Ravens Wood Zinfandel

2009
Vintner's Blend
Woodbridge,CA

We have had Ravens Wood Zin (probably Old Vine Zin more often) several times over the years, but drinking this vintage now made all the difference. I was amazed at the price for the flavor. The scent was wonderfully heady and the flavor rich with blackberry vanilla spice. Unfortunately, this was the last bottle on the shelf. Otherwise, this would be one to buy a case of in my opinion. Cheap, but delicious. We are calling this the Wine for a Blizzard. Tastes GREAT alone or with tomato sauce and garlic and oregano.

Due to a series of unfortunate events, I feel I have started 2013 off wrong. I am hoping it corrects itself soon. A few of my misfortunes just in the first few weeks of 2013 include losing my bank card in the Stop & Shop parking lot, getting into an accident that wasn't my fault with my beautiful hand-me-down car and having their insurance company continue to drag their feet on paying for the damage, and having my garage door break and the heavy, rusty spring and pulley clock me in the head as I tried to unlock the door to my kitchen. Now tonight I am experiencing my first blizzard as an adult (having to worry about things like wind damage to the house and outside vehicles). I pretty much slept and played through the Blizzard of '78 (you really don't realize how great it is to live with people much older than you who take care of things until you become one).

All of my winey complaining aside, I have an amazing friend who has struggled once again with breast cancer. She learned of her newfound diagnosis around Thanksgiving and lived with it through the holidays and through the most sad day of many of our lives, December 14, while being a wife, daughter, sister, friend to many and, most importantly, a mom of two small children. She underwent a double mastectomy and is truly someone to admire. Her blog is listed somewhere to the right of this page, Mom is Always Write. She is an amazingly strong and beautiful person who continues to inspire me and who never loses her wonderful sense of humor.

When you say it's gonna happen now
Well, when exactly do you mean?
See, I've already waited too long
And all my hope is gone

~The Smiths; How Soon Is Now?~

8.25 out of 10
13.5 % alc. by vol.
$9.99 / 750 ml. bottle

Kendall Jackson Chardonnay 2009

Vintner's Reserve
Santa Rosa, California
2009

My friend and I FINALLY walked our almost-5- mile power walk last night. It's been a really long time. It felt good and I was surprised that I handled it so well. I wasn't too breathless! Afterward we had a glass of vino. Hey! It was Saturday night after all and we haven't been together in awhile, and she's had some stuff happen to her recently, and my eldest was on a pseudo date up the road picking apples. We deserved a glass of wine that we'd worked off ahead of time! :)

She is a fan of "Big House". I don't believe I've ever reviewed it, and I won't tonight. She told me it was more sweet, with a Riesling-like flavor. She gave me a choice of the Big House White or her other standby: Crane Lake Merlot. She is a HUGE fan of the Sonoma-Cutrer that I love and, especially, Conundrum - we like this best. However, for an every day wine, she likes the Big House and Crane Lake. So, I chose the white due to being hot and desiring a cold glass verses a warm one. It was enjoyable but I kept thinking about what I was going to buy on the way home.

I decided to pick up one of my own old standbys to accompany dinner: Kendall Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay. However, it is the 2009 vintage. I decided to form dinner around it and made fettuccine alfredo with grilled chicken, fresh parsley and organic peas. It was a nice, pleasing match. After the Big House, the KJ was awesome. I personally enjoy oak flavor and it was oak-heavy with vanilla and wonderful minerality. I don't believe I have reviewed the 2009 before. I love the 2008. This was just as good, though there was a bit of an "after taste" upon drinking alone. However, the after taste went away with the fettuccine and it went away again tonight with tofu and curry and brown rice and sweet potatoes. It was in a different league than the Big House white, though I did enjoy the Big House following our walk. The Big House is only $8.99 and the KJ is $14.99. but they are very different.

I long to just write. And this isn't the forum I prefer. But I will continue to write here for now until I find my true dream writing niche. So I share my thoughts from the weekend:

My grandmother's husband's health is failing. He is in his 90's and it is to be expected. But they've only had about 4 full married years together. However, they have been great years, and they were very fortunate that they had those few perfect years together. They spent time in their "main" home in CT, their "winter" home in Barbados, and their "summer" home in Maine (Squirrel Island). Up until very recently, they were driving themselves to JFK and around NYC and to Maine. He is a wonderful man. He has made my grandmother very happy, and I have an affection for him that I can't explain - as though he was always meant to be there, but wasn't until recently.

