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 The skies have finally opened up and rain is pouring down onto the parched earth. The trees and plants are smiling with relief! And I am happy that my rain dance worked!  For the last few days, my time has been divided between appointments and socializing sweet Mabel, the little puppy from Puppies Behind Bars program. www.puppiesbehindbars.com. As busy as my schedule has been, I did manage to take a little “me” time to taste a lovely wine with a friend the other evening. It was an extremely hot and humid night, so we were both craving a cold and crisp wine.  We chose 2014 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. It was light and crisp, but impressive. It had intense aromas of grapefruit, lemon, tropical fruit and fennel. The palate offered ripe citrus, herbs, stone fruit and a wonderful chalky minerality. It was a very refreshing wine with a long finish. http://www.cloudybay.co.nz Much to do before the day ends.
Have a great Thursday! Cheers! Penina  Labor Day is over, kids are back in school and the “fashionistas” are already promoting winter wear. However, I am optimistically looking forward to an Indian summer. I still have many wines to taste while enjoying the sunsets from my deck.  The other evening the temperature had dropped into the low 60’s and my friend was in the mood for red wine. We opened a 2005 Kuleto Estate Zinfandel from Napa Valley. The color was dark ruby with a tinge of purple. It had dark berry, cedar and plum on the nose. The palate offered blackberry, anise, pepper and spice. Tannins were a bit chewy with a medium finish of jam flavors. Alcohol 15.2% The wine paired well with the mussel and shrimp stew. http://www.kuletoestate.com Wishing you a blissful Tuesday!
Cheers! Penina  The summer seems to have come and gone very quickly. And, due to circumstances beyond my control, I didn’t travel very far from home nor have any of the adventures I was planning on. Sometimes that’s just the way the dice rolls!  So, it was a sweet surprise when a friend of mine decided to whisk me off on Friday, if only for a short time to a destination that allowed me to fantasize that I might be somewhere very far away. The joy of burying my feet in the sand, walking along the beach and watching a magical sunset was the soul food that I needed! We might travel far and wide, share that exceptional bottle of wine, and stockpile many incredible memories and adventures to share with the world. But what remains with me when all is said and done, are the thoughtful and little gestures that a person can bestow on another to make them smile, laugh and feel special! That’s the “pearl”.
Have a Happy Labor Day weekend. I will return on Tuesday! Cheers! Penina  It’s already Thursday and I’m still trying to catch up with everything. It’s a juggling act at best!  On “Day 80”, September 6th, 2014, I posted a quick review of 1988 Chateau Coufran Haut – Médoc. I remember how impressed we were that it had held up so well throughout the years considering it was not stored under the most ideal conditions. When my friend came over for dinner on Tuesday evening, he asked if we might open my last bottle of 1988 Chateau Coufran Haut - Médoc. And so, a year later, as we swirled and sipped, we were again awed as to how well this wine stood the test of time! It was better than the first bottle.  The cork was solid and came out with ease. It was decanted, with no visible sediment, which is unusual for a wine of this age. The color was dark brick red with aromas of cherry and dark berries. The wine was soft and uncomplicated with gentle flavors of cherry, pomegranate, a hint of spice and licorice. As the wine continued to open up over the course of the evening, the fruit became a bit bolder on the palate. The finish was medium. It was an exceptional wine for its age. http://www.chateau-coufran.com The 76 hectare vineyard is situated on the Left Bank close to St. Estephe. The vineyard, which dates back to the mid 1700’s, was originally planted with Cabernet Sauvignon. The Miaihe family purchased the property in 1924 and in the early 1930’s they ended up ripping out most of the Cabernet vines and planting 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet grapes in the vineyards. This is quite unique for the Haut - Médoc. I would love to taste their more recent vintages as a comparison to the 1988 bottle. Have a great Thursday!
Cheers! Penina  The past few days have been extremely busy and quite productive. So, I was grateful to spend a few low-key evenings relaxing with friends. I need to get caught up, so let me back track a few days.  An early evening swim on Sunday was followed by dinner with a friend. The “supermoon” was still full and magnificent as we dined al fresco on lobster salad and a bottle of 2010 Brokenwood Semillon from Hunter Valley, Australia. When one thinks of Semillon, we usually associate it with France because it is the major white grape in the Bordeaux region and the 3rd most planted grape in France. However, it has taken a stronghold in many other parts of the world including Australia. Semillon has been compared to Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, depending on where it is grown.  The Brokenwood Semillon we tasted was an interesting color of pale straw with a green hue. It had wonderful aromas of citrus, green apple and honeydew. On the palate there was an initial sweetness that segued into green apples, lime and a hint of pear. The wine was full of character with a long crisp finish and reminiscent of Sauvignon Blanc. http://www.brokenwood.com.au When I have more time, I’ll discuss the major role that Semillon plays in the world of Sauternes, especially my favorite Château d'Yquem!
