Opolo Mountain Zinfandel

2010
Paso Robles


Valentines Day is not about love and romance - it is about . . . wine and chocolate. :) The Guy brought home this gift. It was a welcome relief from some of the few and far betweens we've had more recently. It smelled of strawberries and olives. The initial taste was actually grapey before I swallowed it. I have only had unimpressive wines that tasted like grapes so I was very worried. But as I held it and rolled it (do not go there - this is truly innocent) it began to warm and an intense, full-bodied, heavy weighted minerality took over. By the time I swallowed the first sip, it had taken on a Blackberry Shnapps flavor but with great intensity and peppery heat. It ended with a lasting, spice finish. It was very good. I have frequently heard of Red Zins being called "jammy" and I've got to say this is the actual first time I've experienced such an incredible, wonderful jamminess.


It's empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears and faults
You've left behind

Mumford & Sons, The Cave


***ON DECK: BREMERTON SELKIRK SHIRAZ, 2006****


8.5 out of 10
16.7 alc. by vol.
$18.99 - 24.99 / 750 ml. bottle

Honig Cabernet Sauvignon

2008
NAPA Valley
Can be enjoyed now or cellared through 2016


The day we opened the Honig was a GREAT day. It was just one of those pivotal "happy" days. My brother David was here and we had no where to go, Christmas had just been the day before, we were both off from work and enjoying the Christmas tree and the fireplace and cheese and crackers and wine and music. We had some great wines that week, but the Honig Cabernet was by far our favorite. It just made us smile on first sip and we had a really nice quiet time just sipping and smiling. This had milk chocolate silkiness and flavor intermingled with black fruits and vanilla and wood spice with a lingering, great finish.

Of course, after we had enjoyed a glass or two, we were in such a good mood we decided on some mischief. The Guy was out and the girls were shopping with my mother-in-law. David decided we needed to go get one of the old big stuffed lions my girls had given me to discard of upon cleaning out their rooms. The animals were all in the garage in a bag waiting for removal. David saw the lion and decided we should go put it in a tree in the backyard so that either one of the girls and/or The Guy would be surprised when taking the dog out to do his duty. We went to great lengths. I dragged out the big ladder and we propped it up against the tree and David strategically placed "Goliath" in the branches overhead the dog's "walking" area. We were in absolute hysterics the entire time imitating what we thought The Guy would be like, or one of the girls, out waiting for the dog to do his business just standing there looking around.

For DD

From the bedroom closet, we lifted shoes; one by one we placed them in a box. She was unbelievably strong, set in her task, as she handed me one pair after the other: a pair of well worn black leather slippers, some heavy brown dress shoes.

Boat shoes, and loafers in many leather shades, I ran my hands over them and looked at your smiling face from one of many pictures on the dresser, Charlie’s picture next to you, and Heath’s bridal portrait hangs on the wall. You and your first bride, and me here on Earth with your other bride, Charlie’s first.

Next came the knitted island shoes, two pairs, one obviously favored more by you than the other; she held those out for a moment and hesitated, smiled dreamily, and quietly said how you loved those shoes.

Then she gave me your wool blazers, and suits, each well-made and classically styled; she handed them off to me to hang on the cart we would use to roll them away. I thought of the many times I’d seen you dressed in them, always with a welcoming, happy smile, accompanied by a kiss.

To the next closet, where we gathered your ties: Lobsters, sailboats, Santa Claus, crabs, Easter eggs, whales, Christmas trees, pastel flowers and red hearts. Your life map unfolded with each one – sailor, beach lover, Christian, sense of humor, a life filled with beauty, adventure and love.

All packed up, we rolled the luggage dollie out of the bedroom and into the hallway, opened the door and out into the main hall we went, down to the elevator and into the basement. It was emotional for me, though unspoken. Your things being rolled away to the basement – there they joined the remnants of the lives of others: crystal chandeliers in storage, dresses from eras gone by, sun hats and record players, and suitcases that have been around the world. But it has to be this way.

I miss you in that place, by my grandmother’s side, surrounded by your needlepoint wall hangings and pillows, sunshine on the porch, where you sat the last day I ever spent with you, determined to beat those cancerous brain lesions that rendered you speechless, as you raised your weights over your head and lifted your legs one by one, demonstrating your strength and your resolve to not give up without a fight. But it was out of your hands - six days later you were gone.

It feels to me like you are still there, you, and my grandfather, and Heath, all watching over your fourth companion – as she sits on the sun porch, quietly waving as I drive away.

8.5 out of 10
14.5% alc. by vol.
$32/750 ml. bottle

Markham Merlot

2006
NAPA Valley (St. Helena, CA)




Epiphany: I thoroughly enjoy talking about wine with others.

