Game Over

Ok. It's actually been a year. My 52 week journey to drink as much wine as possible has come to an end.
I finished this lovely year with a wine that I have had on multiple occasions. Yes, I know this defies what my original premise indicated, but what the heck.
I chose a Newman's Own Pinot Noir for $8.99 at Walmart.
You cannot go wrong with a Newman’s Own. It doesn't matter what varietal you pick. He, (God rest his soul) has it going on.
It tastes like a much higher priced wine, with flavors and notes that will compliment any dish you serve it with.
On that happy note, my blogging days have come to a lovely wine flavored end.
It's been so much fun to share my wine journey. I hope your wine journey continues. I know mine will.
Cheers!!

I indicated in my prior blog that I felt like spending. Well, that feeling was short lived. I spent a whopping $9.99. Actually, that was the sale price. This wine is normally $13.99.

I chose a 2009 Napa Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. I served it with a salad, which of course is not what the serving recommendation was on the back of the label, but it was all I could do for the evening.

The wine was ok. It had a bit of a spicy flavor, maybe a hint of chocolate notes and a peppery finish. For a Reserve, I did expect it to be a bit smoother. This wine does crave food somewhat and I think if I had served with a heartier dish, it would've complimented the wine and brought out more flavor.

All in all....not bad. I wouldn't run out and buy it again, but I wouldn't pour it down the drain either.

I hate to confess this, but I've found since living here in Scottsdale with this continual ongoing dry heat, I have been enjoying chilling my red wine. It's quite lovely and smoothes out the finish.

I think I may be on to something.

for next week...no clue.

Until then...Cheers!!

I don't know if it was the long day, or the brief conversation I had with my daughter before I got home about how much we miss spending time together, or if it was that I didn't have wine at all yesterday and was missing it, but the moment I took a sip of this Sauvignon Blanc I was transported to a warm sunny day on a back patio at a table with an umbrella and a smile came to my face.

I tasted citrus, melons, and pear and it was tart, but in a pleasing way, not in the way the makes your mouth feel tight.

This Chateau Ste Michelle 2010 Sauvignon Blanc from Columbia Valley Washington is just.....lovely.

I served with pan-seared tilapia and brussel sprouts. It was wonderful. I enjoyed every sip and decided the $12.99 spent was worth every penny.

Take a sip and you'll think of a summer day.

As I near the end of my year of wine journey, I think back fondly on every sip and every bottle. In a few weeks, it will have been year. I'm not sure if I'm going to continue....blogging that is. Wine drinking??? Absolutely!!!

Tune in next week for.....who knows, but I feel like spending!!

I have to say. This website I blog on has changed their format and I totally hate it. It's not as user friendly as before.

I personally enjoy using paragraphs and spacing and only this moment figured out how. My last blog was one long rambling blob of sentences.

Now, on to the wine.... This particular 2009 Pinot Noir hails from Buellton, California. Evidently this was once a huge ranching area, but now houses vineyards and wineries.

The back label has some interesting descriptive verbiage - earthy, newly picked raspberry, ripe strawberries, and locally grown mushrooms. Hmmmm.....I don't think I love this one. I noticed when I poured it into the glass, there a rusty hue. I thought to myself, I'll bet it's a bit earthy. I guess it only makes sense considering that it was a ranching area - which means cows - which means manure - which means earthy wine.

This wine craves food and would probably go well with the typical red wine dishes. Something very flavorful or spicy would likely help this Pinot Noir out a bit. I had it with a pretzel. My evening meal has long since passed and I wanted to blog on this before bed.

So, the $11.99 I spent at Fry's grocery store wasn't a complete waste. While I was there I also bought a quilt. There's nothing you can't buy at Fry's in Casa Grande Arizona.

On that happy note, I will bid adieu. I think I need to blog on a white wine next week. I'll try to buy one this week before I forget. Until then....Cheers!!