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 It’s another overcast day with lots to do, so no rest for the weary. And…I am so very weary. I awoke this morning before the birds did. After a productive day yesterday, I finally started to wind down. With company coming, I began my food prep for the evening’s dinner. The menu was grilled vegetables with couscous and seared scallops. The wine was a 2001 Chateau La Grave A Pomerol. Just imagine, while the grapes for this Bordeaux blend were being harvested, the world was about to change forever with the 9/11 tragedy. On a brighter note for that year, Apple announced iTunes at the Macworld Expo in San Francisco, for organizing and playing digital music and videos.  The wine was the color of rubies. We took a taste as soon as the bottle was opened. It was soft and somewhat closed, needing time to open up. So we put it aside for about 45 minutes and then began to drink it. The aromas of dark cherry, raspberry and a hint of tobacco were intoxicating. The wine was delicious and straightforward with flavors of dark fruits, plum and a touch of spice. It had a very nice “jammy” finish. We savored every mouthful! http://www.chateau-la-grave.net  I’d love to steal a catnap before tonight’s activities, but not happening! Happy Thursday!
Cheers! Penina  The last few days have been non-stop with appointments, social obligations and trying to squeeze in some “me” time.  So, it was a welcome treat earlier today to spend a little down time with Dixon. He’s one of the pups from Puppies Behind Bars program. Dixon will be graduating at the end of this month and he will become a full time service dog to a war veteran. After saying my good-byes to Dixon, I raced home in the hopes of having a swim. However, I had to put it on hold for a few hours. Rain got in the way! So, I’ll tell you about an incredible Merlot that I tasted and hope for a swim later on.  Last night a friend and I opened a bottle of 2006 Ehlers Estate Merlot from Napa Valley. It was a very rich and well balanced wine. The aromas were heady with dark cherry, currants and spice. The palate offered black cherry, plum, spice and a hint of pepper and vanilla. Medium tannins and a long silky finish made this wine a standout! It went well with a movie and finger food! http://www.ehlersestate.com  It looks as though the skies are clearing…. pool time! Happy Tuesday!
Cheers! Penina  It has been a crazy and very busy weekend. I can’t believe that it is already Sunday evening! I’m taking a quick moment to post between having attended a baby shower and now getting ready to run to a friend’s home for dinner and swimming.  Last night while dining alfresco, we were unexpectedly entertained with magical fireworks. We never had to leave my house! And what made it even better was the wine that my friend brought from his hidden stash.  We opened a 2007 Frog’s Leap Chardonnay from Napa Valley. Pale lemon in color, it offered honey, citrus and stone fruit on the nose. The flavors were layered with green apple, vanilla, grapefruit and a hint of nuts. It was very crisp with a long finish. http://www.frogsleap.com Must run!
Happy Sunday! Cheers! Penina  It’s hard to believe that the days are getting shorter. Didn’t summer just begin?  Wednesday was busy with lunch dates and business. However, I did find time at the very end of the day to have a nice swim. To welcome the evening and sunset, I opened a bottle of 2014 La Petite Perriere Rosé from the Central Loire Valley of France. The Rosé was the color of soft salmon with floral and fruit aromas. The palate offered strawberries and raspberries with a hint of citrus on the finish. It was quite refreshing, dry and a great accompaniment to the beautiful sunset! http://sagetlaperriere.com  The Fourth of July festivities are underway. I will post when I can!
Have a great Thursday! Cheers! Penina  The sun is shining and I have many things to do today. But before I run out the door, I want to tell you about the wine I tasted last night.  I wanted to open something hearty and special for my “300th” post. So I chose Shingleback’s 2011 The Gate Shiraz. The wine is produced in the McLaren Vale area of South Australia. It scored high points in the 90’s and has won many awards. I can understand why! The moment it was opened, I knew we were in for a treat. This full-bodied wine was deep purple with aromas of dark fruit, oak and spices. The palate was a feast of layers, oozing dark jams, cherry, oak, pepper, spices and a hint of vanilla. Silky tannins and a solid backbone gave way to a long finish. http://www.shingleback.com.au I have five more bottles that I will savor over the next 10 years or so! Have a great Tuesday!
