Slacker!

I have been SLAMMED.  I have been exhausted!  I have been tortured by my family!  There has been so much going on over the past month that it has prevented me from blogging about my wine experiences.  Not to fear, though...it hasn't prevented me from having wine experiences...just from sharing them.  I've still had ample opportunity to enjoy and try new and exciting wines.  I hope that I can get myself back on track here and I will do my best not to take such a long respite in the future.

I have been doing a lot of training.  I have a marathon coming up in November and on top of that, my friends and I just completed the Blue Ridge Relay, a 2108 + mile relay race through the Blue Ridge Mountains.  It was intense.  It was one of the most fun experiences I have ever been a part of.  AND...we won the mixed team category!  How cool is that?  

What better way to celebrate than with a nice bottle of vino...or two?  That was the game plan.  We finished the race in Asheville, NC, and drove to Brevard to spend the night at the mountain house that my family frequents.  The weather was gorgeous, the spirits were high, and the company was great.

We arrived and I decided that the evening called for a hearty Zinfandel.  I opened a bottle of Castle Rock Zinfandel from Lodi, California.  I'm still oving the Lodi Zins!  This is a full-bodied wine with flavors of blackberry, raspberry and notes of pepper and spice.  Very easy to drink.  Very smooth with a soft lingering finish.  I was blissfully aware of the combination of happiness, tiredness, and wine.  It was a great combination.  We were finishing off some Thai food, and this actually paired quite well with that spice.  This wine can be found at your local Trader Joe's for $8.99.  Great bargain!

We also opened a bottle of Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel.  Yum Yum Yum!!!  Per the web site:  Our quest for outstanding Zinfandel led us down a country road into the heart of Lodi, California revealing a sea of gnarled, 35-80 year-old vines pruned in a special, mop-topped way called "head-trained".  True gnarly heads, these old vines yield fewer grape clusters with smaller berries than trellised vines.  These mighty little berries produce intense, bold wines that are deep in color with concentrated dark fruit flavors.  

Another rich, dark berry flavored wine with layers of spice, pepper, and vanilla balanced with dark berry tones.  Wonderful wine!  This wine retails for around $12.99 per bottle.  Another wonderful find.  

Well my week is already off to a great start!  I have class tonight, kids football tomorrow night, a much needed massage on Thursday and I only have a 19 mile run to do this weekend.  I'm such a slacker.

The good stuff

I had the rare opportunity to go out on a date with Mark last weekend.  We don't do it much so when we do its a treat.  We made our way to Liberty Tap Room in the Vista.  I like the bar there.  It's big and the service has always been very good.  I decided to branch out and try out some wines I had not before.  I will admit, I started out with an oldie, but goodie (the Trapiche Broquel Malbec); but then I went for variety.

If You See Kay - as described on the menu:  Full body, juicy dark fruit, ripe blackberries.  OK, I'm game.  Wow.  This was really a nice Cabernet Sauvignon.  I had to see the bottle.  Dang...very cool.

I really enjoyed the fullness of this wine. Nice and big and bold; the way a cabernet should be.  I will definitely be going back for more of this and also be looking to purchase one of the cool bottles.  From what I can find, it retails for around $20/bottle.  In my opinion worth it.

I also tried out The Alakai Grenache by Joel Gott - as described on the menu:  Full body, blackberry, white pepper.  You know with the word pepper in the description, I am going to have to give it a try.

Alakai, a California Rhone-style blend of Grenache, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Mourvedre, is dark and structured, but with finesse and elegance.  The Syrah adds the beautiful pepper spice  flavor that I am so drawn to.  Yum yum yum!!! This wine retails for about $18/bottle.  One of my new favorite blends by far.

Almost time to send the kids back to school...or in my case spend a few hours in the ER.  More on that event next time...

Stay safe.

Vacation!!!

I know its been WEEKS since I have posted anything at all about my wine adventures.  I have a semi-excuse...vacation!  One of my favorite places in the WORLD is Brevard, NC.  We spend a week there each summer in search of cooler weather, cooler running, and relaxation with the family.  This year did not disappoint.  Brevard is situated near Pisgah Forrest in Transylvania County in North Carolina.  Close to Asheville, Hendersonville, Black Moutain, and a bunch of other little mountain town gems.  I truly would pick up everything and move here if I could.  We hiked, we swam, we ran, we entertained friends, we shopped, we relaxed, we ate, we read...and I drank a LOT of wine!!!

I decided before we left town that it was probably in my best interest to go ahead and order a full case of wine for the week.  I decided on the Trapiche Broquel Malbec, and the Seghesio Zinfandel.  Wonderful selections for my mountain week.  

Lets start off with the Trapiche Broquel Malbec.  This wine hails from the Mendoza region of Argentina.  I have to admit, it is by farone of the best Malbec's I have tried as of late.  You are looking at blackberry and raspberry with layers of mocha, and my much needed SPICE.  This wine is a definite find, retailing from $11.50 - $15.00/bottle.  It really was wonderful in the evenings sitting on the patio looking out over the mountains with the cool air.  That being said, I will drink this throughout the warm summers of Columbia as well.  There is just something about this wine that I am drawn to.  Highly recommend.  

