Floating down a River of Skulls?

There are some wine related experiences that can never be replicated.  Sometimes it might have been the time of year that you opened that particular bottle or how it was stored...or who you were with.

This is not the case for Twisted Oak's (see their page here: www.twistedoak.com) River of Skulls

I could "snort" this wine all night long.  I try not to be partial because I am an equal opportunity wineaux,  but sometimes there are wines that just get you by the hoohaa.  At about 90% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah, this wine is supple and elegant, but it's no wuss.

I need a glass right now...

Somebody find me a boat...or at least a life jacket, I think I'm going to need it.

A little Bocce...a lot of Bordeaux

What a charmed life I lead.

Last night, I was out playing in a bocce ball tournament on the beautiful grounds at Prospect 772 winery (see their webpage here: www.prospect772.com) in Calaveras County.  Our team won (go team!) for the second year in a row and the wine flowed like...well, water.

Some of the bottles that made their way into the mouths (and hearts) of the players are listed below

Like a 1995 Buena Vista Cabernet Sauvignon

Or a 1996 Rosenblum Cabernet Sauvignon

Can you tell we like red wine?

Needless to say...should you ever have the opportunity to try these stunners, don't look back.  You won't be let down.

I am not a snob...I just have better taste.

A lot of my friends lovingly call me a wine snob and every time they do, I cringe (and smile inwardly a little).
I never knew that I would love wine so much, but by no means am I a "connoisseur"!  Now, that being said, I can tell you with just about 100% certainty that some of the best bottles around are what I like to call "unexpected creepers".  You know, that four dollar bottle that you found on the bottom shelf at the Grocery Outlet and when you went back to buy the rest of their stock (at four bucks a pop, who wouldn't?), you found that someone else had beaten you to it.


Like this winner we had last night:

It just goes to show that being a snob is really more about knowing what you like, be it a box or bottle.

(GASP!  Lisette is advocating boxed wine?!)


Not necessarily, but to each his own.


But if you put 7-Up in it, I might have to hurt you a little. 

<--- NO!

Swirl it, swill it, sip it

Oh Pinot Noir, you can do no wrong.


This is a bottle that was recently consumed during a celebratory dinner and the taste alone was worth the celebration!  We laid it down for about three and a half years and when we opened it, it was truly peaking.  When it comes to Pinot, the palate knows.

The bottle I have featured here is from a local winery located about a half hour from where I live, but they have distribution throughout California!  Please visit their website at www.hatcherwinery.com!  You won't be disappointed!

Love at first sip

Vino deconstructed.

I don't know if I could tell you about the first glass of wine I ever had or if I even liked it, but we all have a glass (or bottle) that changes everything we ever THOUGHT we knew about wine and starts teaching us that we'll never know as much as we think.  Wine is an enigma of sorts.  Always changing, never the same.

Some of the best bottles I have ever had were suggested to me by word of mouth and I'd like to pass on the favor.  Every once in a while (OK, more often that not) I may subject you to memories of this bottle or that one...indulge me. 
I encourage you to send me suggestions about a recent bottle you had or content that you would like to see!

Cheers!