Archive for December, 2009

i lived in a house with 6 other girls in college.

they are the sisters i never had.

one of these roommates, one of my sisters, an unbelievable, irreplaceable, effervescent woman… a cancer survivor…

her 18 year old sister died last night.

18.

1-8.

i’ve known her since she was 12. i think of her and imagine her in my mind right now and she’s 12.

she’s beautiful. she’s part of the family that was created in our house.

she’s gone.

life is just fucking cruel somedays.

and today, as i walked off the plane back to baltimore, back home after our holiday vacation with our families, i turned my phone on and received this cruel and unfair and unfathomable news.

she’s gone.

18.

my suitcase is staying packed until i get word on arrangements and head back.

my sisters are hurting.

i am weeping with them on the phone now and will continue to do so until we are all reunited and can weep together.

When I bought my bottle of 2006 Firestone Chardonnay, I admit, I was skeptical… I mean, this is THE FIRESTONE… like Firestone tires… like Andrew Firestone from whatever season of The Bachelor that he was on. (My mom would know what season he was on.) Anyway, I was totally skeptical, and not because I’m a wine snob or even really know what I’m talking about when it comes to wine or writing these menial reviews.. I just like to drink it. My initial skepticism ranged from thoughts of “Oh this is that dude that was on The Bachelor season whatever and broke up with what’s her face like they all do…” to “The Firestones are too busy with their tires and bacheloring and just being THE FIRESTONES that they couldn’t possibly have a legit vineyard.” I am pleased to say that I was wrong. And I’m not even that big of a Chardonnay fan!!! Chardonnay is the white wine that I drink during winter because whites that I adore (ahem, my pinot grigio, sauvignon blanc) are just distasteful to me in cold weather. So I took a break from my reds last night and gave Firestone’s 2006 Chardonnay a shot. I found this Chardonnay to have an initial softness with the first sip and THEN comes the flavor… the butter… the slight heaviness that make for a true chardonnay (in my unsophisticated wino opinion). It left me with a woody taste (teehee… I said “woody”) that lingered nicely after each sip; and I found myself enjoying the flavors all the more once the wine wasn’t quite so chilled, but a bit closer to room temperature. A bit pricier… I believe I spent $17 for the bottle, but most definitely an excellent wine to bring to all of the holiday parties you will be attending.

Cheers! Nic

Comments or suggestions? Have your own “bottle of the week” to share? Shoot me an email: mybottlesup@gmail.com

Red Truck California Red Wine basically reviews themselves perfectly on the back of their own bottle by admitting, “we are serious about making great wine but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.” A winery that is truly after my own heart out in Sonoma, CA. This red is a fabulous table wine for any Italian meal that includes crusted garlic bread. A good blend of “Syrah, Petite Sirah, Cabernet Franc and Petite Verdot”… (no I do not have any idea what that means)… It’s a red that is not too bold or robust, but not too light or fruity. Yes, there is also a white truck, but I personally favor the red, enjoying its smooth taste and finish.

Cheers! Nic

Comments or suggestions? Have your own “bottle of the week” to share? Shoot me an email: mybottlesup@gmail.com

La Chouffe is a Belgian Golden Ale, which is the ultimate NOM NOM of beers for me, as I am enormously biased to the Beligans for their brews. According to the back of this large, funky looking bottle, “The legend of gnomes (chouffes) who once brewed in this mysterious region (the heart of Belgium’s Ardennes mountains) provides the inspiration for this eccentric bottle, conditioned, double fermented ale.” In plain English… gnomes know their shit when it comes to the brew. Slightly spicy, with a clean yet hoppy finish, I would recommend splurging on this 8% by volume deliciousness during the holiday season. I, for one, hope to find a gnome in my stocking this year… and by gnome, I mean beer.

Cheers! Nic

Comments or suggestions? Have your own “bottle of the week” to share? Shoot me an email: mybottlesup@gmail.com

Barefoot Wines Cabernet Sauvignon has been my wine du jour as of late. Its inviting aroma is far from overpowering, and just preps one’s taste buds for the delectable delight one’s mouth is about to encounter. An excellent “go to” wine for my husband and I to share, as he prefers the heavier reds like a deep Merlot and I prefer the lighter like a Syrah. The warmth that comes when enjoying a glass of Barefoot’s Cab Sauv typically leads me to a late night writing session. Excellent with red meat (for the carnivores) yet tasty on its own (for a late night treat)… flavorful and bold without being abrasive. (And like most Barefoot Wines, the price is always nice.)

Cheers! Nic

Comments or suggestions? Have your own “bottle of the week” to share? Shoot me an email: mybottlesup@gmail.com

For the next 5 days I will be in the land of TWINS… BABY TWINS! My mind is blank in terms of a good description for you fine people. Forgive me. All I’ve got for you is this bottle of the week: Chimay is usually described as a multi-flavored complex Belgium brew that will make your taste buds sing, your eyes cry with goodness and your brain will be pondering why you did not buy this before. I recommend this brew as something to partake in when you can relax a bit, as it tastes so freaking good, you will want to sip in order to savor the flavor. Chimay comes in a Red, White and Blue label – try each – you will not be disappointed.

I like the spice-ay, though I find it to be price-ay.

Cheers! Nic

Comments or suggestions? Have your own “bottle of the week” to share? Shoot me an email: mybottlesup@gmail.com

FINALLY this week marked the end of summer and beginning of fall. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed a good bottle of red the other evening. Sterling Vintner’s Collection Cabernet Sauvignon (priced around $15) was a delicious compliment to our steak dinner. Bold and flavorful enough to stand on its own yet bring out the flavor in the red meat you pair it with, but lighter than a more full-bodied red (like a merlot). This cab left me entirely satisfied post meal; but also craving another glass with my fave late night treat… a piece of dark chocolate.

I’m very seasonal when it comes to both beer and wine… I enjoy white wines in the spring and summer… reds in the fall and winter… I like my belgian brews in the summer while grilling out… I like my ambers and even a good stout (shown below) in the fall and winter. Knowing that I can now fully embrace the fall season gets me excited to branch out with more delicious red wines like Sterling Vintner’s Collection Cabernet Sauvignon. So, who’s heading out the door for red meat and wine tonight???

Cheers! Nic

Comments or suggestions? Have your own “bottle of the week” to share? Shoot me an email: mybottlesup@gmail.com