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Monday, May 25, 2020

Cellar Notes: Oyster Bay Chardonnay 2017

Date Wine Consumed: 5/25/2020                                       Type: White Still

Country: New Zealand                     State/Region: Marlborough

Brand Name: Oyster Bay Wines

Vintage: 2017                                  Alcohol %: 13%        Price: Unknown (lost the receipt)

Grape Varietal: Chardonnay

Had Where: Home

See:
        Clarity: Clear
        Brightness: Bright
        Concentration: Pale
        White Wine Color: Light straw


Sniff/Smell:
        Describe: Citrus, green apple, kiwi, honey, floral notes, mineral


Sip/Savor:
        Body: Light
        Sweetness: Dry
        Fruit(s): Lemon, citrus
        Fruit Condition: Tart, Pithy
        Acidity: Mouth watering
        Tannins: N/A
        Other Information: Oak very subtle


Swallow/Summarize:
        Aftertaste: Medium
        Finish: Medium
        Balanced/Unbalanced: Balanced


What types of food/cuisine would you recommend with this wine: Seared tuna, roast pork with grilled vegetables, shrimp scampi over pasta, avocado toast

Your Rating: 9/10
        Reason: A very pleasant drinking wine, appreciate the subtle oak notes. Acidity isn't overpowering. Nice bottle of wine to break into on National Wine Day.

Additional Notes: Screw cap. Can't remember where I bought this, but I'm pretty sure Empire Wine. 

Saturday, May 09, 2020

Random Saturday Morning Post

I was thinking this morning the start date of my COVID-19 isolation life. The weekend of March 14th was when the thought of staying home and self distancing was more palpable than before. I had picked up some food that Friday after work because the plan was to stay home and see what happens. But then the water heater broke and needed to be repaired immediately. So a trip to the home improvement store and a quick trip for groceries for the week.

I started working from home March 17th, and aside from the weekly grocery run I have been in the house ever since. I'm lucky I have the ability to work from home, not all nurses do. I suppose I am a not too essential, essential worker. M on the other hand, is still going into work. He plays a role with the testing, so it's easier to fix problems on site than virtually.

As for school, spring break was extended to two weeks as they waited for guidance and how to finish the semester. My classes went virtual, and my thoughts on this may differ from my classmates and perhaps my teachers - but I like it. It fits my life better, and my preferred choice of learning while maintaining a full time job. As for the hands on parts of my classes, the virtual is hard. Sure teachers can do video demos, but it's not the same as it was in the kitchen. I have been cooking at home, remaking the things I made in class, or videos I've watched. It's okay, but not. Summer classes start soon, and I am taking two. Once was already an online class, the other became an online version since the school has decided to continue virtual learning through the summer. And because of that, I can take the class because otherwise it would be during the day when I'm working. Who knows what will happen for the fall. I am signed up for Commercial Baking, Garde Manger and Classical Cuisine. 

Who knows.

I miss my family. I miss my friends. I miss the interactions of old. Trivia is now virtual, and while it is nice to catch up with people... not the same over the internets. Last week I baked up cookies and dropped them off with friends and neighbors. Most I left on mailboxes or porches. One stop, my friend just happened to be outside so we got to catch up. Had a drink or more. Enjoyed the warm sunny day. Enjoyed the company. Socially distanced. As nice as it was, when will that happen again? We are slowly starting to open to open up, but how will it be on the other side? Working in the OR I was used to wearing a mask all day. Now I wear a mask for longer than an hour and I feel like I'm suffocating. I will still wear them, but I am unsure of this new normal.

Maybe none of this makes sense. But I have been cooped up for two months and I may be feeling the strain. And this venting post was slightly therapeutic.

Time for some video games. Because I play them more now. Less Netflix, more Don't Starve Together. I don't play Animal Kingdom, I don't need an additional time suck.

