Wine: Tobin James James Gang Reserve Port

Recently we went on a ski trip in Pennsylvania.  Really, the Husband did all the skiing, and it was good that he was finally skiing with people (his college friends) who were at the same level as him, versus me (very inexperienced and sloppy).

The last of his college friends are getting married this year. So it was fun to chat up with the fiance's while the guys braved the slopes. I had so much fun looking at their wedding plans, the beautiful dresses, color schemes, and menus, and simultaneously with a glass of port.

Weddings are fun and exciting and I am glad to be an attendee and get to witness the happy day of others.

I also have been reflecting on the last year. We have been in Minnesota for a year now. I never thought we would really be here. It was something we discussed at times sure, even before our wedding a couple of years ago. But I think there was a smug part of me that always thought "yeah, that will never happen. How can we leave California?"

And then one day we did.

Winters are bad. I don't think I will ever 100% like winter. Because as soon as I soften towards it, I just a s quickly go back to despising it. But here we are, in a state that has 4 beautiful seasons. And I am happier now. I miss my friends and family, but I get to see them, talk to them, facetime with them. And they can come and see us. And after a year, change is not so bad.

Wine certainly helps.

Let's talk about this Port, shall we?

2010 Vintage, and Tobin James describes it as a Portuguese style  Port. It is very smooth and not super sweet. People are turned off by super sweet Ports all the time, so this one is refreshingly not. And it has a nice raisin flavor that I love. It is easy to drink pairs amazingly well with chocolate and pretzels. Or chocolate covered pretzels. Or chocolate covered raisins. But then again port and chocolate are soul sisters, so that's no surprise, right?

Anyway. If you aren't a Port fan, this bottle of Tobin James is a good one to get you reacquainted and maybe make amends with your taste buds. After all, there is always a new "spring of hope" to look forward to.

Okay, that was a cheesy ploy at making a spring from the doom of this long winter joke. Never mind. Just drink wine until spring comes and you will be okay. Okay? Okay.

Wine: Tobin James - FAT BOY

The last 2 weeks we have been busy busy busy - trying to get rooms ready to move my copious amounts of junk into. [I can admit its mine, the holiday decorations, itso storage cubes full of yarn and scrap book material, and of course, my excess of clothes. I am a woman who likes to nest, after all].

We have officially set up our wine fridge. I filled that puppy up, and plugged her in. As dinner was boiling away on the stove, I opened a bottle of red - room temperature is the best serving, right? No need to be chilled!

Tobin James Fat Boy Zin was the lucky little fellow to be picked.

Only a few cases of this wine are bottled in this particular style, reads the label. The grapes are cultivated from 50 year-or-older vines. "FATBOY is like the best friend you had as a kid, big, brash, and maybe slightly obnoxious, but always well loved!" Well said Tobin, well said.

This is definitely a robust zin. Jammy. Velvety mouth-feel. I love Zin's, especially jammy zins. But this had a nice little kick to it. Not quite a tannin tang but definitely a punch on the first taste with a dry and smooth finish its a gorgeous deep dark color, no opacity. Full on red, red , red.

Wine's are totally like romance. You have to be in the mood for the type - fun, light, and flirty; Moscato, Reisling, Rose. Mischeivious; Syrahs and Pinot Noirs. Dangerous and seductive; Zinfindels and Barberas. Full blown drama: Cabs, Merlots, Sangioveses. (I think I am having gossip girl withdrawals as we have watched no TV for the last two weeks, including Netflix  ).

But I digress.

Tobin James Fat Boy: find it if you want a rockin' Zin that bites back.

Wine by mail: Tobin James (and gifts from friends) + 2nd Month in MN

It's been 2 months since the move. I miss spring time in California, miss family, miss friends....

But you can't rehash the past in your head if you want to move forward. Move forward, and make a new life.

In the beginning of the month of April, I started a new job... Which is why I haven't been posting! I am a Business Manager for a Power sports Store. It's kinda a foreign language at times - car talk. Vin and Model Numbers, Contracts. The Accounting is probably the language that comes the easiest. But the staff is friendly (I think that is the Minnesota way.


We received a large and awesome shipment from Tobin James which virtually restocked our wine fridge. AND we received a package of snacks/goodies from our good friend (and drinking buddy!) that consisted of all our usual favorites.

Fresh and Easy Haul! Tortillas, granola, crackers, PISTACHIOS , and One Huge Hunk Chocolate Bars

Our wine fridge is actually bigger now. We took a road trip to PA to see the in-laws and attend a bridal shower and co-Bachelor/Bachelorette party for some of the Husbands College Buddies (actually they go back to Middle School)... My inlaws picked us up some wine from Grovedale (did a review of that winery awhile back...) so I am excited to pop open a bottle from there as well. We will be getting our Quady and Eberle shipments soon too. It's soooo nice getting wine by mail! A taste of home!


The trip was good. I was starved for human contact! Despite working, and seeing people everyday, it's SO <i>different</i> to see people you actually know, and to have that kind of connection/communication.

The weather is getting back to normal here too. We had a snow storm on May Day, [yes, May 1st]. 13 inches, power outages, transformers blown, and trees down.  If that isn't preparing me for winter, I don't know what will.

In contrast, today is 57, sunny, and green green green. The dogs are soaking it up and happy.

Its hard, sometimes. When the weather is gloomy, it kinda makes you gloomy too. I started taking B12 to help with fatigue but it's also helped with my depression (yes I was very homesick). I still am homesick but it's far more manageable.

