Whatever happened to good old fashioned work ethic. And, when did it become old fashioned anyway?

Back in my day, people just went to work, did their job then went home. We enjoyed ourselves after work and on our days off. Ah, the good life. Seems so uncomplicated. That’s why it was the simple life, I guess.

pause to reminisce…

*deep breath*

Okay.

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’m so busy all the time. There’s always something pressing that needs to be done and seemingly fewer and fewer people to get it all done. So, just as I’m about to have a Calgon-take-me-away moment, Larry says “wanna drink some wine on the Front Porch?”

Yes. Yes, I do.

Friends+Wine=fun!

I can’t believe I actually have to schedule time to just sit around with friends.

on the Front Porch.

to drink some wine 😉

But, that’s exactly what we did this week! This girl just wants to have fun WINE!

Here’s what we tasted:

Cheers!

Becky started us off, she got the aroma of tobacco. Larry tasted pear notes. Joe commented that it was grassy and smooth. Grassy like dew on the grass in the morning and not bitter or bright – just smooth. I thought it was crisp, it’d be nice to sit around the pool and drink this super chilled on a summer day.

3.9/5 stars from Vivino

Arvin said he’s not a chardonnay guy but I like this! It’s a good wine. Larry is a chardonnay guy, he thought it had a good nose and commented that it is really good. Russ usually gravitates to sweeter, fruity wines. But, he said he could drink this on normal basis. Becky found it to be a light easy sipping wine. I honestly didn’t expect much from this wine. I thought it was just a marketing scheme to put Martha on the label, lol. But, It really was a good wine. Joe agreed, he was surprised at this chard.

91 Points from WineEnthusiast:“It is excellent! This best Chard I’ve tasted in a while! Smooth fruitful and flavorful”

We’ve had other vintages of this Cab in the past and always enjoyed it. This one did not disappoint! Terry thought it had a nice bouquet. She found it smooth and on the dry side. Arvin said it had nice legs. Larry commented on how it made him fill warm inside (like Terry with her Jameson). Joe detected earthy notes. then the tennis match began:

Becky tasted dark fruits.

Joe: Yes – the darkest.

Currents, Becky decided.

Becky: Peppery on the finish, hint of tobacco

Joe: The mouth is full of tobacco

Joe: Licorice tannins, but not sweet

Becky: Jammy

Joe: It’s easy drinking for a cab. If it could be full bodied and easy at the same time – it is.

89 Points from CellarTracker: Ripe fruit, black currant, kinda not descriptive, but juicy and jammy and approachable. And with some back end structure on the mid palate

I was excited for this one! I had never heard of an ‘old vine’ Granacha, only ‘old vine’ Zin (which I love). Becky said she likes a granacha. Arvin found it sweet. Joe was worried when he saw the vintage – he thought it may be a little too aged- but when he tried it he said this was his favorite. Full bodied mouth feel. Very dry. Awesome legs. I agreed, it did not disappoint 🙂

Vivino: 90/100 For the price, this old vine Garnacha from Ignacio Marin is stellar. It’s a Spanish style Garnacha for sure with stewed strawberry, stewed cherry, pepper, and Mediterranean brush flavors. Full bodied in style with a pleasant mouthfeel and tannins that just slightly tug on the finish. It drinks like a wine that costs a helluva lot more.