Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

2006
La Valentina
Italy

**See update below for additional food pairing**

I was at a restaurant the other night and I had a glass of a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, but not La Valentina. I never did get any further info on it. But it was excellent alone, with calamari and with pizza Caprese. I went to my local wine store this weekend actually looking for a pinot noir to accompany some organic chicken soup I was making a big pot of. I had to walk past the Italian section on my way over to pinot noir. As I walked past I remembered the wine I had and decided to look at the labels, thinking it would be cool if they had a bottle, highly doubting that they would. In fact, they did, only it was the La Valentina versus the other that I can't recall. So I bought it anyway because the other was so good.

This was good. The other was better, but I would buy this one again. I feel like the other was more full. This was more medium bodied, but it was smooth, with black cherry and herb flavors. I made a hearty lean turkey and black bean stew this evening and I added this to it and also had a glass with my meal. They were very good together.

I have found another Italian red that I like very much.

**UPDATE: The Montepulciano was excellent with leftover organic chicken soup.

I go about my business, I'm doing fine
Besides what would I say if I had you on the line
Same old story, not much to say
Hearts are broken, everyday.

Jewel



8.0 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$14 / 750 ml. bottle

Phantom

2006
Bogle Vineyards
California

A blend of Petite Sirah, Old Vine Zin & Old Vine Mourvedre - I just LOVE saying that word!!! MOURVEDRE (more-vay-drrruh)

Well, the night started off well enough. Halloween. My most not favorite night of the year. I was looking forward to it ending and pouring myself a glass of phantom (something I was hoping to make a Halloween tradition actually).

Each of my children desired to be at someone else's house and I was taxi driver. I eventually got into it though and even dressed up for my little one. We matched. And we stayed together. The first song that came on the radio as I started driving was my old favorite, Donovan's Season of the Witch. And I thought: this is going to be a great night.

I was ending the evening at a party where my oldest daughter was and couldn't wait to get there. However, I was tired and it was pouring and I was the only one dressed up and I was given a glass of Little Penguin Merlot upon my arrival there. Hah! I deserved that. I wrote not that long ago about it being a decent wine for the price. It was the last thing I wanted. I'd brought a Cab with me and didn't know how to tactfully request that it be opened instead! I caught up with some old friends that were unexpectedly there and had a few laughs and then headed home minus my daughter who randomly wanted to go to her friend's house for the night with another friend. I drove home in the pouring rain after getting pelted by acorns and felt the beginning of a bad headache. Damn that Little Penguin! I got home and went to bed, without any desire to visit with the phantom. So much for my "new" tradition.

Finally, the next day, after taking the dog for a workout and raking leaves for a couple of hours, I opened the phantom and watched the sun go down across the field. The scent of the wine had that wonderful "stone" characteristic to it - I've likened it previously to the scent of rocks baking in the sun. And a strong scent of cherry was mixed in.

Initial taste was rather chalky but it opened up to a black pepper creosote followed by a smooth rather quick finish. I liked it, it was better after sitting open for a bit, but I was disappointed as the 2004 was rather awesome two years ago. In case you don't know, Bogle releases the phantom each year around August's end and then it's done until the following year. It always comes out in time for fall, and Halloween appropriately. I totally missed last year's 2005 production and decided to make a point going forward of getting it for Halloween evening. The 2004 had an awesome smoke flavor to it. There was only a hint of that this time around. Still a good wine - it might be better in a few months time. I will now look forward to next year.

Carving the pumpkins.

Preparing the seeds for roasting.

Me and my sunshine.

Oh when I look over my shoulder
What do you think I see?
Some other cat looking over
His shoulder at me
And he's strange, sure he's strange
You've got to pick up every stitch
You've got to pick up every stitch, yeah
Beatniks are out to make it rich
Oh no, must be the season of the witch
Must be the season of the witch, yeah
Must be the season of the witch.

Donovan, Season of the Witch

8.0 out of 10
14.5% alc. by vol.
$19 / 750 ml. bottle

Opolo Merlot Reserve

2006
Paso Robles, CA

The scent of this reminded me very much of Tawny Port meets Kalamata Olive. The taste was like a Robitussin cherry mushroom with a bit of earth mixed in. I do not wish to insinuate that this wine tasted like cough medicine with my reference to Robitussin. As a child, I very much enjoyed the taste of Robitussin and therefore, the slight reminder this wine brought forth was a characteristic I liked.

