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February 3, 2012 Last night was the ECWS meeting and if I dare say, had a dashingly handsome, bright, clean, articulate, well dressed, captivating young guest speaker. No, it wasn’t President Obama (although I think he is a wine guy). Besides, we were doing South African wines and, you know, he wants to keep the American thing going until after November. It seem the presenter took the safe, dear I say "chicken shit" route to present the SA wines by selecting the most recognized, highly rated region of Stellenbosch. To curry favor with those who braved the non-French wine tasting and showed up, he claimed that the wines would be Bordeaux blends. So, yadda, yadda, yadda... he showed some slides to lessen his need to speak and lazily played a movie to let someone else do most of the work. Then it was tasting time. Flight 1
Hey, douchie-douch, you said Bordeaux blends. I ain’t seeing any Cabernet in my pinotage. Fool me once, shame on me. Though I did enjoy the Spier hands down to the Simonsig. I guess sometimes wood matters. Flight 2
They were ok, but nothing exciting here. Flight 3
A 2005 in the mix? I picked that one out just because it was slightly different than the other three but I couldn’t figure out why. I actually liked the lesser expensive Mill Race red over the Ernie Els at almost three times the cost. Flight 4
That sneaky bastard put a pinotage in next to one of the top reds from the area. My honest opinion, the Grangehurst wasn’t bad at all. Then I found out the Vergelegen was $150 and the Grangehurst was $28. It made me appreciate the Grangehurst five times as much. I do see the elegance of the Vergelegen and why it is always written up as a premier wine from this region. To wrap this up, what did I learn last night?
But most of all, I learned that I enjoyed researching these wines for the presentation and better yet, I appreciated those who attended. I drove home last night reflecting on the very kind words from everyone afterwards. The best comment was, “that was better than I thought it was going to be.” Thanks, mom. I just have to wait a month to see if I am still a member when the invites come out for the next tasting. If I get charged the guest price, I know where I stand. January 13, 2012 Thank God I am not a Knight of the Templar. Let’s just say Friday the 13th wasn’t very kind to them. Fortunately, I am a member of the ECWS. Last night, we enjoyed the presentation of Priorat wines by the lovely and talented ECWS member, Nuris. Though she is fighting tooth and nail to not be named a Wino Babe, I trust in time we might see her featured on the front page of this stupid web site. For now, I will honor her decline of being the upcoming WBOTM, but we can all dream. Priorat is a region I enjoy because of the styles of wines they produce. Their lush fruit, jammy texture and silky finish delight my palate. Note to wine society: it was nice having a fresh face of the female persuasion presenting. I have to say some of my tablemates paid much closer attention than normal. It also was clear that the presenter had professional training in the craft of wine education, making her style confidently relaxed. Unfortunately, I will be presenting next month and... well, let’s just say I hope to not have my membership revoked afterwards. I kinda like the society these days. On to the wine, face it, that’s what you are here for. Flight 1
For me, the Closa Batllet was the biggest and boldest of the three but these were not my favorites of the night. Flight 2
A step up from the first flight. The 2004 Merum Ardiles was tops in the flight and turned out to be one of my top three for the night. Flight 3
The final flight evaluation was tainted at our table. Many of us had a bottle of the Marco Abella that had an off nose. It smelled like a band-aid and didn’t evaluate well. My personal first choice was the Vall Llach followed by the Mas Doix Costers. It turns out that the room voted the number 8, 10 and 5 wines as the top three of the night. Last night, I concurred. Does that mean I have lost my individuality? Nah... Clearly the room is coming around to my way of thinking. Pray for me next week, the rabbit is entering the lion’s den. January 1, 2012 As tradition has it, it is my This year was quite different. The voters during this process had to show photo ID to prove they are who they say they are. The SEIU protested the voting change and it got really ugly. After several fracases and an overnight in jail, the whole process had to be scrapped leaving a truncated vote and an unhappy voting block. At this point I had little choice but to take things into my own hands, vigorously work out the “details”, nap, and then figure this whole thing out myself. With a compressed time-space continuum, I had to think quickly. My first thought was, who do I know that would have a great wine cellar that I can extract from? Of course, all the long-term friends at the ECWS. One problem there, nobody has extended an invitation to drink any of their wine... Damn it, Cartman! Fall back plan, what does Wino John have in his cellar? Brilliant! Without further ado, this year’s genius selection for the
