Special Occasion Wine

This is the time of year when I need a few great Special Occasion wines.  May seems to be a very celebratory month with Mother's Day and my wedding anniversary, plus birthdays, graduations and a long Memorial Day weekend to relax. 

 For me, a special occasion wine is something that is more unique than my weekly glass or two, better than a weekend splurge and (for my comfort level and budget) ranges between $20 and $40. My usual go-to wine for a special occasion usually comes from Orin Swift Cellars.  Based in Rutherford, CA, they are famous for big reds like The Prisoner, Papillon, Saldo, Abstract and Mercury Head. 

I was introduced to The Prisoner a few years ago at a friend's wine party.  It is a red blend of mostly Zinfandel (51%), Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petit Syrah and a splash of Charbono and Grenache.  This bad boy has 15.2% alcohol by volume so it was a good thing it was my second glass of the evening because I'm not sure I could have started off with this right out of the gate.  It was incredibly smooth, zesty and had loads of flavor.  I couldn't wait to try other wines from Orin Swift.

Next, I purchased Saldo, a Zinfandel (BevMo!, $28).  At 15.9% alcohol, this one is not for the faint of heart!  It was deep red, with lots of texture and heavy spice.  I prefer my wine a little more balanced than this but it was still enjoyable.

We were vacationing in Hawaii last July and were thrilled to find Orin Swift's 2010 Abstract red blend at Whole Foods there for only $30!  The regular retail is $29 so the fact that they didn't mark it way up was great.  The wine is a gorgeous blend of Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino Grenache, Petite Sirah, and Syrah. Very easy to drink with a great mix of fruit, mocha and a slight toast to it.

 

 

We grabbed the Abstract and dessert and asked the hotel for a corkscrew and the largest red wine glasses they could find.  That bottle made the trip! 

 

 

We just celebrated our anniversary this last weekend and, of course, went straight for the Prisoner ($38).

As usual, it did not disappoint but was even better the second night after letting it breathe for about a half hour.  Later that evening, my husband surprised me with a bottle of  2009 Papillon, a primarily Cabernet Sauvignon red blend that I have been DYING to try but, at $55 a bottle, had not yet taken the plunge.  This baby went straight into the wine refrigerator for my next special occasion.
Hmmmm.  Does Sunday count?  Salute!

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Let's Talk Wine

There are a few things that make my life wonderful.  My amazing husband of 16 years, our two fantastic and very busy boys, our two sweet and energetic dogs and my wine.  My love for wine has been years in the making, a long courtship of sorts that has had trials and errors, hits and misses, ebbs and, pardon the pun, flows. 
It's interesting to talk to people about wine.  We all have different tastes and appreciate different characteristics.  When we find something  we like, it becomes a favorite fixture in our house.  On the other hand, if we don't like a bottle, it might be considered a waste or mistake, never to be seen again. 
I have been fortunate to find a few precious gems that have me hooked, and willing (and eager) to find another equally as appealing to add to the collection.  The journey to finding a great wine is part mystery, part education, a little luck and sort of like Christmas morning  opening the beautifully wrapped gift under the tree.  Is it the toy you begged for months ago (Orin Swift's The Prisoner), or socks (Flip Flop)?  Maybe you received a gift that although not expensive, was perfect (14 Hands Merlot circa 2009) or maybe something that was a little more than they wanted to spend but well worth it (Educated Guess Cabernet).
I'm a Red Girl.  I like 'em bold and peppery with an oaky tone and a nice, long finish.  Price is secondary.  I'm always looking to get the most bang for my buck and stock up on anything I would pay twice as much as what I actually paid.
I recently discovered wine from Maggio Family Vineyards out of Lodi, CA.  I purchased the 2009 Merlot and 2008 Zinfandel at Cost Plus World Market while looking for a full bodied red with plenty of kick for around $10. 
The Merlot was smooth and oaky with some dark fruit.  A pleasant surprise at $9.99.  A few days later, we tried the Zinfandel ($8.99).  The first few sips had a spicy, peppery taste with elements of licorice and earth.  It settled down some by the end of the first glass but the real surprise came when we finished the bottle on day 2.  It was delicious!  We quickly went back to buy more only to find they were short on the Merlot and limited on the Zinfadel.  After liking the Maggio wines I tried so much, I picked up the 2009 Petit Syrah ($9.99) as well.

This was our first foray into the Petit Syrah varietal.  This type of wine is regularly blended with practically everything I enjoy but I had yet to try a bottle of Petit Syrah. It did not disappoint!   It was complex with sweet black fruit but spicy with some nice oak to it.  I sought out the remaining 2009 locally which has since been replaced with the current 2011 vintage.  That one, among a few other bottles will be next.
Until then, Salute!