Friday, November 29, 2013

Thanksgiving and Black Friday

My ass has still not thawed out from my race on Thanksgiving morning. Holy Gee... 28 freaking degrees. I was bundled up nicely for our warm up, but knew eventually I would have to shed the layers and (wo)man up.  The bad thing about breathing in sub freezing temperatures in to your lungs is that it makes you hack for the rest of the day. I truly was nauseous upon finishing this race. My lungs were on fire. My toes were numb the entire time. I can honestly say that I was just happy to be done. 20:00 flat, although rounded up for the results as per protocol. My brilliant teammate Kenzie suggested we cool down by running to Starbucks for coffee. That made us feel much better! My SR teammates kicked ice. (Get it?). Kenzie was second overall, Linn won her age group, and I won mine. Turkey time.
Which means wine time. For our Thanksgiving dinner, I had a beautiful bottle of Estancia Meritage.  This was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verde, and Malbec. You need to know I do not eat meat, so a Thanksgiving dinner is a bit different for me. I make all the traditional fare for the folks that live with me. We had turkey, Boston butt, sausage stuffing, wild mushroom risotto, smashed potatoes, and dinner rolls. My Estancia was a good choice for the event. This is a California wine from the Central Coast. Looking at about $30 per bottle. It made for a very nice ending to a cold start.
So how about Black Friday?  I do not partake. I am an on-line shopper from way back. I have been doing it way before Cyber Monday meant anything. My plans today centered around a run, a few hours at work, Pure Barre, and then putting up the Christmas tree with Chase. The perfect companion for this activity was Trimbach Gewurtztraminer.  I have never had this variety before and have definitely found a new love. It's a spicy white that made decorating that tree an event in and of itself.  I really enjoyed this taste. Dry, spicy, and could pair well with some spicy little meals. Will be going back for more. This is a French wine and sells for about $24 a bottle.  Chase and I did a bang up job on the tree. I think the Gewurtztraminer was partially responsible for the beauty!
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Redemption!

After my disastrous wine weekend I was in major need of something completely amazing. I woke up Monday determined to redeem myself.  I had a better than expected shake out Monday morning with my neighbor after my ridiculous 14+ mile run Sunday.  Tired, but not sore.  I have one other passion that I have yet to mention that was introduced to me a few months back. If you have heard of Pure Barre, you too might be addicted. I managed to sneak in a class Monday before heading home to enjoy a treat.
If you have not yet tried 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon, go find a bottle now. What a wonderful, fulfilling, full bodied red! It truly is a new favorite. I had a bottle of this a few months back when my boss was in town at dinner at Ruth's Chris...so I would have to say if they are serving it there they know what they are doing. I actually got this on sale at World Market. It's a Washington state wine, which I have discovered I am quite a bit partial to. At about $12.00 a bottle it's a wonderful deal. And it rocks. The bottle is pretty, too. I finished it off and enjoyed each and every sip!
So what the heck do you follow that up with? I decided Tuesday to try something brand spanking new. This led me to select the Sterling Vintner's Collection Meritage. This is basically a blend of Merlot, Cabernet, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc.  I enjoyed this one.  I had never had a Meritage before and was pleasantly surprised  by the blend. I would definitely get this again.  Another bargain scored at World Market.
This morning I had to get up at 4:45am to drive my ass to Myrtle Beach. I was none to pleased about this, but a job is a job. I got lucky on the way home...I stopped at Trader Joe's and found something I was not looking for. 14 Hands makes a red blend called Hot to Trot. I had to buy it and try it for a pre-Thanksgiving treat. Wow. I truly thought this was just just as enjoyable as the Cabernet! I am now officially a fan of 14 Hands! Visit 14hands.com for more information. I will now have to try their others. There is a Hot to Trot White Blend as well! There is also a Reserve Red Blend, a Reserve, merlot, and a Reserve Cabenet Sauvignon. Cannot wait to try!
Thanksgiving morning I will be running a 5k with my friend Kenzie. I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving and will be in touch soon with my a Thanksgiving selections.
Wine on friends!


Monday, November 25, 2013

Time to Kick some Ass!


