"Misery Loves Cabernet" (and so do I)

--> I have a weakness for funny, lighthearted women’s contemporary fiction. And if Cabernet is in the title, I’m definitely going to read it.

Which is exactly what I did when I discovered “Misery loves Cabernet,” a novel by Kim Gruenenfelder. I came across it on Amazon.com while I was doing a little research for the manuscript I’m currently working on (and specifically, what to call it).

As I embark on the sixth draft of my own novel, I have been thinking a lot about titles. Although “Misery loves Cabernet” is a quick and entertaining read, I don’t think the title is a clear representation of its content, characters, or plot. I was slightly disappointed that it didn’t have more wine references. The main character likes to drink wine, but the only bottles she mentions specifically are Clos du Val and Guenoc. And no one is wallowing in misery. This book might not really be about Cabernet, but I enjoyed reading it nonetheless.

Truth be told, I’d rather be drinking a really great Cabernet than reading about one…

The 2010 White Hart Central Coast Cabernet Sauvignon is one of my favorites right now. From a boutique producer in Paso Robles, this Cab is such a great value at only $23.50 a bottle (fpwm.com).

This juicy, ripe wine is dark and concentrated in the glass with mouthwatering aromas of cassis and blackberry pie. The palate is rich and round with chewy tannins, an abundance of dark berry flavors, and oaky undertones. The wine finishes with notes of sweet vanilla and wood spice. It is silky enough to sip casually on its own, perhaps while reading an amusing novel like “Misery loves Cabernet”, or enjoy it with an aged Gouda or hearty meat dish for the perfect pairing.

Picking up the pace with La Fenetre A Cote Pinot Noir

When I attended the 2012 Wine Bloggers Conference in Portland, I recall being surprised by the number of bloggers who had full-time jobs outside of the wine industry. I was impressed that, after working all day as a computer programmer or IT specialist or customer service rep, that they could go home, pop the cork on a bottle of wine, and then have the energy to blog about it.

Now that I have a full-time job and commute in and out of San Francisco five days a week, I have even more respect for those folks. When I get home at night, I pour myself a glass of wine and turn on the TV. It’s all downhill from there. I’m lucky if I manage to fire off a tweet about what’s in my glass.

But I've tasted some amazing wines so far this year, even if I haven't had the chance to write about them. I thought it was funny when one of my Twitter followers sent me a message saying he was glad to see me tweeting about wine again (as if I was abstaining from drinking wine, which I assure you, is not the case!).

I’m adding “blog once a week” to my list of New Year’s Resolutions. Effective immediately.  

One of the wines I've enjoyed recently is the 2010 La Fenetre A Côté North Coast Pinot Noir. I picked this bottle up from the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant, where it is only $22 retail. I was immediately impressed with its sophistication and depth of flavors. This wine is a great value!

The “A Côté” wines are designed for everyday enjoyment, and this Pinot is perfect for doing just that! It’s lush and fruit-forward with mouth-watering black cherry and dark plum flavors. Dark and concentrated in the glass, notes of cola, vanilla, and baking spice round out the mid-palate. The finish is redolent with dark berries and spice—and lasts until you take your next sip.

After posting this pic of the label to the Sip Swirl Savor Facebook Page, it was brought to my attention that this wine is produced by Josh Klapper, a USC alum like myself. (Go Trojans!)

Under the La Fenetre label, Josh also makes single-vineyard Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Noir with fruit sourced from prestigious Santa Barbara vineyards (like Bien Nacido, yum yum). He also makes a Spätlese Halbtrocken-style Riesling (low alcohol, off-dry) that is featured in this month’s Ferry Plaza WineMerchant Wine Club. If you like slightly sweet wines, you should definitely check it out. And I promise to keep you posted if I get the opportunity to taste any of Josh’s vineyard-designate wines, which I’m sure are amazing!

Please feel free to leave comments here or post them to my Facebook page. I’d love to hear your feedback and to know what’s in your glass these days!