The finish was dry yet had a smooth, lingering, warm, slight spice flavor. This was very good. It was a nice and welcome change from the usual.

Oh Lover, hold on
'till I come back again
For these arms are growin' tired,
And my tales are wearing thin

If you're patient I will surprise,
When you wake up i'll have come

All the anger will settle down
And we'll go do all the things we should have done

Rachael Yamagata / Duet (with Ray LaMontagne)

8.5 out of 10
Approx. $24 / 750 ml. bottle? (can't buy easily)
14.8% alc. by vol.

St. Francis Chardonnay

2007
Sonoma County
California

I was very happy with this choice to accompany (and use in) an angel hair pasta dish I made last night. I am constantly in search of minerality in my wines. It is one of my absolute favorite characteristics that, when it's there, usually promises me a highly enjoyable glass. This wine did not let me down. A magnificent yellow diamond sparkle in hue, this emitted an awesome fresh flower/strawberry essence when I held it in my mouth. Upon swallowing, it was slightly bitter which worried me in the first millisecond. Then as it went down, a burst of mineral heaven sprang forth and I smiled a très heureux smile and relaxed for awhile.


I seem to be on an emotional roller coaster lately. It's my grandmother's birthday today. She's 92 and alone at her nursing home. I am going to go see her tomorrow. But it's days like this that I long for more time. I wonder if the nurses wished her a happy birthday this morning and if she wondered if she would get any visitors today. She was such a big part of my life and I feel terrible that I haven't been there often enough due to too many other obligations and an hour's drive. She means so much to me and I know we have limited time left. We are very similar as she raised 3 children and made family the most important part of her life. She knew what was most important was raising her children in a loving and safe home. She taught me that other things could wait until their due time, but children are here but for a short while. Yet a part of her always felt like she was inferior and longed to be more . . . shiny. I too struggle along that line, knowing what's right, but sometimes wishing for just a bit more, wondering if this is where I am supposed to be. Nothing a little dark chocolate can't snap me out of. I am baking Devil's Food cupcakes right now to bring to her and hope that our visit will stay in her mind awhile. (Hah!!! I was just listening to Chris Martin of Coldplay after a live version of "In My Place" and, after thanking fans for sticking with them through thick and thin, he said - no joke - "Eat More Chocolate" YES!!!!!)

I go from thinking of my life growing up and visiting with my grandparents in their sunny, happy home which always smelled of some delicious meal cooking, to seeing my grandmother now in the end stages of life, to watching my own children grow up before my eyes and wondering exactly where I myself am headed.

I listened to my oldest daughter sing behind closed doors and cried. Her voice is awesome. She was trying out for Glee Club and was a nervous wreck. She's never sung before and was going to be judged on stage in front of others. She refused to practice in front of me. She toyed with singing one of her favorite harder edged rock songs, but decided on one of my favorites, a more recent pop song: Anna Nalick's 2 AM. I came up the stairs and heard her practicing. I stood outside in the hall and was overcome with listening to my first child singing like a young woman. And doing something I was always too shy to pursue. I just stood there and quietly sobbed!! It was an awesome feeling though. I was, once again, in awe of her.

I am really missing my children being little and am yearning for a little one SO badly. I wish I was in a better position to adopt. I am often overcome with the feeling lately, especially as my own grow older. There are SO many children out there in need of a good home, it slays me. I truly believe that children are divinely bestowed upon us and entrusted to our care. The every day headlines bring word of one atrocity being committed against a child after another. It is beyond heartbreaking.

My youngest has a cheery, sunny room and an extra bed. And my children all tell me that they always feel like there's someone missing at the dinner table. Of course, we have 6 chairs and there are only 5 of us, so I am sure that plays a part. But sometimes I am flooded with the same sensation and feel the only way I can "fix" it is to bring some less fortunate child into my home. I believe that whatever was meant to be, will be. And I trust that if it was meant to be, I will some day be in a position to give another child a chance at a better, more love- filled life. And, maybe by then, I'll be exactly where I was always meant to be.



