Celebritory dinner

Going to start today's version off with a big Congratulations to my father in law Steve.  Friday was his final treatment for cancer.  Alyssa and I are so happy for you and love you.  That being said we had an amazing dinner last night at home to celebrate this occasion.  Unfortunately Steve couldn't be here because he lives in southern Alabama.  I made am amazing dinner last night.  Probably one of the best meals I have ever made.  I braised short ribs in Crane Lake Cabernet with onions, beats, carrots, celery, tyme, and rosemary.  I cooked it at 350 degrees for 3 hours.  The recipe is courtesy of Chuck Hughes on the cooking channel.  I served it over garlic mashed potatoes with sauteed green beans with shallots.  I paired it with two different wines.  I broke into my cellar for this one.  The first one was a Chateau Montelena 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon.  For those who don't know about Montelena.  Montelena helped put Napa Valley on the world stage in the 70s buy winning the blind wine tasting.  The tasting was buy the top names in the business at the time who said that California wines would never be better that the French vine.  That being said 2007 is also a bench mark year for the Napa Valley.  This wine was big and in your face on black cherry.  But it also had nice little hint of oak and vanilla to round it off.  It had a very velvety smooth tannin structure to go with it.  I would rate this wine at a 91-92.  It was a phenomenal bottle of wine.  Per Chateau Montelena it was rated a 94 out of the barrel.  It reminded me of a right bank Bordeaux style in its structure also.  I would definitely buy this again and cellar it for 7-10 years.  If you do you need to buy now.  I'm not sure how long it will be able to stay at the price range of $50.  The second wine that we enjoyed was from Central Coast California.  We stuck with the Cali theme last night.  This wine while being the same varitel it was drastically different.  It was a beautiful blackberry, raspberry, clove, and vanilla.  It had a more in your face tannin structure.  This wine was a much drier wine than the previously mentioned.  I would give this wine a 92 point value.  Great buy for $22.  I would definitely drink this again.  In fact the wife suggested that I buy this again.  All in all it was an amazing night.

QOTD:  Is anybody else thinking about switching to Vandy Football or is it just me?