Tonight’s dinner, out on our patio, watching the sun and clouds over the mountains, was guanciale crisped with most of the rendered fat drained off, finished with Rao’s Sicilian Eggplant Sauce with some added garlic; on penne rigate. Wine was a 1999 Luna Canto, a 54% Sangiovese / 46% Cab/Merlot blend; a bit more herbal - oaky harsh than the last one we had, but still reasonably tasty with the sauce. This time the Cab/Merlot definitely won over the Sangiovese. The spicy, rich guanciale tempers the cab/merlot components.
Then while watching today’s stage of the TdF, Girona to Barcelona, with some rain, we had Chaumes and Doux de Montaigne with TJ’s jumbo Raisin Medley and a mix of Mesilla Valley pecans and Whole Foods Deluxe Mixed Nuts; with a 2002 Ridge Dusi Ranch Zinfandel - good fill, dark in color; nice earthy, berry fruit in nose and flavors; a pleasant berry fruit mid-palate. with little tannins and good acidity; and a medium long spicy, earthy, berry finish. All was very enjoyable with the interesting TdF stage.