The next selection with the Seghesio Zinfandel.  I am still new to this varietal, and becoming more and more transfixed.  I like it, I am still searching for a favorite.  I really have to say that this wine was exactly what I was expecting in the Zin category.  Spicy, bold, smokey peppery flavor.  I liked it.  I think my issue was that I was enjoying the Malbec during this particular vacation a bit more.  I am not taking anything away from this wine, as it was enjoyed by our group the entire week!  We finished all 6 bottles.  This wine retails for about $20/bottle.  I need to try it again completely on its own!  

With either one of these bottles you cannot go wrong.  We had a fantastic vacation and I am ready to head back next July!  

More Lodi

It's been a while.  I really have no excuse.  I am as busy as I always am.  I have been enjoying wine like I always have.  I've just been especially tired.  I am sorry.  I do have a few bottles to tell you about.  I received a recommendation a few weeks back from a friend living in California.  My last post raved about my fascination with Lodi.  I was told to try Klinker Brick.  http://www.klinkerbrickwinery.com/

I truly cannot say enough positive things about these two bottles that I tried.  They were absolutely wonderful!  I had the Old Vine Zinfandel and the Farrah Syrah.  We were out of the Old Ghost...but I can promise you I will be trying that as soon as we get it back in stock.  Very deep flavor, very rich and spicy.  I fell in love at first sip.  Both retail at about $20/bottle.  I will have to say it is well worth it.  

Drink it up!

Lucky Me!

It's been a lot of fun experimenting and searching for new wines.  I have become more willing to try new items and spread my wings (so to speak).  I am more confident in my abilities to pick out something that I think I will like based on location, varietal, and price.  Lately my eye has been focused on Lodi.  I had been seeing this location on several of the wines I have been drawn to lately.  Lodi is located in the northern portion of California's Central Valley. Good to know.

I found a neat little website:  http://www.visitlodi.com/  which gives a lot of great information about this city, which I now have on my bucket list of travel destinations.  It is located 35 miles south of Sacramento and 90 miles east of San Francisco.  

All of this to tell you that I have found a wonderful, amazing, beautiful wine this week while stopping in to World Market.  Cameron Hughes 2012 Lodi Field Blend Lot 477.  A perfect blend of Zinfandel, Syrah, and Petite Sirah.  Holy Mother of God, this is amazing.  I mean it.  Find it.  Drink it.  Get a few bottles.  I only got one and will be stopping on my way home tonight and clearing them out of whatever they have left.  I mean it.  

In my opinion, this is a very full bodied wine, but not overpowering.  The spiciness of the blend combines with a beautiful finish.  Retailing for around $13/bottle, you cannot go wrong.  I love it when I get lucky!!!

Homecoming

I made a very special trip home to Pennsylvania this past weekend.  While I do not get home often, it's even rarer that I get to go home with both of my boys.  This would be the first time in quite a while.  We drove.  Being in a car with a 12 year old and a 3 year old for close to 10 hours is not as fun as it sounds...but, we made it.  There are a few things that I must do when driving to Pittsburgh.
1.  Stop in West Virginia at the New River Gorge Bridge.
2.  Get excited when we go through the tunnels and tel my kids about Natalie and I being so hungry that one time we referred to Big Walker Mountain Tunnel as the Big Whopper Mountain tunnel.
3.  Get everyone ready to come out of the Fort Pitt Bridge tunnel...is there any view more amazing???

But this is supposed to be about WINE.  Did I mention my mom and Glenn do not drink?  Upon my arrival, I relaxed a bit and announced that I was going to head up to the State Store to purchase a bottle of wine.  No grocery store purchases in PA.  To my surprise (and dismay) my mom tells me that she has wine for me.  Deep inside I started to panic a little.  What the heck could she possibly have?  My wine snobbery was starting to rear its ugly head.  She actually said that I should write about the wine in my blog and tell everyone about how awful it was and that I HAD to drink it because nobody wants to offend a non-drinker.  At this point I had still yet to see what the heck she had!!!

She took me in to the cellar and pulls out two bottles of wine that are still in the Christmas wrapping she received them in.  Who gives a recovering alcoholic wine for Christmas???  I decided not to ask.  She pulls out a bottle of Woodbridge Pinot Grigio.  I ask if she possibly has red?  The next bottle, Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon.  The big bottle.  Wrapped up for Christmas.  Sweet!  I mean, come on...it could have been worse.  Right?  


Right?................

Change

I love finding and tasting new wines.  This has not always been the case.  It used to be that I was afraid to branch out and try something new.  I was always buying the same 2 or 3 wines over and over.  Now, its rare for me not to have something new in my house that I have found on any given wine expedition.  I got really lucky over the past week with some amazing finds.  Hold onto your socks because you are really going to like these new ones!

Again, props to Best Bottle for having a wonderful selection from which I have found some of my favorites.  Once again, they did not disappoint.  Hey Mambo 2011 Sultry Red.  With a tag line reading:  Laid-back guys, Stand-out wines, how could I go wrong.  Oh my was this nice.  Jammy fruit with with hints of spice!  Notes of dark cocoa and a smooth oak finish.  This was a beautiful find.  Dominated by Sirah, this is a true blend that really got it right.  http://www.togwines.com/wines/hey-mambo/2011-sultry-red/  Hey Mambo retails for about $10/bottle and I highly recommend you find yourself a bottle of this!

