Tonight’s dinner was a stew made from Churro lamb and Chimayo Green Chiles. It was perfect on a day that started out with several inches of snow. The chiles were labelled as mild, but they were closer to medium to medium hot. It made a flavorful stew, in a rich lamb stock, with garlic, onion, bay leaves, and rosemary. After over three hours of simmering, it was enjoyable with a 2001 Garretson Syrah Rozet Vineyard ‘The Luasedin’ - closed with a plastic cork, dark ruby garnet in color, bright berry fruit followed by a dry tannic finish; the tannic finish diminished with the chiles, and only re-appeared with the last swallows following the meal.
Then for dessert we had the three cheeses left over from last night and a ‘Drunken Goat’ cheese, with three fruit pastes - black currant, fancy plum, and orange-ginger. It was good with, but not great, a 2001 Ridge Zinfandel ‘Dusi Ranch’ - dark garnet in color; earthy berries in nose & flavors; mid-palate slightly lacking in acidity, with ok berry fruit; and a medium earthy, berry fruit finish. A more overt, fruity zin would have been better.