BLOGMAS 2019: Twelve Days of Wine...
On the first day of Christmas, my true love game to me…Emmolo by Caymus.
Despite world travel, our favorite wines are out of California. The majority on our list are from the Napa/Sonoma area. One family, in particular, gets the majority of our wine budget…. the Wagner’s have extended members creating deliciousness! Emmolo is a Merlot from grapes in the Rutherford area. The winemaker, Jenny Wagner, is the Granddaughter of Frank Wagner, who bought the vineyard in 1972. This area is a few degrees cooler allowing the grapes to ripen a bit longer… might just be the secret to this favorite! We enjoyed this bottle on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… Red Schooner Voyage 5.
Surprise, surprise… another Wagner Family creation. This is a special project where grapes from the basin floor below the snow-capped Andes in Argentina are brought to California to be made into an amazing Malbec. We were able to try Voyage 3, 4, 5 and 6. Next one… I can’t wait to try… is Voyage 7. We enjoyed this bottle when we visited our wine tender friend in his home country, Croatia.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… The Prisoner is from… wait for it… Napa Valley! This red blend has a fantastic mix of zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Charbono. We enjoyed this bottle in Cave Creek, Arizona. Visiting for a surprise birthday party, the “gifters” opened their home for us while they were away and left wine! Such a surprise and a complete luxury to be in a home with floors and doors again.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon.
This Napa Valley wine is NOT from the Wagner Family but is amazing! We usually wait at least ten years from release to enjoy. As a New Year’s baby, Silver Oak can usually be found on my “must have’s” to celebrate another year older, another year wiser.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon.
Though it’s been over twenty years since the first time I tried this wine, I still remember everything about the night. It was a dinner at Roy’s in Poipu, Kauai. Great company, delectable food and a chocolate souffle for dessert!
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… Twomey Merlot.
From the same owners who create the masterpiece known as Silver Oak comes Twomey! We sipped on this wine on a warm, summer evening in Lake Tahoe. We celebrated friends buying a place near us. We sat outside long after the sun went down. At one point, we noticed a giant bear walking by us. He didn’t seem to be bothered by us…but seeing him so close, shocked us a bit1
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…Luce Tenute.
A Super Tuscan from the Brunello di Montalcino area of Italy, Luce is a fantastic blend of Sangiovese and Merlot. This wine has won multiple awards each year beginning in 1994…We had this bottle decanted for a couple of hours before drinking on the Royal Princess which sailed from Southampton, UK to New York.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… Darioush Merlot!
When I was first introduced to this little gem, it ran about $35/bottle. Darioush has since upped their game, won awards and with that, the price increases. While standing in a wine store looking for a new addition to our “regulars”, a gentleman approached me to say it appeared we had very similar wine tastes. Based on what he saw in my cart, he suggested Darioush. .. BINGO! It’s become one of our regulars. I can’t wait to visit their winery on the Silverado Trail in Napa Valley.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… Duckhorn Merlot!
My first venture into reds, was with Duckhorn Merlot. It was my birthday dinner with another couple. I was an instant fan… soon whites were a thing of the past. It’s a rare occasion that I order a white… but I plan to try in 2020. Look forward to next year’s BLOGMAS to see if I actually venture out…
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… Tignanello!
WOW! This Super Tuscan has been enjoyed on the Royal and Grand Princess cruises. We picked up a couple bottles in Venice, on our way to Croatia. Unable to resist opening the bottles, we purchased a couple more to bring home. They were actually better priced in Rijeka, Croatia. Every drop of this Super Tuscan will be enjoyed… after being decanted for a good, long time :-)
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… a 2008 Pahlmeyer!
Still debating if this grand finale or not, it is definitely at the tippy top of our list. While on a recent cruise from Honolulu to Sydney, Australia, we ran into an old friend. Our wine steward from Ovation of the Seas had transferred to Radiance of the Seas. Erwina spent her time off combing through the belly of the ship for discontinued bottles still being stored. THIS was one… we enjoyed a couple bottles while sailing and brought some home with us. Decanted for six plus hours, this quickly rose to the top of our list!
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… Caymus Special Selection!
Previously, we ordered Caymus and LOVED it… then, our wine steward on Ovation of the Seas suggested the Special Selection. Game over… smooth doesn’t even begin to describe this prize. As I write this, the debate continues on… do we open the Pahlmeyer or the Caymus Special Selection on Christmas Day? An idea is beginning to form in my mind… I could pick another “favorite” ZD? Overture by Opus One? Alpha Omega? If we do that, we could have a true Grand Finale and have both top picks on Christmas Day!
Hope you’ve enjoyed my guilty pleasure…
