Beringer - Pinot Noir @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: $6.49 (Total Wine)

After the succcess of Beringer's Merlot at our Girls Night wine tasting, when I came across the Pinot I HAD to give it a shot.

At the same time, I've just recently acquired a Sam's Club through my work, which if you happen to have an employer who offers this as a benefit, you should absolutely take them up on it. I did a little bit of research while I was there today, mostly loading up on bulk toiletries, and the wine/liquor section's prices are IDENTICAL to Total Wine! Although Sam's Club offers awesome discount on most bulk items, if you happen to have a Total Wine nearby you'll save just about the same amount off of normal retail prices (without the cost of a membership!)

Beringer's Pinot Noir is quite good, it definitely requires some breathing time after uncorking. The flavor tends to rest in the middle of your palette, be sure to give it a good swish in your mouth to really get a full sense of the flavors. Tons of beautiful cherry notes with good deal of dry, tannin flavor in the finish. For the price, not a bad wine in the slightest.

Spier - Pinotage/Shiraz (2008) @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Total Wine)

I hate Miami.

In the past year I've been to Miami no fewer than five times, all for work purposes, and every time I find it repulsive. Most people would clamor for the opportunity to spend time in this glistening land of fake boobs, money and never-ending parties...not me. Yet, every time I go, I psych myself up for a "fun" time that never ends up happening. This past week I found myself at the current "it" spot, the Fontainebleau, for a conference. Yes, in these economic times, I was sent to a five-star resort in Miami. Don't even get me started on that bit of hypocrisy...

Anyhow, so in this plasticine land, I was holed up in a 5-star hotel where security guards tell you not to take photos for fear of "disturbing the guests..." as if every over-paid celebrity/doctor/poseur was not there to see and be seen...where a glass of wine costs no less than $13. A. GLASS.

I arrived at 8pm on a Saturday at the Fontainebleau. The gliteratti were just starting to filter in

It's not that I hate big cities... I love Boston, love Paris, love London, love San Antonio, (hate NYC)...I hate feeling like I have to be someone else in order to enjoy my time there. So, you can imagine my happiness when I made the 4-hour trek home where I could enjoy my BOTTLE of wine---priced well below $13.

I digress...so Spier's Pinotage/Shiraz is excellent. Full fruit flavors subtly engulf your tongue, leaving a nice, dry finish that's not overpowering. Swishing the wine in your mouth, you'll discover a lovely, spicy taste in your cheeks. One must never forget to 'swish.'

Barefoot - Pinot Noir @@@ (3 corks)

Retails: $5.97 (Wal-Mart)

So, today is a fine day. In an homage to my French heritage and to Julia Child, who shares my same alma matter (Smith College), I'm attempting to cook a French meal. A seriously French meal. Coq au Vin. Yeah. For those of you who understand this meal and my cooking abilities, you are absolutely keen to the fact that I am definitely biting off more than I can chew. In my household, my live-in boyfriend is the primary chef. I tend to have a general know-how about Italian cooking, but outside of that realm, I'm well, out of luck. I once made a hamburger helper so soup-y it was an absolute mockery of American speed-cuisine.

I originally bought this wine because coq au vin absolutely requires either a Bordeaux or Pinot Noir. I opted for the Pinot out of pure favoritism. Being the Frenchie that I am, you can't cook with wine without sampling the wine. And by sampling, I mean like 2 glasses...

My thoughts...as an ingredient, it has a lovely flavor that fills your home with an air of Giverny on a beautiful spring day---no really, the only time I've ever had coq au vin was during a spring break excursion to Paris with my best friend and her family. we visited Monet's gardens and had a lovely, 3-course pastoral lunch on a hillside. Yet, I digress...

In short, it's an OK wine for the price and as an ingredient to a meal that calls for a flavorful wine, it's definitely an excellent, inexpensive choice. I've had better Pinots... I'm about to burn my meal so I must leave you friends, pray for me.

Trapiche - Pinot Noir @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Total Wine)

I love Total Wine. Seriously. I call it the "Wal-Mart" of wines, ONLY because it has absolutely every wine imaginable---including some super obscure wines I've only experienced in rare locales. It also happens to be about two minutes from my office, making for an easy and affordable stop on my way home. Totally off topic, but there's also a Super Target...you KNOW where my paycheck goes... I have to go there anyway. My live-in boyfriend is a huge Captain n' Coke (zero) fan and we traditionally have cocktail hour as soon as I get home. He's a big guy, 6 foot 3 and about 220, and goes through about a handle a week. (I have never seen him drunk. Ever.) I make a visit about every-other week.

