Get Serious!

Has this happened to you: looking for a wine for dinner, you go to your cellar, fridge, or other wine storage place, pull out a bottle and think, "What the heck?!? I don't even remember buying this!" Then you open it, take a sniff, love what you smell, pour it, take a sip, and OMG!!! "I'm so glad I bought this...wait, I wonder what I paid...I hope this isn't horrifically expensive."

It's happened one too many times to me, and after my latest experience tonight, I have decided it's time to get serious and really use this blog to discuss my wine tasting and purchasing experiences.

Tonight: after a long day of remodeling the master bath (we really need to start hiring people instead of thinking we're young enough to do this stuff any more,) I put together a simple dinner of pasta, tomato sauce, baby peas, and French rolls. We drank our last bottle of red wine from the "table wine" storage rack in the kitchen, so I went to our wine fridge and pulled out this gem:

French Hill Grand Reserve 2005 Sierra Foothills Barbera

and had the experience described above. This is a wonderful wine! After much discussion, my beloved husband finally remembered we purchased the wine in Clarksburg, CA, at the Sugar Mill wine shop, the name of which neither of us can remember. But if you go, it's the one on the right when you first walk into the building. This place is worth the trip, for a number of reasons. First, it's a beautiful drive through the Sacramento Delta, where you'll swear you have been transported to Louisiana. Second, theSugar Mill is a sweet little spot with shops and wine tastings, and is just fun to visit.

Okay...about the wine. This is a smack-you-in-the-face, scream-at-you BARBERA - a wonderful example of the grape and superior wine-making. The nose is big, with a hint of juniper, black cherry, blackberry, and just a little oak. The front of the wine is a bit hot - at 15% alchohol, it should be! The middle is a smooth mouthful of peppery jam, and I got just a bit of something floral, like violets or roses. The finish is very spicy, with pepper, juniper, and sort of a little cinnamon-like essence.

With the marinara sauce...divine, just a superb complement.In fact, I wish I'd added some of the wine to the sauce, and next time, I will. I still don't remember what we paid, but it was well worth it. This wine reminded me why Barberas run a close second to my beloved Zinfandels.