fullygoldy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fullygoldy) wrote2006-07-08 08:27 am
fullygoldy) wrote2006-07-08 08:27 am
Entry tags:
Fun with Wine
Last weekend, I had a wine-buying spree while DH was getting his transfusion. See, if he goes in on Saturday, I try to get the groceries while he's in, so we don't have to waste any more of the weekend.
Part of getting groceries is making sure the bar is well-stocked. But we didn't need vodka or tequila, or even beer, thanks to a Friday beer run. All we really needed was wine, and DH asked me to get another bottle of a pretty surprising pink wine we had tried early in the week. Now let me just say, we have spent several years scoffing, nay jeering, at pink wines. But the pinks must have hired a good PR firm, because all of a sudden, we hear nothing but good about pinks. So we decided to give them a chance. Unfortunately, neither of us can remember the name of the delightful pink cotes du rhone we successfully paired with mavis's infamously zingy spaghetti. I went into Woodman's West (where we bought the original) fully convinced I could remember the label well enough to buy a repeat bottle or two. I am still convinced I would remember the label, but they must have sold out (it was on sale for $9.99 when we picked it up originally).
Anyway, it's a week later, all 6 bottles are empty, and back on their way out to the recycling bin, and I'm starting to daydream about today's trip to Woodman's... But maybe we'll stop by Barriques or Brennan's first. Gotta spread the love, ya know.
Part of getting groceries is making sure the bar is well-stocked. But we didn't need vodka or tequila, or even beer, thanks to a Friday beer run. All we really needed was wine, and DH asked me to get another bottle of a pretty surprising pink wine we had tried early in the week. Now let me just say, we have spent several years scoffing, nay jeering, at pink wines. But the pinks must have hired a good PR firm, because all of a sudden, we hear nothing but good about pinks. So we decided to give them a chance. Unfortunately, neither of us can remember the name of the delightful pink cotes du rhone we successfully paired with mavis's infamously zingy spaghetti. I went into Woodman's West (where we bought the original) fully convinced I could remember the label well enough to buy a repeat bottle or two. I am still convinced I would remember the label, but they must have sold out (it was on sale for $9.99 when we picked it up originally).
I figured I'd just pick out something else pink. How hard could it be, right? Heh. It's always harder than you'll think it will be, if you're a label-reader like me. Firstly, I ruled out everything "zinfandel." That cut the field by half. Then I started with the labels. I found a Menage A Trois pink, that listed Gewurtzraminer as an ingredient. Nope, too sweet for me. Then I found Big House Pink (CA-2004). Hey, we liked Big House Red, so this might work. It has a screw cap, and runs about $8.99. It lists italianate rosati, carignane, sangiovese, charbono, zinfandel, and barbera as ingredients, truly earning it's appellation "pink wine." I also was drawn by a Renwood Syrah Rose' (2004) that was something like 6 bucks. Worth a shot, and hey, I've never been one to limit my choices ::g::. Moving on, I decided I really needed a white wine for the week, but since an Alsacian riesling (2004) had jumped into my cart when I wasn't looking (also on sale), I figured I'd forego the 1.5 liter of Fetzer pinot grigio we usually get, and look for another experimental white. I finally settled on a yummy-sounding Pepi pinot grigio (CA-2005, and also a screw cap) that had scored in the high 80s. While shopping around, I noticed the Three Thieves wines (that come in a jug-shaped bottle with a screw cap) were also on sale for $7.99 ea, so I picked up a 2003 cab sav because I remember liking it before. It'll keep. And finally, knowing that we would probably have company for dinner, and that bzdchris loves it, and because I was feeling all sparkly anyway with my cartfull of wine, I made a run down the sparkling wine aisle and selected a Jeio Bisol Prosecco Brut (Italy-no vintage). At $10.49 it was the priciest thing in my cart. I checked out for a mere $58 and change for a total of 6 wines (and was carded again - this time by a guy who was probably my age)!
