I'm Making You an Offer You Can't Refuse

My husband is a Godfather fan.  This summer he corrupted both of my  older daughters. 

So obviously when I am walking through the grocery store and I see several Coppola wines on sale, I think, "Leave the gun.  Take the cannolis." 

No really.  This is actually why I bought them.

Coppola Ivory Label Cabernet Sauvignon and
Coppola Claret a blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec

I decided it would be fun to try them both, and then declare a winner.  My initial instinct was that I would like the Claret best.  I love a Cab blend, and I loved the sleek black label with the gold netting.  I know, you don't buy a wine for a label, but this one just spoke to me.  It was the little black dress of the wine world.  The Ivory I picked up because we were having steak that weekend and I knew I would have the perfect opportunity to enjoy a Cabernet.

What I didn't expect, was that I would like the Ivory better.  In fact, I have bought it two additional times.  It is a great, big wine.  Even bigger if you open it about 20 minutes before drinking.  I loved it.

I liked the Claret as well, but definitely not as much.  Maybe it is because I had the Ivory first.  Although I did have them several days apart.  Regardless, the Claret just couldn't stand up to it. 

I was very, very surprised with the outcome.

I did learn two things during the course of the taste off.

1.  Coppola makes outstanding wines.  I will more than happily try others under their label... including the Claret again.  I still think I may have missed something with that wine.  Which means it definitely deserves a second chance.  I picked up a bottle of the Alicante Bouschet (Magenta Label) the other day.

2.  Always shop around for wine.  I have seen the Coppola Diamond Collection (Ivory Label, Magenta Label, and Claret) priced at $17.99 many, many places.  However, each and every time I have picked up the Ivory it has been for $12.99.  I can think of a lot of other things to spend $5 on, like a wedge of brie from Trader Joe's ... or a Cinnamon Dolce Latte from Starbucks.

mmmmmmm.  

Looks like I just planned my Friday evening, and my Saturday morning.

Friday Night Wine

I love Pinot Noir as a Friday night wine.  By the time Friday night is here, I want an easy dinner, a glass of wine, and maybe a movie on the couch with my favorite people.  For me, Friday night is all about ease.  That is also how I think of Pinot Noir.

However, tonight I'm not drinking Pinot Noir. (pulled a fast one on you right there.)  Tonight I am drinking Cline Cashmere.  The Cashmere is a blend of Mourvedre, Grenache, and Syrah.  To describe this wine as smooth would be doing it an injustice.  It is supple, easy, lustrous, and effortless.  Just like Friday night.

The Cline website describes it thusly, "As rare as the goats in the Gobi Desert, this silky rich blend is a special treat."   Who wouldn't want a wine compared to goats?  Seriously. 

And finally, if you are still thinking of going in another direction for your Friday night wine, I offer you this jewel of delicious information.  Cline sponsors The Breast Cancer Network of Strength - Ride to Empower.  That is why the Cashmere has a Pink Ribbon on the label.  I love companies that are vested in the world around them!

The Breast Cancer Network of Strength provides support for Breast Cancer patients.  They have many, many services that they offer, but what makes them different is that all of their services are provided by Breast Cancer Survivors! 

So there you have it.  A tremendous Friday Night Wine, provided by an exceptional winery, who supports an incredible organization.  Just a little feel good for your Friday night!

Cashmere
Cline Cellars
A blend of Mourvedre, Grenache, and Syrah
Listed on their website at $21.99
I purchased mine at World Market for $12.99.
(Gotta love a bargain!)

Anyone that knows me will tell you that I wanted 8 kids.

But then I got pregnant.  Boy, did I hate being pregnant. 

So instead we have 3.  Three amazing, wonderful girls who light up our lives.

And sometimes I drink a wine called Seven Daughters. 

Close enough, right?

(My daughters are much older than this now, but I am pretty sure they couldn't be cuter!)

Seven Daughters
A blend of Syrah, Merlot, Zinfandel, Carignane, Cabernet Franc, Alicante Bouschet, and Cabernet Sauvignon. 
I would describe it as fruit forward with a full mouth feel.  Young... but intriguing.  Great with pizzas or sitting on the deck on a crisp fall evening.
$13.99

I LOVE THIS WINE!

