The Guilty

Let me start off by saying I have now officially found my new favorite wine.  I am serious.  I have not tasted something in a while that has literally blown my socks off...but last night I experienced just that.  The Guilty Shiraz by Shinas Estate Wines in Australia is my new love.  Those of you who have read this often, know that I am a spice loving, bold-red kind of lady.  This wine was all of that and more.  The Guilty retails for around $20/bottle.

A bit about the Shinas family:  The family heritage is Greek, with wine making stemming back over 8 generations.  The Shinas family migrated to Australia in the early 1950's.  Originally they never sold the wines they made; they would consume a great portion of it and the rest was gifted to friends and family!  The demand became so high for the wines from friend and local restaurants, that in 2002 Shinas Estate Australia was formed.  I think that is pretty darn cool!!  Another cool fact:  The names for the wines come from owner George Shina's career as a judge in his hometown!  

This wine hit me hard from the moment I lifted my glass.  The color was a beautiful deep dark purple/red.  The peppery spice aromas and full bodied flavor packed with vanilla, oak, pepper, chocolate...Oh my GOD.  I'm telling you what.  This wine will not disappoint.  I actually bought a bottle at the wine bar to take home with me.  I have already visited their website and purchased an entire case.  I want you to make a point to go to Cellar on Greene and either have a glass or buy a bottle.  I mean it!  Go.  Now!!!

Supply and Demand

It's kind of funny, but the thought that went through my head this weekend while on my long run Saturday morning was this:  If the world ended today and I had to survive in a post-apocalyptic situation, I would only last about a week.  I am down to 7 bottles of wine in the house.  This is INSANE.  How in the world did I let it get to this?  For those who have seen my wine collection,  you know I generally have about 50+ bottles at any given time.  Not quite collector status, but plenty to get me through a good chunk of days without power, and running from zombie's if I needed to.  Not today.

I was thinking that a possible stock up would take place this weekend, but I was busy running around and cleaning out closets, doing laundry, the mundane tasks of life.  I need to get on it and soon.

So last night I didn't even open a new bottle.  Nope, I had half a bottle left from Saturday night and decided to just finish that off.  Its one of my favorite go to's for a Petite Sirah.  "With touches of fig, cocoa and licorice...has a very interesting and lingering finish.  Maggio is made by Oak Ridge Winery, the oldest operating winery in Lodi, California."

Ahhhh, Lodi.  What can I say.  I truly feel like I am rarely disappointed by wines from this region.  It is definitely one of my favorite areas.  This is most likely the first place I will visit when i start my winery rounds some time in the future!

Now to go and replenish by supply...the demand is definitely there!

Don't Call it a Comeback

I have been busy.  I have been stressed.  I have been getting back on the roads after a little recovery time.  I have been happy.  There is a lot going on right now.  I just hired a replacement for my HR Coordinator role that has been vacant a little over a month.  I just ran a strong post-injury 5K boosting my confidence a little for my final 5k of the season and my pending half marathon in Pittsburgh.  I am gearing up for a fun-filled summer.  Lots of good.

I purchased a bottle of wine last week that I had been looking forward to trying.  I had been getting low on my wine supply and went for a little stock up run and one of the bottles was a 2011 Conn Creek Cabernet Savignon from Napa Valley. This wine usually retails for around $35, but I scored it on sale at $26.

Smooth, smooth, smooth.  Per the web site:

"Opening aromas of blackberries, plums and dark chocolate carry through to the palate.  Accents of spring wildflowers, spiced honey, and pie crust highlight complexity.  Ripe focused tannins follow the flavors to a lingering cocoa powder finish."

What I can tell you is it was very nice.  Very smooth.  Perfect for my evening of relaxing on the back patio watching the sun set over the yard while Chase ran around like a crazy man enjoying the weather.  Yep...that's my kind of evening!