Good Morning!

I have to admit a guilty pleasure for me is to watch Chelsea Lately each night at 10 o’clock. It is the most politically incorrect show ever and I think the “panel” she has on every night might be the funniest, most jaded and smartest people ever, plus she has her assistant Chuy and he is a little person with a thick Spanish accent who is a recovering alcoholic, how much more diverse can you really get. My favorite panelists are Ross Matthews, Loni Love and Jo Koy. If any or all of them are on that night, I am giggling for the next 15 minutes.

After her roundtable with the panelists, Chelsea normally has a guest from the music biz or movies and they talk about whatever strikes them. One night she had on the Kardashian sisters. I knew they had a show and since my stepson had Kim as his screen saver for his computer for about a year, I knew she was hot and could wear a bikini with pride, because every week when I would attempt to help him with dusting or trying to eliminate Mt. Clothing, I would see Kim K and he would discuss if Jessica Alba did not marry him, Kim K was his second option.

Anyway, as Chelsea Handler interviewed the Kardashian’s I was intrigued by how these women got famous and what was all the drama about. So I checked them out on the internet and found out all about their dad and the OJ trial, all about how their mom is the manager and married to Bruce Jenner and how they had clothing boutiques in LA and Miami, but their claim to fame was mostly Kim’s modeling and their mom seemed to have a real touch with creating a brand from their day to day life.

I am sad to say I was kinda hooked on finding out the story on them, I can not really watch the reality show, the constant bitching and scream is too much for my zenlike love of life, but I am more interested in how companies can cash in on having a Kardashian use their product. This last weekend Kim married and her wine of choice was Malibu Rocky Oaks wine. It is my understanding that her mama, Kris, fell in love with their Chardonnay a few years ago and has been buying cases of it since. I have never tried their wines or even heard of them up until now.

I went to the website of Malibu Rocky Oaks Estate Vineyard to check out their wines and see what I could find out…of course Kim’s photo is on the front page and so are all their wines. The place looks awesome and I can not wait to try the wines I ordered. They are sold out of Chardonnay until 2010 is released in October. The wines have won many awards and from the wine bloggers who’s reviews I have read the wines sound great. I am thrilled for the folks at Malibu Rocky Oaks wines, I am sure they are being flooded with orders and that many of the first time tasters of their wines will become loyal customers.

I am still in amazement how one influential person can launch more success than one can even hope for. If someone like Kim tweets, mentions you on the red carpet, or in an interview before you know it, the trend has started and you can be doing business or at least connecting with more people than you can imagine.

I will report back once I get to try Malibu Rocky Oaks Wines…and see if Kim and I have the same taste in wines. Also, now that my stepson missed the chance to marry Kim, Jessica and I forgot his love for Beyonce…I hope the next crush comes along he finally gets down on one knee.

Much LOVE and wine,

Tammi

Good Morning!

I received several texts on Sunday afternoon from a group of pals in Indianapolis, they sent me pics of the labels of the wines they were enjoying and after the 2nd bottle one of the texts ask what is a Grenache? Is it a blend? Will you make some? We love this stuff! It turns out that my friends were at a great restaurant called Mesh on Mass and the place has a really great wine list for folks who love California wines.

It seems they started out with a Sauvignon Blanc called Veladora and it is a very crisp Napa Valley SB made by Orin Swift winery. This group of wine lovers likes high alcohol and some real “weighty” wines. They know what they like and though they can not put their finger on why, they love a full, round mouth feel with a long finish. They love massive reds and they next moved on to The Prisoner, they love this big red blend and I found out this wine is also made by Orin Swift and they have a really sharp winemaker named Dave Phinney. The Prisoner is a blend of mostly Zinfandel from Napa Valley and a blend of Cab, Syrah, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Grenache ad Charbono grapes.

The Prisoner is really lighting up many a wine lovers’ glass and the long finish and velvety tannins really works well alone or can rock a meal with grilled meats and slow cooked meats. ( I would fire up the grill and throw on a tri tip while the wine opens up). So my pals finally call me when they opened up their 3rd bottle called D66 and it said Grenache on the back label, they figured texting was taking too long so why not just call me and ask me what I know about this D66 wine by Orin Swift cellars.

