Bottles 2 & 3

2006 Chappellet Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
2004 Koehler Chardonnay Santa Ynez Valley

As I mentioned, I won most of my new wine stash in a raffle at my eldest daughter's preschool. The raffle was to be held during the very schmancy dinner dance fundraiser that I could not attend since it was planned for 4 days after my due date. So I bought 5 raffle tickets for the wine...and won. I felt it was only fair to share some of my loot with the parents who supplied the winnings. So I invited the moms from Penny's class over to our old (currently empty) house so we could be in a kid free space for a little wine, cheese and gossip.

3 women came. It was really nice to chat with them because it was some moms that I didn't know so well. Penny is a girly girl and asks for playdates with other girls and 2 of the moms who came have boys and the other mom has a daughter that, until very recently, only had class with Penny one day a week so they don't know each other very well either.

After covering the basics of where we were from, we chatted about the common ground that we share; the school, our kid's teachers, and the quirks of 3 and 4 year olds. Mom #1 was relieved to hear that her son was not the only kid who doesn't want to wear "bumpy" pants (pants with buttons). Mom #2 had the same issue with her son- he only wants "comfy pants". I have Penny who, since the age of 2 has REFUSED to wear pants- only dresses, preferable of the princess variety.

One topic that I found most interesting is learning about the "nanny mafia". I hadn't heard of this before. Apparently, there is a nanny that is pretty strict with whom she will do playdates with. She is quite tight with some of the other nannies and makes plans with them, but will not hang out with the parents. What!?! Exclusive nanny only playdates? Now I am one of the few moms at this school that does not have a nanny (at least part time). I frequently have playdates with nannies so Penny can play with her friends. I guess I don't mind because when I first graduated college I worked as a nanny (live in for 2 kids) and after that I worked through an agency to do on call babysitting. I never wanted to be considered "the help" (though I guess I technically was) so when presented with a playdate with a nanny, I have no problem with it. Why is it I picture the "nanny mafia" sitting in the back room of the local Baskin Robbins while their charges run amuck similar to Tony Soprano at the strip joint. And why, now that I know of this exclusive clique, I want to try to be the mom who enters the inner circle? Maybe if they like wine...

Speaking of:

I opened one bottle of Chardonnay and one bottle of Cabernet for the party (even though there were only 3, a few more people had RSVP'd and I wanted the option of a red or a white). I will admit- I just do not like Chardonnay. I know for many it is there white wine of choice, but I do not have a taste for it. Usually I find it to "oaky". This Koehler was not very "oaky" but just had an off taste- it hadn't turned -but it wasn't for me. I did taste tropical notes in it- and I think that is what I don't like- I don't like pineapple or papaya in my wine.

The Cabernet was good, but not great. It had a lot of berry flavors like many red wines. I liked it, but I think I would have been disappointed if I spent the $40 on it. But it worked well for a night to make a few new friends.