When it comes to judging wine to go with steak, it is hard to beat a group of guys who have been cooking steaks on the grill for twenty years or more. I had just such an opportunity a few weeks ago when seven of my old college friends and I rented a cabin at the lake for our annual "Catfish Weekend," for men only. We had eight men with steaks, aged bourbon, Cuban cigars and six bottles of good red wine. All together we have about one hundred and fifty years total experience with cooking steaks on the grill.

The steaks were great (four different cuts), all of the wines were good, and the Cuban cigars and Bourbon after dinner were terrific! We judged the best wine on the scene to be the 2005 Marques de Casa Concha Merlot from Concha Y Toro of Chile, the best by far of all that we sampled.

This is an outstanding Merlot which is full of plum, cherry, and berry flavors, and has a lingering finish with smooth tannins brought about by its fourteen months in French oak. I normally like Cabernet Sauvignon with steak, but this one blew away two Cabs, a Pinot Noir and a good Malbec. Try a bottle tonight with a two-inch thick New York strip.

Oh, I almost forgot, this wine has a small amount of Carmenere in it, which may account for its distinctive taste!

World Beverage
6190 Highway 400
Cumming, GA 30040
(678) 513-6284