Another one I tried was one I had been eyeing for some time.  I threw caution to the wind and made the purchase this time.  And I am SO glad I did.  "The Other" 2011 Red Wine, Estate Grown, Lodi.  Wow.  A beautiful blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 10% Syrah.  I have to admit I was really intrigued by this blend.  I am generally not a Merlot fan, but mixed in with the other varietals, I really enjoyed.  I was immediately hit by the aroma of blackberries and spice.  This wine has a wonderfully long, seductive finish.  This wine would pair well with a variety of dishes.  I had this with a plate of cheese and crackers; but will definitely look to pairing it with my pizza fetish next time around.  "The Other" retails for around $15/bottle.

Sometimes a little change will do  you good.  You have to step out of your little world and discover what else is out there.  In this case, I am so glad I did.  Enjoy!

Losing your cool

It's freaking ridiculously hot and it's just June 11th.  I am already annoyed with the sweat-fest, puddle inducing runs that have become the norm this early in to base training.  Plus I am feeling a bit dehydrated as of late which has impacted my ability to enjoy wine once this week.  For shame.

I drink a lot of water throughout the day.  I need to.  We do some brutal workouts and runs during the summer time.  I know the importance of staying hydrated; but sometimes, you just cannot get enough in.  I have literally had a headache since last night at 6:20pm and I am blaming it solely on being dehydrated.

Wine might help?  (I did refrain last night due to said headache, but the headache has not gone away...so back to wine...)

I had been avoiding a particular bottle of wine at Trader Joe's since I started going there for wine purchases.  You may have seen the bottle:

I am all about the bottle.  This one has just always struck me in a way that screams:  I am not going to be what you are looking for.  I will admit when I am wrong...but this was not one of those times.  I mean, don't get me wrong it didn't suck...I did finish the bottle...but it will be a one and done purchase.  Project Happiness 2010 Syrah from California. The label says it all:

Finally, somebody put it in a bottle.  Happiness.  Sure took a while, though.  Seeking happiness?  What makes happiness?  We winemakers pondered this one afternoon in the Cellar.  Marriage?  Kids?  Satellite TV?  Get your boss fired.  Remember the 1950s, try to forget the 1980s.  Wear searsucker at least once.  Adopt a dog?  Maybe a cat.  Perhaps you're more the box turtle type>
As bold supporters of the mischief that ensues upon opening a bottle, we pose the question to you and hope that in the end, you at least believe in the satisfaction of an empty bottle...What makes you happy?

Hmmm.  Good question.  I will ponder it while drinking a bottle of...something else.

Night Swimming

When I was younger we belonged to a community pool.  We spent most summer days and weekends at Bel-View with friends.  Some of the best memories I have of that pool were the Night Swims that they had every so often.  I don't know what made the pool more magical at night...but it was.

I have a big blow up pool in my back yard for Chase.  I just bought it last weekend.  I have this little habit of not being very observant...so I didn't realize that this pool was not technically a "blow-up"pool.  I would need a compressor.  So, once that hurdle was overcome, we were able to add water and enjoy.  It made for a very fun weekend.

I also made a quick trip to Trader Joe's where I found something new.  Little did I know that I would later be enjoying the find in the pool the very next evening.  Monday was a long day.  I didn't get home from all of my activities until close to 8:00pm.  After scrubbing the kid and pouring a glass of wine, I decided to sit outside.  In the empty pool.  With the bottle.  I truly hope that the neighbor's were not peeking out their windows.  It was comfortable.  It was fun.  It was silly...but I was enjoying my own version of night swimming.

Trader Joe's 2012 Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, GSM Reserve.  A blend of 52% Syrah, 38% Grenache, and 10% Mourvedre.  Man did I get lucky with this one.  It was an oddly cool evening in my pool.  The subtle spiciness of this wine went perfectly with the breeze.  I have to admit, I was glad I brought the entire bottle outside with me so that I would not have to move again.  This was a $9.99 bottle at TJ's.  If you are able to, I recommend you stock up.  I have to admit that I had another bottle the very next night.  Although the second bottle was not enjoyed in the pool, I still enjoyed it just the same.

Next time I am filling the pool up before I get in.  I want the true night swimming experience!  Maybe this weekend...

Enjoy!

Recovery

It's no secret that I like to drink wine.  A lot.  What you may not know is that in addition to wine, I do occasionally partake in the drinking of beer and even sometime liquor.  Its not often.  But it does happen.  And usually when you combine the three, you have an epic evening with great friends.

Last weekend our girls racing team took a trip to the U.S. National Whitewater Center for a Canopy Tour.  We left Saturday afternoon to make the drive to Charlotte, NC.  We all decided it would be nice to open a bottle of wine for the drive up.  (Not our driver!!!)  We ended up polishing off 3 bottles of wine on the hour drive.  It was a variety drive.  Sawtooth Syrah was the one I was enjoying.  I have mentioned this before, as it hails from Idaho.  We arrived and took a taxi to our dinner destination.  The String Bean.  I perused the wine list and settled on a bottle of 2010 Temptation Zinfandel.  Not disappointed at all!!!  The 2010 includes a small anount of Petite Sirah to heighten the flavor and add a little more dark fruit to the palate.  There are aromas of raspberry, plum, and citrus.  Of course, I am keen on the spicy black pepper taste that makes this wine wonderful.   We polished off a few bottles with our pizza.  A great combination.