I have an eclectic repertoire of music always churning in my head, on a daily basis. I've come to rely on the dimension music adds to my life, almost as much as that of wine. And I enjoy the two together. My favorites run the gamut of Radiohead to Sam Cooke. Today, it's Sam Cooke who's in my head:

There been times when I thought I couldn't last for long
but now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
but I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will

~Sam Cooke~

8.25 out of 10
$12 / 750 ml. bottle

ZIN91

2006

Old Vine Zinfandel

California

This was just OK. Had a bit of a bitter taste that I couldn't get past. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't great. Mostly plum and slight cherry flavors with a bit of black pepper mixed in.

I'm stepping back in time tonight to remember my good old best friend John B. from college. A boy I was very fond of, but just not fond enough to make it work. (Harry was right in When Harry Met Sally - sometimes guys and girls just can't be friends without it having to go somewhere else, which then either ruins the friendship, or maybe, just maybe was the right thing after all.) Anyway, he was my best bud for awhile there (we're talking a couple of years), until we made out on my birthday and I felt like I was kissing my brother and pushed him away and he left all mad and pretty much didn't want to ever talk to me again. :(

A favorite song of his was running through my mind tonight and made me think of him:

Might as well go for a soda, nobody hurts and nobody cries
Might as well go for a soda, nobody drowns and nobody dies. . .
It's better than slander

The Kim Mitchell Band

$15 / 750 ml. bottle
7.5 out of 10
14% alc. by vol.

Chateau Leoville Poyferré

1996
French Red
Apellation Saint Julien


LOVED this wine - NOT budget material. I looked it up and found case pricing to be (on average) $1,600.


We went to my cousin's pre-wedding party this weekend and had a really nice time at a beautiful home filled with nice, good people, delicious food, and . . . my uncle and his wine.

We had an intriguing 1999 German white (Alsace Pinot Blanc Vielles Vignes Zind-Humbrecht), the Poyferré, and champagne. The Pinot Blanc was delicious with Mozarella, tomato and olive appetizers and prosciutto wrapped melon, and, I'm told, is perfectly matched with bacon wrapped scallops. The Poyferré I loved on its own. It was fine with my meal (salmon) and The Guy's beef filet.



My dear Uncle means the world to me. He and my aunt are kind, gracious, intelligent, giving people and fabulous parents to their two great, now-adult kids. I don't believe they have any idea how much they are an inspiration to me and how much I admire them as parents. But, together, they have become an important part of my life.

(Once I downloaded this photo I so thought was going to be great, I realized it was, sadly, blurry - especially the hand holding the wine. Then I thought about it and laughed because I realized no wine shall stay still in my uncle's hands.)


This wine was very good. I would have enjoyed having much more than I allowed myself to. Deep in color, it's flavor was heady earthiness with wood, a hint of tobacco and a velvet finish.



It even tasted good with the cupcakes from Two Little Red Hens.


So how do I do normal?
A smile I fake
the permanent wave of
cue-cards and fix-it kits
Can't you tell?
I'm not myself

I'm a slow motion accident
Lost in coffee rings and fingerprints
I don't wanna feel anything but I do

Frou Frou ("Hear Me Out")

8.50 out of 10
About $133 / 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

Mirassou Riesling

Monterey County
California
2006

Floral and citrus notes, pleasing finish. Really good buy for the cost.

This was very good with chicken, wheat crackers and cheddar cheese, and, especially, a dish I can't remember and I'm disappointed in myself for taking so long to post that I forgot what it was good with! But, I believe it was a creamy poultry dish.

Update: I remembered what dish it was that accompanied the Mirassou so well - It was zucchini fritters.











8.0 out of 10
$9/750 ml. bottle
12.5% alc. by vol.

"Oh, kiss me
Flick your cigarette, then kiss me"

No You Girls
Franz Ferdinand
(This song is just awesome. I like to turn it up loud.)

Yellow Tail Chardonnay

2007
South Eastern Australia



This is a good all around enjoyable summer wine that goes well with pasta and/or chicken. It fits in a tighter budget yet tastes better.

A little peach and vanilla, this can be surprisingly rich with the right food.

Walking by my little barrel of herbs outside my kitchen, I noticed my basil practically jumping out at me. I picked a whole bunch and then grabbed some pignolia nuts and garlic and got out the blender. A little olive oil and I was ready. Fresh pesto to add to my grilled chicken and otherwise boring pasta. I poured a glass of chardonnay and I was happy at the end of the day.