I loaded the Pepi, the Renwood and the Prosecco into the fridge to cool, and DH smiled indulgently while explained myself and my choices later in the afternoon (one for every day of the week, she said brightly!). Then company arrived, and we collectively decided to get the experimental pink out of the way first. The Renwood was opened and poured around, and then. Yeah. Nothing to write home about. It wasn't too sweet, just too blah. If it had been carbonated, I would have been drinking Andre' "pink champagne." So, no. No repeats on the Renwood. We knocked that one back pretty quickly, and decided to do the prosecco next, saving the Pepi for the meal. The Pepi claims to be perfect for seafood and we were grilling shrimp, so. The prosecco was nice. Just the right amount of bubbly, definitely brut, and it would pair inoffensively with just about anything, which, in my opinion, is the reason for serving sparkling wine whenever you feel like it. So I count that as a success. Besides, we also got to pair it with dessert later on. The Pepi was pretty good. It's very clean and light, as a pinot grigio should be. It would be a great picnic wine as well as an everyday wine, and it did go wonderfully with the shrimp, just as advertised. We ended up with a half bottle leftover.
Our next tasting waited until Concerts on teh Square on Wednesday. It was a lovely evening, and DH had chilled both the riesling and the Big House pink. We started with the pink, which was actually quite good, but not as good as our long-lost first pink. Great for the outdoor scene though. I'd do that again. During the 2nd half of the program, we opened the riesling, and I was a little disappointed. I had thought at the time it was german, and it seemed fairly tame if that was the case, but as I was digging through the recycling bin this morning (in my robe and slippers - complete research is paramount) I realized, not german, but french. Ah. As DH said, "that explains a lot." We both find french whites to be fairly lackluster. I don't really know why, but I suspect that my growing up with CA whites has a lot to do with it. I could have said something snooty about terroir, but really, why bother? After all, it's only wine. I save my snobbery for beer and food ::bwg::
bzdchris loves it, and because I was feeling all sparkly anyway with my cartfull of wine, I made a run down the sparkling wine aisle and selected a Jeio Bisol Prosecco Brut (Italy-no vintage). At $10.49 it was the priciest thing in my cart. I checked out for a mere $58 and change for a total of 6 wines (and was carded again - this time by a guy who was probably my age)!I loaded the Pepi, the Renwood and the Prosecco into the fridge to cool, and DH smiled indulgently while explained myself and my choices later in the afternoon (one for every day of the week, she said brightly!). Then company arrived, and we collectively decided to get the experimental pink out of the way first. The Renwood was opened and poured around, and then. Yeah. Nothing to write home about. It wasn't too sweet, just too blah. If it had been carbonated, I would have been drinking Andre' "pink champagne." So, no. No repeats on the Renwood. We knocked that one back pretty quickly, and decided to do the prosecco next, saving the Pepi for the meal. The Pepi claims to be perfect for seafood and we were grilling shrimp, so. The prosecco was nice. Just the right amount of bubbly, definitely brut, and it would pair inoffensively with just about anything, which, in my opinion, is the reason for serving sparkling wine whenever you feel like it. So I count that as a success. Besides, we also got to pair it with dessert later on. The Pepi was pretty good. It's very clean and light, as a pinot grigio should be. It would be a great picnic wine as well as an everyday wine, and it did go wonderfully with the shrimp, just as advertised. We ended up with a half bottle leftover.
Our next tasting waited until Concerts on teh Square on Wednesday. It was a lovely evening, and DH had chilled both the riesling and the Big House pink. We started with the pink, which was actually quite good, but not as good as our long-lost first pink. Great for the outdoor scene though. I'd do that again. During the 2nd half of the program, we opened the riesling, and I was a little disappointed. I had thought at the time it was german, and it seemed fairly tame if that was the case, but as I was digging through the recycling bin this morning (in my robe and slippers - complete research is paramount) I realized, not german, but french. Ah. As DH said, "that explains a lot." We both find french whites to be fairly lackluster. I don't really know why, but I suspect that my growing up with CA whites has a lot to do with it. I could have said something snooty about terroir, but really, why bother? After all, it's only wine. I save my snobbery for beer and food ::bwg::
Anyway, it's a week later, all 6 bottles are empty, and back on their way out to the recycling bin, and I'm starting to daydream about today's trip to Woodman's... But maybe we'll stop by Barriques or Brennan's first. Gotta spread the love, ya know.