Doing some research I discovered that the wine is a pretty good bargain at about $15/bottle.  The nice thing was I was able to share this with my friends.  We all liked this selection.  That was where the wine fun ended.

We hit our next stop and we switched over to beer.  And shots.  And to be quite honest, my mind gets a little fuzzy in trying to recreate the scene.  So I won't.  I'll just share some lovely pictures that capture the evening.  We shut down the town of Belmont, NC.  The town may never be the same.

The good news is we made it the following morning and really enjoyed the Canopy Tour.  If you have not tried something like this, it is a wonderful adventure!  Although it took me a full two days to recover, I would do it all over again!

The Lie about the Truth

We all know that saying about two sides to every story.  I have recently found out (the hard way) there are actually about 36 sides to every story.  Keeps life interesting.  If you tell me something, I will believe it.  I am a complete sucker.  Gullible to a fault.  Seriously, make something up and tell me about it.  I will believe you.  This has gotten me in trouble several times.  Yet, I continue to make the same mistake.  I don't mind this fault of mine.  You know why?  Because the truth is that sometimes its not a bad thing to just believe.  While it may cause me some uncomfortable moments, it's really not about me.  I choose to trust. The thing is that truth always has a habit of coming to light.  I always seem to get hit in the face with it when it would be much easier to just simply be kept in the dark.  Nope, if I had a dollar for every time I was hit with the truth in the face after believing, I would be in my mountain house in Brevard sitting in the hot tub sipping a gorgeous bottle of wine...

And speaking of wine...I made a stock up trip to Trader Joe's this week to pick up some new goodies.

Going to tell you about two that I have tried this week.  As you are aware, I love Trader Joe's wine selection because you can experiment with several wines and not break the bank.  So far on the taste o' meter, I would say I have hit the jackpot with what I have tried so far.

Let's talk about 2012 Benefactor Cellars Shiraz.  This is a gorgeous bold and spicy Shiraz from South Eastern Australia.  And at $5.99 per bottle, can you say grab two?  Deep color and the spice that I am drawn to.  I will definitely add this to my routine stock ups at TJ's.  Cool freaking bottle, too.

Winemaker's Description:  "There are those who have mourned your passing with many a tear, many a boo hoo.  But we celebrate the generosity of your death.  Those wines which once taunted us from beyond our price range now pour happily - affordably, deliciously, attainably - into our glasses, thanks to you.  A toast to failed predictions!  To bloated, insupportable markets! Here's to the benefactor!"

I also got lucky with the Pascual Toso 2012 Malbec from Argentina.  The winery was established in 1890 by Pascual Toso, a winemaker from Italy.  This wine is 100% Malbec.  This wine has a perfect blend of both red and black fruit with that smokiness/leathery spice mixed in.  I would highly recommend an aged cheese as the perfect companion to this wine.  Some other recommended pairings include creamy pastas, barbeque or spicy dishes.  Again, a find at under $10/bottle.  

I am telling you my truth when I tell you these are some fabulous wines.  Go ahead, you can believe me.  

The Voice in my head

Sometimes the little voice in my head is annoying.  You know why?  Because its usually right.  I hate being wrong.  Especially when it comes to feelings and emotions.  Those who know me well know that I tend to wear my emotions on my sleeve.  I would love to be able to hide this fault in my persona, but it's there...for the world to see.  Good days, bad days, sad days, you will know it.  I can't hide it.

But, I can pair it with some wine to make myself feel a bit better, right?  I have some wines to catch up on.  I've had quite a few surprises over the past week and I have actually tried a brand new varietal that I can tell you about for the first time ever in my blog.

My first treat is Chateau Tanunda Grand Barossa 2011 Shiraz.  All I can say is this was love at first sip.  (I still believe in that.)  Grand Barossa Shiraz epitomizes the premium international reputation for Shiraz which has made the Barossa Valley famous.  Aromas of blackberry, plum and black pepper are accompanied by spicy, dark berry fruits.  Absolutely glorious!  This wine from Australia hails from the oldest and grandest Chateau- the site of the very first vines planted in the Barrosa in 1845.  Retailing for about $25/bottle it is well worth it.

And for something brand new for me.  Zinfandel.  I finally made the leap of faith.  I kept being told if I liked it spicy I needed to get a bottle of Zinfandel.  I debated and debated while I was in the wine section of Trader Joe's.  I stocked up on several bottles and one lone bottle happened to be the Trader Joe's Zinfandel Paso Robles Lot #84.  This wine is bold and fruit driven with raspberry, black cherry and the much anticipated peppery finish.  It truly was a treat treat treat at $9.99 a bottle.  I will definitely be heading back to grab a few more of these before they are gone.

Gonna keep working on that emotion thing, too.   Maybe one day I will learn.

Bring It

I think we just skipped right over Spring.  We went from nice cool weather to heat.  No real transition.  I know I just need to suck it up and deal with it, because the heat isn't going anywhere.  We are just getting started.  In a few weeks I will be begging for temperatures like they are right now.  Then we will get hit with the humidity.  So I picked a great time to start training for my very first marathon.  Bring it.

