I'm so excited!!
I can't wait for this gift to start giving!
Jason gave me a membership to a wine club that will be sending us a different red and white from all over the world each and every month for as long as we want!!
I will be able to rant and rave about wines from all over the world and tell you our jolly and interesting experiences with each bottle!
It isn't much of a blog but more of a brag. hehe!
Happy belated hearts day!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
My old friend, Seghesio
To me, Seghesio isn’t a wine, it is a factor in a past relationship. It was like a good friend who would visit and make an impression on the evening. I remember different evenings over different delicious meals and feeling that excited satisfaction to find Seghesio on the wine menu at that restaurant. I think the first time we had Seghesio was at Il Davide and then one time at Copia’s restaurant and after that it was given that if we were enjoying a wonderful meal, a romantic evening and our wallets weren’t too thin, it was a good evening for Seghesio.
I should clarify, it was their Zinfandel, and it was in 2006 and 2007 so their 2005 was probably what we were drinking.
It could stand on its own, but it would compliment the rich sauces we’d devour, it would still taste fine in its last ounce, while our table was being cleared. Like a red, it would create a purple smear across our teeth and present itself with every inebriated Cheshire cat smile of contentment.
It was a friend, an event on it’s own and a perfume we wore on our way out the restaurant door…
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
um, its pink.
rose, blush, white reds- they're all the same thing.
It is a pink version of a red, loosened up, sweetened up (some are actually slightly dry) and should be slightly chilled.
So, if you go to any wine tasting room this is what happens:
They begin to pour it and tell you how its great for a summer evening. It's a new, fresh version of their latest pinot noir, blah blah blah. it varies in temperature in each tasting room, which means no one knows whether to treat it like a red or like a white and they always, ALWAYS suggest you go on a summer picnic with ribs and a pink wine. ribs = guys, so, can you see this working? um can i hear a "hell no"? It's like ballet-dancing football stars, like actually enjoying it and taking it seriously. If you can show me a guy who thinks a rose wine is the best thing to go with a stack 'o ribs, then I'll show you a guy who's only trying to impress some pink-wine-loving chic.
And so, in real life, this is how it rolls:
Think about it, its sweet alcohol, the color pink, and it's ready to go to a girls night in, accompanied by home-spa treatments and gossip and embarrassing sneak farts. It's the evolved version of wine coolers. It's nice on it's own and i think it goes well with cesar salad or dry cheese with fruit. I've only had it with my mother over gossip magazines, with my friends over taco tuesday or by my lonesome, while reading a chic-brain-candy book.
lesson of the day: um no lesson really. But i dare you to count the number of times they mention "picnic" while pouring that sweet stuff. And I double doggy dare you (no backing down, now) to tell them, after you take a nice big swig, "ahhhh, well, its too bad i hate picnics! Yeah, my whole family died at the last picnic i attended. Never again...."
Ah yes, its the little things in life! Enjoy!
It is a pink version of a red, loosened up, sweetened up (some are actually slightly dry) and should be slightly chilled.
So, if you go to any wine tasting room this is what happens:
They begin to pour it and tell you how its great for a summer evening. It's a new, fresh version of their latest pinot noir, blah blah blah. it varies in temperature in each tasting room, which means no one knows whether to treat it like a red or like a white and they always, ALWAYS suggest you go on a summer picnic with ribs and a pink wine. ribs = guys, so, can you see this working? um can i hear a "hell no"? It's like ballet-dancing football stars, like actually enjoying it and taking it seriously. If you can show me a guy who thinks a rose wine is the best thing to go with a stack 'o ribs, then I'll show you a guy who's only trying to impress some pink-wine-loving chic.
And so, in real life, this is how it rolls:
Think about it, its sweet alcohol, the color pink, and it's ready to go to a girls night in, accompanied by home-spa treatments and gossip and embarrassing sneak farts. It's the evolved version of wine coolers. It's nice on it's own and i think it goes well with cesar salad or dry cheese with fruit. I've only had it with my mother over gossip magazines, with my friends over taco tuesday or by my lonesome, while reading a chic-brain-candy book.
lesson of the day: um no lesson really. But i dare you to count the number of times they mention "picnic" while pouring that sweet stuff. And I double doggy dare you (no backing down, now) to tell them, after you take a nice big swig, "ahhhh, well, its too bad i hate picnics! Yeah, my whole family died at the last picnic i attended. Never again...."
Ah yes, its the little things in life! Enjoy!
Monday, February 2, 2009
How does that money taste, buddy?
If you want to know more about something, you learn through a book or a class. If you want to know the best one, you ask yourself. Because no one should have to tell you what to think. But not a lot of people can think for themselves, and I can tell because critics are still making plenty of money.
One thing I've noticed about novice tasters is that they blend facts with opinions. When you're starting out and learning everything, you need to see how people take in flavors and scents in order to do it for yourself. But you need to learn to draw the line when it comes to people telling you what tastes "good" and what tastes "bad". Everybody's pH level is a little different, taste buds are different and preferences vary wider than the big blue.
Sure, learn what's what but learn to form your own opinion about things- and definitely remember that you can take it or leave it when it comes to someone's "all-knowing" statements which are merely opinions displayed as "facts".
