A happy buzz

 

A "happy buzz" is when you've had just enough wine to feel different, good, courageous, empowered, and like throwing caution to the wind is the best revelation in the world. A happy buzz is not anywhere near being annihilated or falling over drunk however.  That's why it was quite ironic when the Evil Red Genius had the following to say last Friday evening during our "taste and run" at my happy place:

 

 "It's a happy buzz.. I like it when it's buzzing in here. It's a dull roar."

 

While one could possibly attribute that statement to the way we were feeling, she was simply describing the atmosphere of the wine bar. (Or was she?)

 

The short two-hour time frame that we spent at my happy place was filled with interesting wine and quotable moments.

 

From the wines on the tasting bar to the one we chose to share that evening were four

quote-worthy and unique wines!

 

2013

Legado Torrontes

Argentina

 

 

"This should be spritzed on someone........ and not in their mouth."

 

If you can't tell, we weren't fans of the Legado.  It was very perfume-y and reminded me of walking through a department store perfume counter area at a shopping mall. Hold your breath and run past the crazy woman who wants to spritz the nasty stuff on you.

This wine should not have been tasted - it should be in a mister at Macy's.

 

Cuvaison

Chardonnay

Carneros (Napa Valley), CA

 

 

The Evil Red Genius and I LOVE a stinky red wine, which you will have already realized is true if you've kept up with any of my posts over the last year or so. In fact, we've been named the "Dirty Pinot Girls" and often think the stinkier the better when it comes to red wines. It often takes one (and it did me) a while to "get past" the funky smell and actually taste the wine. Once you do, it opens up a whole new world! We have been known to get rather vocal and excited when we come upon a funky/stinky wine! It can be quite entertaining for onlookers. 

 

This Carneros Chardonnay completely blew us away!

At one whiff, we both looked at each other like something miraculous had occurred!

This wine was stinky!

Why is that miraculous, you ask?

Because we have never had a stinky WHITE wine. All of our beloved stinky wines are RED!

You would have thought we had discovered gold right there in the depths of my happy place the way we reacted.

 

It smelled like a dirty diaper that had been tossed out of a window onto the side of the highway on a 100 degree scorching day in the South! Only the two of us would get excited about a wine that smelled that way. The taste was tropical and fruity with a hint of minerality.

It would be a perfect sit-on-the-front-porch of the beach house with cheese Chardonnay this summer.

So what did I do? I bought one to save for that exact occasion!

 

 I recently found that a Swiss family bought the Cuvaison winery in 1979.

Perhaps, I need to start seeking out California wineries owned by the Swiss if they are going to make stinky white wine! Who knew the Swiss were so brilliant?

 

 2012

Tempore

Joven

 

 

Keeping with our stinky theme, the next wine is an 85% Grenache and 15% Tempranillo Spanish blend. Tempore cultivates its vineyards in a way that favors the natural cycles of the plant without using aggressive treatments.

 

Perhaps that is why one whiff of this wine, brought out this exclamation:

 

 "This smells like a dirty flower - like a marigold"

 

 I found it quite interesting that the winery's website stated that this wine is "unctuous".

When a person is unctuous, you can't trust their kindness because they usually want something in return.

 

Note to self: Never trust a wine that smells like marigolds.

 

 

 2012

If you see kay

 

 

 

Go ahead, say it again.

If. You. See. Kay.

 

Now think about what you're saying....

 

wait for it....

Yep, you got it!

 

I heard of this wine a year ago and when it showed up on the shelves at my happy place, it was gone before I could try it. Red and I wanted to try something new and we knew we wanted a red.

 Guess what just happened to be back on the shelves?

Yep - Kay.

 

Kay is a red blend with fruit selected from top vineyards in Italy. This particular vintage is made up of Cab, Petit Verdot, Syrah and Primitivo. With dominant black fruit, this cult wine smells of plum, blackberry and fig. It is fruity and tannic but with a hint of velvet and burnt meat on the end.

With a second sip, I received a rush of cocoa or perhaps milk chocolate.

 

While it wasn't the best red I've ever had and I don't think it's worth its hype, it was good.

It definitely improved with the steak and cheese pizzette.

 

 

 

Jayson Woodbridge and Chris Radomski's winemaking philosophy is one of "risk everything".

They created Kay as an image of a strong woman who embodies the principles of living life to the fullest. The tattooed woman on the motorcycle represents freedom and being true to one's beliefs. 

If she happens to start some controversy along the way, so be it!

 

Kay is a creature.

She is an embodiment of a lifestyle, a genre, a feeling in your gut.

Kay is a force of nature, a wanderer.

She represents the philosophy of "Wide open throttle or don't bother doing it at all".

She's not trying to be, she just is.

Always uncontrollable, she's wanted.

 

 We accomplished a lot in two hours and the wine selections actually made me start contemplating and analyzing a lot of things in life.
 If Kay is enjoying the ride, why shouldn't we?
Perhaps it really is all about that happy buzz.....