Buvare: Crawford Malone Wine Tasting

Another great post from my sister Megan! This food-paired wine tasting in Tucson featuring some big California wines (including several from Santa Ynez haunt Fess Parker) made me extremely jealous!

Last Sunday I left the girls with my mother-in-law for a much needed afternoon break. I met Mom and Dad for a fun Sunday afternoon leisurely tasting wines and food pairings at a popular Sunday event at Elle Wine Country Restaurant, one of Tucson’s premier wine restaurants. The tasting was centered around a selection of Crawford Malone wines. Here's what we had!

Swanson Pinot Grigio (lychee, grapefruit, lemon zest, pear) – Paired with petite crab cakes topped with cream sauce and roasted red pepper coulis

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc/Viognier (ruby grapefruit, pear, lychee, melon, spicy white florals) – Paired with a chilled chop salad of poached shrimp, sweet corn, black beans, red bell pepper and cilantro

Wente “Riva Ranch” Chardonnay (honey, graham, cinnamon, light floral notes) – Paired with a water cracker topped with a wedge of smoked trout with a sour cream aioli

Fess Parker “Ashley’s Vineyard” Chardonnay (pineapple, citrus, pear, vanilla, spice) – Paired with tender bites of spicy seasoned/breaded chicken thighs served with a sweet orange chili dipping sauce
Fess Parker Pinot Noir (black cherry, forest floor, cola, black currant, chocolate, nutmeg) – Paired with a shredded duck, crunchy wild rice, and slivered almond salad seasoned with a hint of Chinese 5 spice, served room temperature
Fess Parker “Frontier Red” (huckleberry, boysenberry, smoke, vanilla, cedar, spice) – Paired with a juicy angus beef slider topped with applewood smoked bacon and fried red onion rings
Wente “Sandstone” Merlot (blackberry, spice, licorice, tobacco) – Paired with slow roasted and caramelized onions and a home made basil chicken sausage
Pine Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon (blueberry, red cherry, coffee bean, caramel, baked fruit, black tea, toasty oak) – Paired with roulade of flank steak and sweet pepper chimichurri sauce, grilled medium rare

Elle Wine Country Restaurant
3048 E Broadway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85716-5314
(520) 327-0500
ellerestaurant.com