I have had the pleasure of trying out some additional wonderful wines over the past week.  First is Zaca Mesa 2009 Syrah.  This is a California winery located in Santa Barbara County.  The wine is 99% Syrah, 1% Viognier.  Interesting.  There is a rich blackberry, mocha, sage spice flavor and aroma.  There is a very silky finish to this wine.  I have to admit I am liking these Syrah's more and more as I continue to delve in to this varietal.  This wine retails for about $25 per bottle.

My next super ridiculous find...super ridiculous because the bottle was under $10 and insanely superb, was Iuvene Rioja.  This Tempranillo from the Rioja region of Spain was truly a great find.  I purchased this at Best Bottle based on its description:  dark fruit flavors with a peppery spice.  Yep.  My kind of wine.  I describe is as super spice right from the start.  I went back for more only to find it was sold out.  Next time I find this I will be smart and buy as much as possible.  At this price it's possible.  

I am looking forward to my drive home tonight.  It's Friday and in addition to a few treats I scored at work, I will most likely be stopping by Best Bottle to see what new treats I can pick up.  Unfortunately, I will be dry tonight in preparation for a 10k race tomorrow morning.  But I will make up for it Saturday.

Sip on!

Argentina Edition

After coming off of a slightly disappointing 10K at Cooper River, I really had been looking forward to my next race which happened to be a 5 miler here in Columbia this past weekend.  While I did not set and personal records, I did manage to win overall Master's and take home some cash, and take home a top 10 finish.  For a race this large, I am happy to have met those goals.  There are days we have it and days we don't.

There are wines that have it, and some that don't.  I am fortunate that lately I have been getting very lucky with my selections.  I have been actually picking out some on my own without assistance from my wine guru and have been pleasantly surprised at the results I have had.  Let's talk about Salvatore Principe Malbec.  This wine hails from Argentina in the Mendoza region.  One of my favorite wine regions.

 
I love this Malbec.  I found this at World Market and actually went back and bought the last of the bottles that were in the store!  Very nice deep red Malbec with a medium body and that spice and smoky subtle taste that I enjoy.  Of course, this pairs perfectly with pizza, vegetables and cheese.  Three of my favorite things.  I have not been able to find any more of this since my last purchase, but will remain on the lookout.  I know I did not pay over $10 for this bottle; so it's quite the bargain.  I do have one more bottle at home that I am saving for a rainy day.

My next bottle is a red bland from Argentina.  Chakana Estate Selection Red Blend 2012.  This is a blend of 60% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Shiraz.  Yum.  What a perfect blend.  This wine is also deep red with violet undertones.  Dark fruits and exotic spices with tobacco and hints of mocha emerge right away.  There is a wonderful balance of these varietals and again, I will go back for more.  This one has more of that bold bang to it when you are in the mood for something to really hit you.

And the darn bottles are so pretty!  I just can't help myself when I go in to the stores and see these beautiful bottles with the perfect descriptions underneath.  I purchased the Chakana from Best Bottle.  Retail for this beauty is around $27/bottle.  Well worth it, as I continue to read that this wine will be going up, up, up in price!

Happy Sipping!

Who wants to be Idaho?

Its been a little over a week.  I have been a little busy with...life in general, I guess.  I have two absolutely fantastic wines to tell you about this week.  I think in my last post, I mentioned my new favorite little wine shop:  Best Bottle, located in Woodhill Plaza.  I have a great fondness for this place because of the wonderful variety of wines that they carry.  It is really a great place to go in to.  Whether you are a wine novice or have a little more experience, the owner is a huge help in helping you find just what you are looking for.  It's my new go-to place when I am looking for something special to try.

This week I found just that.  The last thing you probably think about when you are thinking about wine hot spots is Idaho.  Idaho?  Wine?  Huh?  In doing a little research on Sawtooth, the winery was opened in the late 1980's.  At present time there are about 45 + wineries in Idaho.  Who knew?  Not me.  But now I am curious.  I purchased a bottle of Sawtooth 2011 Estate Grown Syrah.  Oh my God!  This is amazing.  A very dark and savory red with amazing spice notes right from the smell to the first taste and finish.  I absolutely loved this bottle.  It amazed me...not just because it was from Idaho, but because I am early on in my Syrah sipping phase and I was blown right away.  Call it beginners luck.  If I were you, I would find a bottle of this ASAP.  This retails for around $20/bottle.  I was sad that when I went back today, they were actually out of this.  See...it's that good!

Next on the list is Wild Oats Shiraz hailing from Australia.  http://www.wildoatswine.com/the-wild-oats-story/  The website gives you the history of the wine and region.  This is a velvety red wine with some spicy characteristics.  I am a slave to the spice.  Value wine at around $10 per bottle.


Just a little education.  I did not know this, but have learned that Shiraz and Syrah are one and the same.  I was quite confused at first, but my handy, dandy, wine teacher let me in on this little secret.  I felt really silly at first, but hey...you have to learn some time.

Now that the weather is finally starting to get warmer, I will branch out soon into some white varietals.  Until then...sip on!

Discovery

Sorry for the delay in getting this post out to you.  I have been incapacitated by a bug thrust upon me by a devilish 3 year old.  While said bug did put a damper on some wine time...I did manage to ingest a few especially tasty treats in the days leading up to my downfall.  

