Wine-o: Ferrari Carano 2008 Chardonnay

Ferrari Carano 2008 Chardonnay, Sonoma County, CA
Alcohol: 13.9%


If the last Chardonnay I reviewed wasn't very buttery, this one definitely is!  It had a strong flavor I have found in several white wines that I've enjoyed and I think this can be attributed to the "soft toasty oak".  It is a very full and strong flavor, I did not find it subtle.  In a moment of laziness, I was also very happy to discover that the top is a screw cap top, an excellent choice for a party gift or camping.


This summer we are enjoying a 6 week vacation across the country before we relocate.  We enjoyed this wine in Aspen, CO.  It paired wonderfully with grilled salmon and zuchinni.

Vintage Notes from the Vineyard:

Grapes come from our vineyards in three growing regions in Sonoma County: Alexander Valley, Russian River Valley and Carneros. A year of fire and ice, we began 2008 battling heavy frost in April, fires in the summer, and heat in the early fall. Reduced yields but intensely flavored, well-balanced, ripe fruit was the happy result of a very challenging growing season. Harvest began mid-August and was completed the beginning of October — 2008 being one of the fastest harvests we can remember.

Price: ~$23
Freya Score: 78
Mona Value: 3.4

Beer Review: This Season's Blonde

The Aspen Brewing Company, This Season's Blonde
6.8% Alcohol

The Aspen Brewing Co. is a new Colorado brewery, but don't let that fool you into thinking they are unexperienced.  They produce a variety of beer that can be bought in liquor stores throughout the Roaring Fork valley and at their nice unassuming tasting room in downtown Aspen.

While we stayed in Aspen The BF checked out the tasting room and bought several six packs to enjoy on our adventures about the area.  He was very impressed by the tasting room, saying that while small, it was clearly a "locals spot" as it was not nearly as fancy as other bars and restaurants.

In addition to the Independence Pass IPA (such a clever name) and the Conundrum Red Ale, they have a variety of other including This Season's Blonde which was introduced in 2009 as a seasonal ale and kept on due to popularity (the graphic is way cool too, reminiscent of old time ski posters).  This Season's Blonde was a bit heartier than I usually like with a strong hoppy after taste.  I look forward to trying more of their beer!

This Season's Blonde

Cost (6-pack) $9.67
Freya Score 85
Mona Value 8.8

Herb Gardens

My grandmother has had beautiful gardens at all of her houses that I have visited.  Her project this summer is a potted herb garden.  When I arrived for our visit, I was informed within 24 hours that she needed to go to the Nursery to pick up Dill.  We went to Planted Earth, just outside of Aspen and she scoured the herb selection triumphant upon finding dill, and momentarily defeated to not find Tarragon (don't worry, they will call her when its in).

She has arranged her herbs in three large pots on the patio and in small earth plots under her trellis.  The patio is directly out of the kitchen, so as her plants mature it will be very easy for her to snip some fresh herbs to complete her dishes.

We planted Basil last year and harvested it several times.  Basil can be harvested down to only a couple inches above the ground, and should be harvested before it goes to bloom (the taste changes then).  We would put basil leaves in salad, on pizza, and make delicious pesto.  Who doesn't love fresh pesto all summer long?

Additionally, herbs are beautiful plants that do have gorgeous flowers.  As a thank you for her hospitality (and being awesome and being awesome with training puppy Mona) I gave Granma a blooming lavender plant.  While on her patio table now, she is already planning where she will plant it so that it can grow even more.