The first thing out of their mouth is what is Grenache? I said well, it’s a grape and it is kinda famous in the southern part of France and I know they grow some great grapes in California now too. They they said, Oh, I thought Grenache was a blend, I said no it’s a grape varietal and in France they like to blend it with Syrah and Viognier in Rhone, but I knew nothing about this D66 they were raving about. So I did a little checking, this wine comes from Maury, France, very close to the France and Spain border. The D66 is also made by Orin Swift winery. This area of France is an awesome area to grow grapes and they are doing some crazy blending of grapes.

One of the reasons I was taken back by the information about D66 and my friends love of the wine, was, they went to France last year and were not at all happy with the wines they tried…I know Huh? But in their defense, they were born and raised on big, fat, California Cabernet’s and French wine to them is lighter and also has a “funkiness” they do not enjoy. But when I said the wine was French, they were like no way! Yes, Way! But I found out this wine has a 15.2% alcohol and long finish and deep berries, I knew why they fell in love with this wine.

Again, I have learned much about the wine D66 and can not wait to try it for myself. I do love all of Dave Phinney’s wines. If you see some really awesome labels and great names like The Prisoner, Salado, Papillon, Abstract, Veladora, Mercury Head (This wine I have had and it is worth every penny of the $75.00 per bottle) and D66. Try them and tell me how they made you feel and of course how you liked them.

Much LOVE and wine,

Tammi

Good Morning!

This morning I watched all the neighborhood kids load up on the bus for their first day of school. It made me so happy because I remember how excited I was to go to school each year and each day for that matter. I remember getting new clothes and shoes and supplies and heading to school with a sense of excitement each year, and thinking this year I could make good grades or be in the band or swim on the swim team or whatever I was dreaming about, I thought I could do it with renewed spirit only a summer break can provide.

Honestly, I was not the best student, but I rarely missed any school because I loved being around other people and I really liked learning stuff. I remember as an adult when I would start a new job or be sent on a business trip having the same excitement too. All of my jobs over the past 15 years have been recruiting/sales positions. I would make the decision that each firm I chose to work for would lead me to the level of success I had hoped for as well. I did pretty good in my career but I still love that since of “new” that a new season or fresh start can provide.

So to create that “Back to School” excitement for wine, I went shopping this weekend and reloaded my personal cellar (ok it’s a really nice shelf in the living closet that stays really cool). I bought 2 cases of wine, a total of 48 wines and no 2 bottles are the same wine or the same producer/winemaker. I dropped some serious cash, but I figure since our kid is in college and we were not buying jeans, underwear (he loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles when he was little), I could use the money I would have spent on his clothes to get some new wines for me to expand my knowledge and taste buds.

I don’t remember ever going back to school before Labor day. I remember getting out of school the Thursday before Memorial day and starting school on Tuesday after Labor day and seemed that in Central Indiana it soon became cool after school started. So I was looking for wines that I would really enjoy after the weather cools off. I went to two places Central Market and Joe Saglimbenis’. Both have an amazing selection of wines. Joe’s place is really special and he has wines you will never see on grocery store shelves. I bought all reds at Joe’s. I bought Carmenere from Chile, Syrah from France, Cabernet from California, Pinot’s from Washington and Oregon and some exciting blends from Paso Robles.

Next, I hit up Central Market and I did add to my red wine selections there too, but I hit a vein of whites I am really excited to start trying. Sauvignon Blanc’s, Viogener, Vinho Verde, Chardonnay’s from all over the world. I am getting ready to go back to California in a few weeks to work harvest and I am 100% sure I will also, load up on many more wines before all the grapes reach their final tank or barrel (of course they will not still be grapes by then, but you get what I’m saying). I am filled with the same exuberance today that I hope the kids were this morning. I love to learn about wines, and wine making styles and terrior and the only way to really learn is to taste, write and ask questions.

So they might be learning algebra, state history, driver’s ed, Spanish or a million other life lessons this year in school, but I will be learning about my 48 new wines and when I find the ones who teach me the most, I will share them with you!

Much LOVE and wine,

Tammi

Good Morning!

