Let me explain. We already know that not every Rosé is like sex.  I mean, after all, White Zinfandel is a Rosé. I mean, technically speaking.  But really. Ew.

So it’s not summer, and unless you’ve been under a rock, you already know that Rosé is my favorite summer wine.  I’ve recently discovered that it’s pretty close to being my favorite winter wine.  Or, more accurately, Rosé is my “go to” winter wine.  You know, kinda like George Clooney is my “go to” fantasy.  Don’t tell the Wineaux Guy.

I opened up a bottle of 2010 Hug Cellars xoxo Central Coast Rosé wine last week (just for this review) and was blown away.  Unfortunately, I pretty much drank it all and didn’t pay attention to the details.  So I was forced – forced! – to open up another bottle, and this time I took the time to really enjoy the nuances of  this Rosé.  I reviewed last year’s offering of this wine and loved it then, but it’s grown up a bit with this vintage.

First of all, “Rosé” is a misnomer.  It is darker than pink, certainly a lot different from the Rosés of Provence that are a light salmony peachy color.  It almost looks like a Gamay or a light Pinot Noir in the glass.  This is definitely a grown-up’s pink wine, mostly because there’s not much actual “pink” involved.

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As we wind down this extremely busy, emotional, and sometimes wrenching year, I realized that despite all of that, I still need to take the time to write about wine.  And so I’m back!  And will be hanging around for quite some time.

Let’s just say that this year, with the deaths of a couple of young women in my life – one of whom was a member of the Vegas Wineaux Wine Club, a cancer diagnosis of a cherished relative, hospitalizations, retirements of valued coworkers, etc., has kept me rocked back on my heels.  Now that there is an eye of calm in the chaos, I needed to get back to writing about stuff.  As I write now, it is early on a Sunday evening, and I’m feeling relaxed.  This has been rare!

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I’d like to introduce you to a new member of the Vegas Wineaux blog family.  Now this blog is in no way related to wine, food, or even photographs of same, but it’s a part of my adventures, and I thought I’d share it.

As I’ve become older, I’ve noticed that body parts that used to be firm well, *aren’t* any more.  My waistline has done a disappearing act at the same time that my thighs have turned into those of the thunder variety.  My behind has its own zip code, and I could fly with the wings I’ve grown on my triceps.  This former jockette has deteriorated and was getting sick and tired of it.

I knew I wanted to do something to get fit, but my options have been few.  I gave up my membership at the health club because – at least in my estimation – standing in line to wait for a machine to be available is *not* exercise.  Trying to figure out what the weird substance is on the bench I’m getting ready to lay on to do bench presses is also out of my realm.  Two mornings of brisk power walking resulted in three mornings icing my bum knee.  I needed to do something, so I began to search for other options.

I finally decided on biking, but memories of the painful seats in the spinning class made me hesitate.  Then while driving to work one day I saw a man riding a recumbent bike down the street, and I went nuts.  It took a few months of investigation and research, but I’m now a recumbent triker.  That’s right. Triker. As in three wheels.  I’ve returned to my toddlerhood.

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I wrote a couple of weeks ago about how I won’t be tasting “new” wines any more and reviewing them; at least, I won’t be reviewing wines that aren’t ready for prime time.  The wines are good, but if it’s not ready to drink, how can anyone give a good judgment about the wine in its youth?

I had decided to drink a bottle of one of my “good,” relatively aged wines over the Labor Day weekend.  I found a 2004 Linne Calodo Outsider resting in my Haier wine cooler (the “I Can’t Believe I Spent That Much on Wine” cooler), and decided to enjoy it.

First, let me explain the concept of aging.  A really “good” wine from a classic wine area that’s known to improve with age can do so – up to 30 years, more for vintage Ports.  I’m going to be 60 my next birthday.  Do I want to spend a gazillion dollars for a wine that will be good enough to drink in ten or more years, possibly “peaking” in 25? Uh. No.

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Wine makes a great suntan lotion!

Or  it will, according to some of the latest reports about still yet another health benefit of wine.  I like reading reports about wine – particularly red wine – as it morphs from a nice drink with dinner to a health food.  And now – much to the joy of those who are sun worshippers – it’s also a sunscreen.  Of sorts.

Published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, scientists discovered that the flavonoids  in wine grapes have the ability to stop sun damage to the skin. Admittedly, the first reports from various bloggers and wine fans shouted everywhere, “Wine prevents sunburn! Drink more!”

Not exactly.

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