A Chianti fiasco.

I have gotten off to a rather slow blogging-start to 2014. Being on holiday will do that to a person: rest and relaxation have been available in abundance.  What hasn't been available in abundance is wine. Vinogirl has been a tad under the weather, so, consequently, I have been a little off the vino.  However, I did imbibe in a cheap and cheerful Chianti, a 2012 offering from Famiglia Castellani, which paired very well with Thud's beefy-bucatini dinner offering. To be honest, a lot of time wasn't spent in the choosing of this £6.99 ($11.00) wine.  Thud picked this particular bottle of Chianti because it came in a flask, or fiasco, a familiar sight on shop shelves years ago, but not so common now. This uncomplicated wine paired fairly well with the pasta...and the packaging was, for me, nostalgic fun.

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

Nothing says I love you like a heart-shaped pepperoni pizza and a cheap bottle of Chianti. We know how to celebrate in Vinoland.

A very happy day to you all!

A miner whine.

Speaking of miners...Bolognese for dinner tonight, which always calls for something Italian. Vinomaker came up from the cellar with this domestic offering, a 2005 Sangiovese from Miner Family Vineyards.
Miner Family is one of my favourite wineries in the valley. I generally enjoy their wines which, amongst others, include a Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet sauvignon, a luscious Viognier, and a rather appealing rosato of Sangiovese (a saignée). However, this wine was a little disappointing. Maybe it was a bit old, the fruit had a distinct stewed character, and it was a touch over-oaked. But, it wasn't bad: the acidity did pair well with the sauce. It's just that it's always a tad frustrating when one drinks something that doesn't live up to expectations.