Cabernet Sauvignon

[waves]

Dear Mari

Originally Posted by Mari

I had the exact right amount of wine. It was nice.

Well, it's rolling around to the weekend again and....

Since you had exactly the right amount of wine... and wine most often comes in bottles that contain a good bit more than the exact right amount for one sitting, I am wondering if you have some left for this weekend, to have perhaps with more croissants and cheese... yummm... or some other alternative?

?

~ waves ~ being nosy

[Mari]

Originally Posted by waves

Dear Mari
Since you had exactly the right amount of wine... and wine most often comes in bottles that contain a good bit more than the exact right amount for one sitting,

Waves,
. . . cute icon holding a glass

I probably have to toss the wine.
It's still sitting on the counter waiting for me to tell it thank you before I pour it down the sink.

My sister told me that I can buy little bottles of four packs. I will look for them after I can have a weekend again where I check out for part of a day.

I promise to report

Mari

[waves]

Originally Posted by Mari

I probably have to toss the wine.
It's still sitting on the counter waiting for me to tell it thank you before I pour it down the sink.

Awww... that is a pity, Mari. Granted it has been a week, but if it's been corked, it might be ok, as long as it hasn't been too hot inside. Is there no way you can use it, even in cooking?

little bottles of four packs..... I promise to report

Yes I look forward to the report of your next adventure!

Now I could not swear by what might be available in the US at this point, but in terms of general wine culture, I would be wary of wine that comes in a four pack. Bear in mind that anything with a screw on top is mediocre at best, to put it kindly. (The 4 packs are likely to have screw-on tops.) I bought a 4 pack here once. It was "drinkable"... certainly nowhere near comparable to a decent Cabernet Sauvignon.

Now, what you can often get, even in good wines, is a half bottle. You might have to go to a wine and spirits place to find a good selection in half bottles though. Most supermarkets tend to have extra large ones, or the individual servings... depending on their target market/clientele.

~ waves ~

[Mari]

Waves,

Half bottles makes sense.

You might have to go to a wine and spirits place to find a good selection in half bottles though. Most supermarkets tend to have extra large ones, or the individual servings..

We have those places around but I am not sure where I have seen them. The super market I go to is tiny but I will look.


I can check out the four packs and report here before I buy.

M

[waves]

Dear Mari

I look forward to you reporting back on what you find in the stores. Thank you for letting me take part in this.

I can't drink wine right now because of my diet. I hope it's ok that I am getting vicarious enjoyment out of your little wine and food adventure here.

~ waves ~

[bizi]

you could buy the boxed wines which aren't that bad and only have a glass or 2. WE have done that before.
I would not say they are great wines but a nice red, they may have a boxed merlot???? I think the black boxed does.
bizi

[waves]

Dear Mari

Originally Posted by bizi

you could buy the boxed wines which aren't that bad

No, not that bad I suppose but definitely not that good either. We've had it too - exactly once (which was enough). It's about par with the 4-pack mini bottles.


Hey maybe you can find someone who has flown recently and stashed some of those bitty-bottles of wine - i've had that before in-flight - it wasn't that bad (Desperate times called for desperate measures! )

Ok seriously, it really depends on what sort of experience you are seeking, and to what degree convenience is important to you. If convenience is more important than quality, either the mini-bottles or the tetra pack stuff will be fine... they are ... drinkable. If you do want something decent though... different kettle of fish.

~ waves ~ the wet blanket

[Mari]

Originally Posted by waves

Dear Mari

Mari, it really depends on what sort of experience you are seeking, and to what degree convenience is important to you. If convenience is more important than quality, either the mini-bottles or the tetra pack stuff will be fine... they are ... drinkable. If you do want something decent though... different kettle of fish.

~ waves ~ the wet blanket

I am going for quality.

I want to drink a class or two every so often at home. . . . something full bodied.

M

[Mari]

Day 1
When I came home with the bottle, hubby totally freaked out --- talking about Sharia law. . . . no alcohol .. . . . He carried on.
I told him to be quiet and help me open the bottle with the cork opener I bought. I spent 26 dollars on a bottle opener similar to this one.
http://www.amazon.com/Cork-Pops-Lega.../dp/B00092M4AI
I knew if I gave him a mechanical problem to solve, he would shut up about my brining alcohol into the house. He did shut up and got very focused on the cork.

Neither of us could get the cork out. We had directions, . .. we even called my father. . . .NADA.
I took my full night dose of 2.5 Klonopin and turned on the tv.


Day 2:
The next day, hubby returned the first bottle opener and bought a 6 dollar bottle opener from Publix.

http://www.amazon.com/Screwpull-S101.../dp/B0001UZPY0
He got the bottle open in one try and I drank happily by myself.

I could not drink the whole bottle and the cork had holes in it. There were even bits of cork in the wine.


Now I need a plan for when summer vacation starts in twelve days. What to buy? I already have a corkscrew.

[waves]

Dear Mari

That was sooo funny!

i feel a bit bad for your hubby... but only a little bit... lolol. i guess he is handling it ok. hee hee.

I think I gave away my little wine manuals when I left... but we may have one... so i can give you the name. You need a recent one. It is a tiny booklet but it is like this amazing encyclopedia listing wines, grapes of origin, what kind of flavor, with which foods to accompany etc. It is published yearly and tells you whether that year was good for that wine etc... It doesn't cost much.

Let me poke around in the house and/or on Amazon and see if i can find this thing. I think you would find it interesting in general, if you are on a quality/taste adventure.

If we don't get you this little manual thing, usually the buyer at a specialized wine and spirits place (not ABC liquor) can help you to choose what you want based on your description of the kind of taste you are after. If you already plan to combine with a specific food, you should let them know, as that will affect what they suggest.

~ waves ~

p.s. pesky question: did that first bottle opener cost you more than the wine itself???
p.p.s. the second bottle opener style is very easy to use. be careful not to pierce the cork all the way to the bottom. this will avoid getting cork fragments in the wine - very undesirable.