2012 The Super Tuscan Yes, folks, this year we celebrate the highly praised Italian wines that break all the rules, kinda like Snookie. And the very first super Tuscan I enjoyed was a bottle of Sassicaia. Just to be clear, I went to the source and wanted to quote this definition of a super Tuscan. “Super Tuscans are an unofficial category of Tuscan wines, not recognized within the Italian wine classification system. The origin of Super Tuscans is rooted in the restrictive DOC practices of the Chianti zone prior to the 1990s. During this time, Chianti could be composed of no more than 70% Sangiovese and had to include at least 10% of one of the local white wine grapes. Producers who deviated from these regulations could not use the Chianti name on their wine labels and would be classified as vino da tavola- Italys' lowest wine designation. The Marchese Piero Antinori was one of the first to create a "Chianti-style" wine that ignored the DOC regulations, releasing a 1971 Sangiovese-Cabernet Sauvignon blend known as Tignanello in 1978.” Wikipedia, for what it’s worth. So here’s to ’12 and the rule-breakers from Tuscany who
dared to deviate from the norm. We will enjoy the toils of their labor and
their desire to craft world class wines. I say all Italians should have a
little something else in them as evidenced by Snookie’s behavior at the Jersey
Shore. I look forward to Wino John opening the doors to his wine cellar and
treating
Salute! December 29, 2011 We are rushing toward the end of 2011 and we decided to get in one more celebratory dinner. TOB (the other Bob), WJ and I made our way to the Gourmet Café to enjoy the new menu’s fare. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss with slight modifications, it was something similar to the original menu. Nonetheless, we found our food comfort zones and used it as background noise for the wine. The primary reason we got together was to sample the bottle of wine sent to us for review. Several weeks ago, I was contacted by Katie Hart of the Baddish Group asking if I would like to try a new sparkling wine. My immediate thought was this must be a joke of Wino John. So I replied that I would review a sample and several days later, a sample arrived. It turns out that we toasted last night's dinner with a bottle of Yellow Tail bubbles Sparkling White Wine. Katie described it as light, crisp and fruit-forward with notes of peach jam and lemon curd on the nose. But the hook for me was their innovative closure, the “zork,” a re-sealable cork, to keep the bubbly wine effervescent. I am glad it came with instructions because the first time you open the zork, you need four people. One must read the instructions, two must start to peel the ribboned plastic at the base of the zork (women I guarantee you will break a nail) and the forth person is there to cheer you on as to not give up.
I don’t know the price of this one but I found the bubbles to be consistently small and streaming, the nose was peachy but I wouldn’t say jammy with citrus notes and a crisp finish. All comments were positive that the wine was interesting and would be considered for further investigation. (That’s WinoStuff-speak for "hey, send over a larger sample so we can delve deeper".) As we moved on in wine, I was remiss in working the details. Wino John wanted to end the year with a beautifully crafted Chateauneuf du Pape. TOB wanted us to have a more sobered look at a wine he brought to our last fest. I must admit, I remember little of that night and we agreed we need a do-over. The fest night turned weird, not in a Sandusky way, there was no horseplay or anything, just a blurred mass consumption of food and wine that left a lasting headache. TOB’s wine was from Puglia. The Liveli Salice Salentino produced by Alfred Falvo. I neglected to read the bottle but I believe it was 100% negroamaro grapes and offered a distinct minty, herb nose and a lush dark fruit flavor on the palate. I brought along a 2000 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. I found the wine to be slightly over the hill. TOB commented on the finish being disappointing. I concur. I don’t know what else to say but Chef-owner Matt of GC keeps letting us come back to his establishment. He really shouldn’t. But I enjoy the comfort of the place, the friendship of the staff and the volume of amusement we always manage to have when dining there. To Matt, Danielle, Joe and Armando, Happy New Year! We will be seeing you a lot in 2012. December 26, 2011 I don’t know how he does it but for what has become the latest tradition, my younger brother provides gifts and entertainment for the crowd. We have given up on the standard 'get me this and I’ll get you that' and we know what we will exchange. For the past decade, he thoughtfully puts together bags with items specific to each family member’s likes and personality. For me this year, the two items below were standouts.