Cheers! Penina  I took advantage of the rain on Saturday afternoon and curled up with a good book. Although I should have been knitting, the lure of a quiet read while the rain tapped at the windows was just what I needed.  I roused myself a few hours later (yes…it was indulgent) to tidy up the house and start prepping food for my dinner guest. The rain continued, but that didn’t stop me from going outside to pick fresh herbs from my garden for the dinner. I roasted vegetables, made linguini with fresh shrimp and tossed it all together with olive oil, garlic & fresh herbs. It was yummy!  When my friend arrived, I decided to open my last bottle of 2012 Nieto Senetiner Pinot Noir from Mendoza Argentina. I reviewed this wine in September of 2014, but had a slightly different opinion of it this time around. The color was dark ruby with the same aromas of cherries, plums and spice. However, on the palate, it seemed much sweeter than the last bottle. The taste of dark cherries and cinnamon dominated the more subtle flavors of black pepper and spices. The tannins were softer with almost no acidity. It was a little too sweet for my taste, but my friend seemed to enjoy it! The winery dates back to 1888 and is one of the oldest wineries in Mendoza. Check it out at http://www.nietosenetiner.com.ar/ES/ARG/ It’s another rainy day, but I must attend to “projects” today!
Have a peaceful Sunday! Cheers! Penina  After a much needed swim workout on Friday morning, I concentrated on business at hand before setting out to enjoy a beautiful afternoon.  As the sun began to set, I decided to open a bottle of 2009 Rioja Bodegas San Prudencio Depadre that I purchased from WTSO.com. As my friend and I sat outdoors enjoying the sunset, the wine became the scene-stealer. The color was a dark Syrian amethyst with heady aromas of dark fruits and floral bouquet. Made from Tempranillo and Garnacha, this multi-layered wine exploded on the palate with blackberry, cherry, anise, espresso beans and a hint of vanilla. It was quite impressive with a long finish. This is a wine with a lot of character and depth. I look forward to drinking more of it over the next few years.  And now I have to go search for my bicycle helmet! Have a great Saturday!
Cheers! Penina  Once again, I lost a few days. So, let me back track to Wednesday. It was a hectic morning that segued into a late afternoon/evening of good friends, wine and food. The weather was perfect…finally!  We started out with a wine that I reviewed a year ago. It was a 2013 Rosé from The Withers Winery in the Sierra Foothills of CA. My opinion is the same. The wine is a delicious blend of 56% Mourverdre and 44% Grenache. The color was soft salmon with strawberry and raspberry on the nose. It had gentle citrus tones with red berry flavors. The wine was very pleasing to the palate. We also had a 2014 vintage that was just as good! Visit the website for more information. www.thewitherswinery.com  As the evening progressed, we moved the party to a restaurant and dined outside, continuing our exploration of rosé wines. And now, I’m off on an adventure!
Have a great Friday! Cheers! Penina  It was another “indoor “ day on Tuesday as thunder, lightning and powerful winds paid us a visit. Trees came down, hail smacked against the roof, but I continued on with my work.  Although I’m not a fan of Pinot Grigio, I must give a thumbs up to the one I tasted last night. A friend brought me a perfectly chilled bottle of 2013 Cupcake Vineyards Pinot Grigio Trentino that we immediately opened.  The color was pale straw with aromas of pear, pineapple and citrus. The palate offered pear, grapefruit, vanilla and lemon zest. It was smooth with a very nice citrus finish. It was a cool and refreshing wine to drink on a sultry summer’s night! http://www.cupcakevineyards.com I’m off to an early appointment and then really looking forward to a long awaited swim.
Happy Wednesday! Cheers! Penina  The weather was very fickle this weekend. It took strategic planning to avoid the thunderstorms and still forge ahead with weekend plans. But we all prevailed and enjoyed it.  The only little snag was that after Friday evening, I didn’t “imbibe” for the rest of the weekend. And, since I only watched and didn’t taste, I have no “weekend” reviews.  However, I still haven’t talked about a wine that I tasted a few weeks ago. It was a 2008 Six Sigma Sauvignon Blanc from Michael’s Vineyard in Lake County, CA. It had a lovely citrus nose with a hint of vanilla. It was dry and crisp with flavors of lemon, lime and herbs. It had a creamy texture with a nice finish. http://www.sixsigmaranch.com I have a very busy week ahead and am looking forward to having wine again by Wednesday so that I can share with you.
Happy Monday! Cheers! Penina |
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