Sonoma Crest cabernet keeps this wine connoisseur coming back for more | Phil Your Glass

Phil Masturzo, Akron Beacon Journal
·2 min read
Sonoma Crest cabernet was the perfect companion to a $14.50 order of steak skewers with manchego cheese fondue for dipping from Crave in downtown Akron.
Sonoma Crest cabernet was the perfect companion to a $14.50 order of steak skewers with manchego cheese fondue for dipping from Crave in downtown Akron.

A good wine doesn't need to be expensive to keep you coming back for more.I recently took advantage of the opportunity to re-taste Sonoma Crest cabernet with the kind folks at Crave in downtown Akron. I first sampled this bottle at a trade show in Cleveland about a month earlier and wanted to see if it was as tasty as I had remembered.I ordered the $14.50 steak skewer appetizer that comes with the unbelievably delicious manchego cheese fondue dip to pair with this cabernet.

The fondue took this pairing over the top, but it was the wine's beautiful black raspberry flavors that got me to revisit in the first place. It's quite the fab cab for $16.99.

It’s no secret that you can find some real values out of Sonoma. This bottle would easily be $25 or more if the grapes came from the other side of the Mayacamas Mountains.Upon further taste testing at the home office, I found that a few Castelvetrano olives, with their rich, buttery flavor, were perfect to nibble on while I cut up a few pieces of Parma Brand chorizo from the Market District in Cuyahoga Falls. Prairie Breeze cheese from Milton Creamery, my new favorite cheese, is also great with this wine, if you happened to stop by Western Reserve Wines in Solon to pick up a hunk after last week’s recommendation. A couple of cowboy chops from Al's Quality Meats on the barbie gave way to the perfect encore pairing for the night.Buy this wine at Crave in downtown Akron, Beau’s Market in Copley, Krieger’s Market in Cuyahoga Falls, Cornerstone Market in Munroe Falls, Mustard Seed Market in Montrose, Western Reserve Wines in Solon, Fishers Foods on Fulton Drive NW in Canton, and Buehler's in Canton.

Save the date

The 7th annual Feast of the 7 Delicious wine tasting will be held from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Fairlawn Hilton. The seven special wines will be paired with small plates made by Chef Beau Schmidt. Samples of Great Lakes Christmas Ale will be available as well as 40 other select wines and a cash bar. Cost is $45. More details to come.

Reach Phil Masturzo at philyourglass@gmail.com and follow him on Instagram @pmasturzo_philyourglass

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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Sonoma Crest cab elevates a meat-and-cheese combo | Phil Your Glass