Pure Bred

GRAPES: Zinfandel

VINTAGE: 2017

REGION: Lodi, California

ALCOHOL PERCENTAGE: 14.8%

PRICE: $7.99

Day 54626 of quarantine or at least it feels like it. As I begin to adjust to this new norm, the only things getting me through the “stay at home” order are long walks around the neighborhood (seriously though, I am exploring cul-de-sacs I’ve never seen before) and wine…lots of wine! We’ve all seen the meme, but my days are broken up into coffee time and wine time. Anyone else?

On this installment of TJ Tuesday, quarantine edition, I decided to visit a region that I was introduced to last year during the Music City Food and Wine Festival, Lodi, California. Located in the northern portion of California’s Central Valley, Lodi is known for producing excellent wines at affordable prices.

While I was loading up on wine during my last Trader Joe’s visit, I spotted Pure Bred at one of the endcaps. Not only did the region catch my eye, but I was intrigued by this “old vine Zinfandel” concept. Heck, as far as I know, I’ve only consumed “new vine Zinfandel” so I couldn’t wait to see what the difference was. For those of you like me who are curious as to the difference, old vine Zinfandel typically means that the vines are notably older and the general belief is that the older the vine the better the wine.

Let’s put it to the test, shall we?

TASTING NOTES:

  • Aromas of bold black fruit, specifically plum and notes of blackberry

  • Spicy, peppery notes in the back of the mouth

  • Jammy but smooth finish

  • Well-balanced

  • Falls on the sweeter side of the wine spectrum

Verdict: 

If you prefer a wine that’s slighter sweeter and fruit-forward, this is a wine for you. Could I tell a substantial difference between old vine and new vine? No, my palate is not that sophisticated but give me another month at home and some online wine classes and I may surprise you! Give it a whirl and let me know what you think!

Until Next Time!

Catherine Courtney

Welcome to Blonde Voyage Nashville!

I am so excited to finally see this dream become a reality.  Between the destination restaurants, the copious amount of food photos and insanely crazy travel stories, I have decided to share my journey. 

My name is Catherine Courtney and I am a Nashville native with a penchant for culinary creativity and epic travel adventures. I'll admit... I also have a slight obsession with handbags.

Two years ago, my life changed completely.  Everything that I knew to be was completely turned upside down.  I quickly realized that time is our greatest commodity and it's not to be taken for granted. I couldn't wait for the perfect time, who knew when that would be.  I needed to take the leap and explore the world on my own.  There were so many places I wanted to go, but where would I start. 

France was always one of those places that I had romanticized.  Wandering the streets of Paris and seeing the Eiffel tower were at the top of my list. Without hesitation, I booked a two week trip to the French Rivera and Paris.  It was a journey of a lifetime.  Not only were amazing friendships cultivated, but it was on that trip that i discovered that food and travel are the embers that that keep my soul on fire. 

It wasn't until I arrived back in Nashville with my passport that I realized I had been bit. Wanderlust had completely taken over.  I already started thinking about where I wanted to go next.  It was then that I decided that it was more important to have camera full of photos and a tattered journal full of stories than anything else. My heart was overflowing.

One of my favorite quotes that resonates is from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland:

"Actually, the best gift you could have given her was a lifetime of adventures...."

Join me as I explore near and far away places, filling my passport full of stamps and satiating my appetite with some of the most amazing cuisine the world has to offer. 

Thanks for reading! 

       

 

 

http://blondevoyagenashville.com
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