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.
