Estola La Mancha, Strip Steak

Estola, La Mancha D.O., Villarrobledo, Enbotellado en Origen por Bldegas Ayuso, S.L., Reserva 2004; Whole Foods, $5.99; October, 2008.

Dinner was a strip steak, grilled on stove, the grilling pan was first heated very high then turned off and the steak cooked on the residual heat, consequently the steak was not over cooked and was as tender as that cut could be. The steak was topped with Italian Seasoning (thank you Costco) and seasoned. (Sorry, no pics of dinner.)

With the steak we had a Hubbard Squash, roasted with olive oil and “essence of celiberty chief” (Emeril’s Original Essence). This was a meal that cost less than $6 total (plus wine), but was tasty, and experimental for us as we had not had this squash before. (The Washington Post has convinced us we are in a depression!) Also, there was NO GARLIC! Once every two or three years we have a meal with no garlic. This was one.

The wine was cheap in price and quality. It was drinkable, just, tasted harsh, cheap. The color was okay, being a rich red. It did not smell particularly interesting. Brigette says cheap. The first taste was weak and undistinguished. I thought that it had some flavor, but Brigette’s first sips were all accompanied by grimaces. She is afraid that she will be considered a wino because she continued to drink, but of course, we are dedicated to our calling as your honest, dedicated reporters. She soldiered on.

With the meal, the Estola was okay with the steak, meaning that it was much better than water, it did not detract from the steak, it stood up to the juices and seasoning of the steak, it was sort of pleasant, but washed out.

Estola did nothing for the squash. The Hubbard squash did not have much flavor, but was sweet enough that it did not go well with the wine. As sweet as the squash was, you would probably want to match it with a fish and a bright white wine. Visually, the squash was very nice, with a rich orange flesh and a dusty blue outside.

When we paired the wine with bread and butter it disappeared. I never feel bad when I determine that a wine should be stricken from the list of potential purchases. It is hard enough to pick one from those I know are good, let alone form the ones I don’t know, and want to. So by striking a wine from the list, it makes it so much easier in the future.