Yes folks, it’s 1950 white Bordeaux. As you can tell by the color, it’s most likely undrinkable, but I now am the proud owner of a 1950 unopened bottle of Bordeaux.
I know this is hard to read, but the front of the cigar box says, “Especially made for Ronald O. Perelman”. Yes, there are cigars in the box, they are dry but can be re-humidified. But why smoke such a valuable gift. Yes, the Ron Perelman (Google him if you don’t know the name). I hope you had as great a time as we did with a two and a half hour meal and a four-hour present exchange. I enjoyed the Albarino better than the Riesling. The fish was excellently prepared if I must say so myself. But most of all, it was a special night for the family. More to come, stay tuned… December 24, 2011 Merry Christmas. As you know by now, tradition dictates a simple meatless meal tonight. We will gather for the first time ever at our house, a table stretched for 12. I will have the delight of loading the fireplace with all the downed limbs from the October storm and we will exchange gifts and laughs and stories. We will toast tonight with a potato-based Polish vodka I have yet to try. The brand is Vesica. With dinner, I will have open a bottle of 2010 Burgans Albarino as it will be the base broth in my steamed clams. The other will be the 2008 Marcel Deiss Riesling. I am using it in the base broth for the poached salmon. Tonight is simple. Tomorrow, as the filet mignon roasts to medium rare perfection, red wine will flow like the swollen Passaic River. Enjoy the special time with friends and family and have a happy, safe celebration. Thank you for another great year. Your comments keep us wanting to get better each year. December 14, 2011 Hear ye, hear ye! Start spreading the news, diamond in the rough alert! Last night, I had dinner at a place not usually on my circuit. Based on the request of a business associate, we ate at Don Pepe in Pine Brook. Not knowing if I was paying or he was, I selected an inexpensive wine from their list. It was the 2008 (the book said 2005 but when they brought the 08 I didn’t send it back) Dow Vale do Bomfim Douro Reserva (Portugal). On the wine list at $27.00, I am guessing it’s a $9.99 retail wine. At that price, please sir, may I have another. The wine isn’t the biggest and boldest but it brought plum, black pepper, and tea. I found the wine to be balanced, good fruit and fit for my medium rare T-bone. What more can you ask for at a restaurant? I didn’t feel overcharged. I finished off the bottle and was happy with the stab in the dark. Besides, I wasn’t spending $160 for Silver Oak Alexander Valley. The only thing I would have enjoyed better was bringing my own. Hey, find this one. I trust you will like it. December 11, 2011 I understand the holiday season started weeks ago but Friday night was the official start of the season for me. The reason for the season you ask? We had the traditional holiday fest with the wino crew. Actually, it’s less of a crew and more of a shoebox full of Toys From Misfit Island. The usual subjects were present, 14 bottles of red wines, two white wines and champagne for the 6 of us. I do not have a cool modern cell phone so I didn’t take a picture of the line up (the wine line up not the guest line up). So I trust Wino John will insert one of the many pictures his 4G-uber camera took.
As it is two days later since I lost a day to recover (yes, I have officially become old and it took me all yesterday to right my ship), I do have several recollections. There was a 1997 Stag’s Leap Petite Sirah that was crazy good, a Chateau Beaucastel CdP that was killer and an Adam’s Ridge cabernet sauvignon I think at one point I tried to make love to. The other one I remember was a 2008 Quilcede Creek cabernet sauvignon. I remember that one, as it was one of my entries. Sorry, I should have stated this first. Mike put together a feast fit for Henry the VIII himself. It was game night and we ate the wild game of Passaic County. There was wild boar sausage, venison sausage, rabbit, venison loin, quail and pheasant. Each marinated or sauced with a bold companion flavor meant to highlight their uniqueness. An accompaniment of root veggies and acorn squash topped the plates and I did see some wild rice in morel mushrooms.
