Wine-ers!

Wine #2 of the evening was the palate cleanser for wine #1. It was a very pleasant cabernet sauvignon from Chile.  We had seen this bottle on offer at several places and I was happy to finally get to try it. It had a light tanin, some fruit, was not too sweet, and would go very well with steak (especially a less humble cut than we had on offer). This we enjoyed as the sun set over the ocean and tropical night descended.

 

It was exciting to get so many decent Chilean wines on this trip, since Regidia, our friend Nisie, and I are planning on a day or two in Santiago towards the beginning of February.  I’m sure we’ll get more “wine-ers on the road” blog posts then o_O

Regidia and I are exploring the many charms of Costa Rica, starting with the Arenal volcano (near La Fortuna), staying at the lovely Lost Iguana resort.  

The Lost Iguana resort room is gorgeous. It includes a stocked mini bar with alcohol for less than I could buy it at my corner store at home, local wines (well, Chilean), local beers (taste a lot like bud lite). The view of the volcano and surrounding jungle is eminently pleasant while sipping said libations. 

After checking in, Regidia and I went on a self guided tour of the premises. We walked over towards the hibiscus maze after procuring cheap sugar cane (the national liquor of Costa Rica!) mixed drinks at the hotel bar (2 for 1 happy hour). Then we (I) suggested that walking through large bug infested grass in flipflops and babydoll dresses (to cover our swimsuits) did not sound like the most fun we (I)’d ever had, and we resolved to return tomorrow with long jeans and sneakers.

We found the spa, checked out the gym and sauna (gorgeous, very reminiscent of Turkish baths, but with a jungle lodge flair), and then went to give the swim up pool bar a once over.  The larger pool was sadly unheated, and Regidia was only brave enough to paddle around for about 45 seconds, and I was only brave enough to laugh at her from the heated pool bar pool above.

We discussed dinner options, tentatively settling on the recommended local soup. Then I realized that the wine was $7/glass at the bar, and $18/bottle in our room. So we returned to our pretty balcony to sip Chilean cabernet sauvignon and admire the night sky. The stars are bright, but the constant flow of clouds obscures them — for some reason the volcano is highlighted in the sky even now, when it appears to be full dark (7:38pm). 

Iguana #1 inspects the vino: 

Service with a smile: 

The wine is very pleasant, dry, it needed to breathe a little, has a nice amount of tannin (I am not a big tannin person, but find the amount pleasant, oaky). It would be fantastic with most food.

Regidia: “I think it has a hint of blueberries.  So it feels healthy.” 

The back of the label is entirely in Spanish and I can’t figure out (in low light too) what year it is.