When You Don’t Want a Cab
Dec 8th, 2008 by Alana
I have a friend who really, really, really doesn’t like tannins so she shys away from Cabernet Sauvignon, even when the pairing pretty much screams for a cab.
Sometimes a Merlot (and other varietals) will substitute just fine for a cab, but it’s hard to know who is making a Merlot that will work well with steak and mushrooms.
I’ve recently discovered a well-priced Merlot that really hits the mark. 4Bears 2006 Merlot stands up very well to prime rib (or any steak) with a sauce of mushrooms, onions, butter, and half n’ half.
It’s hard to find, but you can buy it online (and at Whole Foods) and impress your friends with your pairing confidence…serve a Merlot instead of a Cab. Or purchase the 4Bears Cab and do a comparison.
Hi Alana! A wonderful friend gave me a fantastic bottle of Zinfandel (not a White Zin : ))) I want to make something great to go along with it. What would you suggest as a great pairing with a Zin? Thanks!
I like lamb with Zin. I’ll be making a lamb stew tonight so I’ll post the results/recipe. You can also bring it to your favorite restaurant if you’d rather not cook!
Glad you like the zin…your friend