Over the past week I have heard from many of my friends while they are out having some wine and they wanted to share the experience with me. I felt happy and honored and drunk dialed from Indianapolis. They each were trying a new wine that was really making an impact on their taste buds!

One friend was enjoying oysters and champagne at Oceanaire and people watching. Downtown Indianapolis is a convention and sports town, people of all walks of life are everywhere. It is great fun to just grab some friends, find a place to enjoy their company, order wine and prepare to make new friends.

The other friend was having dinner with a client at St Elmo’s steakhouse and his client has spent tons of time in Chile, so they were texting me about what they were drinking and eating and it seems they were eating filet and bread pudding and washing it down with some kick ass reds.

I love to be drunk dialed, (even if they are not drunk) I love being texted when people I love are thinking of me. I have been known to call and chat up pals when I have had a glass or two and something reminded me of them. My favorite person to dial up is my buddy JonSwain. Jon lives in DC now and I love him. I met him years ago when he was the assistant to the First Lady of Indiana. We have become stedfast friends and when he is doing something fun in DC he finds me or if I am having fun I find him. It takes very little to make us laugh.

We had a blast a few years ago in the world’s smallest bar in Key West drinking jug wine that gave me heartburn for 2 days. We have had drinks in the Castro of San Francisco at 2 AM, we have attended friends weddings and enjoyed way too much vino and ended up being in the Wendy’s drive through window at 3 AM. Jon and I used to live together in Indianapolis and he always had the best connections, we went to listen to Bill Clinton, we went to a private home (some VP of Eli Lilly’s) and listened to a famous piano concert. We hung out with the governor, laughed with all the first ladies of the state so we experienced much and of course we still do.

I love getting a text from Jon saying I am sitting at this place and Senator So-n-so just walked in…or Nancy Pelosi is at the next table. I hope this weekend while I am out and about I text several friends and let them know I am thinking of them while I meet new people and experience something, that I want to experience with them. Technology makes you feel like you are right there with them, bless my iPhone and wine list!

Much LOVE and wine,

Tammi

Good Morning!

I keep reading all these stories about why wine scores are so controversial. I wanted to chat a little about this and just speak my mind. Everything in life gets judged or is scored in someway. I think wine is pretty much like art, you like what you like and I like what I like and since it is all about personal preferences people all get worked up about this subject.

Ok, so there is a real pattern to how professionals (judges and such) taste and score. I know they judge by body, weight, taste, aroma, where the grapes were grown and all the other components that are not just about the grapes, like barrel aged or tank aged, has the wine been laying around on it’s side for awhile maturing, etc…I have read so many articles and books on wine judging and a lot of the info contradicts each other.

The first time I read about how someone judged wines, it was the couple who writes for the Wall Street Journal…they say yum, ok or yuck…Hahaha…I love this idea and as I read more I heard about this 100 point scale that Robert Parker Jr used to judge wines in the Wine Spectator. anything under an 85 is not good and the closer your wines get to 100, the better the wine.

Well, winemakers and marketing folks want to get closer to 100 for both bragging rights and of course to sell more wine. Wine is a business and you can only stay in business when your making a profit or you don’t eat. I get this point more than you know.

We are all judged, graded or scored in life, a salesperson has quotas, a parent is judged by how their child performs and behaves, an athlete is judged by how fast or how many points they can score, in our neighborhood we have a bunch of over acheviers who always try to out due themselves with the greenest lawn and best landscape. We have a bunch of guys here with pick up trucks and the dude with the best rims, custom paint job and you really can tell who puts more effort into his big ass Ford 250.

I think there are many guidelines in judging wines, but at the end of the day, when I ask a professional wine judge what are they looking for and the answer is a high quality made wine, flawless execution, great structure, good body and then they have to “like” or “love” the wine. Many will also say, they want to taste something new or different while letting the grapes speak for themselves. Ok, so I think this whole subject is interesting and I do look for high scoring wines when I shop, but sometimes I buy a wine because, I like the label or the area the grapes came from or because someone said, this stuff is good.

I can only say what I like and I am kinda leaning toward the scale the Wall Street couple uses, yum, ok and yuck!

Much LOVE and wine,

Tammi