Snoqualmie Whistlestop Red was actually the first bottle of red wine I ever bought without trying it first. It could very well be the first red I ever bought. I was at our little grocery store in town about 3 years ago and we’re talking little. They had even less wine selection then. Maybe 10 or 12 choices, but they stocked it up to look cute and like it was more. It’s been at least a year since I’ve had a glass of it so it’s a great time to do a tasting. I forgot completely how it tastes.

Swirl – for how dark the color is it is surprisingly light looking as it rolls up the glass.

Smell – strong, bold scent. Man it’s been a while since I’ve had red wine. Oh how I’ve missed it. Strong scent of black cherry and cab

Taste – It has a smoky flavor to it and I can also taste tobacco. Thankfully they are not super overpowering as I’m not a fan of tobacco flavor or the smoky barrel aging. I can taste a hint of the black cherry. It’s not a thick red wine and not gritty. Nice and smooth.

Trying new wines was a different animal when I didn’t have a clue what possible scents and flavors could be in the wines. Previously having this wine, I never tasted the tobacco. I got the smokiness but not that tobacco taste. It wasn’t written on the back of the bottle either so it wasn’t predisposed in my head. I liked the wine previously but now I can’t get past the tobacco. Sadly I won’t be purchasing the wine again. But that’s just my personal taste. It’s a great, lighter red wine and I can vouch that it goes really well with salami, cheese and crackers. I first had this wine before I found out I couldn’t eat cheese. I used to get it a lot because I didn’t know any other reds and was afraid to try others.

I bet you can’t wait until I go to the wine bloggers conference in August so I can learn a little better wine tasting. Or maybe you like my adolescent descriptions of my wine? It’s probably wrong to use the word adolescent and wine in the same sentence.  But there you have it.

There won’t be as many wine postings for a bit as I go through this big weight loss kick. I’ve got some serious goals to hit before all our camping and summer fun. Plus I want to look good for that conference in August where I meet some online friends don’t ya know?

If you remember, last October I did a wine review and went with full disclosure that I am not a wine expert and I have no idea how to critique wine. But I’m still going to, because I want to. Because I really like wine and because the more I talk about it the more I will learn.

I do have a plan to help you be able to better be able to read my wine posts. I’m going to attend the Wine Bloggers Conference and there will be some great seminars there. My goal is to come out of the conference a certified wine snob. You can thank me now for getting the knowledge for you.

Hey, back on track, what’s the verdict of this wine?

Swirl test - It’s a brighter yellow than I’m use to. Very thin and light in texture.  Barely sticks to the glass as you swirl.

Smell - There is a definite alcohol smell to it. Quite an overpowering scent. I can also smell the citrus.

Taste - With how strong the alcohol smell was I had my nose already crinkled when I took the first sip. NO NEED, there was absolutely no strong alcohol taste.  I can definitely taste the citrus, I think it’s a lemony taste. I swear every time I drink a white wine I taste green apple. It’s the power of suggestion I’m sure.  It’s very light in flavor.

So here’s the description from the bottle, “Our off-dry Riesling offers enticing aromas and flavors of nectarines and peaches with a crips, clean finish.”

Of course when I buy the bottle I have read the back. Which I try to forget when I’m doing the tasting so I don’t have the flavors already stuck in my head. The good thing is that I generally have looked at quite a few descriptions so the descriptive flavors have run together. Definitely the case for this one. I had forgotten the description and mine didn’t have a lot to do with what the company said.

Here’s the true verdict of this wine. March is Washington Wine Month and I live for this month! It means big discounts on stuff I already buy. We have so many incredible Washington wines that this is what I strive to always buy. But in March almost every grocery store offers our local wines at 30% off!

This wine surprised me. I was expecting a cheap wine. Even though I’ve had other wines by Covey Run so I should know well that their price doesn’t reflect their high quality. I guess once in a while you need that smack in the face. Here it is, I’m listening to it!

I picked up this bottle of wine for only $4.98! Are you kidding me?!!! Sure that was 30% off, but even at “full” price of 7something it’s very affordable. This Riesling was the perfect combination of sweet and dry for me. Then add in the low price and you have a loyal follower. They already make my Mom’s favorite Gewurztraminer.

I knew it was going to happen eventually. We talk wine with a few friends and he’s showed a lot more interest and definitely more knowledge. He’s been listening to what I say as I’m learning. I’ll give him that.

But it’s gone over the top now. He’s now enjoying red’s and white’s. Which means I have TO SHARE! I don’t want to share. I liken this to 19 years ago when he suddenly found out he wasn’t allergic to chocolate anymore. My Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk kept going empty. I thought I was losing my mind. We lived alone. We were broke so that ice cream would last me weeks. I’d take a couple of spoonfuls here and there. I didn’t have to worry about it, it was only mine because he was allergic. One day I finally figured it out (yes, score one for the brain surgeon) and told him to take his shirt off so I could check for rashes. NONE, well where the hell was my ice cream going then? That’s when he started snickering and came clean that he found out his allergy was gone. Sharing my chocolate has gone downhill ever since as two years later I got pregnant and more chocolate sharing had to go down.

