BEARITAGE LOT #12 - NV

It is time for another edition of WBW (Wine Blog Wednesday)...well, sort of. This month's installment is combining forces with the internet's premiere food blogging event Is My Blog Burning? This dual themed undertaking is the FABULOUS FAVORITES FESTIVAL, a food and wine pairing event.

My mission:
Pick a favorite bottle of wine from the cellar and create a dish that goes with it.

I chose the Bearitage and decided to make some Pesto Farfalla Pasta. Not your traditional pairing, but this wine has a zing to it so it is a good companion to a pasta full of pungent garlic and olive oil.

THE RECIPE:

-As much garlic as you can stand (I like a full bulb or more), chopped in food processor
-Two (packages) bunches of fresh basil, finely chopped in food processor
-Two handfuls of toasted pine nuts, rough chopped with a knife
-1 cup of Parmesan cheese
-Loads of extra virgin olive oil
-1 pound box of pasta

Throw it all together in a pan on medium heat and cook till the garlic is sweet and the mix resembles a thick paste.

Boil your pasta, drain and then put it right in the pan with the pesto mix. Mix thoroughly and turn off heat. Add freshly ground pepper and top with more Parmesan cheese.

The Bearitage (a California Meritage) from Gundlach Bundschu Winery was a great compliment to the intense garlic, black pepper and salty Parmesan pesto. The zippy Zinfandel in the red blend did just the trick to accent the flavors of the meal.

TASTING NOTES:

41% Cabernet, 34% Zinfandel and 25% Merlot. Bearitage is a blend of multiple vintages from 2001 and 2002. There are nice dark fruit flavors to this wine along with ripe cherries and zesty spice. The dry finish is loaded with cocoa.

SCORE & RECOMMENDATION:

89 PTS
This is a good wine that is very well balanced. The Zinfandel gives it a nice kick, but does not overwhelm the Cab and Merlot. It is very smooth, no heat, harmonious in the mouth, and undeniably Californian. The finish is impressive. Retails for around $13 and well worth it! Be sure to check out other wine and food pairings at the blog event host site LENNDEVOURS.