Monday, March 24, 2008

New favorite

For those who visit Noble Pig's blog, please know that I am not trying to copy her. She does post pictures of wine labels and goes on to give a clear and accurate description of the wine she's featuring.
I've always liked taking pictures of the labels of the wines I enjoy and when I saw her site for the first time, I was happy to find a kindred spirit who also enjoyed photographing her wine labels. I am doing the picture only. Unfortunately, the awesome description of the wine is not going to be forthcoming.
Have you ever heard that Alison Krauss song, "New Favorite"? I'm always having new favorites of things I like. I never was one for easily answering questions such as "what is your favorite color?" Because today, my favorite color may be orange, whereas yesterday it was black. Not that I was in a bad mood yesterday, but you get my point, don't you?
Let me state that I am not, by any means, even in the slightest bit, a wine connoisseur. I'm probably like most people, who know that wine is made from grapes. Pity us, you connoisseurs of the noble grape out there. We are but simple morons. I know what I like and I know what tastes good, though, and over the weekend, when I went into a local wine store, there was a sampling being offered. In good wine glasses, nonetheless, and not those tiny little plastic cups. I forget the name of the wine I tasted, only that it was a Pinot Grigio from Australia and I was expecting something really good (probably because of the glasses). But after sipping it, I told the gentleman I didn't like it at all. I couldn't even finish it. I'm not a snob; it just tasted really bad.
When I pour myself a glass of Frei Brothers Chardonnay 2005 Reserve, I am uplifted to a place where sheep graze in meadows of deep green and little fairies rain down pixie dust on my skin and suddenly I am flying above everything. Then I open my eyes and realize I'm at home, on the horse farm where I live and there's a fly I need to swat.
And then I take another sip and . . . I'm transported back to the meadow and the little sheep are running now and . . . Holy Guacamole, Batman, what was in that salad I had for lunch?
Ok. Seriously. This wine is pretty decent. I picked up a bottle when I visited my girlfriends two weekends ago and when I poured this wine into our glasses, my girlfriends actually stopped what they were doing and asked "what IS this?" And that's when I know I've brought along a decent wine. In Delaware, near where I live, a bottle costs 14.99.
And I've yet to have had a bottle of wine from the Russian River Valley that I haven't liked. Well, except for Bear Boat. But that's another story for another day. Actually, it's not even a story. Let's just leave it at that.
So if you're out and about, and happen to come across Frei Brothers 2005 Reserve Chardonnay, I suggest you pick up a bottle, and give it a taste. If you don't enjoy it, ah well. But I think you might. And it's certainly worth a try.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

We had some wine at a restaurant on our anniversary and it was the first reisling my husband and I both truly enjoyed. No after taste. Smooth. Absolutely delicious. I just wished we had gotten the name of it so we could get more.

Our favorite is from Hogue Cellars. Same names as our last name but sadly no relations. Good wine, though. :)

Anonymous said...

I will be looking for this in our area. Can't wait to see you!

tj said...

...Wow - a wine that transports one to a green meadow with grazing sheep and fairies with pixie dust fluttering about? Are you sure it was wine? Either way, I'm gettin' me some of THAT! lol... ;o)

...Thanks for the tip! Hope your Easter Sunday was wonderful!

...Blessings... :o)

Country Girl said...

tj,
it could have been the wine. Or perhaps a bit too much of the wine, shall we say?

I shouldn't imbibe and write at the same time!

Christine, I really like Hogue Cellars as well. And Char, can't wait to see you tomorrow so we can do the Project Runway with Emily.

~C.G.

Anonymous said...

OMG, you are such a dorky dork. You do not even have to say you are not copying me...every wine site in the universe photographs labels! You are so funny though. I love the Russian River Valley and have spent many, many afternoons there going from winery to winery. It is one of the most beautiful wine appelations of all time. I hope one day you can go there and photograph it at harvest time with the grapes on the vine. You'd love it. More posts about wine...you know I love it! Let's educate the world about wine, one blog at a time.

Country Girl said...

I've always wanted to go there and travel around and visit the vineyards. I've done that in Virginia.

See Tracey, and you were afraid to leave a comment and sound like a dork? I am a dorky dork, which is a step above that of mere dork. I will hold my head high and wear my title on my sleeve! Ta da!

~C.G.

Bekah said...

Ill have to remember that. I just bought wine on friday...

While I was there someone knocked over a display of wine...a tall display.

Clean-up didnt seem like it would be fun.

dlyn said...

We live in wine country around here - lots and lots of vineyards within a 30- 45 min drive. You should bring your camera and we could go do some tasting! :)

Meg said...

I love wine...I am just not "wine educated" and I hate that! I love a good Pinot Noir ...I also like the cheap stuff and I like dessert wine. Currently I am on a Muscat Canelli by Sister Creek Vineyards kick...and for the ranch girl in me...(or red neck, I don't know which!) I like Pink Truck ...yup..I am from the country alright!

Have a Fab day!
Meg

Egghead said...

I'm not much of a wine drinker (gives me an bad headache that lasts for days) but my husband will love you for this. However, now I will have to pick him off the floor where he will be, I am sure, cavorting with the fairies in the pixie dust. Maybe I won't tell him after all. Cute post.

Mental P Mama said...

You are too funny! I hear ya on the Noble Pig descriptions...my wine drinking is not nearly as sophisticated. And I do love me my Frei Brothers Chardonnay.