Well - here I am on a Wednesday, drinking a not-so-everyday wine (for us anyway), eating a not-so-everyday meal. That is what life is like when you have THREE daughters (two who are in high school). You realize you need your weekend "vacation" to come mid-week sometimes.

This is a 2006. The last Markham was 2007. Believe it or not, the 2007 is more expensive and is given a higher rating than the 2006. When I consult my Kevin Zraly Windows on the World book I see that he has an asterisk by the 2007 which denotes it is an especially good year for California Merlot. I think of my brother with happiness as I slurp the wine into my mouth, forming a whistle with my lips, aerating it, and then close my mouth and breathe out through my nose, allowing the flavor and scent to consume my olfactory lobes. My poor brother endured much laughter by the Guy and I for his very serious wine tasting slurp in the past. Now I find it most useful. Screw how silly I may look and sound! My personal reflections are that this wine is JUST AS GOOD as the 2007. Big cherry flavor, heat, slight vanilla, spicy pepper, some herbal notes and a really nice warm finish.

I owe tonight's meal and wine enjoyment to three key people: first, my friend John B. who provided the wine (and his very generous wife who shared yet another bottle from her favorite vineyard because, though she likes it a lot, she and John really prefer beer - lucky me), and second, my Brazilian friend and co-worker RS who tells me every bad day I have to pick my chin up and go home and create a tasty meal and enjoy a glass of good wine and "forget about what's troubling you", and last but not least, my dear brother.

My buttons are constantly being pushed, and the waters always tested by my eldest lately (whom I LOVE with all my heart and soul BTW!!!!) and today was no exception. I ran into my dear Brazilian friend in the hall at work who struck up our normal type conversation and reminder after seeing I was troubled. He, like me, has surrounded his work area with pictures of food and wine - his, very Mediterranean (he has one dreamy pic in particular that I like to visit of an elongated table loaded with fresh seafood and wine, situated outside on a rocky ledge overlooking the Mediterranean), and mine with my own pics from my dining room (ah - no comparison there!). I asked him what his favorite meal was and what his favorite wine was. He told me he just loves a great big steak with shrimp or fish on the side and a nice Pinot Noir. I was surprised that Pinot Noir was his preference. He said that he used to prefer Cabernet Sauvignon but doesn't like the higher sugar content? I haven't looked into that. However, Pinot is his preference. He put the "steak" in my head.

As I drove home I thought about dinner, and how I had nothing great to serve. I started thinking about my earlier conversation and decided on steak, which we rarely have. That made me think about my other Markham Merlot at home from my friend John, but I put it out of my head because I decided I was formulating a "weekend" meal, not a busy, weeknight dish. Regardless, I needed to stop at the market to get whatever I was making. As I sat in the parking lot trying to figure out what I was going to do for sure, my dear brother sent me a text thanking me for his Christmas gift. I had given him a bottle of Kistler Pinot Noir that our FANTASTIC uncle had bestowed upon me. He decided to open it tonight with an aged cheddar he had. He wrote that he was thoroughly happy and that the wine was awesome, and that he was cooking a special, rocking chicken dish while eating the cheese and drinking the wine. THEN he decided he would like to try the wine with chocolate. But the only chocolate he had was dark m & m's he'd received for Christmas, and he added a "LOL" as he knew he was drinking a special wine and considering what m & m's might add or delete from it! I thought at that moment how much I enjoy hearing about others' wine experiences. :) It makes me happy. I also thought: Well, dammit! I am buying a grass-fed piece of juicy beef and some Shitakes and opening John B.'s Merlot!!!!!!! Yay! I decided. Life is good. I know and I am grateful for this day and what I have that makes it even better.

Here is a very sad reality. Check out the picture below. Do you see how much (or how LITTLE) wine is in the glass? THAT is all a woman is allowed to have per day without risking her health!!!!! Men, on the other hand, can enjoy two full glasses of wine. Women are allowed one 4 ounce glass of wine per evening for heart health, more than that is detrimental to the breasts and blood pressure. Well, I have risked my health this evening. My blood pressure must be way up and God only knows what's happening to my breasts. The Markham was worth it.


Once in a while we might pass on the street
We nod and we smile and we shuffle our feet
Making small talk standing face to face
Hands in our pockets 'cause we feel so out of place

Our paths may cross again in some crowded bar
We feel a little lost 'cause we've drifted away so far
Hoping to find the right words to say
We joke a little and then go on our way

We are so out of touch, yeah
We are so out of touch, yeah

--Lucinda Williams, Out of Touch--

8.25 out of 10
13.8% Alc. by Vol.
$15 - $20 / 750 ml. bottle