I have been on my diet for two weeks now, seriously dieting I mean.  Counting those calories, watching my food intake, exercising, staying away from those things I crave like wine and chocolate and all other sweet things known to man.  I have had a few glasses of wine, but only a glass or two a week.  For those that know me that's a real sacrifice especially when I used to drink two glasses daily.  And now that the weather is warming, I'm really missing having my wine on the porch at the end of the day.  I've lost 10 pounds and want to continue having the fat melt away, but at what sacrifice?  I have increased my walk to four laps....maybe I should push it to five so I can appease my cravings, or maybe I should just walk five laps and hope that more pounds fall off without taking those extra glasses of wine a night.  I mean, if I were at my ideal weight, I could exercise more to justify my alcoholic intake, but until I get there, these sacrifices must be made.....but oh how I miss my wine.  Okay, today I'll do some extra exercise and have a glass of wine.  After all, I deserve it and it IS the weekend, so why not.  Because it sets me back in the weight loss department.  Oh the dilemma.  No, it's settled, I'm having a glass, and yes, I am whining about wine~

 

I had stopped drinking Chardonnay for  quite awhile; got sick of the oaky aftertaste, the overwhelming melon, and the pungent vanilla.  It grew boring, and soon every bottle tasted the same.  So I moved to other wines....

Yes, I'm on a diet but I can put these calories in my app and cut them somewhere else; I want a glass of wine.  But not in the mood for a dry red I decided to open a bottle that was given to us by a friend.  At first I cringed....it was a chardonnay.  But something on the label caught my eye...unoaked.  So I'm trying this Steelbird and I must say it is really quite nice.

First of all the color is a soft lemon yellow hinting of the citrus to come.  The nose is full of green apple and lemon with a subtle hint of green, like mint.  A crisp full-bodied wine with a surprisingly short finish, it's one downfall.  I would prefer the flavor to linger a bit longer, but having such a short finish makes you want to take another sip, possibly drink the bottle quicker.  As for the price, I have no idea what it costs but I imagine it's between $8 and $12.  It's a great wine.

I think I'll make scallops and pasta for dinner.  This would go beautifully with the flavors here.   Mmmmm, yes I look forward to dinner!

Had a wonderful evening with friends last night.  The neighbors, Noel and Mike (roommates, not a couple) came with BA, Mike's aunt, and Rob, Noel's dad.  Also there was the Jakester, Angelo's 16 year old son.  Once drinks were poured, Angelo and guests noshed on fried artichokes and aioli as well as a wide variety of olives.  BA, who was once a caterer, helped me prepare the serving dishes in the kitchen.  The menu consisted of roasted root veggies and brussel sprouts, roasted potatoes, and a tenderloin cooked to perfection and served with horseradish and au jus sauce.  I was going to make a Bearnaise but I just couldn't be bothered, by the time the guests arrived.  Dessert was Zabaglione and fresh berries topped with homemade whipped cream.  All in all a wonderful success as there wasn't a bit of anything left, to include the ginourmous bottle of wine.

But the evening wasn't without some tension.  Halfway through the meal, New Jersey's property taxes were mentioned, which led, eventually, to government and politics....uh oh here we go!  The  conversation turned into a debate with Angelo and Rob on the far right, BA and Noel on the far left, and Mike and me floundering back and forth in the middle.  Of course, when someone made the statement of Obama being Muslim (and I will not name names) it became a free for all.  When Newt Gingrich came into the discussion I had to defend the Right as I have learned quite a bit about the man, and respect his intelligence and knowledge of the workings of politics and government.  Then there was the Middle East where some people took offense that I said they had a sheep mentality.  All in all a lively bit of discussion shared by all!

How no one got indigestion is beyond me, but the more heated the argument, the more the wine flowed (not sure if this was good or bad).  Dessert was served with coffee and loud debating with the lawyer winning most arguments because he was the the most verbose person at the table.  But the rest of us were usually able to get our points across without violence erupting, a major miracle there!  Poor Jake was caught in the middle and I'm sure he would've preferred the conversation to take a completely different turn to sports or something.  However, with the tension that ebbed and flowed throughout the political conversation, we were able to depart as friends.

At least I think we were friends....

A new wine discovery

Being an employee of the Cost Plus World Market, I am able to explore a wide variety of wines, some good, some bad, some worse, but some most extraordinary. That is the bottle I opened this evening. I know why it is called Cashmere for that is exactly what it invokes as it is savoured upon the pallet. A smooth, dark, rich, luxurious drink that melts down the throat filling the nose and mouth with deliciousness. But allow me to start at the beginning.

My boss talked me into this saying it was her absolute favorite wine. Being an Explorer member, I was able to purchase the $15 bottle of wine for $12. Because Cindi could not say enough good about it, I bought two bottles in the hopes that our tastes melded. If it ended up being a bust, I could always cook with it, right? So, as I have the day off tomorrow, I decided to try it this evening.

I opened the bottle and let it breathe for a half an hour, drooling in anticipation as the aroma teased my senses. Borrowing Kyle's bordeaux glass, I filled the crystal's globe with the deep burgundy liquid. The color reached the outer circle, bringing the depth all the way to the glass.

I gently swirled the crystal in my hand and the body of the wine filled my nose. The aromas of dark fruits and tobacco first filled my head making my mouth water in anticipation. Then there was a slight hint of something familiar but just beyond my grasp. I rested then dipped my nose into the glass once again, hoping to identify this mysterious aroma.....mint, just a touch of mint. What an incredible experience; I just had to keep breathing it in making sure my nose and mind were in tune. Yes, mint. My mouth watered more.

Bringing the cold glass to my lips I gently tilted it upward. My mouth filled with the cold liquid which I held upon my tongue for an extended period of time before swallowing. There was no after shock, no knghha that can take the back of the throat and the nose by surprise as the tannins fill them. There was the slight taste of raspberries and cherries. The sides of my tongue perked up as the slight taste of mint brushed past the taste buds there. And the aftertaste was slightly floral. But everything was dark, smooth, velvety soft, and I fell in love!

I have savoured half of the bottle already and am surprised at its continued deliciousness. Coffee has made itself known as well, and these flavours are combined to create heaven. If you have not yet experienced Cline's Cashmere, I would highly suggest opening a bottle and sharing it with someone you love.