A New Beginning

Starting a blog is easy, but at the same time, with a certain degree of difficulty. I wanted to start writing blogs for a long time now, but, that thought continues to be a thought and was never carried into action until today. Like always, I was not putting it off and saying that I will do it tomorrow, but instead, I was too busy searching for the perfect site to blog instead of just picking a random one to start. I was comparing between the different blogging sites and thinking to myself, hmmmm, which one will provide me with the most advantage, and instead lost sight of what is more important, to actually carry my plan of blogging into action. I think this is a problem for many people and one that I am continue to struggle with. We all have good ideas in our head, but the problem is most of the time we never carry out most of those ideas and often time the ideas become lost and forgotten. The excuses that we use are many, whether we are putting it off until tomorrow, or that to carry out the idea is too difficult, or we are too busy, or like me, trying to do too much research and prep work instead of actually carrying out the plan . . .

Moving on, have you noticed that lots of wine store are having sales lately, ranging from 10% to 20% at some places, and those discounts apply not just to case purchases, but single bottle purchase as well. I think this is a good time to pick up a few bottle, if you still have some cash on hand after the holiday shopping frenzy, and save them to enjoy over the next couple of months. A new shipment of wine arrived at our house yesterday, and now I am struggling for space as my little wine cellar has become full and I am now stuffing the wine in my closets. This weekend I celebrated one of my closest friend's birthday, someone I had known for almost 10 years now. It was a low-key event, no big parties, but just very good friends getting together over dinner at one of our favorite hangouts since college, followed by wines and lots and lots and lots of cakes and desserts at the birthday boy's place, with random DVDs playing in the background and a game of Taboo (which is a game I am going to purchase soon . . . I love this game). 3 bottle of wine was served that night, two Pinot Noirs and a Cabernet Franc. I was a bit dissapointed by both Pinot Noirs, a 2001 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Pinot Noir Central Coast (Link to this wine) and a Benton-Lane Oregon Pinot Noir 2002 (Link to this wine). Well, let me rephrase that, I wasn't dissapointed by the Robert Mondavi, just because I didn't have high expectations for that wine to begin with and actually, the wine kind of suprised me with the somewhat light note of forest floor and mushroom accompanied with the strong fruit-forward fragrance of cherry, strawberry, pear and probably some other floral scents. I actually sort of enjoy just sniffing the wine. The taste is simple and light, a pleasant quaffing wine that everyone probably have had when going to one of those receptions, weddings, office Christmas parties or the like. A wine that is easy to drink but no one will ever remember it. Benton-Lane on the otherhand, was a slight dissapointment. I did not get anything out of that wine. Very subdued note with a more powerful flavor than the Robert Mondavi, but then it is pretty hard to have a much softer Pinot Noir than the Robert Mondavi without the wine being absolutely horrible, I would think. Tasted very hard and stiff, your mouth feel rich and very heavy without much flavor. Perhaps we are drinking this wine too soon ?

The Cabernet Franc was quite enjoyable, on the other hand. It is the Osprey's Dominion Cabernet Franc 2002 (Link to the winery), and after going to Osprey's Dominion's website, I learned that they were voted as 2005 Winery of the Year by the New York Grape and Wine Foundation at its annual New York Wine and Food Classic, whatever that means. The wine exhibits complex note of chocolate, red and black fruits and a certain smokiness, which follows through to the tasting. I really enjoyed that smokiness flavor that was so prominent in the wine accompanied by a bit of spiciness that rounds up a nice peppery finish. The flavor was powerful and strong enough but without the heavy tannins getting in the way. I felt the wine is sophisticated, suave and projected an image of a mature, successful but yet unassuming gentleman smoking a cigar in front of a fireplace enjoying his downtime. I want to be that man but then I am immature, not yet successful and don't really smoke cigar and don't have a fireplace, so I guess I would have to go buy more of this wine and keep on projecting this image in my mind until I get there.

Hmmm, I think this is long enough and I should stop my random thoughts for the day . . .