On a recent weeknight I came home to the most delightful surprise. The aromas were the first thing I noticed — sautéed onion and Italian sausage along with the spiciness of andouille. Our large dutch oven sitting on the cooktop was the only other clue dinner was imminent. The kitchen was completely clean otherwise. There was no evidence of the preparation that had taken place. Clearly, Pete had been busy while I was out.
The second thing I noticed was a glass of red wine on the kitchen counter. I looked at Pete and asked, “Is that for me?” “Yes,” he replied, “what is it?” He loves to test me, so I played along. My description:
medium ruby garnet in the glass with dark fruit and vanilla aromas. The first sip was a bit sweet. The second less so, with berry fruit, red fruit, a bit of tobacco and smooth well-integrated tannins. The flavor lasted fairly long and finished with dark fruit flavors. Easy to drink and enjoy.
My guess: new world style, maybe a blend. The answer: 2012 Heavyweight Cabernet Sauvignon. 13% ABV. Retail $12.99 or there about — we received this wine as a tasting sample.
How did it pair with Pete’s sausage cassoulet? Really well! The dish was hearty and meaty and included white beans, mushrooms, tomatoes and zucchini. It was spicy thanks to the addition of andouille. The Heavyweight stood toe-to-toe with the complex flavors and spiciness of the cassoulet. A great match — pun intended. Thank you, Pete. Great pairing.
The 2012 Heavyweight Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera and Petit Verdot sourced from Lodi, Calaveras and Lake counties. The wine is barrel aged in a combination of American and French oak. It’s ready to drink now and will pair nicely with stews, burgers or a meaty pizza.
The Heavyweight Cabernet Sauvignon is produced by Scotto Cellars. This busy family of winemakers produces wine in their Napa Valley, Lodi and Amador County wineries — so they’ve got you covered. We wrote about wine from Scotto Family Cellars in a prior post and their website is full of information about the many labels they produce. We thank them for this taste of their Heavyweight Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cheers!
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