Description on the bottle: Front: Altitude is essential in providing our vineyards with intense sunlight and cool temperatures. This perfect paradox allows us to craft a Malbec with a deep violet hue, smooth velvety texture and vibrant fruit aromas. Back: The velvety texture and deep flavor of the small juicy berries of the Malbec grapes are distinctively influenced by the environment in which they are grown. Our Uco Valley vineyards, high in the Andes foothills of Mendoza, enjoy the perfect combination of elements for growing this unique varietal. Intense sunlight, cool temperatures and dry conditions allow the fruit to slowly mature until handpicked for optimal flavor. The result is High Note's brilliant violet color accompanied by rich blackberry and black cherry aromas and tastes.
Sarah says: This is the best smelling wine I've ever experienced. Every time I tried to set my glass down, the delicious smell pulled me back in. I ended up drinking this wine super fast simply because it smelled so delicious. Don't get me wrong, the taste was pretty great too, but it was the smell that really won me over.
Overall rating: Thumbs mostly up!
Sarah says: So, wow, I've been distant. There are a couple things causing this.
1) It's audit time, the time of the year that I work crazy hours. I have a love/hate relationship with it. The former auditor in me enjoys the audit, because I understand it. I LOVE preparing the financial statements, it's my favorite task, and I only get to do it this time of year. It gives me purpose, my ho hum daily routine sometimes feels very meaningless, but not during audit time, during the audit I'm super important! BUT - it takes me away from my home. I work more, sleep less, am stressed and a little up tight towards everyone. I can't wait for it to be over.
2) I'm trying to be healthy. With a 5K coming up in 5 days, I need to be on my best behavior. Wine each night isn't the best strategy to improving your time (trust me, I've tried in the past and failed!). I have a goal to beat my previous personal record (which was in 2010, what in the world have I been doing the past few years?!). I'm pretty sure I can do it, but it will require a decent amount of effort.
3) My budget is a little tighter. Without getting into the gory details, all of our house drama over the past 2 years has caused our tax return to be much lower than we are used to. That entire impact was felt in my wine fund.... I'll be taking donations for awhile until we fully bounce back from that (reason #1083 not to buy a house!)
BUT - something happened that I just couldn't resist telling you about!! Something so awesome, that we just had to celebrate. Liam got student of the month!!!!
I mean, seriously, I'm just so freaking proud. This happened last week, I couldn't even find the words to write about it. Mostly, there is a giant smile, and tears... good tears.
1 year ago... Liam couldn't count past 12, he couldn't blend two letters together (ie. th, br, etc), he wouldn't make eye contact, he "escaped" to the bathroom 10+ times a day, he couldn't complete a task without 1-on-1 assistance. 1 year ago we were having a conversation about holding him back. We choose to push him forward. Today, he counts well into the 100's, is reading at his grade level, holds conversations, sits through class, and works independently. I give A LOT of credit to his 1st grade teacher, she has been so wonderful to Liam, and patient with us and we played with various treatment plans to find the right one for him. She just stays positive for him and lifts him up when he needs it. She is the best thing that could have happened to him. It was the reading specialist that nominated him (as a part of Liam's IEP he gets to meet with the reading specialist 3x a week), and she is the 2nd greatest person in his life. She appropriately encourages and challenges Liam. He started 1st grade at a "below Kindergarten" reading level, and now, they just bumped him up the final bump to be officially caught up, he's right where they want 1st graders to be 2 months before the end of the school year. Whoo to the freaking whoo!
I know he's not the only kid that deserves student of the month, I know loads of kids work their butts off, I'm not trying to discount any of the work that they did. But, Liam, has worked especially hard this year. He has pretty much had to learn 2 years worth of info in 1 year, since Kindergarten was pretty much a bust for him. That kid gives every single ounce of effort that he has in that little growing boy body of his. I get tired just watching him, I can almost hear his brain working watching him trying to figure out a math problem, or sounding out a word. It takes him about 2 - 3 times a longer to complete the same work that it takes others, but he doesn't give up. He constantly says "don't tell me!", he wants to figure it out. His patience and dedication to figuring it out is amazing, and inspiring, and awesome.
I hope his desire to learn stays with him. I hope he continues to have teachers that encourage him, and see the wonder that he is. I hope people don't get frustrated just it takes him longer. I hope that he continues to be rewarded for his effort and positive energy towards school.
Item two above, we left our house to get into a better school district. Even though that has been a struggle for us, I'm totally confident that we made the right decision for our kids education. Liam being nominated for Student of the Month has definitely my High Note of the year so far... what's yours?
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