Good Morning!

OK so the title is fun…I think I just like using the word lover, it sounds so international. Like a spring affair while in Paris or the summer in Spain while backpacking, either way, there is something kinda wonderful about getting reconnected to something familiar. Last night, we ate at The Palms, you know the place that started in NYC and all the celebs go there and get their face on the wall. Well there are many across the country now and most major cities has one. They started out as an Italian place and really it is a steakhouse and high end seafood type of place (think Morton’s or Ruth Chris with more Hollywood or NYC flare to it).

We had no idea we were going there and neither of us had ever been to one but someone mixed up the day were we to actually attend a memorial service and we were a night early, so we figured we would have dinner out and relax. My partner in dining crime was not feeling the place I wanted to go and then we saw this cute little place with cafe tables outside and we said, Let’s try it. We walked in and the Spurs game was on in the bar and the host seated us at a booth where we could watch the score without putting on our readers!

The place looked very nice and I said this is gonna cost us. And then replied to myself, when is eating with me ever cheap? As soon as they handed us the wine list and I saw all the big ass California reds on the list I knew what kinda night it would be. This is the kinda place where I used to take clients to and let them pick out the wine and just prepped my speech to my boss on way my expense account was so out of line with “company” standards.

My pal says, can I pick the wine? This is always what people ask me to do, so I am thrilled when someone else offers to take over. I handed her the list and said I am having NY Strip as rare as they can make it without it still mooing. She said, I don’t care, I am gonna order what I want to try. I think that is awesome…I would have high fived her there, but the dudes in suits closing up deals made me watch my manners more than normal.

So the wine comes out and she had ordered the Northstar 2007 Merlot from Washington state. I love Washington State Merlots and I love that when it is 95 degrees outside there are other red options besides Pinot Noir (but I love my Pinots as well). My friend says, I like how fruity this tastes, she i not in the wine biz but knows what she likes. She said this is not as heavy as some of the cabs and I did not feel like being weighed down. I swrilled my wine and took in a deep sniff and remembered how much I have missed merlots in general. I then started going all wine foolish in my head and taking notes on the wine. I love that I can instantly tell a Napa or Sonoma Merlot from a Washington Merlot. I loved how lively this wine was. I loved how it still tasted really young and fresh, while being balanced and full bodied without the heaviness of some Merlots. I loved how I had forgotten my love of these wines and how today, I was search in my cellar to find more Washington Merlot. If you have not tried a Washington Merlot, what you will find is a ruby red color, a clean, balanced cherry aroma and in the mouth a lighter and very smooth almost more “slick” feeling than you will a Merlot from CA. Look for them, try them and write to me and tell me about your experience!

I remember how much I enjoyed their Merlot and I have a feeling I will be on a steak and Merlot kick again this weekend!

Much LOVE and wine,

Tammi