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!

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!