Friday, May 01, 2020

Cellar Notes: Campo Viejo Reserva 2014

Date Wine Consumed: 5/1/2020                                       Type: Red Still

Country: Spain                            State/Region: Rioja

Brand Name: Campo Viejo

Vintage: 2018                              Alcohol %: 13.5%               Price: $12.95

Grape Varietal: Tempranillo

Had Where: Home

See:
        Clarity: Clear
        Brightness: Not necessarily bright, nor dull. In between
        Concentration: Medium - Dark
        Red Wine Color: Black cherry jello colored, garnet


Sniff/Smell:
        Describe: Smoky, medicinal, spice, dark cherry, red fruit


Sip/Savor:
        Body: Light
        Sweetness: Dry
        Fruit(s): Raspeberry
        Fruit Condition: Ripe
        Acidity: Mouth Watering
        Tannins: Rich
        Other Information


Swallow/Summarize:
        Aftertaste: Faint
        Finish: Short
        Balanced/Unbalanced: Balanced


What types of food/cuisine would you recommend with this wine: Paella, roasted meats, seafood, burger, Indian food, roasted eggplant, hard cheeses

Your Rating: 8/10
         Reason: Good acidity, tannins rich but not overpowering.

Additional Notes: Cork closure. Purchased at Empire Wine.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Cellar Notes: Calivista Wines Chardonnay 2019

Date Wine Consumed: 4/29/2020                                       Type: White Still

Country: Argentina                         State/Region: Mendoza

Brand Name: CaliVista Wines

Vintage: 2019                                  Alcohol %: 13.3%        Price: $8.95

Grape Varietal: Chardonnay

Had Where: Home

See:
        Clarity: Clear
        Brightness: Bright
        Concentration: Pale
        White Wine Color: Light straw


Sniff/Smell:
        Describe: Astringent, slightly medicinal, plastic smell?, citrusy, lemon, pineapple?


Sip/Savor:
        Body: Light
        Sweetness: Dry
        Fruit(s): Pineapple
        Fruit Condition: Tart, slight pith
        Acidity: Mouth watering
        Tannins: N/A
        Other Information: Astringent


Swallow/Summarize:
        Aftertaste: Faint-Medium, leaning more toward medium
        Finish: Medium
        Balanced/Unbalanced: Unbalanced, just slightly


What types of food/cuisine would you recommend with this wine

Your Rating: 5/10
        Reason: The astringent taste not my favorite. Had an initial weird funky smell. Prickly feeling on my tongue.


Additional Notes: Screw cap. Purchased from Empire Wine. 

Monday, April 27, 2020

Cellar Notes: Smoking Loon Old Vine Zinfandel 2016

Date Wine Consumed: 4/26/2020                                       Type: Red Still

Country: United States                            State/Region: California

Brand Name: Smoking Loon

Vintage: 2016                              Alcohol %: 14%               Price: $6.95

Grape Varietal: Old Vine Zinfandel

Had Where: Home

See:
        Clarity: Clear
        Brightness: Bright
        Concentration: Medium
        Red Wine Color: Black cherry jello colored, garnet


Sniff/Smell:
        Describe: Red fruit, dark cherries, oak, spicy, smoky, reminds me of standing by the fire pit, slight iodine?


Sip/Savor:
        Body: Lightish Medium
        Sweetness: Dry - Off Dry
        Fruit(s): Red fruit, cherry
        Fruit Condition: Ripe
        Acidity: Juicy
        Tannins: Soft
        Other Information: Spicy, smoky


Swallow/Summarize:
        Aftertaste: Faint
        Finish: Short
        Balanced/Unbalanced: Balanced


What types of food/cuisine would you recommend with this wine: Grilled meats, steak, roasts, hearty stews, pasta with Bolognese, Neapolitan pizza, Peruvian chicken

Your Rating: 9/10
         Reason: Good, assertive flavor, smooth tannins. Acidity not overpowering. Really like old vine zins!

Additional Notes: Cork closure. Purchased at Empire Wine.