Rosé at the Tam...

Every month, wine maven, Brien McNally, at the Tam O'Shanter in Glendale, puts together fabulous wine and food pairings, and July 18th tasting was no exception. The Goddess of Wine, JD and their personal winemaker, Shawn Shai Halahmy, headed over to taste.

Nicoise & Bandol

2011 Domaine Dupuy de Lome Rosé, Bandol, Cote d'Azur, France. The nose was a bit hot, with overtones of dried roses and tropical flowers. There was the suggestion of sweetness in the nose, but the palate was dry as a bone! Mourvedre, Grenache and Cinsault were blended for a very elegant, medium-bodied wine with grapefruit and lemon on the front palate softening to stone fruits on the dry finish. Lovely. ABV 13.5%

Paired with Grilled Swordfish Nicoise Salad containing hard boiled egg, olives, rainbow fingerling potatoes, haricot verts (green beans), tomatoes, and arugula. Perfect!

Chop & Tavel

2012 Domaine Maby Tavel, "La Forcadiere", Rhone Valley, France. This Grenache/Cinsault blend was darker and fuller-bodied than the first wine, with strawberries and cotton candy on the nose. Big red fruit on the palate: strawberry and watermelon finished very dry with a hint of lavender. ABV 14%

Paired with Grilled Pork Chop on an Heirloom Tomato Pie filled with Goat, Havarti and Parmagiano cheeses. Oh my. Best. Pork Chop. Ever. I ate the whole thing.

2012 A to Z Wineworks Oregon Rosé, Newburg, Oregon. This wine was so dark, it pushed the limits of calling it 'Rosé'. Mint, strawberries and red peppers on the nose opened up to a BIG, rich fruity wine with LOTS of red fruit. The finish was unexpectedly layered and complex with hints of melon and peach. ABV 12.5%

Napoleon & A to Z

Paired with a Sideways Strawberry Napoleon - mascarpone, macerated strawberries, candied almonds, and pistachios. OMG.

An extraordinarily tasty and fun dinner - and all for $35 plus tax and tip! We've already signed up for the Rhone Blend night on August 8th!

Thanks to Brien and the talented staff at the Tam!