Chicago Blues CHapter 2 & Bodegas Vina Magana Dignus

Tonight is the second installment of my Chicago Blues series and the featured artists are Magic Slim, Mike Morgan & The Crawl, James Harman, Fenton Robinson, Maria Muldaur, John Katke, John Studebaker & The Nighthawks, and Lonnie Brooks. Brings back fond memories. So give a listen to some blues, Chicago style.

Chicago Blues volume 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgZ4pPnGgdQ

If you finished the three-liter box of Octavin Pinot Grigio I suggested on Monday, you probably don’t need any more wine this week. But in case you took it easy, here’s a great Spanish wine to sip while you listen to tonight’s installment of Chicago blues. The 2007 Bodegas Vina Magana Dignus ($19.00) is a blend of 50% Tempranillo, 25% Merlot, and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Apparently their Merlot vines are taken from cuttings shared by Chateau Petrus, whose wine, if you’re an oenophile, you’ll know goes for about $2000/bottle. The wine is deep purple with aromas of blackberries, coffee, and chocolate. The flavors are dominated by blackberry and black cherry, a very full mouth feel.  It’s a very nice choice for sipping along with the blues.

Cheers!

Chicago Blues & Pinot Evil Pinot Grigio

I’m going to do something a little different this week. Since I’m from Chicago and was raised on the blues, I’m doing a multipart series on Chicago blues starting with a video that includes the work of George Baze, Pistol Pete, Ron Hytower, Lonnie Brooks, Hubert Sumlin, Junior Wells, James Harman, and Magic Slim. I won’t give names, but I sat at the feet and played with a couple of the guys you’ll hear this week. There’s a full hour of music each night, so kick back, put on the video, and taste and see that Chicago blues is good!

Vol.1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUKDcI5cvTE

You’re going to need a lot of wine this week so I suggest getting a 3 liter box of Octavin’s Pinot Evil Pinot Grigo. The wine is sourced from Hungary's Matra region, which lies northwest of Budapest and just southeast of Hungary's famed Tokaj wine region. The wine is pale yellow with a floral nose of tropical fruit and citrus. Crisp and refreshing with typical peachy, citrus flavors and a slightly sweet finish, it’s an easy drinking wine. It paired great with the butternut squash-black bean enchiladas that I made for dinner and it’s light fruitiness is a perfect match for a long session of Chicago blues.

Cheers!