Groceries are more expensive here. So are oil changes. Hair cuts are about the same, but massages are way cheaper. Gas is cheaper. Dairy is cheaper.  It's interesting to see the economics of where you are at, and the price fluctuations based on demand.

It's also discouraging to find limited availability of Almond Milk or  Coconut milk that doesn't come in a can, hydrogenated oil free tortillas, and a decent spice selection (does no one use just straight basil? so many herb blends!).  There are no Starbucks, no gold cards. Just Caribou, and local Prairie Wind Cafe [Prairie Winds does make a good roast that is not bitter, but is strong, with nutty, full body flavor!]. In some ways it's a whole new world.

But people are genuinely friendly here.  And it's an active community. People are always outside, walking, running, bike riding, walking their dogs. And they are friendly. Which isn't so much like California (everyone there seems to mind their own).

So it's give and take. But we are settling. And I can't complain, life is still good.

Wine: Tobin James Ballistic Zinfandel

Nothing gets you back in the swig of things like a good Zinfandel- one of my favorite varietals.

We waited a week or so for the wine to settle (wine that has traveled shouldn't be opened for awhile) then I just couldn't take it anymore. I had to have a glass of home, of California, and a taste of my honeymoon.

Wine, a movie, and small bowls of snacks (wheat thins, chocolate chips, and fresh and easy sea salt crackers) mixed with a bunch of cozy throws and puppy cuddles is a good night.

The Zinfandel had a strong berry nose, and was full of spice and leathery notes. It still probably should of rested more, some notes were a little too leathery. Nonetheless, the rich, warm peppery berries that characterizes a zin were there. Maybe that's just what makes this zin, "ballistic".

Wine: a Month of it.

Moving is Chaotic. Drinking wine is not.

Okay, it can be when you are trying to clear your wine fridge.

So I am presenting to you the wine I have been drinking for the past month to empty said wine fridge. It is a sad time for me; I like to be fully stocked with special wines from wineries we have visited. The bright side? I get to refill the fridge once we are all settled in.... [insert mischievous smile here].*

Alapay Late Harvest Viognior - Pineapple and Apricot notes similar to a moscato, Avila Beach, CA

Fancy Schmancy Chimays

Cypher's Phoenix - Syrah, Paso Robles CA

Tobin James Sangiovese & Zinfandel, Paso Robles CA **

We already drank the Sangiovese, Saving the Zinfandel for our first night in our new home.

**Gifts from my Husbands Coworkers, year subscription included!

Girl talk nights over wine were much needed.  This night included sharing a bottle and a half and talking til 2:00 am. 

Col Di Sasso Cab Sav & Sangiovese Blend (Excellent!)

Big Kahuna (Fresh & Easy , 2.99 comparable to 2 buck Chuck) Shiraz

Alban Vineyards Reva 2008 Syrah was actually a rare find at a local Liquor Store [Old Doc's].

Alban Syrah's usually sell out as soon as they are stocked. It really helped that I was skimming the enire store by chance and found it. It is  the most expensive  wine I have purchased [At 89 dollars] but it was a Christmas gift to my husband; his favorite wine maker. We opened this bottle to celebrate our new beginnings. It was a true Syrah and aging had done it well. I can see what all the fuss is about ***

Ah, the 2008 lace. DeLorimier makes outstanding reds (award winning). This was one of the first wineries we stopped at on our trip up the California and Oregon Coast the summer of 2009. In 2010, my would-be in laws joined us in revisiting this winery and became members. 5 years later we drank this bottle, rich and syrupy, but not too sweet.

For me, wine holds memories of the tastings, of good times with loved ones, and a sensory experience (aromas and tastes). My wine fridge is really a sentimental vessel that takes me back to these shared times, these memories.  

The best part of emptying my fridge? Sharing the wine with Friends and family, and knowing new memories are to come.

*Dear recycled wine bottles; I know I drank more of you, and if you are not on this list, I am terribly sorry. I still enjoyed you, but simply forgot to photograph you.
**Gifts from my Husbands Coworkers, year subscription included!
*** 50 Shades of Grey Author EL James names Alban Vineyard  wines in her book series (in Fifty Shades Darker, chapter Six). It's kinda cool to be able to say you enjoyed drank fancy pants wine; We adore the Roussanne though I can't recall if we have had the 2006 Estate Roussanne that was named in the book (Alban Estate Grenache 2006 was also named). Now to get my hands on a La Grande Annee Rose 1999 Bollinger Champagne, though the price has inflated due to the books release and popularity.

Honeymooning

We married last Saturday. Paso Robles is officially our mecha of wine. Only on your honey moon is it acceptable to be drunk at 10 am [off of Tobin James wine!]

We stayed at la Bellaserra, dined at the on site restaurant a few times and went to 6 wineries in Paso, outlet shopped in pismo, toured Hearst Castle, and sat in a giant whirl pool soaking tub for hours each night, with Lush bath bombs until we were prunes.

Last night we met back up with the inlaws to have a fine Italian dinner before their flight back east, and invited close friends over to finish the bottles they brought with them from the cottage at de Lourimier in Sonoma.

Needless to say, I was hammered. It's times like this, good food, great wine, and amazing friends that make life beautiful.

I love my new family; I love my new husband.

Life is truly one great adventure.

Pictures: Enoteca breakfast scramble: shitake mushrooms, pasted chicken and Brie

Wine glasses with the parents and friends

Half moon navy nails that did not make the wedding cut