I was overwhelmed with food and wine. It was a crazy fun
night, a rough ride home in the morning and a must have midday nap. So it’s
official, Merry Christmas, the reason for the season. Here is wishing you and
yours what I have, an old truck with 150,000 miles, a dank third floor room, a
failed career and good wine friends that make those other things tolerable. Be
safe and remember, keep Christ in (Editor's note: Thanks again, Mike. I don't know why you continue to let us make fools of ourselves in your bar/restaurant/home. Unless this will all someday appear on Youtube... WJ) December 3, 2011 My personal jury is still out on pinot noir. Yes, last night we tasted 2008 Oregon pinot noirs and I still need to get more “in tune” with the subtleties of this grape. I will get right to it since I don’t have much else to say right now. I’m still learning. Flight 1
Frankly our table didn’t think much of these three. I think there was a slight lean towards the RR Ridgecrest. Flight 2
As this was blind, no one knew that number 6 was the Archery Summit. It was panned by our table. I thought it had a “cat urine” smell on the nose that I had to fight through to even taste it. For me, I enjoyed the Ken Wright as it had a clove and spice nose. The table went for the Lemelson in this flight. Flight 3
The two Ken Wrights had everyone’s attention. I enjoyed the Carter Vineyard while overwhelmingly the room went for the Canary Hill. All it means is I don’t know much about pinot but we all can’t be great at everything. Next month is the luscious, power reds of Priorat. I will have far more to say after that one. December 2, 2011 Praise be to Steve Jobs. It’s official, I no longer need the one hand-balancing act with a laptop. The IPAD is so much easier to hold and balance. This guy knew the pitfalls of holding a Macbook with one hand so he invented the AirMac, then the iPad, brilliant! The screen is large enough, comes with a plastic screen protector, very light weight, and two cameras. My love life thanks you. A quick dinner at GC the other night had WJ and me drinking an Italian Amarone. No, stop, it wasn’t a date, just two men having a quiet dinner together. Seriously, just dinner. I brought a South African that we started with. I wrote about it before so I will pass on it. The Amarone was the 2006 Le Salette Amorone della Valpolicella Classico La Marega. The wine went well with the food and offered wild cherry flavors with hints of leather and violets. We polished off both bottles and since there was a chocolate-chocolate brownie with chocolate, Wino John had a dessert, which lead me to have an espresso and sambuca. Right, that’s where the headache comes in, that damn sambuca. Oh yeah, and some 43. I have to remember not to do the sugar-laden after dinner drinks. The way to do that is bring another bottle of wine. Just my version of a three-dog night, I guess. On a side note, big menu change is coming today at Gourmet Café. I wonder what we have to look forward to next week?November 25, 2011 This year, I have many thanks to give. Besides the usual great family, health, freedom from oppression, the right to party, drunk friends, sound liver, a generator, and nano technology (not to be confused with Nana-Technology which is my grandmother using an iPhone), I also have to give a major thanks to the counter guy at Wallington Plumbing. In a simple expression of a throw away bit of advice, the dude came up big time and turned what I saw as a major plumbing bill back into a handyman project. What has two thumbs and now knows the key to changing a single handle leaking Delta shower facet? This guy! (I’m pointing my two thumbs at myself right now but it makes it difficult to type). The dude came up big with a plumber’s secret to make the change easier as it had me stumped for two weeks. The best part was he wasn’t the guy helping me. He overheard the conversation and offered a solution. I hope he had a great Thanksgiving because his simple advice made my week. Now to the nitty-gritty. In a need to keep up with the Jones' (those damn Jones'!), I made a late Wednesday stop at the Livingston Bottle King just to have a nouveau Beaujolais on the table yesterday. To my surprise, there was one brand, the festively-capsuled George Duboeuf. The wine poured out dark and impressive. But the taste was foxy and immature. And when I say foxy, I don’t mean in the Selma Hayek in the From Dusk Till Dawn foxy, I mean in the grape flavor of the uncomplex. I finished the glass and passed right to the dinner wine. For the main table, I cleansed the foxiness of the Georgie D out of my mouth with the 2006 Ridge East Bench Zinfandel. I found the bramble fruit to fit well with the rusticness of the turkey, corn, and multiple potatoes. The jammy wine was spicy with a slight sweet red fruit on the finish. With the array of flavors for the table, I was happy with the pairing. All in all, it was a great day of family, friends, food and wine. Thanks, ah, white man? November 19, 2011 It was one of those nights that I have to change the names to protect ..., well ..., all of us. So this is a substitute wine writer, Bino Wob. The others will remain nameless. Here’s how the night started, one nameless guest showed up with a rare bottle of wine.