And I don't say that very often.

Especially about a wine this cheap.

I swear to you, I love it.

And it is even better after it has been open awhile.

You should buy it... tomorrow.

Blackstone
Sonoma Reserve
Rubric
2007
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Malbec (14%),
Cabernet Franc (8%), Petit Verdot (8%), Tannat (7%),
 Merlot (5%), Petite Sirah (3%)

$13.99 at Trader Joe's and worth every freakin' penny.
Big, Full-bodied, Delicious.
Buy it!  Drink it!  Tell me you love me!

(oh, and I wish there was a picture... but my camera is a piece of crap.  Santa please take note.)

A story in which my house doesn't explode.

The house is finished.  Which means that we can move in.  It also means that we can get cable.  Now, I am not a huge television person, but the inconvenience of not having your own space in which to watch your favorite show, or even sit there watching absolutely nothing because you are too freaking tired to process coherent thought, let alone read a book, IS A BIG ONE. 

The cable appointment was for between 4:30 and 6:30 pm.  As I am not a rookie, I explained to my 18 year old daughter Meghan what she needed to know, if the cable guy showed up early.  Which is always how it works.  If you are at home, they arrive at 7.  If you are out, they are ready at 3.    I was out.

Upon arrival, the cable guy informs Megs that he is afraid of dogs.  I get this.  Many people have had a bad experience in their lives, and develop a life long fear.  

Meet Johnny, and Lola.

They look like this 99% of the time.  Relaxed does not begin to describe them.  A better word might be comatose.  Regardless, Megs knew better than to mess with our appointment, and closed them in my bedroom.

Oh, back to the early arrival time, and a brief description of my house.  We don't have a yard.  I know.  Two big dogs and no yard?  It isn't by choice.  It is a function of the new house.  Lots are small, and patios are more common.  This means we spend a lot of time walking dogs.  Megs would have walked our dogs at 3:30, but the cable guy showed up at 3... and was afraid of dogs.

When I arrived at 4, I immediately went to check on the cable guy.  It was at this point that he informed me that he might not be able to do the job because our electrical meter was grounded to the gas line, and if we were struck by lightening, our house could explode.  Let me say that again.  If we were struck by lightening, our house could EXPLODE!!!!!

I tend to be calm in these situations.  I'm not sure why.  Maybe it is from being a mother.  Motherhood is all about dealing with the unexpected and not freaking out.  Well at least not freaking out until after the kids are in bed.  So we decided to sever the grounding wire.  While there is still a fire danger if we were struck by lightening, we would at least not explode.  Plus it is Southern California.  We are not exactly known for our massive rainstorms.

It was now 5, and after 2 plus hours of plying the dogs with treats to keep them happy, I asked Megs to take them for a walk and I will deal with the cable guy.  She walked into my room, and I heard, "Is this pee on your bed?"  I looked in the door.  My bed was wet, really wet.  Immediately I went into denial.  I said, "No, that's probably just from Lola licking the Kong."  Ha!  Licking the Kong.  Just like Santa wears fancy pink panties.  No, one of the dogs, and I won't name names (Lola), peed on my bed.

I stripped the bed, threw the sheets in the wash.  Took the towels and tried to dry my bed enough that I could treat it with rug cleaner.  I applied the rug cleaner, put a towel on top of it, weighted it down with boxes, and ran out the door to pick up Karen Ray from jump rope camp.

By the time I got there, I was in tears.  The adrenaline had worn off, and I was beside myself.  My husband wasn't even here yet from Boston, and our dog has PEED on our bed! I pulled myself together and went in to pick up Karen Ray. 

This is the part where I tell you about my amazing children. 

The Goose could tell something was wrong immediately.  She didn't ask me, but she held my hand while I signed her out.  We walked to the door, stepped out into the sun, and she said, "Are you okay, Mom?" 

I would love to say I was strong. 

I said, "Lola peed on my bed."  Halfway through the sentence my voice broke.  She wrapped her arms around me, said she was sorry, and hugged me all the way to the car.

We stopped at the grocery store, rented a Rug Doctor, the hose attachments, bought the industrial strength Pet Cleaner with urine dissolving crystals, and headed home.  The freaking cable guy was still there.  I told the girls that my plan was to make dinner and then clean my bed.  I said this without crying. 