It’s a racing week.  I have one and possibly two 5K’s that I will be participating in this weekend.  I am coming off a PR high set at my most recent 5K about a month ago.  19:23 which I am still giddy about.  So, this week’s workout was to prepare me for my post PR 5K.  While I never want to get stingy with my running…I know deep in the recesses of my soul I want to do even better this week.  But, hey…I am just happy to be improving at this stage of my running career.  So fresh off my wicked great 10 x 400m workout which I crushed, I needed to relax with a glass of wine, or two. 
I had a smidge of Dearly Beloved Red that I polished off and then decided to open something that was given to me.  Something I had not tasted before.  Sovinello Private Collection Pinot Noir (2011).  This is ass in a bottle.  I cannot even describe to you what this tastes like, but I completely had to abort the tasting right away and sacrifice the bottle.  I could not do it.  Save yourself.  If vomitous was a word, I would use it.  So, now what?  I could not leave myself to an evening of disdain.  I had an old standby on hand for just such occasions.  By no means is this my favorite, but for a cheap Pinot Noir, I will drink it.  Woodbridge.  I have been ragged for drinking this several times, but it’s an easy drink and an easy pick.  You know what you are getting.  Plus, I needed to get the ass taste out of my mouth.  One little glass and I chalked this Wednesday up and decided tomorrow would be better. 



 


Friday on the way home from work I decided that I would stop off at World Market to do a bit of Christmas shopping.  It just so happened that they were also having a little wine sale, so what the heck.  If I bought 4 bottles I got 20% off.  OK.  I found 14 Hands Cabernet which was recommended to me by a fellow wine drinker in Chicago.  I also picked up Line 39 Pinot Noir and was recommended two bottles from a relatively cute guy who seemed to act like he knew his stuff; well…he had on a World Market uniform and was standing in the wine section…so I obliged.  Formation Pinot Noir and Sterling Vintner’s Collection Meritage were the two new ones that came home with me.
I usually do not drink the night before a Saturday race, but I wanted to test out the Line 39 Pinot.  I figured one itty bitty glass would by no means hurt me.  I liked this one.  I have had the Sauvignon  Blanc Line 39 before so I was hoping the Pinot would be pleasant as well.  For the money, it’s not a bad Pinot Noir.  http://www.cecchettiwineco.com/Our-Brands/Line39/Pinot-Noir  I will admit I do like their Sauvignon Blanc much better. 

Saturday I ended up winning my 5k in Pinopolis with a 19:40.  It was actually very humid, but the course was nice and I was pleased with the win.  With my $100 winnings we packed it up and headed home.  I was also ready to drink some wine as my week thus far had not produced anything I would consider fantastic.  I don’t know what forced me to try the Formation Pinot Noir instead of one of the others, but that is what I went for.  I also decided I was not going to go for the double dip in racing the evening run.

This weekend just wasn’t the wine weekend for me.  I hate to say it, but I was less than impressed with the wine guy’s recommendation of Formation.  There was no oomph.  It was watery and forced me to do something I rarely do…switch to iced tea for the remainder of the evening. 

This week we must redeem the wine testing.  The good thing is I have saved you from some potentially bad choices. 

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Round Trip: November 13-November 20


I hate traveling for work.  I do not like getting out of my routine.  I hate leaving my boys.  Its all enough to induce a minor panic attack.  Seriously.  Once I actually get on the plane, I am fine…it’s the sheer act of packing, driving to the airport and getting inside that kills me.  As much as it pains me to admit it, I sometime must rely on medication to get through this process.  Last Wednesday, I had the unfortunate problem of not being able to get in touch with my MD, so I had to take matters in to my own hands.  Wine. 

After crushing my Wednesday workout which consisted of a very ambitious tempo run progression in 30 degree temperatures, my pre-flight routine took a turn for the better.  I decided to open up the bottle of Smoking Loon Pinot Noir.  http://www.smokingloon.com/wine-pinot-noir.html  This wine is a good inexpensive yet tasty little Pinot Noir.  We are talking about a $10 bottle here.  I decided to have a few glasses, check my Facebook, and relax as much as possible before taking off.  It worked perfectly.  I was nice and calm by the time I had to depart to the airport.  Best part of the flight, besides having the one seat side all to myself, was that it was a direct flight to Dallas!

Dinner with the boss and a co-worker Thursday evening we had a bottle of Joel Gott 815 Cabernet Sauvignon.  http://www.gottwines.com/jgw/2012/06/01/815-california-cabernet-sauvignon/  This is a California wine.  I am finding my way back to Cabernet’s after a very long period of being away.  Cabernet’s used to be my all time favorite go-to wine.  Let’s just say one year on the Eve of New Year’s Eve I had a bit too much.  This is about a $17-18 bottle of wine.  It went very well with our cheese plate and steamed edamame that we decided to call dinner.  I actually wanted more of this, but we all split a bottle…this is one I will definitely try again. 

My flight home was delayed…so what do you do in the Dallas Airport when your flight is delayed?  You go to Chili’s bar.  After taking my first sip of Century Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, the man next to me asked how it was.  My response:  “better than I thought it would be.”  To which he tossed back: “If you aim for the cellar, there is nowhere to go but up.”  Not sure if it was truly a play on the fact that I was drinking Century Cellars, or not.  Regardless, I probably would not go searching high and low for this locally.  It was drinkable, but nothing to write home about.  It went well with my black bean burger and the bar company. 

