Stay Rad

Seriously…

What #Day is it?

You follow enough wine folks on Twitter, and you’ll find yourself asking that exact question.

In the last year, I’ve found out about the following days through social media:

#CabernetDay

#ChardonnayDay

#AustralianWineDay

#PortDay

#NewZealandWineDay

And when there’s no particular wine to celebrate, there’s #WineWednesday (or #WW if you’re hip).

Bloggers (including yours truly) are quick to jump on these days, because it’s an easy source for ideas.

Wine drinkers (including yours truly) are quick to jump on these days, because it’s always nice to have an excuse to drink.

But now…

Now, it’s getting ridiculous.

Yesterday was #CaCabDay.

Today is #NationalDrinkWineDay.

It’s enough to drive this blogger mad.

But…

It still gave me an idea…

Yesterday, I had a wine flight at Bubble’s featuring (mostly) California Cabernet Sauvignons.

By posting it today, I’ve got all my bases covered.

Here’s the rundown…

The Cabbies at Bubbles

Miguel Torres Las Mulas Cabernet Sauvignon:

Okay… So this is not a California Cabernet.  Las Mulas is an organic winery in Chile.  The vintage was not listed on the menu, but I’m guessing this is a 2009.

Color: Look… Bubbles keeps the lights down low.  So I can’t give you an accurate description of the color.  I will say, however, that this was the lightest of the three wines.

Nose: Big and bright, ripe plums.  Strawberries.  Lavender.  Pretty.

Taste: This is a lighter styled Cabernet.  In some ways, this could be considered the antithesis of a California Cab.  This wine is driven by its acidity.  Lots of tart raspberry and cranberry fruit, with a touch of plum and bike tire.  Nice.

Score: The Anti-Cab gets an 87.

Educated Guess 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon:

On the menu, this wine was listed as “Roots Run Deep”.  In fact, that is the name of the winery where this Napa Cab is produced.  The only wine that they make is under the Educated Guess label.  I’m making an educated guess of my own in calling this a 2009, since that is their most recent vintage.

Color: Darker than the Las Mulas.

Nose: Blackberry and bacon.  Yup.  This is a smokey nose, and that is definitely bacon.  Yum.

Taste: This wine is jammy (in a good way).  Concentrated blackberries and cranberries give way to plum on the mid-palate.  The tannins are powdery and mouth-filling.  There is a lingering grapefruit acidity on this wine.

Score: What a treat this is.  Give it an 89+

Martin Ranch 2007 (I think) JD Hurley Cabernet Sauvignon:

Tucked away through miles and miles of redwoods on the western outskirts of Gilroy, is one of my favorite Santa Clara Valley / Santa Cruz Mountains wineries… Martin Ranch.  I’ve known of them for a while, but it was not until last year’s Santa Clara Valley Passport Weekend when I finally got a chance to visit the ranch.  The JD Hurley is their entry-level wine.

Color: Same as the Educated Guess.

Nose: Plum and red currant.

Taste: Tart red currant and cranberries give way to red plum fruit.  Good acidity, and powdery tannins.

Score: A good way to end the night.  89

You know…

The more I think about these different days, the more I continue to wonder…

Who comes up with these wine holidays?

I guess the simple answer is that WE do.

All of us.

We spread the word.

We participate.

We reflect.

We write about it.

So that gives me an idea…

Let’s create our own #WineDay!

Here are some days I’ve been thinking about:

#ScrewTopWineDay – Tweet about your favorite screw top wine.

#RadWineDay – Pull out the Raddest wine in your collection.  That one that you’ve been saving for a special occasion… And open that sucker.  Drink it, foo.

#LocalWineDay – Do a google search of local wineries.  Whichever one is the closest to your house is the winery that you must purchase a bottle from.

What do you think?

Leave a comment below with your favorite #WineDay idea.

We’ll pick one, and go for it.

What do you say?

Stay Rad,

Jeff