The Malibu Winery

Flashback to a business trip near L.A. I arrived on a Sunday to allow for an early start on Monday morning. I got settled in L.A. earlier than expected, and decided to be adventuresome.

I had soon embarked upon a mini road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway. Beautiful, exhilirating drive! I suddenly happened upon Rosenthal Estates, and decided to pull in. After all, when have I been know to drive past a winery?

There's nothing like tasting fabulous wines, overlooking the deep blue Pacific I spent loads of time sampling wines, and chatting with the staff and other customers. I decided on a bottle of 2001 (or was it 2004) Merlot, and have been saving it ever since.

Flash forward to now, and I decide it's time to enjoy this bottle...which to me, is very valuable because of the fine memories it awakens. We enjoy this bottle with steaks on the grill and fresh veggies, and agree that this is certainly a bottle we would purchase again. Full-bodied and luscious, fruit-forward...I love this wine!

Part of the beauty of wine is the experience of seeking, selecting, and sharing the bottle. The most memorable encounters with wine tend to have a great story intertwined.

(Written 11.09; Edited 4.10)

Tonight I had a lovely Pinot Noir

Wow. Cherries and earth. That's what I smell.

I respect Pinot Noir makers very much. Pinot is a delicate grape, and when properly cultivated, produces some of the prettiest and most interesting wines.

The wine is named Sweet Cheeks, from (beloved) Oregon. This is a new world pinot, full of fresh cherries, and hints of earthiness. I drank it alone, without food, but might enjoy it with meatier fishes or light meats. Too bad it's hard to find on the East Coast...or perhaps that's what helps to make it charming.

Thanks, Km and Ken, and the random wine shop that happened to be opened Easter Day, 2008 in Eugene. :o)

(Written 11.09)

Rekindling the Passion

Tonight I went back to wine school for a one-night class, and was amazed at how this simple action reinvigorated my wine passion.

It's not that I stopped loving wine, or anything like that. It's just that I stopped being so attentive and appreciative of each of the amazing and mysterious elements of wine.

That's all it took; one class, one swirl - awakening the scents, and I'm back.

(written: November 2009)

Introductions...

According to my best friend, it's best to start a new beginning (such as this) with a Haiku.

Unfortunately, I suck at Haikus. So why don't we start here instead?
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I'm a novice wine enthusiast...an unpretentious, curious, and appreciative lover of wine.

It's that simple.

I completed the Foundation Certificate Program at the Philadelphia Wine School, but certainly don't claim to know all that much.

I am willing to try anything once, and I don't discriminate based upon price, region, or vareital.

I am fascinated when I think of wine as a living thing - slightly changing from day to day. I love tasting wine with others, because it is so interesting to hear people express what they smell and taste. It's so personal! Relating the scent to a memory from childhood: suade, bananas, tobacco, Luden's Cherry Cough Drops. Wow. Much of the experience is neither right nor wrong...it just is.

Let me know your thoughts. If we are willing to listen and share, we are able to learn from each other. Cheers.