Home sweet home for the weekend and I had a lot to do.  I made a quick trip to Trader Joe’s and bought my go-to reds:  Mission Point Pinot Noir ($7.99) and Dearly Beloved Red Blend ($8.99).  These wines are really great every days wines.  So I generally drink them every day.  Just in case, I also picked up my favorite white from Trader Joe’s as well:  Sauvignon Republic, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.  I am very partial to the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc’s.  I like their crisp flavor more so than the oak flavor in some California Sauvignon Blanc’s.   If you have ever tasted Kim Crawford and enjoyed that, you would also like Sauvignon Republic.  And if not, you are only out a few bucks!  I have found it to be very fun to try out different Trader Joe wines.  I actually picked up the Dearly Beloved because a 5 year old boy was trying to get his mother to buy it.  It’s a cool bottle.  She declined, but I told him I would try it.  Now if only I could thank him. 



Monday was Mark’s birthday!  In celebration we went to Mr. Friendly’s for dinner.  Oh my gosh…if you have not been you MUST try this place.  It is wonderful.  I think it is my new favorite place to eat in Columbia.  They have half price bottles of wine on special.  Not sure if this is just a Monday night thing, but I decided to go for it.  Keep in mind, Mark doesn’t partake in my vice, but he scored himself a very cool Belgium Farmhouse Ale:  Sofie.  I opted for Simple Life Pinot Noir, another California wine.  http://www.simplelifewinery.com/   It was great.  And half off!  From what I have found, I think the retail price is around $15.  I will be looking for this one.  I got scolded the next day at work when I let Cramer know this is what I had.  He kicked me out of his office and slammed the door behind me.  Ouch!

Tuesday night was another night on the town for me.  This is rare.  I am a homebody, but I have just had several opportunities this past week to get out and enjoy myself more than usual.  And what better way that at a Birthday party for a couple of friends!  We met at Liberty CafĂ©.  After I begged Cramer to let me back in his office, I asked him for recommendations on what RNDC wines I should have while out.  I was told I should get Liberty School Cabernet Sauvignon.  Must not disappoint Cramer again.  Wow.  I really did like this one.  http://www.hopefamilywines.com/wines/liberty-school.php?product=53    I say wow, again because I am happy to be enjoying the deeper reds again.  This was great.  I will be looking for some breakage around the office.  (wink, wink)  Probably should not have thrown the shot of tequila in there, but live and learn. 


If you have any specific questions about the wines from this week, please let me know.  I will be back again next Wednesday with more wine adventures!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

My very very first post!

Initial Sips...

I have liked wine for a very long time.  The scary thing is...in thinking back to my early wine days, they involved Franzia boxes and most likely were riddled with White Zin.  Not knocking that, it's just that thankfully, for me, my tastes have evolved.  
I am a novice.  I am by no means a snooty wine snob that can give you ridiculous advice on exactly what I taste when I taste a wine.  I know what I like and while I have picked up on some lingo, I am still learning.
I landed my dream job about 2 years ago.  I work in Human Resources for a wine and liquor distributor.  (WHAT?!?!?)  I have really been able to hone my interests and have tried so many new brands, types, and labels over these years.  

In addition to my wine passion, I have one other vice you will probably read about if you partake in my blog.  I am a runner.  I am a runner who drinks more wine than I probably should.  Maybe I would be better if I didn't drink as much.  But then I wouldn't be as happy!  So there is a trade off!  And I choose to continue to test (and taste) those wines!!

My plan is to write a review of the wines I have opened within the past week.  Since I am a creature of habit, I may mention some more than once, but I will attempt to throw in a new one each week.  In addition, I am thinking about starting a wine club with some running pals to get their input as well on the tests of the week.  

So...how much do I drink.  Here we go.  (Don't judge...)  I usually drink about a bottle of wine each evening.  This translates in to about 3 glasses for me.  Maybe I pour big glasses.  I have no idea.  Its what I do.  I mean how can I impart knowledge and recommendations if I don't finish the bottle?  If I had a partner in crime it might help...my my partner is strictly beer bound.  (More wine for me!!!)

How much do I run.  Again, don't judge.  I run an average of 50 miles per week.  It is my primary exercise and stress relief.  I have 3 boys.  OK, actually 2 boys, ages 3 and 12...and my man who I have to lump in the category.  I am not saying they cause all of my stress, but running gets rid of a lot of my excess stress and energy!  So forgive me if I impart some running information amid my wine drinking advice!  

So...stay tuned.  This will be a fun time.  If you have a recommendation for something I should try...by all means let me know.  I am open to test out a few new bottles!

Cheers!  

Shannon