Tomorrow’s post will be about an incredible 1988 vintage wine I had last night. Happy Wednesday! Cheers! Penina  The weather has been beautiful for the last few days and I have certainly been enjoying the lack of humidity. The early evenings have been perfect for enjoying sunset cocktails on the deck or by the pool. Unfortunately, it isn’t going to last. The hot and humid weather is returning soon. And with that, I will be watching the sunset from the coolness of indoors with glass in hand. The weather and depending on what season it is, seems to be a big factor when drinking wine, even though there is no definitive “winter” wine or “summer” wine. The different seasons tend to influence our diet and thus, our choice of wine. It’s all about pairing a wine with the meal…or pairing a meal around a wine. They should complement each other. In fact, on many occasions I have created a meal just to complement a special bottle of wine. The only “rule” that should apply in choosing a wine is that the flavor of food doesn’t dominate the wine and vice versa. Because we tend to eat lighter fair in warmer temperatures, we gravitate towards chilled wines that make for a better pairing. The colder months seem to call for bigger and heartier wines to go along with more substantial meals. One of my winter favorites is thick homemade soup and a hearty Cabernet. There are a wide variety of grapes that make delightful aperitifs and dinner wines in warm weather. This past spring I jumpstarted the season with rosés from vineyards in California, France, Italy and Spain. The grapes ranged from Grenache, Sangiovese, and Tempranillo to Zinfandel naming just a few. I have reviewed many rosés in earlier posts for your perusal. And I still have a few bottles chilling that I will taste and review before the summer’s end. As we segued into the dead heat of summer, the Rieslings, Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Grigio, Gewurztraminer took over the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. There was an evening or two that I had prepared a meal that demanded a good Pinot Noir or Syrah. But for the most part a clean, crisp white wine is the most appealing in hot weather, especially when it is served well-chilled. Simply refreshing! And let’s not forget about sparkling wines and ice wines that are welcome in any type of weather! In another two months, the leaves will start changing color and thoughts will drift to fall menus and selecting more full-bodied wines such as Rioja, Barola, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. As we start donning more layers of clothing, the desire for warm, rich red wines will be very gratifying. And, alas, the chilled wines will patiently wait for a balmy winter’s day to be uncorked.  Remember that there is no hard and fast rule with drinking red or white wine. It is truly a function of what you have a craving to open. No judgment here. So, pick a grape, a country and uncork an adventure!
Cheers! Penina Tuesday seemed to fly by without any work drama or otherwise for a change. The weather was nice and I was really looking forward to getting together with friends.  The evening began at my home with an aperitif of 2014 Mussel Bay Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, NZ. The color was pale gold with aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and grass. The wine was medium bodied and had a slight effervescence to it. The palate offered an interesting range of tropical fruit with grapefruit and herbs lingering on the finish. This is a nice summer “go to” wine and decently priced.  As the sun began to set, we continued on to a friend’s home where we dined and wined. I love these progressive “food and wine” evenings. We drank 2013 La Crema Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley. I guess my host had a few bottles left over from the boat ride we went on a few weeks ago. This is my review from 7/19/15: “It was a beautiful straw color with a nose full of apple, citrus and oak. The palate was layered with pear, apple, toasted nuts, honey and citrus. It was full-bodied and well balanced. The finish was long and smooth. The wine was barrel aged for nine months and alcohol was 14.5%.” http://www.lacrema.com The wine paired beautifully with grilled salmon, corn and tomatoes.  I’m going to spend some time later today selecting two of my knitted art wear designs for an upcoming Art Show in early October. In a perfect world, I would have made something just for the show, but I have been inattentive to my knitting needles this summer.  There is a full moon tonight and the skies will be clear for viewing!
Happy Wednesday! Cheers! Penina  The other evening I went to a friend’s home for dinner. He is passionate about cooking and so it is always a treat to dine with him. His creativity in the kitchen transcends to the beautiful table he sets and his detail to presentation is just as appetizing as the food he prepares. We dined on grilled swordfish that had been marinated in olive oil, lemon and herbs, asparagus and grilled baked potatoes. Even though he has a well-stocked wine cellar, I brought a perfectly chilled bottle of 2013 Louis Jadot Macon-Village Chardonnay from Burgundy. It was a perfect aperitif to have with the appetizers and paired well with the main course.  The wine is made from 100% unoaked Chardonnay grapes. The Macon Village area is situated in the southern part of Burgundy and close to Beaujolais. The appellation covers about 2,500 hectares of vineyards and is one of the largest of the Maconnais area. The wine was pale straw in color with aromas of citrus, floral and apple. The palate offered lemon, apple, melon and a hint of hazelnut. It was clean, crisp and had a lovely finish. http://www.louisjadot.com I have a busy day and evening ahead of me.
Happy Monday! Cheers! Penina  As it happened, I managed to step back into the out of control car again on Friday. I thought perhaps I had been transported onto the game show “Let’s Make a Deal”…yes, let’s, let’s not, yes, no, yes and finally no!  By the time I regrouped from my crazy day, it was too late to go for a swim. So I headed out to meet a friend for drinks and dinner. It was a small Italian restaurant with excellent food, including delicious homemade pasta. Since I was the only one interested in drinking wine, I looked at their small selection of wines by the glass. It was not exciting. Nothing appealed to me. Alas…I drank water.  However, I have a wonderful bottle of chardonnay chilling in the refrigerator for tonight’s dinner party. I’ll let you know all about it tomorrow.  I’m hoping for a “smooth” ride today…no bumps, no curves and definitely no roller coasters!
Have a great Saturday! Cheers! Penina  Wednesday turned out to be a day and evening full of surprises, not all good, but manageable. At times, I felt as though I was navigating an unwieldy car through hairpin turns with no brakes! I went from the shock of losing a friend and saying good-bye to a chapter in my life to gaining insight and embracing the new paths ahead…and so the day unfolded.  However, it all ended in a magical sunset sail with good friends! Wine and dinner overlooking the harbor was beyond perfection.  We drank 2012 Chardonnay, Hess Collection Napa Valley. The color was light straw with lovely aromas of citrus, apple and pear. The palate offered green apple, citrus, pineapple and a hint of oak with nice acidity. It was a medium finish at best. http://www.hesscollection.com
And now, on with the day! Have a great Thursday! Cheers! Penina |
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