Wine Dude Online

In Light of some heated “debate” over a recent blog post and my looming 40th birthday on Wednesday, I decided to do a little soul searching. A little reflection if you will, about how I can tweak myself and hopefully be a better, more enjoyable person over the next 40. Here are 10 thoughts (in no particular order) which i will try and remember/follow.

1. Be grateful for what and who you have in your life. i.e. loving wife (love you), roof over your head and a job to go to every day (thank you).
2. Don’t take life too seriously. Slow down and enjoy life. You only get one ride on this roller coaster so make the most of it.
3. Stop living in our own little worlds. Be more conscious of others and how our actions may impact them.
4. Stop and think before we speak. Or write!
5. As my mother used to tell me growing up, it is not what you said but how you said it! I especially need to constantly remind myself of this one!
6. Strive to be better than I was yesterday. While no one is perfect, it doesn’t hurt to try and improve. Remember to use every experience as an opportunity to learn & grow
7. Learn to laugh more. Stop being so negative. say NO to pessimism and YES to optimism.
8. Realize that even though I may make all of the points that I’m trying to make, if presented (written or verbal) in the wrong manner it may have a completely different effect than was intended.
9. Everyone has an opinion to which they are entitled. However, we should all make our own decisions. Just because one person says that he/she didn’t like a movie, thought that was the best bottle of wine they’ve had or that was the worst restaurant they’ve ever eaten at, doesn’t mean you/I will have the same feelings or experiences. Go see that film, try that bottle of wine and take your spouse to dinner at that restaurant and make your own decision. Everyone’s tastes are different!
10. Lastly, if you don’t have anything nice to say, it is better to not say anything at all!

Thank you for listening. What would you change or add? Leave me a comment and let me know YOUR Thoughts

Last night truly was a treat.  My wife and I had dinner at BLTSteak located in Camelback Inn Resort and Spa.  Let me start by saying that if you are on a budget, this is not the place for you.  However, if you have the money to spend and are looking for a great dinner and drinks then this is a spot that you should visit.

The ambiance is upscale yet relaxing.  There is a patio seating area complete with gas fire pits so you can enjoy the cool desert evenings.  If you’re looking for something a bit more lively, try the happy hour menu at the bar inside while watching a game.  The happy hour runs from 5pm – 7pm nightly with $5 appetizers and drinks.

The wine list is more than sufficient and possibly a tad too large for the average person.  No worries though, BLT is staffed with a few sommeliers who are more than capable at helping you choose a wine to suit your tastes.  Seeing that we had a couple joining us, we decided not to deviate too far from our comfort zone and select the 2006 Girard Artistry.  Unfortunately we ordered the last bottle that they had, so we decide to stick with Girard and went with their 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon.  I enjoyed the Cab, just not as much as the Artistry.

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I was reading through some blogs recently and ran across one that caught my eye. It was talking about the 337 Cabernet Sauvignon and its “roots”. I had seen this wine on the shelves before but had yet to venture out enough to try it. It wasn’t that I had anything against it, I just didn’t know enough about it. So, when I stumbled across the blog I was curious to hear what they had to say. What is the significance of the “337”? No it doesn’t stand for the area code from Louisiana nor does it have anything to do with a family member’s birthday. It is actually named for the French vine clone 337 which hails from the Bordeaux region.

The 2007 337 Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi California has 14.5% ABV and has a nice dark color to it. I got aromas of mocha, licorice and black currants. The palate had touches of blackberry, currants and a peppery spice which all worked well together. This wasn’t a big bodied wine nor was it an overly complex wine. It had light tannins and too short of a finish for my liking.

The wife said “the finish and tannins are too soft, but still likes the wine”.

Would I buy/drink this wine again? The 337 is an average wine to me and at $13 – $15 isn’t a bad buy. It just doesn’t quite rate as my daily drinker.

I give this wine 2.5 out of 5 corks!