LoNuevo Vilata 2012 Monastrell-Syrah, Old Vines, Jumilla.  Talk about some beautiful spicy aromas right from the first smell with a peppery finish.  This is a wonderful bottle to sit back and really enjoy.  I am also finding that I am intrigued with the Jumilla region, as this is the second bottle I have tried an absolutely adored.  This is a blend of 85% Monastrell/15% Syrah.  Again, I cannot ignore my passion for wines from Spain.  This does not disappoint.  And a great value coming in around $12-$15 per bottle. I discovered this at my new favorite little wine shop, Best Bottle Wine and Gifts located in the Shoppes at Woodhill on Garners Ferry.  Go in if you have not!  

My second treasure found this week was Unban Uco Malbec Tempranillo 2012.  Hailing from the Uco Valley in Argentina, this blend of 50% Malbec / 50% Tempranillo is another wonderful value red blend that you should jump up and grab.  I have already gone back and purchased a back up bottle of this one.  This is a medium-full bodied wine with a deep purple-red color.  I love it when a wine grabs you right from the start and this does not disappoint.  Another value coming in at $15.00 per bottle.  

Now that I am back on the road to recovery, I will be sure to have some additional great finds for you next week.  

Cheers!

 

Excitement

I am finding it really hard to be calm this week.  I have a HUGE race coming up this weekend and I am very excited about it.  It is a mix of excitement and nervousness and elation.  Quite the combination of emotions.  I am excited because I have a seeded entry.  I am nervous because I have a seeded entry.  I am elated...because I have a seeded entry.  It's quite a bit of responsibility being laid on me.  Regardless (or irregardless for my 'special' friends) I am looking forward to heading to Charleston to partake in the Cooper River Bridge Run.

I am also excited to share with you some amazing finds that I have happened upon in the past week.  First let me tell you about  Marques de Casa Concha 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon from Puente Alto, Chile.  Amazing.  This wine has a very flavorful and spicy taste.  100% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine is deep ruby in color.  I would describe is as medium bodied with a nice lingering finish.  I found this bottle at Whole Foods and it was right over $20.  It paired wonderfully with my cheese and crackers I had been snacking on.

My next wonderful find was Juan Gil 2011 Jumilla Red Wine, another from Spain.  Holy.  I cannot express my love for this wine!!!  This is a 100% Monastell wine highlighting smooth plum and red berry flavors.  This wine is wonderfully aromatic.  It is a mix of dark fruit, sweet spice, black pepper, and smoky oak.  I have to say that this is one of my new favorites.  This retails for about $15 per bottle.

I also received a wine gift this week that I want to tell you about.  The Rabbit.  Many of you may have heard of this tool or may already have one.  I hadn't.  I was told it would change my life.  I think I am a smarter person after just two corks of use.  I really like this nifty contraption.  I am very adept at using your regular wine tool opener...although I will admit I cut myself more often than not on the little retractable knife used for removing the foil seal.  And when I cut myself, I do it well.  So, I have fairly consistent stab marks on my hands from my wine habit.  This being said, the rabbit leaves no room for error.  It's Shannon-proof.  One flick of the wrist and your cork is out and you can start sipping away!  If you do not have one, I would highly recommend the purchase of one...or tell someone you love to buy it for you for  your next gift exchanging occasion.  You will not be disappointed.


Happy uncorking!

Spicy

I have found a new wine fixation.  Spice.  I have fallen in love with having a bit of spice in my life, so to speak.  I have found this in the form of some new varietals that I have been testing and truly enjoying.  Let's talk about Atteca Garnacha Old Vines 2011.  Another of my Spain super finds!

Read this expert review I found on line:
90 Points - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Sep/Oct 13
"(100% garnacha; fermented in stainless steel and aged for 10 months in French Oak): Glass staining ruby.  Ripe red berries and fresh rose on the oak-spiced nose.  Silky and sweet, offering vibrant raspberry and cherry-vanilla flavors and a touch of bitter chocolate.  Zesty mineral and cracked pepper notes add energy to the long, spicy, red fruit-dominated finish."

All I can add is WOW.  I mean, first of all the bottle is beautiful.  Second, the price is right on at under $15 per bottle.  I cannot tell you enough positive things about this wine.  I am sold on Garnacha as a new favorite.  This is the second bottle I have tried and I am eager to open up the next one I find.

My next find was a 2012 Trapiche Malbec.  This is from Mendoza- Argentina.  Another beautifully spicy, full bodies wine that I pleasantly tripped over on a breakage spree in our warehouse.  Lucky for me, I actually scored a few bottles so I will be able to have a repeat performance with this one sooner rather than later.  Very deep red color, this wine paired nicely with my Friday night pizza habit.

Another sub $15.00 bottle.  You need to try this one out.

They say that variety is the spice of life.  I will have to agree.  I am looking forward to continuing to test out these different wines.  I hope you enjoy as well!

Weird Weather

I am over this weather.  It's nuts.  One day I am running in tights, a hat, gloves, jacket, etc...the very next day I am in shorts and a t-shirt and sweating to death.  I am just waiting to get sick.  Of course, I refuse.  So one of the things I do in order to keep healthy is drink wine.  Yep...sure fire way to keep away germs.  Try it...you will see.

I have had a fling going on with some Paso Robles wines as of late.  Let me tell you about Stonehedge 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles.  Stonehedge is a small family wine producer specializing in the production of high quality handcrafted wines.  This is a Trader Joe's find for about $7.99 a bottle.  I am partial to Paso Robles wines.  Kind of like what you see is what you get.  Luckily, what you get is a very tasty and smooth Cabernet with a delicious lingering finish.  I will be going back for more of this tasty bottle.