While obviously I won’t have to share my wine with the kids for quite some time I am going to whine about sharing with hubby.
I mean SERIOUSLY, I already had to learn to share my whiskey because he decided not to be a rum drinker anymore. Nothing is sacred anymore. Ok, now to focus on the positives of this situation.

1# Wine tastings have become more of a priority. He wants to try different varieties and wineries. In fact we’ll be hitting some wineries during spring break. Both kids have plans so we’re taking our first of many camping trips alone. It’s easy to tour the wineries here in Washington. The difficult thing is figuring out which one’s to hit first on any tour because they start to run together by the third stop

2# He buys wine more often. Previously I would need to ask him to pick up a bottle if he was going to the grocery store just because he wouldn’t think of it. Now I find bottles in the fridge chilling that I didn’t even know we had. See, I told you I was going to come up with the positives!

3# We are both still cheap asses on the price of our wine. However, I’ve come along way in the last few years. Have to stimulate the economy you know. I never used to spend over $5 for a bottle of wine, I’d shop whatever was on the sale on the bottom shelf. Now I still buy from there because not all wines have a high price tag. But, there are a ton of great wine choices from Washington for $10 or under.

Hubby is never afraid to grab bottles that are more towards the $10-$15 range. In fact one time we were cruising around the wine section at our grocery store and the wine steward was there. Hubby started asking questions and we learned a lot of cool stuff from the guy. He showed us an incredible bottle of wine that you can no longer get, yes he did warn us we’d love it and be unable to get more because the winery closed. It was a killer deal 1/2 off and only $25 a bottle. We were having a date night at home and hubby bought 2 bottles. I never would have grabbed them myself. See, the positives just keep racking up. The wine was really good by the way.

4# Glasses of wine show up while I’m working or just watching tv. It’s the craziest thing. I’ll be sitting here and all the sudden this hot, bald man will come out of the kitchen with two glasses of wine. This is the best perk of all.

I started this post thinking, “be careful what you wish for”. However, ignore that and just ignore the whining above. Now that I’ve typed out all the positives, this sharing of the wine isn’t going to be such a bad thing. I’m kind of starting to think I can get a wine fridge out of this deal now! lol

Yeah, day late, dollar short, whutevah. I’m happy to be able to report that for the most part I actually took time off. Yes, it was only for the most part.  I just couldn’t help myself and set up a new coaching program that went live today for one of my testers and will go out in beta on January 16. If you want to be notified when the sign up starts you can check out Internet Marketing Cleanup.

So today is Monday and it’s time to start getting into the grind a little. Not fully, but I really have to ease myself back into a routine. Putting Christmas away will be high on the to do list for the day even though I really don’t like doing it. It seems like I just put everything out.

Now for resolutions. Do you make them?

I can’t remember the last time I did. Probably over 10 years ago because I always set biz goals instead of personal resolutions. However, this year I’m going to set one. I resolve to take better care of myself. No other stipulations, just to take better care of me and to put myself first. Sounds selfish doesn’t it? Believe me, it’s just the opposite.

Putting myself first will mean a lot of things. Eating a little better, working out a little bit more, drinking a little bit less, getting more massages and definitely getting together with girlfriends more.  Yep, even typing those things out it still looks selfish to many Moms I’m sure. But, a happy Mom is a happy family and I know this for fact. I’ve put myself first before and the house was all the better for it.  I was taking trips with my girlfriends and enjoying more hobbies. It’s time to get back to that.

I’m not putting any stipulations on how I have to take better care of myself. I’m just going to resolve to do something daily that’s better for me. I do think that it’s time for me to schedule one weekend away with the girls so I’ll set that as a goal.  I’m sure I can get some girls to do that. lol

This year are you setting any resolutions or goals for yourself?

Photo credit: buzzybee

Halloween is quiet at my house. I’ve had two trick-or-treaters and it’s 8:40pm. I don’t think the hordes are going to arrive any time soon. I’m glad we didn’t buy too much candy and really not any of my favorites. I snagged a bag of tootsie roll pops but those things can be stored for years as long as it’s a dry environment. Yes, I know this for fact

Kids are at parties/trick-or-treating with friends younger siblings. Hubby is at work and I’m hoping he has a really quiet night. No one likes going on kid calls and of course this is a big night for those. I hope everyone is being extra careful while driving and looking out for the goofball kids.

