Wine: Sylvester Vineyards Kiara Private Reserve Zinfandel; Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: Zinfandel – 2007; Cabernet Sauvignon – 2007
Alcohol percentage: Zinfandel: 14.6%; Cabernet Sauvignon: 14.5%
Found at: The California Wine Club
Did you ever have one of those days when something goes wrong and you just can’t recover? I seem to be having a bunch of those lately. If I am running late in the morning, even just 5 minutes, it is enough to throw me off. I never seem to have trouble getting myself out the door, but as the rest of you mamas know, if there is at least one child involved, all hell has the possibility of breaking loose. The day started with me barking orders and running late, getting my youngest (slowpoke) out the door, suffering through an 8 hour workday and a 45 minute commute on either end of it, and ended me with exploding over the fact that someone ate the leftover pizza. On any other night, I wouldn’t give a hoot about leftover pizza, but on this night, it was the end of the world. I never eat leftovers!! I don’t know why this mattered so much! As a result, I felt totally justified in self-medicating. I popped the cork on the Kiara Private Reserve Zinfandel, and sat at the dining room table (alone) and every time someone spoke to me my answer was, “Shhh! I am trying to concentrate!!!” Indeed.
This wine was just what I needed after a meltdown. It smelled of big and bold ripe berries with a tiny hint of oak. I was expecting this wine to knock the chip off my shoulder, but in actuality, it was not nearly as big and busy as I thought. This is not a bad thing! I needed something to mellow me out. It tasted smooth and a little spicy with a muted finish of maybe vanilla? As I felt it start to loosen the tense muscles in my neck, I thought about what I could have for dinner with it, since I had effectively ruined our “family dinner.” (And no, I didn’t want the leftover pizza; I was hoping to bring that to work for lunch the NEXT day; yes very confusing!) Again, I was expecting a big and bold Zinfandel, and I found instead one that could stand alone, but definitely called for a pairing with a fine meal. Unfortunately, a meal that would have to take a rain check for another night, as I only seemed to have peanut butter and jelly in my future.
Lucky for me, my family is the forgiving kind. After a few mumbled apologies and acknowledgments that maybe I over-reacted a little, my husband decided to join me for a glass of wine. I begrudgingly retrieved a glass, abandoned the Zinfandel and poured some of the Kiara Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Judging by the little stickers that proclaimed “SILVER MEDAL WINNER!” and another one that said “BRONZE MEDAL WINNER” I was pretty sure this wine would not disappoint. I was right. On the nose I smelled dried red fruits, and spices. The spice was not at all overwhelming at the first sip. The wine definitely tasted mature, and seemed a bit dusty (not to be confused with earthy) and dry. I could see why this wine was an award winning selection. I wondered fleetingly if anyone would honor me with an award for “Best Mommy Meltdown”… I restrained myself from indulging in a second glass, since this was the second bottle of the night for us and I was in damage control mode. Both wines were winners in my book, and kept me from falling off the ledge that I had started inching my way out on early that morning.
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