Another wine I had the opportunity to try was Ravenswood Besieged.  This is a blend of Old Vine California heritage varietals.  It is a limited release, small production specialty wine.  This one is a funky bold blend that I really enjoyed.  Very deep red with that spicy finish I love in my wines.  It's a decent bargain as well at only $14 per bottle.  Plus...what a pretty bottle!

I am hopeful that the mass majority of the cold weather is behind us and we can sneak back in to spring and start delving in to our warmer weather whites!  Stay tuned because I think it won't be too long...

Something new...

I am always hesitant to try a completely foreign wine.  What if I hate it?  I am very lucky to have a wine source that has come to know exactly the flavors I am looking for in my wine.  Because of him, I scored two of the best bottles of wine as a gift from my Strictly Running relay team as a thank you for coordinating some of our weekend events while at the race.  As I mentioned in my last excerpt, we WON the women's open relay event!  As a matter of fact, we were 2nd finishers overall out of all of the teams that entered.  Pretty decent.

First we have Tres Picos Borsao Garnacha.  This was my first Garnacha experience and I will go back for more.  Another wonder from Spain, this is a right up my alley with the spicy taste and deep red color.  I am honestly in love with this particular wine. I went out to find another bottle immediately after I finished.  OK, so not immediately...but the same week.  Just a little tid bit of information for you about the Borsao winery:

Founded in 1958 in the town of Borja, called Borsao in the 4th century B.C., this winery represents what can be done with Garnacha, a grape that is not well appreciated by the Spanish press.  Through meticulous selection, work in the fields and at reception time in the winery, modern winemaking produces this highly fruity wine.  One of the best examples of the region known as "The Garnacha land of Spain", the lower part of the Ebro River.

I must admit, I am confused as to why this is not more appreciated.  It truly is a great wine.  Purchased at Whole Foods for $17, it is a great buy.

My second bottle was Rio Madre Rioja.  What a freaking bargain for such a great taste!  I mean it.  You can score this tasty little number for under $10/bottle.  Stock up! If you can find this in bulk, do yourself a favor and go for it.

From the bottle:

"This rare wine is a culmination of many years of hard work and determination.  We are finally able to release a wine that is made from Graciano grapes grown in Rioja.  Join us in celebrating this unique release and enjoy a glass of this most unusual Rioja.

The Graciano grape has long been fundamental to the wine industry in Rioja.  Winemakers depend on it to add a wonderful floral bouquet and complexity to their blends.  Rarely has it been used on its own.  Several years ago we notices that our estate grown Graciano vineyards, which surround the town of Alfaro, were capable of producing a wine which exemplifies the best that the grape has to offer.  The deep, almost opaque color, the exuberant aromas and luscious flavors of blackberries and cherries tells you this is not a wine to be taken lightly but rather it should be enjoyed to its fullest."

Um, yep.  That about sums it up.  This was another first for me with a Graciano.  Again, I will admit, I was blown away.  

Sometimes something different is exactly what you need.  I am glad I stretched out of my comfort zone to try these phenomenal wines.

Happy sipping!!

Getting it...

I started this wine blog in attempts to educate my little brain about as many different wines as possible.  I have not been at this gig long.  I have to say, though, that I am truly enjoying it and I am actually starting to learn something about my tastes and preferences which is really cool.  To me, anyway.  I have discovered that there are certain areas that I prefer over others when it comes to my favorite wines.  I have found myself being drawn to Spain, Paso Robles, and New Zealand.  This is interesting to me because I didn't think I would pick up on these subtle trends until a little further down the road.  Now, when I head out on a wine spree, if I see a wine hails from one of these regions I snatch it up because I am probably going to like it.

Another thing I have decided is that I need to get my butt to a vineyard.  This is going to be a huge goal of mine that I am sure will not happen soon enough.  I know I will need to do a lot of research on this before it ever comes to fruition.

With that being said, my selections for you this week are Cortijo Rioja Tempranillo and Foxglove Cabernet Sauvignon.

The Cortijo Rioja is 100% Tempranillo from the Rioja region of Spain.  This is fermented in stainless steel followed by two months in small French oak barrels.  This wine is very nice.  There is a slight peppery taste, which I also a partial to.  Nice finish, very smooth.  Another selling point of these nice wines from Spain is the price point!  We are talking under $10 per bottle for a very nice bottle.  I have talked about Vina Eguia in the past...this one ranks up with my extreme love for that bottle.  We will go back for more.

While being snowed in last week, I made a brief escape and headed out to Whole Foods for my next score.  Foxglove Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon.  At about $16 retail, this bottle truly blew me away.  I highly recommend this wine.  This is a very full-bodied, bold wine with a beautiful finish.  I don't know what it is about this region, but I will continue on my Paso Robles trek as I am enjoying every glass.





As a little side note, I must mention that our ladies running team WON the Myrtle Beach Marathon Relay Open Women's Category.  We finished in 2:49:23 and had a wonderful time.  Visit next week to see the goodies I purchased from a cute little wine shop while in town!

Pizza time!

