Annabella

It has been a while since we've tried a new wine. It's been a few weeks since I've been able to update you with a new review, but this is simply because we've been enjoying more tried and true wines.

Wednesday night seemed like a good day for wine. It's been a very busy month at work, and I was in need of a little relaxing. I stopped by a small, locally owned wine store called Village Wine and Cigars, not too far from work. I don't shop here often because the selection isn't great, and they seemed more overpriced than some other wine stores in Richmond. However, they are located right next door to a Ukrops, and Ukrops was my dinner destination.

Rob and I have been enjoying Cab Sauv's a lot lately (if you've been reading this blog, you already know that). I went in and asked the guy working if he had any good Cab's in the $10-$12 range. He pointed me over to one that was on sale for $9.99 but alas, I was too late. Someone had bought the last bottle.

So he showed me this bottle of Annabella, which is a California Cab Sauv. It is made at the Michael Pozzan Winery in California. Sounded good. $16 and some change later (notice we did not stay within the $10-$12 range), I took my bottle home. He said to let the wine breath for about 30 minutes before enjoying it. He also recommended a "meaty" type dish to go with it.

Much to the dog's chagrin, the first thing I did when I got home was to open the bottle so the wine could breath. They just had to keep their legs crossed for just a few minutes longer. After doing the pet thing, changing clothes, etc., some time had passed (maybe not 1/2 hour), and I poured myself a glass.

At first taste, the wine seemed a little sharp to me. I heated up my dinner (which did not include a meaty dish, it was a veggie dish, but frankly, I have no trouble enjoying wine just on it's own, although I'm very interested in learning more about wine parings), and took another sip. the second sip was more mellow. In fact, the longer the glass sat, the better the wine became.

I was always skeptical of this whole wine "breathing" thing -- but maybe there's something to it.

Rob got home late and I asked if he wanted a glass of wine. He said no, it was too late, but he'd love a taste of mine. He REALLY liked it. So he did have about 1/2 glass himself.

I'm going to shop for this wine some more and see if I can find it less expensively. I was reading a review online where someone found it on sale for $9.99. Even if it's pretty much always sold for $15 or so dollars, I'd buy it again. It's worth a taste! But if I could consistently find it in the $10-$12 range, maybe it could become one of our staples ...