I visited with them yesterday and things are not well for him - the doctors believe he has 6 to 7 weeks left here on earth. He is in my prayers every night. My grandmother is having a hard time. She is very devoted to him and will not leave his side even if it is at her own well being's expense. By that I mean that she is not so steady anymore on her feet and she is getting him up and showered and dressed every morning. I am humbled by their love. And I am sad that their life together may be coming to an end. They have been such an inspiration to my friends and colleagues as they met and fell in love and married in their late 80's. I am praying my grandmother can make it through the next few weeks and survive the loss of her second husband as she did her first. She is my last living grandparent and I am filled with emotions as I witness yet again another loss halfway through my life, and the second loss of love for her. They have been so happy together.

As they struggle with this impending change to their love and life together, my own eldest daughter is beginning her future. She likes someone. This made my grandmother so happy for a moment as she dreamed about being "Sweet 16" and liking someone for the first time. Life changes so fast. It goes through its cycles and we ebb and flow with each wave. I love my family and my memories and I miss the past and sometimes fear the future and then again I will embrace change when I feel brave and I think everything is going to be okay, but then I worry that maybe it won't and I am resigned to just take each day as it comes.

For now, I am happy for my daughter as I reflect on my own life's journey, while remembering that of my grandmother. One is coming to an end, one is just beginning, and the other remains in the middle. And, as I look at my beautiful girl, I still see that beautiful baby from just 16 years ago and can't believe how quickly time has flown.


I am a Duffy fan as much as I am Adele. They both take me back to the past in their current music styles. This is a song I love:


I'm scared to face another day
'Cause the fear in me just won't go away
In an instant you were gone and now I'm scared

DUFFY, I'm Scared


8.25 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$14.99 / 750 ml. bottle

Kendall Jackson Chardonnay

2008
Vintner's Reserve
California

I haven't had this in a while, probably not even this vintage ever - can't remember. I know I posted something earlier here. My workout partner likes it for her every day summer Chard, so I had the Guy pick it up on his way home this weekend. I had some last night with grilled asparagus and chicken wraps. Then I had more tonight with grilled shrimp, mushrooms, onions and brown rice. I enjoyed it once again. This wine seems to be relatively consistent from vintage to vintage - which is somewhat remarkable. It is very fruit tropical and citrus-filled with a creamy edge. Not bad for an every day wine.

However, tonight the Guy surprised me and brought home Clos Du Bois Chardonnay, 2008, which is more my style and slightly blows the KJ out of the water. I will give it a review in a few days. I know we are having a Malbec with Easter dinner at my mom's tomorrow so that will take precedence over the Clos Du Bois, but I WILL get back to it.

I made a shocking discovery this evening: my text library does not recognize the word "Chardonnay" - I need to somehow make that more regular! :)













8.0 out of 10
13.5 % alc. by vol.
$13/750 ml. bottle

Kendall-Jackson Pinot Noir

Vintner's Reserve
California
2006

Will drink again for sure.

I am not a big pinot noir fan except for but a few I've had in the past with the right food. The Kendall-Jackson had more body than most and had me swooning when I least expected it. It packed a black cherry punch with ever so slight vanilla notes that I enjoyed. It took on a more brazen pepper flavor when introduced to our dinner: mushroom crostini. I recommend this pairing for anyone looking for a light supper and an enjoyable wine experience.

The following recipe I got from my desk calendar at work, which is of course wine-related, written by Karen McNeil (author of the Wine Bible). Karen recommends a pinot noir accompaniment to the dish.


Mushroom Crostini Recipe:

-4 c coarsely chopped mixed-variety mushrooms (chantrelles, porcini, shitake & oyster are the recommended mixture - I used baby portabella, shitake & oyster)
-2 sprigs of fresh thyme (this I have plenty of in my little kitchen garden and was so happy to make use of in such a delicious way)
-4 T Olive Oil
- 1/2 t ++ Salt
-(1) baguette, thinly sliced on an angle
-Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

Cook the mushrooms in covered skillet over med-low heat with thyme, 1/2 t salt, and olive oil until the mushrooms give up their liquid and then reabsorb it. Uncover the skillet, increase heat to med-high, and saute the mushrooms until lightly browned. Season with more salt to taste and set aside.

Drizzle the baguette slices with olive oil and toss. Then place in a single layer on a baking sheet at the oven's lowest setting until they're crisp.

Top the crostini with the mushroom mixture, sprinkle with Parmesan on top, and place under the broiler briefly to just brown the cheese gently. Serve immediately with a glass of pinot noir. (I recommend the Kendall-Jackson.)





"And it's not California here"
Hem
Not California


8.0 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$17 / 750 ml. bottle