We really liked beef tenderloin last time we made it, but once again we had no merlot in the house.
Is it possible to find good merlot in the PLCB system on short notice? Yes, but it takes a bit of luck. We went to PAWineTalk--Wines--Wines Sorted By Variety and clicked on merlot. We found Chateau Plince Pomerol, with some available at 12th and Chestnut and at Garces Trading Company. We made it to 12th and Chestnut, found the wine, but it was so warm in the store that the bottles were warm to the touch, and that scares us. We went over to Garces Trading Company at 11th and Locust, went into the climate controlled specialty wine shop, and got there just in time to grab the last bottle.
The Plince Pomerol was more than we usually spend, but the price matched the spendy cut of tenderloin we had from Giunta's Prime Meats in Reading Terminal Market. The wine did not disappoint. Plummy flavors on the nose, fresh tasting dark fruit, earthy woodsy notes and a long finish paired perfectly with the tenderloin and parsnips.
We were delighted to find that not only is the recipe for the tenderloin and parsnips delicious, but it comes from Cooking Light, meaning that the fat content is not too bad. See for yourself: Beef Tenderloin with Parsnip-Mushroom Ragout.
This recipe and wine pairing would be good for a special occasion, so keep your eyes open for left bank bordeaux and stock up when it's available.
If you want to try this one, as of now there are about 50 units available at Store 4602 in Ardmore.
Chateau Plince Pomerol 2006
Chairman's Selection
PLCB Code: 13109
Size: 750ML
Price: $29.99
PAWineTalk
Region: France > Bordeaux > Libournais > Pomerol
Grape Varieties: Merlot 72%
Cabernet Franc 23%
Cabernet Sauvignon 5%
Alcohol Content: 13.5%