After picking up his handles of Captain Morgan, I peruse the wine section like a woman peruses the shoe section. I love reading the commentaries. I love the monthly wine selection. I love that while providing an amazing collection of wines to choose from, it's still maintains a classiness and helpfulness that isn't present at so-called "big box" stores. In no way shape or form is Total Wine paying me for this...though they should (wink wink) Anywho, so...my favorite part is the "recommendation" section. As I've mentioned before, it presents a wide variety of tastes to choose form. Being a devoted wine blogger---and a lady in my 20's who's handling a mortgage---I'm always drawn to wines under $10.

This was one of those lovelies who made it into my repertoire by way of a recommendation. I love Pinot Noir. Long before it became a favorite due to its notoriety in Sideways, I loved Pinot Noir. An ex-boyfriend of mine was in the air force and was gone every other week in Europe, Germany in particular, and would always return with interesting European wines. Many of were quite dry and many of which were Pinots'.

This is a lovely Pinot from Argentina. Very drinkable, slightly tart taste at first that crossfades (there I go with video terms) into a soft, subtle, vulnerable berry flavor. Slight tannin flavor in the end with a subtle dryness in the finish. Lovely. Velvety. Delicious.

Pinot Evil - Pinot Noir @@ (2 corks)

Retails: $6.99 (Total Wine)

Pinot Noir has enjoyed a surge in popularity due in part to the movie Sideways where the lead character, played by Paul Giamatti, is a wine enthusiast who has a particular affection for pinot. I, for one, am a huge pinot noir fan and am always dazzled by the array of flavors pinot noir can contain.

I'm a sucker for good design and clever titles (clearly!) and frequently I am swayed to buy a wine with a pretty label. Aside from the fact that this bottle has a totally kickass name, and also includes the famous see no evil monkeys on the label, this is a relative harsh pinot noir to enjoy. Minimal scent masks an extremely dry tasting wine. The initial flavor is smooth, but the after taste comes on strong and abrupt leaving you with a throat so dry you'll be begging for water. There really isn't much complexity to the flavor of this wine, actually, sort of tastes like chemicals to be honest.

Final Word: If you love dry wines, this one's for you. For me personally, I'm not going to be able to manage more than a glass' worth. @@ (2 corks)

Rosa Bianca - Pinot Noir @@@@ (4 corks)

Retails : $7.99 (Total Wine)

From the moment you pick up this delightfully pea green bottle with the elegant white rose on the label, you know you're in for a classy glass that will bring a burst of surprise to your palette. Unlike many Pino Noirs in this same price range, this one hasn't a hint of dryness. Very smooth and almost velvety on the tongue, the Rosa Bianca Pinot Noir is an exceptionally good buy for its price point.

The fragrance is bold and full, the viscosity of the wine is fluid but not thin. The flavor contains elements of spice --perhaps cinnamon --- with a finish that has a hint of cherry. This is an extremely drinkable wine -- even my boyfriend who happens to be a die-hard Captain n' Coke guy found this to be a delightful find. I practically consumed the entire bottle in one sitting. The flavor does become drier as the bottle breathes so I would suggest drinking this one in one sitting to keep the fruitiness intact.

Final Word: Excellent and well worth the price. Four enthusiastic corks of approval! @ @ @ @

This is only a test

I'm almost embarassed to admit that this forray into the world of blogs is directly influenced by a New Years Resolution. I've resolved to find a creative outlet for all the musings, mindlessness, and mess inside this head of mine. Who knows if the resolution with stick, as seldom they do, but for the time being I'm ecstatic at the idea of creating a safe haven for all the jingling inside my skull. In case this should happen to be my final post -- I suppose I should leave you, internet world, with some thoughts--my one opportunity to express my words of infinite wisdom. (hardy har har)

• If it works it isn't work.
• The moment you stop caring what the world thinks of you, your life will improve by a substantial margin.
• Live as if each day was your last.
• Red wine, a hot bath, and essential oils calm the savage beast.
• Radiohead is the best band ever.
• You are imperfect and that's ok.
• There may be no more perfect food on the planet than pasta.
• A teaspoon of apple cidar vinegar in a glass of water cures the bloat like no other.

enjoy.