One thing I accidentally took as a "fact" (which a lot of people assume) is that the higher the cost, the better tasting the wine. And let me tell ya, once again, it varies. I have tasted stiff $50 bottles of wine that paled in comparison to a cozy $6 bottle that coddled my tasting needs and tucked me into bed. One thing I will not have is a closed mind. I've tasted an Old Vine Zin for $65 and wouldn't taste anything else for the evening because I enjoyed the aftertaste too much. On the other hand I've had a good bottle of two buck chuck Beaujoulais that stood on its own.
The one thing I can't agree with is when I'm drinking an average, flat and residue-filled bottle of Cabernet and the pourer is absolute in his opinion that anything below this bottle's price is "crap". I can't stress it enough: when you're shopping, don't base your purchase on the price. Why do that? If its more expensive, will it taste like money? Does that money taste good? Probably smells like old wallet and sleezy cocaine deals. I'd like to hear someone say that when they stick their nose in a glass. That'll raise some eyebrows.
Here is my best argument: Van Gogh, in our time, is world-renowned, estatic in his use of colors, strokes and evokes more emotion in his landscapes than Modigliani in any of his billions of portraits. (well, duh) His paintings are currently selling in the hundreds of thousands for his less popular and his most popular are in the millions. He sells at Christie's, Sothebye's and Bonhams, not to mention ALL the others. He sells bank, obviously people have heard he's good and the word spread fast. During his dark and twisted, insane struggle he called life, he sold one painting. He consumed his paint in the fields while painting, since he didn't have an oil/rinse pot, went slowly insane, stayed at the asylum where he painted starry night, moved to a yellow house commune with other artists and quickly faded into history. Perhaps that should represent the ultimate artist's struggle? I'm straying. My point? The same paintings that didn't sell way back in the 1800's are the same EXACT paintings now that are worth more than Michael Jackson's nose. Obviously death is a factor but another big one is opinion; one person say's he's a derilict artist who wont ever produce a quality piece and so everybody agrees (because they don't know how to have their own opinion) and his stuff doesn't sell. Bunch 'o sheep!
Pinot Noir was never disliked the same way, per say, but when the film, Sideways came out and placed Pinot Noir high up on a pedastle (now similar to Van Gogh's art) suddenly that market increased by 300%, and you betcha, merlot bit it big time.
I'm tired and straying but I feel glad that my boyfriend discovered tonight which wine he calls his "favorite"- and we proudly noticed not I, nor anyone, told him to like it.
Chateau St. Jean 2006 Cabernet Sauvigon
... and I think it's pretty yummy too. Go find your own wine!
One thing I've noticed about novice tasters is that they blend facts with opinions. When you're starting out and learning everything, you need to see how people take in flavors and scents in order to do it for yourself. But you need to learn to draw the line when it comes to people telling you what tastes "good" and what tastes "bad". Everybody's pH level is a little different, taste buds are different and preferences vary wider than the big blue.
Sure, learn what's what but learn to form your own opinion about things- and definitely remember that you can take it or leave it when it comes to someone's "all-knowing" statements which are merely opinions displayed as "facts".
One thing I accidentally took as a "fact" (which a lot of people assume) is that the higher the cost, the better tasting the wine. And let me tell ya, once again, it varies. I have tasted stiff $50 bottles of wine that paled in comparison to a cozy $6 bottle that coddled my tasting needs and tucked me into bed. One thing I will not have is a closed mind. I've tasted an Old Vine Zin for $65 and wouldn't taste anything else for the evening because I enjoyed the aftertaste too much. On the other hand I've had a good bottle of two buck chuck Beaujoulais that stood on its own.
The one thing I can't agree with is when I'm drinking an average, flat and residue-filled bottle of Cabernet and the pourer is absolute in his opinion that anything below this bottle's price is "crap". I can't stress it enough: when you're shopping, don't base your purchase on the price. Why do that? If its more expensive, will it taste like money? Does that money taste good? Probably smells like old wallet and sleezy cocaine deals. I'd like to hear someone say that when they stick their nose in a glass. That'll raise some eyebrows.
Here is my best argument: Van Gogh, in our time, is world-renowned, estatic in his use of colors, strokes and evokes more emotion in his landscapes than Modigliani in any of his billions of portraits. (well, duh) His paintings are currently selling in the hundreds of thousands for his less popular and his most popular are in the millions. He sells at Christie's, Sothebye's and Bonhams, not to mention ALL the others. He sells bank, obviously people have heard he's good and the word spread fast. During his dark and twisted, insane struggle he called life, he sold one painting. He consumed his paint in the fields while painting, since he didn't have an oil/rinse pot, went slowly insane, stayed at the asylum where he painted starry night, moved to a yellow house commune with other artists and quickly faded into history. Perhaps that should represent the ultimate artist's struggle? I'm straying. My point? The same paintings that didn't sell way back in the 1800's are the same EXACT paintings now that are worth more than Michael Jackson's nose. Obviously death is a factor but another big one is opinion; one person say's he's a derilict artist who wont ever produce a quality piece and so everybody agrees (because they don't know how to have their own opinion) and his stuff doesn't sell. Bunch 'o sheep!
Pinot Noir was never disliked the same way, per say, but when the film, Sideways came out and placed Pinot Noir high up on a pedastle (now similar to Van Gogh's art) suddenly that market increased by 300%, and you betcha, merlot bit it big time.
I'm tired and straying but I feel glad that my boyfriend discovered tonight which wine he calls his "favorite"- and we proudly noticed not I, nor anyone, told him to like it.
Chateau St. Jean 2006 Cabernet Sauvigon
... and I think it's pretty yummy too. Go find your own wine!
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