Yes folks, the rare bottle of 1984 Beringer White Zinfandel. So what does a polite host do when a guest shows up with such an offering? If you were here last night, you would have seen it in person. OK, I will show you.
It’s a little hard to see but this picture shows the expansion of the distilling process. On the right, our tried and true. And on the left, the newest apparatus from a chem lab from an unnamed university. As with John Henry, we tested gas versus electric, or man versus the locomotive. Man won and promptly declared this the First Official Hooch-Off. I was impressed with team Y’s apparatus as seen here in the second distillation.
Truth be told, we enjoyed some nice wine with a wild turkey dinner. Yes, one of the nameless is a hunter and bagged us some vittles. The wild bird was not gamey as I first expected, but a delicious treat as we get ready for, oh yeah, Thanksgiving. Wines consumed with no injury:
Thanks to those I cannot name or identify for making the First Official Hooch-Off a spirited competition and an enjoyable night. Now get the hell out! November 17, 2011 Big thanks to Wino John for holding my sack. I don’t know if you have a friend that is nice enough to pick your sack up and hold it for you. WJ is just that kind of guy. It seems that I was so out of it at the end of our last dinner at Gourmet Café that I left my sack (my wine sack) at the restaurant. What else where you think…? Oh, no, not that sack, my wine-carrying sack. The evening always ends up with three empty bottles and a bunch of liqueur-fueled coffees. This time was no different, at least I thought so. Then I get home, pee in the bushes, trip over the dog and realize I am missing my sack. Fortunately, the good folks at GC already emailed me saying they would hold my sack until I stopped in to pick it up. It turns out that WJ left his sack there, too, and he picked up both our sacks the next day. (I just don’t tire of this one). I could go one endlessly about how WJ grabbed my sack and stuff, but I guess that would be overkill. (Editor's note: Remember who edits this idiotic rant, you sackless stick figure...) What started me that night was a bottle of 2088 Estele
Armando La Posta Bonarda from Argentina. (Editor's note:
Really? A 2088 Bonarda? You sackless sack of $#!+ !!!)
$ (15.99)
As I don’t have my notebook since I don’t have my sack, I don’t exactly know what the other two wines were. I do remember Wino John brought a Super Tuscan, which sparked a mad google search. Nothing like three nerds at a restaurant playing with their smart phones at the same time. This wine did not contain any sangiovese. It contained all non-Italian stuff, which had me question if it can be called a Super Tuscan. The sites we reached did not make it clear what the qualifications are that make it a Super Tuscan so we argued and both declared victory. The Other Bob brought an Amarone that was the perfect way to end the meal, until the Sambuca and espresso came out. Somewhere around there I lost track of my sack and when they asked us politely to leave, I was sackless and unaware. November 10, 2011 I struggled with a moral dilemma last night, wondering if I should write about this or not. As readers, you know I have pretty low moral standards so this must have been a real issue. Actually, I was going to write about it I just wasn’t sure if I should say where it happened. So here it is. I was out to dinner the other night and wanted to have a glass of wine. As usual, the red wine by the glass was limited and over priced, but what else does one expect when eating out. So I bit the bullet and ordered a Simi cabernet sauvignon at $12.00 a glass. No, that’s not the outrage yet. We were having fun and enjoying the conversation so I ordered a second. To my finely tuned palate, I knew the second glass was not the same wine. OK, it was red. So now I get to thinking, are they playing bait-and-switch with me? Could I have ordered the $12.00 wine and they then try and slide a cheaper one in and figure I am just some average Joe asshole not wine knowledgeable enough to know the difference? Do I have "SAP" stamped on my forehead? At first, I figured it was just human error so I said to the table that I was going to complain. As we didn’t yet get our food, everyone told me to not say anything because, well you know what they do to the food of complainers. Unfortunately, my human error angle lost out to the intentional devil on my shoulder and I summoned the waitress and let her