Some great NY Strip steaks at Elegance in Meats (Northbrook)

On Friday I popped into Elegance in Meats, looking for something for a day-before-Christmas Eve dinner. With a break in the weather, some grilled meat seemed appropriate.

While perusing the steaks, one of the very helpful butchers pointed out some lovely choice NY strips that were marbled about as much as their prime cousins. The choice were $9.99 and the prime were $21.99.

The strips were some of the best steaks I’ve cooked at home in some time, made even more delicious with some Béarnaise on the side.

The 1999 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate (Washington, Red Mountain) was a fine match for the steaks. Opaque dark purple, turning to a reddish purple at the rim. Still young and tight. Needs time in the cellar (preferably) or decanter. Flowers (some violets), graphite, and dark fruits on the nose. Berries, currants, chocolate, and minerals on the palate. Well structured, but the tannins are still a little rough at this point in its life. I have had quite a few bottles of this vintage, but this bottle seems the tightest. I did not decant this, and I may have done so with the other bottles. If you have any, wait or decant. I have been buying this wine sine the 98 vintage and have not been disappointed.

Best,
Al

Elegance in Meats
White Plains Shopping Center
3135 Dundee Rd.
Northbrook, IL
847-480-MEAT (6328)