8 out of 10
13.5% alc. by vol.
$12 / 750 ml. bottle




And all I wanted was the simple things
A simple kind of life
And all I needed was a simple man
So I could be a wife . . .
I'm so ashamed, I've been so mean
I don't know how it got to this point . . .

A Simple Kind of Life, Gwen Stefani

Ballet of Angels

American White Wine
Sharpe Hill Vineyard
Pomfret, CT

When I went to pick up my daughter from a visit with friends, the parents gave me a glass of this and I really enjoyed it. Well chilled, this is a very refreshing medium-bodied semi-dry white wine. It is supposedly comprised of (10) grape types. Although I originally had a glass on its own, the mom and I had been talking over fresh cut watermelon and she had a bite right after a sip of wine and, mid-sentence her eyes widened and she quickly had another sip of wine and smiled and indicated for me to do the same. What ensued was a wonderful unexpected pairing. Needless to say, I had another glass of wine with watermelon.

Priced right, this is a definite summer recommendation.


And so there's a change...
In your emotions
And all of these memories come rushing
Like feral waves to your mind
Of the curl of your bodies
Like two perfect circles entwined
And you feel hopeless, and homeless
And lost in the haze
Of the wine . . .

Around Midnight, The Airborne Toxic Event
(This is currently my favorite song - a genius crescendo of raw emotion and lyrics that, if this has ever happened to you, hits close to home)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2YnDlEMXiU

8.0 out of 10
12% alc. by vol.
$11 / 750 ml. bottle

Yankee Girl Blush

Light (Blush) Wine
Hardwick Vineyard
Massachusetts

We had some good friends visit us from the volunteer state a couple of weekends ago and we had a great time visiting. I was pleasantly surprised to learn there was a bottle of wine waiting for me at their hotel a few days after they departed. It was this blush from a quaint little New England vineyard. The woman whose family owns the vineyard also does some of the label art work and I just loved this label.

Nicely chilled, this sweet wine is refreshing on a warm summer day. It had an apricot bouquet and it tasted of both peaches and apricots. I put my feet up on the back patio, opened a good book and sipped in the late afternoon sun. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was happy to venture a bit from my wintry norm. Thank you J&A!!





Although I liked it best on its own, it accompanied my Parmesan Omelet nicely!


8.0 out of 10
(Not much wine label particulars available)




You caught me under false pretenses
How long before you let me go?

"Supermassive Black Hole" by MUSE

Tres Picos Garnacha

Borsao Bodegas
Borja SPAIN
2007

I had the pleasure of being in Vermont the last few days and I am missing it terribly today, especially as my children and I were the only ones to leave.

Once again, I had to pull myself away from attempting to get things done around the house instead of going away (knowing I most likely would accomplish very little if I stayed - though I am proud of myself for having borrowed a ladder and cleaned the gutters). In addition, I went with car problems and three children in the car, armed with antifreeze and instructions from a mechanic as to what to look for and then do if the car overheated. (Plus I had my Swiss Army knife - don't leave home without it.) The morning of departure I woke up knowing it would be just fine. I went for it. It was a great weekend and now I am somewhat re-charged and happier.

It is amazing to me how a beautiful drive, museum visiting (I find museums so wonderfully quiet and welcoming - the work just beckons to you and then surrounds you), viewing art exhibits (this weekend it was Edward Steichen and Ralph Lieberman), hiking in the mountains, listening to old jazz artists (Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday), reading good books, viewing the mountains every morning with El Salvadoran espresso, and closing the day with wine and cheese and family can stimulate the soul and mind. Surround yourself with beauty and creativity and it can't help but rub off on you, or at least inspire you to strive.













Well, both my mom and my brother were very thoughtful and checked this blog and armed themselves with some of my favored wines. But my brother also brought an enticing new one. The Tres Picos Garnacha was awesome. I absolutely LOVED it. Blackberries and leather and clove and vanilla and plum-like spice, it was very smooth on the tongue. Nice finish. Delicious with unadulterated dark chocolate. The wine brought out the flavor of the chocolate and then the chocolate brought out the flavor of the wine. Highly recommend it, especially for the price. Though not cheap, also not expensive. Great deal for the flavor.
















8.25 out of 10
$16 / 750 ml. bottle
15% alc. by vol.

I leave you with the cleansing view from the porch (and an awesome Mark Twain quote):

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover.