Monday, May 14, 2012

Happy?
It’s 72 degrees in May in Colorado. That is reason enough to be happy (and not snowing) but sitting on the back patio at this quaint place would make me happy at 62 degrees. Lots of people think Shuga’s is a good idea and so lots of people where there and I love a busy Happy Hour. The person who does the flowers for the restaurant was there planting flowers in flower boxes right next to our table! This is so optimistic in Colorado where is could still snow! I, myself, kill all living things so I watched in awe and fascination as she planted and I was careful not to touch. This only added to the atmosphere and enjoyment of the evening.

Not Happy?
It kind of took a while for the waiter to notice us. This might have been skewed by the bad traffic headed down from Monument that made me extra thirsty and ready to drink. Also, they were busy.

Concealed Carry or No Concealed Carry?
This place is so far south on Cascade, you think it might be possible that you need a gun but you TOTALLY do not.

How Happy Does It Get?
They have deals on special cocktails and Sangria this night we are there. No regular wine deals, but their prices are good. I started with a Sauvignon Blanc which was great but David’s Malbec was so great I had to change over.

Cuteness Factor:
Although light while we sat there, the back patio is equipped with lovely strings of lights that must be gentle stars later on. They also have a big shade tarp strung over the area to keep me from developing skin cancer? The inside is wood floors, writing on the walls, eclectic tables, aqua birds suspended over the bar, fun! that made me want to sit inside but for the weather. Charming.

The Stuff Other Than Wine:
We ordered the Anti-pasta plate ($10) and look at it!! There was goat, brie, proscuitto, salami, bread and red peppers! Everything was wonderful. Because it was so busy, we got to see a lot of food being delivered. It all looked amazing and it was easy to see that people were happy.

Those People Who Bring Me Alcohol:
Once he noticed us, our server was really good. He had a sense of humor and tried to keep up as best he could with the crowd.

Problems of the World Solved:
Grass Carp Fly
Do the owners of this place also own the VW Micro Bus parked here? It might fit
Summer/Cabo/ICAST plans

We are HAPPY to Happy Hour here!!

What Did The Label Want Us To Know?
Sterling Vineyards. Famous California Wineries. This fruit was from the Central Coast. Descriptive words they use: crisp, citrus, mineral, and lemongrass. Also they talk about the weather mentioning cool night and sunny days. They recommend “spicy appetizers, fresh salads, grilled shrimp and chicken.”

What’s So Great About It?
Everybody liked it, even Paul who is not a big wine drinker. Amy said: crisp. Pam said: citrus. Scott thought: pure refreshment. It reminded me of summer and was less green tasting than the last Sauvignon Blanc I tried.

Someone Else’s More Qualified Opinion:
http://www.ultimatewineshop.com/r/items/sterling-vintner-s-collection-sauvignon-blanc-2010?utm_source=Shopzilla&utm_medium=Feed

Conversation This Wine Engendered:
What kind of company can get you to buy the same product 5 times? (Apple)
Psycho medical applications we are glad for
One glove?

So one day this appears at my door.

It’s $39 a month INCLUDING shipping! And 3 bottles of wine are shipped to you. You get to chose the ones you want from a dozen who are picked out each month by the club’s curators.

I chose/received a Malbec from Argentina, a Syrah from Spain and a blend from California.

$39 is less than I used to pay to go the gym every month. I feel certain this is better use of my money! And WAY more fun!!!

HAPPY!!!!!!

What Did The Label Want Us To Know?
Boxhead. What does it refer to? On the label they explain that there’s “a correlation between square shaped skulls and the production of the finest produce.” Really, I googled this and can’t tell if they are kidding or not, but it makes for an interesting read on a bottle. They claim that “the product of the boxhead represents some strange ability to create the finest wines.”

What’s So Great About It?
It really was great. Not expensive and great. Great in a big way. Big fruit, big warmth. David LOVED it and wanted a steak immediately to eat with it. He liked the oak and smelled something olivey on the end. We will be buying a bunch of this soon. It was everything you want in a big Shiraz.

Someone Else’s More Qualified Opinion:
http://www.snooth.com/wine/boxhead-winemakers-shiraz-2010/

Conversation This Wine Engendered:
Girls naturally mother other girls
CHEERLEADERS
Which Disney princess are you? (if you are a boy you don’t have to answer this)

20+ wine makers in one room each pouring 2 of their wines. All the winemakers are from Colorado. How could we not go?

David and I made our way to Metro State Campus in Downtown Denver. It’s one thing to show up for an event at a restaurant or even the convention center. But when you show up at a college campus, it’s hard to figure out exactly where to park and where the wine tasting will be. The parking lot attendant had no idea. There were no signs pointing us to a building. We had to find our way. Everything else about the day was delightful.

The Taste-Off was in an old chapel. Stationed around the outside of the room were tables with the different wineries. The middle of the room had tables to rest your food, or drink (or self) and to sit and be able to vote. We voted on cards and on Twitter live. It was challenging to try to tweet and balance wine and food. (Not one to shy from a challenge)

We started with white wines and went all the way around the room. Then headed back for reds. Some of my favorites were

Creekside Cellars- Viognier
Boulder Creek Winery- Dry Rose and Consensus (blend)
Grand River Vineyards- Syrah
Infinite Monkey Theorem- 100th Monkey

But I really didn’t taste a wine I wouldn’t drink! And there were so many it got confusing, so I am sure I left a few I loved out.

This was a fun event that went on for 3 hours. We only stayed about an hour and a half so I felt pretty rushed. Next time it would be better to stay and really take more notes! Chatting with the wine makers was interesting, too. They were all so friendly and humble even though they make such great wine!

YEA!!! for Drink Local for putting on such a fun event!

http://www.drinklocalwine.com/

What Did The Label Want Us To Know?
The wine maker is The Dreaming Tree. It is a collaboration between Dave Matthews and Steve Reeder who is a winemaker. They are friends. Dreaming Tree refers to the spirit of California’s wine country. It is a blend and the words used are: smoky berry and raspberry jam. There is a poem or maybe lyrics from Dave Matthews entitled: Two Hot Dogs in Pick-up.

What’s So Great About It?
We first tasted this wine at a tasting at Bubbles Liquor store in Castle Rock, CO. Like I said, I was not swayed by the celebrity of the maker. This was absolutely our favorite wine of that afternoon. But then you take a wine home and you wonder if it really was that good or had you just had a good hair day. No, it was that good. Ellen tasted the raspberry and thought it was not bitter and not peppery. David smelled oak. Scott that it was really smooth. I think it tastes warm. We ALL loved it.

Someone Else’s More Qualified Opinion:
http://www.snooth.com/wine/the-dreaming-tree-crush-2009-1/

Conversation This Wine Engendered:
Psycho parents and this time not our own
Mediator jobs and how fun that can be, but what is your real job?

Do you love eclectic/gothic/churchy/Victorian/weird décor? You will LOVE Tana Dolce in Castle Rock, CO. We have been there twice and I never cease to be amazed at the stuff in this Wine Bar. To name a few:

Stained glass windows
Huge mantles, bars and molding from various buildings/churches
Second floor balcony tables that overlook the main room
Tons of little cozy areas in which to sit and be private
Weird pieces of found art everywhere.
Outside porch on both floors.

The city of Castle Rock has put up lights across Wilcox street (think Larimer) and we still haven’t been there late enough to see them on, but that has to add the to experience, too.

Tana Dolci serves appetizers, dessert, cocktails, coffee and of course, wine! They have many Italian choices. I tried the Castelvero Barbera d’Alba and it was good. David had the Xplorador Malbec from Chile, which he loved.

This is a perfect place to take your significant other before or after dinner. Sit in a quiet alcove and profess your love. Or just skip dinner altogether and eat appetizers and dessert!

What Did The Label Want Us To Know?
First, what a beautiful bottle, but that shouldn’t be surprising since this is from the Michael David Winery. They mention Lodi, but they do not describe what you will taste. Instead on the back is a charming poem that explains the 6 senses that I will not repeat here but send you on a scavenger hunt to your nearest wine store to read. I will only give you this hint: It is not about seeing dead people. Well, not really.

What’s So Great About It?
Cathy, no lover of red wine thought it smelled sharp but was actually smooth with food. She also used the word: plumy. Woody thought it was leathery and detected oak. David smelled oak and I just thought that the color was gorgeous. It was quite hearty and could stand up to a good steak.

Someone Else’s More Qualified Opinion:
http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1068344

Conversation This Wine Engendered:
Low-carb boring
Blending wines and what is in the Merlot that Woody will not tell us?
The wine Mecca of Monument, CO

Our friends Woody and Cathy are in the works of opening a winery soon to be known as Catriona Cellars. They invited a group to come and experience some foods and wines.

Their actual wicked scheme was to proffer free food and wine to get us to do a taste test comparing their wines to popular ones you can buy in your local wine shop.

All bottles were in brown paper bags with rubber bands so marked with their numbers so that we didn’t know what wines we were drinking. I tell you what they were below but when we were drinking them and evaluating them, we had no idea who made what.

The table was set when we arrived. Glasses marked with the numbers 1, 2 and 3 were ready. We started with a flight of Riesling. We tried a Colorado wine, one of theirs (Catriona Cellars) and one from the Columbia Valley. The food with this course was a smoked salmon and blue cheese. So fun. All of these Rieslings were dry, not the sweet ones.

The next group we tried was three different Sauvignon Blancs. The first was Catriona Cellars, the second and the third both from California. The food we tried was a salad with a vinegrette, tomatoes and capers.

The final still wine we tried was Rose. The first was a wine from Colorado and BOTH the second and the third wines were Catriona Cellars made by Woody and Cathy!! This was my favorite flight and the middle Rose was theirs and FABULOUS. The color of this wine in unbelievable. The food we tried was an Asian Chicken. So fun to taste the wines without food and then with food.

At the end we tried two ports, one Tawny and one Chocolate Raspberry Ruby. Chocolate was the perfect food. Woody and Cathy made the Ruby.

After all the food, we had the big reveal where we got to see what wine was what. How did we score the different wines? I know which I picked. Their wine totally topped in the Rose category. They collected our score sheets and are going to let us know what the final results are!

I was sure to tell Woody and Cathy that any time they need someone to evaluate wines and food pairing, to just let me know!! I will be happy to sacrifice my time!

What Did The Label Want Us To Know?
It’s from Paso Robles and they talk about the good growing conditions and varietal grapes there. They say that “Tarrica stands for the attainment of the good life by placing a great value on the enjoyment of friends, family, food and wine.” I’m thinking they really mean this because Tarrica is a combination of the names of the winemaker’s two daughters, Taryn and Erica. Awww!!!

What’s So Great About It?
I love this wine. It’s one of my new favorites. The color is almost a light purple. It looks delicious and you haven’t had a drop yet. David noticed oak and a smooth finish. I think it tastes like a blend. I enjoy the smell as much as the taste. It’s a whole pleasure package. Warning: the taste totally changed once we ate our pork loin that had been marinated in a very vinegary pepper sauce. The wine disappeared. That was so weird. Made me never want to eat again. Just drink.

Someone Else’s More Qualified Opinion:
http://www.thenakedvine.net/2010/04/tarrica-wine-cellars.html

Conversation This Wine Engendered:
Email marketing. Wonderful
Hip swap: Are we hip enough?
10,000 fishing nets