Megs said, "I'll make dinner.  You take care of your bed."

Which she did.  And I did.  And then we ate.  And there was wine.  And Karen Ray gave me a hand massage.  And while I can't say all was right with the world, it was definitely vastly improved.

I love my girls ... and my dogs.

Acacia
Red Table Wine
$12.99
Medium bodied
Normally I would rate it as passable, but on this day? 
Freakin' delicious!

The more things change, the more they stay the same!

In the last month (ish) I have quit my job, quit my other job, got my house ready for the market, put my house on the market, sold my house and am overseeing a renovation on my new house which is... 3000 miles away!  Can you say, Holy Crap Batman?!

My life is changing.  I am moving home to San Diego.  I have lived away since 1992, and while I have enjoyed each and every place that my life has taken me, I am very excited about ending up where I began!  HOME!

So for the next few months this blog may contain more than just wine and food goodies, because my life contains more than just wine and food!  ... Wait, did I just say that?  That must have been the crazy talking...  But seriously, I don't want to put this endeavor on hold while I sort through this exciting, wonderful, STRESSFUL time in my life.  So I will write about both.

This evening I will leave you with two great finds:

Sterling
Vintner's Collection
Meritage
2008
$12.99 (sounded more expensive than that, didn't it!)
It is  a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc
It is delcious.  Full mouth feel, big, robust, bursting with flavor.  This would be a really delicious wine to pair with a steak on the grill, maybe a little asparagus... oh and mushroom risotto.  Definitely mushroom risotto!

Which leads me to item #2.  I went out last night with some of my very favorite neighborhood ladies.  We had amazing pedicures, and dinner after.  I think I found a new favorite polish color.  It is called Mrs. O'Leary's Barbecue by OPI. 

Just look how well it matches my wine!

Sometimes you just need to go out!

I am admittedly a bit of a homebody.  I like to cook.  I like to be with my family.  And sometimes, I have been known to be in my pajamas by 6:15pm Saturday night!  I am that girl.  There are times though, that even I like to go out. 

One of those times is with Pam.  She is smart and funny, funny and smart, charming and funny and smart, caring and funny and smart, oh and did I mention she is funny and smart?!  After an evening spent with Pam it is guaranteed that your face will be sore from smiling, and your stomach will hurt from laughing 'til you thought you might pee!  A night with Pam is good for the soul.

A favorite place for us to visit is Rustic Kitchen.  Rustic Kitchen describes itself as a lively but classic style bistro.  The restaurant's focus is on fresh food.  Everything is made on premise, including their pastas and breads.  We like to go, sit at the bar, have a glass of wine, and share a pizza.  Our favorite is the portabella, goat cheese, caramelized onion and thyme pizza.  All of their pizzas are thin crust and cooked in a brick oven.  Nothing beats a wood fired pizza.

Plus, the wine list is intriguing.  Wines are not listed by type (Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Zinfandel), but are categorized by description.  There are listings for Rough Riders (full body, peppery, hint of smokiness), Funky White Guys (crisp and acidic, lively, great with seafood), and Too Big to be Put Anywhere Else (big, heavy and over the top).  I don't know why more restaurants don't do this.  It is genius.  It makes wine approachable for every consumer.  It also encourages you to try something you might not usually.  For example: if you like Pinot Noir and you see the Mark West listed under Rough Riders, you might glance at the other wines in that section.  That might lead you to try the Concannon Syrah, which is quite good in its own right.

One small confession.. I almost always get the Centine by Banfi.  It is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.  It is smooth, and supple.  I would describe it as medium bodied.  Listed in the Easy Rider category, it is perfect with the above mentioned pizza!

So here is my challenge to you:  This week, call your Pam (find your own, you can't have mine!) and make plans to go out.  Laugh, drink, eat delicious food, and enjoy every minute together.  Oh, and if you live in the Boston area... why not try Rustic Kitchen?  There are two here.. 

Nothing is better than time spent with a good friend!

*all opinions listed in this blog are my own.  If I write a review, it is because of my love of the business.  I promise to always be truthful in my posts, and I will always call it... just the way I see it.