livin' large? .... livin' huuuuge

A Confession: I swear, I don't know shit about wine. It's easy to know I like something when I taste it. Alternately: "I can't tell you what art (or pornography) is, but I know it when I see it." When I'm it comes to picking out a bottle based on information on the outside of it, I'm completely hopeless. But not as much today as I was on Monday.

Yesterday, G came over with some wine and we had a little mini tasting party. 4 wines, 4 cheeses, good conversation, music loud enough that the neighbor knocked at the door (but I swear officer, it wasn't very loud). It is quite a fine experience to have multiple wines side by side to compare back and forth, to figure out what you like and don't like. Bop back and forth across the mini-spectrum, try them with food or not... Yes, I realize this is not a new thing. "Wine People" have tasting parties all the time, I guess. New for me then. What I *did* find out though is that it seems I really like big, young, woody Zinfandels from Cline Cellars. Damn that was some goodness. Looking at their other offerings, I'm definitely going to have to try the Big Break Zinfandel too. Bring on the power. Bring on the 800lb. gorilla of wine, that shoulders its way through and says "oh yeah, wanna make somethin' of it? well, do ya?"

Oh, and cheese? Well, get me some o' that 18 month gouda, or the salty stinky cheese, and I'll be putty in your hands. Goat cheese? Yup, some o' that too - even if it happens to resemble a twinkie in the photo.