Ridge Zin and Kinky Boots
Last week my teacher friend kept me company while making use of a cookbook I recently received. Love Rachael Ray or hate her, but admit she knows how to make a good meal in no time. I chose to construct flank steak sandwiches, marinating one half in lemon and thyme as she suggested, and the other half in Worstershire, garlic, and dijon mustard. A nice sear before cooking in the oven, on the rack below sweet potatoes sprinkled with brown sugar and olive oil. The other side was salad dressed with a blue cheese/dijon vinaigrette and topped with pears.
I chose to serve the 2003 Ridge Independence School Zinfandel, thinking that grape would be a nice match for the blue cheese, as well as the spicy components of the mustard and garlic. It was. Turned out to also pair well with the spunky transvestite in Kinky Boots. Almost qualified as ‘a feel-good movie’ and while not quite making it (think Billy Elliot, The Full Monty), it was still a good choice.
The wine, however, was a great choice. I must confess, I’m biased when it comes to Ridge and would go to great lengths to find a bottle of the York Creek Petite Sirah, which is sadly only available through the wine club. I don’t actually remember when I picked up the Independence School Zin but decided to select it from among my Ridge selections that night. Made from Zinfandel, Carignane, and Petite Sirah– from Geyserville– it clocks in at 15.4% alcohol. I enjoyed the pepper and blueberry aromas, and the palate even more:raisin, pepper, and hints of caramel on the lovely finish. It continued to improve in the glass, which seemed to empty itself all too soon.
….Farley Walker
flank steak sandwich, 2003 Ridge Independence School Zinfandel, Kinky Boots
April 30th, 2007 at 10:33 am
ms. snarly,
you forgot really? we picked up that bottle at martins wine store in metarie…..remember…you kept driving further and further into the depths of gritty nola…..and i kept saying…..(trying to be polite to the chic that would become my best friend)…i don’t think this is the direction…..hehe………
shortly after we got in the car…….popped the tops on our cans of sofia and drove home…….
kb
April 30th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
I have had the York Creek, and yes… fabulousness, BUT I’m a slut when it comes to Ridge, whatever they call it, I don’t care, I’ll drink it, cuz I know its going to be good. However I found a Ridge Independence School Zinfandel and have not opened it yet- its the last one, not sure of the year…. My dad had a momentary laspe of good judgment and bought The Boy and I a CASE becuase “we needed it.”
May 1st, 2007 at 8:20 am
Damn, Kelly. Now I remember and now I can admit I am terrible with directions!
Sara, a case? Your mom (and dad) can most certainly adopt me.
May 1st, 2007 at 8:02 pm
I was the lucky recipent of such a fine pairing. Between the wine, the sandwich, salad (thank god for homemade dressing), dessert, the company, and movie - the movie was the only thing slightly amiss. It was okay…but NOT my favorite. You want a feel good United Kingdom movie, check out Dear Frankie. Think it’s Irish. Had to rewind a part or two to clarify the broguey-dialogue.