Location

Soo, Ont.

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Tom N. » Sat Dec 20, 2008 6:33 pm

Sam Platt wrote:I agree with Dale's Burgundy suggestion. Gevrey, Volnay and Santenay all work very well with tender, lightly seasoned steaks.

Hi Sam,

My brother Bob claims that a good burgundy goes well with steak. I think if you have a good burg it just might work as long as the steak isn't too fatty. The acidic core of a good burg should stand up well to a nice stip loin. I am going to have to try that some time. However, my general preference in steaks runs toward the fatty side, rib or ribeye :twisted: .
Tom Noland
Good sense is not common.
no avatar
User

wrcstl

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

881

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:20 pm

Location

St. Louis

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by wrcstl » Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:16 pm

Tom N. wrote:
Sam Platt wrote:I agree with Dale's Burgundy suggestion. Gevrey, Volnay and Santenay all work very well with tender, lightly seasoned steaks.

Hi Sam,

My brother Bob claims that a good burgundy goes well with steak. I think if you have a good burg it just might work as long as the steak isn't too fatty. The acidic core of a good burg should stand up well to a nice stip loin. I am going to have to try that some time. However, my general preference in steaks runs toward the fatty side, rib or ribeye :twisted: .


Good Burgundy goes well with anyhing. Having said that I would still go with a CA Cab with a grilled ribeye for the reasons you mention. Dale will drink any good wine with anything, he is easy.
Walt
no avatar
User

Bob Noland

Rank

Ultra geek

Posts

114

Joined

Thu Nov 30, 2006 2:32 pm

Location

Chardon, Ohio

Re: WTN: Rioja and What is your Favorite steak wine?

by Bob Noland » Sun Dec 21, 2008 1:17 pm

Tom N. wrote:
What is your favorite wine to match steak?

Tom, One of my favorite matches with steak recently was actually a Piedmonte Nebbiolo with a nearly 2 inch thick steak cooked in a fireplace at a great little place up the mountain from Arenzano in Italy. Normally I would probably follow the general rule of Cal Cab, Zin, or a hearty PN but you know I like to break all the traditional rules :wink:
To do is to be. - Socrates
To be is to do. - Jean-Paul Sartre, Plato
Do-be-do-be-do. Frank Sinatra
Next

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot] and 2 guests

Powered by phpBB ® | phpBB3 Style by KomiDesign