2005NAPA ValleyI wasn't sure at first that I liked this. It had a scent that was reminiscent of another wine which I couldn't quite place. It was a kalamata olive scent with some slight smoke. The flavor was right on with the first tip-of-the- tongue taste, then it seemed a bit watery or weak. But THEN with subsequent sips, the finish lasted much longer. With a hint of oak, and smoke, and olive, I really enjoyed this. It is recommended to serve with red meat or cedar-planked salmon (which I would have LOVED to have it with). However, I made pizza this evening.
I came across my favorite cookbook by Susan Branch,
Vineyard Seasons, that my mother gave me at the hospital on the day of my first daughter's birth. I found my old favorite pizza dough recipe in there and was
so happy! The wine was good on its own, not bad with the pizza, and
fantastic with dark chocolate brownies.
One of my favorite magazine advertisements (which I haven't seen in quite awhile) was the old
Jim Beam ad which stated: "You always come back to the basics." That saying kept going through my head today especially after working my pizza dough and letting it rise. My daughter popped in my
Frank Sinatra "I've Got a Crush on You" CD and life came to a nice, slow relaxing pace for a bit. Add to it the note my mom wrote in the cookbook: " . . .This has wonderful ideas for special family times. Now that you are a family I hope you will find it as special as I do! And enjoy it together - " The best part of this note was that she spelled my daugher's name wrong. When she learned the true spelling of her name she wanted to change it in the book, but I told her to leave it. It showed how "new" my daughter was, that her own grandmother didn't know how to spell her name yet. It's so awesome! :)
8.0 out of 10$12? / 750 ml. bottle14.1% alc. by vol.
