2007 ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet-Merlot, Estate Bottled

Spanish Chorizos and Mushrooms in Red Wine

Recipe courtesy of Food Writer and Producer Mary Luz Mejia

"I learned to love tapas when I lived in Spain as a foreign exchange student. It was in the bustling metropolis of Madrid that I joined the ebb and flow of Spanish life — including the tradition of going to “tapear” before dinner. Most of the patrons were professionals or working folks who post-office hours would hit tapas bars for snacks, a small glass of wine or beer to tide them over until the late-night dinner. I was smitten. This is one of our favourite small, sharing dishes, perfect with a good glass of Château des Charmes ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet-Merlot, Estate Bottled. Buen provecho!"

Ingredients

• 1 tsp olive oil
• 4 medium sized Spanish chorizos, sliced in 1-inch slices*
• 1 pint Whitecrest Farms cremini mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 generous cup Château des Charmes ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet-Merlot, Estate Bottled
• 2 sprigs thyme, leaves finely chopped
• Baguette

*NOTE: There is a flavour difference in chorizos; the Spanish ones are more paprika based, with Portuguese, Colombian and Mexican chorizos each having a different texture and flavour profile. Buy from a reputable butcher and make sure you ask for Spanish chorizo (alas they are not all created equally!)

Method

Pre-heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add chorizo and brown evenly (approx 8 minutes). After about 6 minutes, add mushrooms and stir ensuring that mushrooms are well coated with oil and mixed in with the sausage. As the chorizo/mushrooms approach being fully cooked, add garlic, thyme and wine. Raise the heat to high in order to bring to a boil. Once the liquid boils, reduce the heat to medium heat and allow liquid to reduce to approx ½ cup.

Assemble

Serve immediately with crusty baguette slices, using the bread to mop up the sauce.

This is a perfect wine to have on hand to take to parties or serve when friends drop by. It’s also versatile enough to pair well with tomato-based pastas like classic spaghetti and meatballs, grilled beef kabobs or braised short ribs.

“There is no way a wine of this caliber is going to be sold for under $20, but that’s just what is going to happen – one of the last remaining ’07s to come onto the market. This wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, has big fruit and big oak. It’s a wine for aging as the fruit and the wood have yet to fully integrate but when they do watch out. A half dozen is a good order to start so you can taste how it ages over a number of years. 4.5 stars/5.”

– Michael Pinkus, OntarioWineReview.com, June, 2011