I absolutely love pizza. No big surprise there as I am sure I have mentioned my pre race ritual of eating as much pizza as possible. I tend to order from Marco's before races because their pizzas are great and they deliver. I am lazy the night before I race. So, it will come as no surprise to hear that for our latest Strictly a Running ladies night out we chose a pizza place...Za's to be precise. I had not been there before and was looking forward to trying out a new place. I will say right away, I like this place!


 We ordered a bottle of The Pessimist Cabernet Sauvignon to start. This is a Paso Robles, California wine. The thing I noticed right away was a slight peppery/spicy taste. This was not too bold. Easy to drink. This was the recommended bottle by our waitress. This retails for about $11.00 per bottle. It was a tasty companion to or dinner. Did I mention that the pizza here is great? I had a pesto, shrimp, tomato pizza and it rocked!! I will definitely be coming back again.

 We needed another bottle and went with the second recommendation Dynamite Cabernet Sauvignon. Wow!!! This one really blew me away (pun intended). So doing some research on this wine I find out the name comes from the location in which the grapes are grown: in the Red Hills of California's North Coast they had to blow out the side of the mountain to plant the first Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard, hence the name, Dynamite. This is a true California Cabernet. Big, bold, rich, and dark. This wine has a very smooth taste and finish. In my opinion this was the better of the bottles we tried. I will get more of this one as soon as possible.  Retails for about $15 per bottle.

Looks like we are in for some more ice and snow here in balmy South Carolina.  Good thing I stocked up to get me through the next few days.  I will keep you posted!

Celebrations

Sometimes you need a really decent bottle of wine for a celebration.  This past weekend just happened to be one of those times.  Saturday morning was The Long Run 15k here in Columbia, SC.  While I must admit I was expecting warmer temperatures, I cannot complain about my race.  I have not run a 15k in a very long time.  I did a little research and knew what pace I wanted to hit.  I have a rule to never mention my target out loud before a race because you just never know what can happen.  Now that it is over I can tell you that I wanted to hit 62:30 for this race.  A 15k is 9.3 miles.  This was going to be a hilly course through the Columbia and West Columbia area.  Mile 4-5 and mile 7-8 were brutal.  I crossed the finish line is 62:06.  Thrilled with my time and happy with the race.

The better part about this race was that a majority of my teammates also ran.  For the 15K, the Strictly Running ladies team went 2, 5, 6, 7 in place.  For the 5K, the Strictly Running Ladies team went 1, 2!!!  Red Storm!

We had some celebrating to do!  Luckily, I had stocked up on a few bottles before the weekend just in case this goal came to pass.  Saturday night I popped open a bottle of Vina Eguia Rioja Tempranillo.  A few weeks ago, I told  you all about the Crianza.  This is its bolder older sister.  Very smooth and just rich enough for the chilly weather that hung on all day Saturday.  I am a proud supporter of these beautiful wines from Spain.  This one retails for about $15 per bottle.  Not too much to splurge on for the great taste. I am telling you, if you can find this, get it.  You will not be disappointed.



Another find this week came from our trusty Trader Joe's.  I threw caution to the wind and bought the 2013 La Finca Malbec from Argentina.  This was a very deep red, almost purple color.  Very robust, deep, hearty flavor.  I was pleasantly surprised because I have only tested a few of these and they have been higher dollar.  I figured that I would give this a go knowing that I was only out a few bucks if I did not enjoy.  I had this with a wonderful pasta tortellini dinner and will definitely buy it again.

More wines to taste as I head to dinner with the SR Ladies this week and also to Dallas for work!  Stay tuned.  

Baby It's Cold Outside!

I am originally from Pittsburgh, Pa.  I grew up sled riding, ice-skating, building snow forts, and having snow ball fights in the winter.  We looked forward to those snow days and to having the day off to get all of the kids in the neighborhood together for a ridiculous sled riding event.  Once we were completely numb we would all pile into someone’s house and put our clothes in the dryer while we sat around in our long john’s drinking hot chocolate.  Once our clothes were dry and we had thawed a bit we bundled back up and went back for more. 

I have been in the balmy south for 20 years.  I have to admit I have completely acclimated to not having snow every year.  Yes, it gets cold, but really, its South Carolina cold.  What is a girl to do in South Carolina when the temperatures drop to 15 degrees?  Find a nice bottle of red wine and drink up!

I am happy to report that I have a very nice bottle to tell you about this week. 

2012 MontGras Cabernet Sauvignon - Carmenere.  This deep ruby red blend did not disappoint.  It is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Carmenere.  A wonderful blend from Chile.  I have realized I really do like wines from the Colchugua  area, as this is my second fab find from the area.  I am starting to like to experiment with wine blends and this one was a very nice combination of two of my favorites.  The wine retails for around $17 per bottle.  http://www.montgras.cl/fichas%20tecnicas/2012MontGrasXXAosING.pdf
This was the perfect wine to warm me up following a race that some good friends and I braved in sub 20 degree weather on Saturday morning.  The pace was hot, the weather was cold, and the wine made it all worth it that evening.  My crew all set Personal Records so the wine celebration was needed.

I know all the snow is not going to last long, so I will enjoy it for the brief moment it lasts.  This morning I decided to head out for a run in the snow with friends.  It really was fun to be out in the snow making those first tracks before the sun came up.  I think I'll need to find another bottle to keep me warm tonight!

Here's to staying warm and toasty!