Today is Wine Blogging Wednesday!  For those of you who are new to WBW, it is one of my favorite times of the month because it means bloggers everywhere write a post around a common wine theme.  Over the years, I’ve participated in several WBWs (here, here, here, here, and here), and it’s always fun for me as both a blogger and a reader because not only learn about new wines, but also see the different ways wine bloggers approach the same theme.

This month, 1WineDude is hosting WBW #75—“Singles Night,” which means we’re all blogging about wines made from grapes that come from a single vineyard.  Joe explains that, for him, “One of the most special aspects of wine is that I can connect you with a particular time (a vintage) and a particular place on earth (a vineyard). Few other foodstuffs can offer such magic, so on March 21st we’re going to go big for numero 75 and celebrate both.”

With WBW in mind, Hubby and I hit the wine store on Saturday after finishing up a long, but productive, day of errands.  Since it was St. Patrick’s Day, as well as our “meetiversary” (we met 8 years ago on St. Patty’s Day), I decided I wanted a wine that not only felt a little special, but also hinted at the holiday itself.  When I saw the Celtic-themed label on the Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon, I knew I HAD to buy it. Everything about this wine and the WBW theme screamed celebration.

The 2008 Sineann Lazare Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (winery) was a deep, inky purplish-ruby.  On the nose, there were plums, cedar, blackberries, and blueberries.  In the mouth, there were plums, blueberries, blackberries, cedar, and hints of tobacco and anise.  The wine had a medium body, medium tannins, high acidity, and high alcohol.

While I didn’t realize it when I bought the bottle, the wine came with a glass cork.  This is actually the second bottle I’ve opened in the last couple of months that has switched to glass (the first is a Humanitas wine, which I will review in the next few weeks).  I’m very intrigued by the glass cork/stopper in wine, particularly as the two wines I’ve tried that used one were big reds that held up nicely over a couple of days once the glass cork was replaced.

Is this worth a glass after work? Definitely!  If you see this wine in the store, grab it; you won’t be disappointed.  At $40, this wine is a little expensive for an “everyday” wine, but since I wanted something a little more celebratory, it did the trick.  The alcohol was a little overpowering at first taste, but once the wine had a chance to breathe, it calmed down.  By my second night with this wine, the alcohol had toned down enough that it was a truly luscious, enjoyable, well-balanced red.

Admittedly, I’m not sure the “single vineyard-ness” of the wine spoke to me in particular, although the wine definitely did, in general.  It was wonderful to enjoy through the evening, particularly that second night, while also being the perfect accompaniment to Sweet Savory Life’s Asian-inspired steak marinade, which I found on Pintrest.

 ***Special thanks to 1WineDude for hosting!***

Question of the Day:  What are your thoughts on wines with a glass cork/stopper?  Have you ever have one?

Price: $40
Purchased at Arrowine
Overall: 3.5 Corks