Sunday, August 23, 2009

The glass says it all


Photograph of a piece done by Sarah Hobbs, seen in Atlanta Style and Design Summer 07 issue. This photo cracks me up with all the funny writings on the wine glasses.

"Why are you crying?" , "How much do you weigh?" , "I am deep in debt" , "Here alone? Did you get dumped?" , Can you loan me some money?" , "How much did you pay for that?" , "I'm asking for a divorce." , "Why aren't you married yet?" , "Do you see a therapist?" , "I have a really weird rash." , "What grades does your kid make?" , "We fought before you got here." , "What's that pill for?" , "Just soda? Are you pregnant?" , "How much do you make?" , "D you know what your problem is?" , "Guess how much I make?" , "I started seeing a shrink" , "I don't know why I invited them" , " I may lose my job." , " Are you two sleeping together?" , "Have you gained weight?" , "When are you going to have a baby?" , "We can't afford this house." , "Were you just talking about me?" , "Are those real?" , "Our sex life is non-existent."

It's the things you may hear people saying at a party, or things they may be thinking quietly to themselves. All most inappropriate, but funny none-the-less.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Gold Medal Wine Club

I love the Gold Medal Wine Club! https://shopnow.goldmedalwine.com/storefront/SpecialWines.aspx?type=Top5&utm_source=email_gifts&utm_medium=Top5&utm_campaign=gift_giving%2B
I am thinking about getting a friend the Gold Series Wine Country Gift - Five Gifts in One! Only $69 - Includes two bottles of Gold Series California award-winning wines, (one red, one white) neatly gift wrapped in tissue and bows, with a trendy BNY black neoprene wine bottle tote, a sleek wooden handle corkscrew, and a polished wooden bottle stopper. All packaged in artist commissioned Wine Country Gift Box. I have used them for about 15 years for gifts. During the holidays they have great specials!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Viognier - August 12th, 2009 - Ms. Deb & Ms. Jennifer

Viognier - August 12th, 2009 - Ms. Deb & Ms. Jennifer

Wikipedia: About
Viognier a white wine.
Pairings: Viognier pairs well with spicy food, vegatarian cuisine, and cheeses. Per a recent article from Snooth.com, Viognier pairs well with creamy Camembert, Ricotta Salata, or Goat Gouda. For our tasting, we had various seedcrackers with chili sauces, basil rolls with thai and peanut sauces, and crackers with hummus.
About: (jokingly, Deb & Jennifer call it Vee-on-yippee-yi-yay). Was previously an endangered grape as there were only 35 acres left in France in the 60s. Now there are more than 2001 acres in California, and vineyards in Colorado, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, TX, VA, and Washington. The grape is shy, difficult to grow, drought tolerant, but can get mildewy very easily. Grape has high sugar/low acidity, and is attractive to Chardonnay drinkers.
Words: Citrus, pear, peach, iris, ylang ylang, musk, honey, lychee, marmalade

Abbie's Tasting Notes:
1) Viognier Bears Lair 2007 - Trader Joe's $5.99
Color - clear/pale yellow, some hint of green. Nose - lightly peachy. Taste - pear, apple, light citrus. Sarah says "rounded"

2) Viognier Toasted Head 2007 - Dunnegan Hills $7-8 on sale (usually runs about $12.99)
Color - Goldy, too golden, reminds me of Chardonnay. Nose - stronger scent, honeydew melon, toasted oak. Taste - buttery, vanilla-ish, citrus, sweeter. Deb says "Long legs for a white"

3) Viognier Les Piliers 2008 - Total Wine $14.ish
French, earth friendly wine. Color - Light, yellowy, greenish straw. Nose - subtle apple, lite oak, gardenia maybe? honey citrus. Taste - tart, yet lingering, a little apricot, dry. Label on bottle says it pairs well with lobster and cream sauce. mmm FAVE!

4) Viognier Honey Moon 2007 - Trader Joe's $5.99
Color - Light, clear gold, yellow/green. Nose - Light, summery, ocean air. Taste - light, crispy yet lingering, coaxes you to try more, makes me salivate like I do with pineapple, tropical flavor. Label on bottle says pairs well with Thai food, coconut, curry. 2nd favorite of the bunch.

5) Viognier White Knight 2006 - Harry's Market $13.99
Color - golden, clear-ish. Nose: Ripe, stanky, lime, smells like chardonnay (can you tell I am not a chardonnay fan?). Taste - bland, air, quick, muddled, blah, nothing. No follow-thru, it's a teaser and there's no satisfaction at the end. Definitely not the Viagra of Viognier.

6) Viognier Bears Lair 2007 - Trader Joe's $5.99
Color - yellowgreen. Nose - no smell at all. Taste - nice, subtle, light, summery, herbacious, greeny. Perfect beginning course wine.

The winner of this evening's tasting was wine #3! The Les Piliers Viognier 2008. Delicious!

Il Bar at the Pennsview Hotel

Recent trip to Philly for work:
Check out the last 4 photos in the album link below, they are of the PennsView Hotel, which has an AMAZING Wine Bar.
The bartender guy was super nice, and he designed a custom "Flight" tasting of wines for me. I told him about the wine club, and he let me take their wine menu home. I'll bring it to the next wine club, in case anybody wants a peek.

Abbie's Photo Album

Over 120 wines at your fingertips! WOW! We need one in ATL!

Originally I was thinking of ordering Flight # 810 - Latin Loves, but the bartendar was recommending Flight #806 - Franc-O-File. So, in the end he picked the best of both and made a custom flight of red wine tastes for me.
1) Tap 94 - Cabernet Sauvignon - Mendoza-Libertad Vynd Luna Benegas 2006 (Argentina)
2) Tap 124 - Garnacha D.P Carinena Castillo De Monseran 2006 (Spain)
3) Tap 111 - Fronsac Merlot 80%/Cabernet Franc 15%/Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Chateau Barrail Chevrol 2005
4) Tap 95 - Coteaux Du Languedoc La Melia Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre/Carignane Montpeyroux 2004
5) Tap 107 - Cotes Du Roussillon Grenache/Syrah/Carignane Chateau Montesquieu 2004

They went from lighter to more full bodied. My favorite was the 4th glass, it was earthy/peaty smelling, and very firm. The most unique of them all was the 5th glass. The nose was an earthy barnyard smell, almost poopy, but not quite. The Bartendar described it as a saddle sway scent - sure what he said! It tasted very dry and full. All-in-all it was a great wine, but not my favorite.