Every year I say we’re going to have a party but I won’t say that this year. lol I’m growing accustom to my quiet Halloween night and I kind of like it. Next year hubby isn’t scheduled to work so he’ll be stuck watching horror movies with me. He doesn’t have a choice, it’s a tradition now that won’t be denied. Sadly the tradition is to watch cheesy, dumb scary movies tonight. UGH.  I’ll put a classic in after I go pick up the youngest from his party. But I wanted to get this post out first.

Hope you had a wonderful Halloween. Did anyone go to a fun party tonight or over the weekend?

I have fallen in love with this winery. Unfortunately I can’t get you a link to look at because they seem to have let their domain name go. It’s printed on the label so this is not a good business decision or sign. They closed their tasting room a few months ago as well. I just may have to buy cases of some of the wines in case there is something going on. They have truly become my favorite reds.

I’m not an expert, nor do I pretend to be. I’ll learn as I go. Right now I’m just a plain old wino that’s starting to get picky about what she buys and is slowly expanding types of wine I’ll try.

So you may laugh at how I judge my wines and I’m cool with that. But I bet more of you will follow along and thank me for telling you how it was with words you understand and explanations that make sense.  I’ll get better at reviewing as I go along so bear with me as I learn.

Swirl test – it coated the glass very nicely

Smell – no alcohol smell which is a big one for me.  It’s not real grapy smelling. There is only a hint of smokey and a dark berry of some sort (blackberry or boysenberry?)

Taste – It’s so smooth. I haven’t enjoyed a wine this smooth in quite some time. This is because I haven’t been keeping a record of what I REALLY like so I forget when I go to the store to grab a bottle. I see why people keep their wine labels now. I do believe I need to keep a little scrapbook for this purpose and it’s why I took a pic to include here.

The smokiness is very mild which is what I prefer.  I’m not a fan of the overbearing smokey flavor.

This is definitely a wine I will get again and I will gladly try some other wines from them.  I wish I’d been able to go through the winery and take pics when we stopped by.

No one can disagree about the amazing things Al Davis brought to the world of football. Recent years have been rough for those of us in the Raider Nation but the fundamentals of the team and the attitude of the players has always stayed the same. Hit hard with no apology and runover anyone in your way.

I’ve loved reading the articles going over everything Mr. Davis accomplished.

Let me just recap some of my favs!

• He’s always been coach (for good or bad), GM, was AFL commissioner and of course owner
• In the 29 years he’s been owner, we have 3 superbowl trophies. There are only 8 teams to have 3 or more trophies out of the current 32 teams. No the bronco’s aren’t one of those 8
• He hired the first black coach, first latino coach and the first female CEO
• Madden, Gruden, Shanahan, need I say anything else?

His loyalty knew no bounds. To be a Raider was to be a Raider for life. This loyalty goes all the way down to the fans. While we’ve gone through many a rough season, we’ve always been loyal to our Raiders.

It’s the end of an era for the NFL and the Raiders franchise. We’ll see where this new beginning takes our Raider Nation. But where ever it does go it won’t change the fact that Al Davis created the mentality and high octane playing that mean you are a Raider.

RIP Al Davis and comfort to your family in this time of mourning. Thank you for creating the team that I know and love.

Yep, these are my big dates for Halloween. Hubby is working and both the kids went to friends houses. I have 2 more hours before I go pick them up. I’m feeling really unfestive and even turned the porch light off. I usually love Halloween, but it’s really different this year.

For one thing it’s on a school night so that stinks. Then the kids are just too old to trick-or-treat anymore. We did get some costume stuff for the youngest, but the oldest is just at a get-together at her boyfriends house with some friends. eww, that’s weird to type!

I had big plans of sitting here watching horror movies and drinking some wine, but then I remembered I have to go out and pick the kids up. arghhh, spoiled plans. I watched The Crazies, but now I’m bored with scary movies which is not normal. I’m in a funk So I’m catching up on Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice instead lol Yet another fun-filled holiday!

I made my first sushi rolls today.  Not only did I make my first rolls, but hubby made a roll as well!  We are seriously ready to have our own party and show off our skills.  Previously I could spend about $20 take-out on sushi rolls.  Lately I haven’t been very excited about my rolls even though I’m a total addict.

It wasn’t that I loved sushi any less, it’s just our local place has gone down hill a lot and that is very sad.  I never had a problem before spending that much money on my sushi because it really rocked.  lol  Well now I just need to find some great sushi grade fresh seafood, because I’m going to make it my own and toss veggies in it and make the rice as thin as I want.  Not only that, but I hear there is brown rice I should be able to use to make it.

Much experimenting is needed and a huge sushi roll party is in order.  But I’m excited and any sushi addict will be as well.  BTW, be jealous of my super cute sushi bowls and plates.  I have matching place mats and awesome chop sticks as well.  My brother set me up 2 years ago with everything to make and serve it.  DOES HE KNOW ME OR WHAT? <smooches and hugs>