know I knew and, therefore, they should know, don’t try to pull that shit with me. She was nice and apologized and brought back another wine. She said the bartender mistakenly picked up the Simi Merlot instead of the cabernet. I call bullshit twice. I will tell you this, the second was not a Simi Merlot and probably the third was a different cabernet but at least it was a cabernet so I quelled my ire. The dilemma I now have is do I name the restaurant or not? I do want to go there again and I don’t want all my dishes to end up tasting like sweaty man-ass as they flavor my entrée. Then I thought that if not put on notice, how many others might suffer this potential "mistake". If the restaurant knows they are being watched, they should be more careful. So really, I am doing this for them not just me. So, at the risk of my ginger ahi tuna tasting like man-ass, I experienced this “error” at McLoone’s in West Orange. I pray that it truly was an honest mistake, as I like the vibe of this place. I float this out there to see if something similar has happened to you. As for McLoone’s, I will be sitting in the bar area the next time I eat there to see if the new staff is really clueless or if they might be trying to take advantage of the patrons. There, I said it. McLoone’s. See something, say something. It’s the only way the terrorists don’t win. (Editor's note: I'm never going to McLoone's with you... Don't even ask.) November 6, 2011 I had an interesting email sent to me today and it got me thinking. A reader asked me if we would put together a Wino Babe calendar. As you know, our wine makers are a bit reluctant, so the reader suggested a Wino Babe calendar from our readership base. So I am asking for our female readers to send us a sensual, sexy, hot picture of you with wine, a wine glass, a wine bottle, grapes, or in a wine cellar that you would like us to consider for publishing in a Wino Babe calendar. We know we have the sexiest readers out there so email us your photo and lets rock the wine world with the best Wino Babes in the world. Email winobob@winostuff.com. November 5, 2011 Did you know that Zweigelt, Blaufrankisch and St. Laurent are not the Pep Boys of Austria? That’s right, I said Austria. Till now, I only knew Freud, Mozart and Schwarzenegger hailing from that region. Admittedly, it was a palate-opening experience and I was glad to attend. The ECWS had a guest speaker this month, Christian Zechmeister. The Zechmeister (his real name) is the head of the Burgenland Wine Office. Through power point and wine glasses, I realized that I do have an oral fixation for a deep rich dark fruit, slightly tannic, silky finished beverage. Sorry, mom, after all these years I have to admit it. And that was no Freudian slip. I do fixate on well-crafted wine on my palate. I know it’s the low road but I couldn’t name one Mozart hit and except for Twins, I am not a big Arnold fan. I promised to be adult today so I am exiting the Freudian joke book and heading to the wine world of Burgenland, the land of Burgen or the Hapsburgs. The Master of the Zech (I am still trying to define what a zech is that he became the master of) started us off with a furmint. This is the grape used to make the famous Tokaji wines. This one was puttonyosless and simple in style, 2008 Heidi Schrock Furmint. Flight 1
Not my favorite flight of the night but I liked the Schwarz Rot in this flight. Flight 2
I hope I got the order correct, there was some confusion when the list was handed out. The Juris was one of my favorites of the night and had the Freudian qualities that gave me an oral fixation. Flight 3
Honestly, the Paul Achs did not compare to the other two. It was ascorbic and weak. I liked the dried fruit nose of the Erwin and the fruit and body of the Moric. Tough one to call. Flight 4
The cheese stands alone here, as it was so much older than the three previous Blaufrankisch wines. I think this one ended up being the wine of the night. I did not cast a vote for it. Flight 5
These were blends, if a wine-soaked memory serves me correctly. The first was a merlot, zweigelt, blaufrankisch blend and the second was a zweigelt, blaufrankisch, St. Laurent blend. I knew the Nettnaus had a non- Austrian grape but to me it was cabernet sauvignon. Not thinking that European merlot is more masculine than the California merlot. Be that as it may, I liked the Austrian blend and used my precious second vote of the night for it. I came, I drank, I learned with thanks to the Zechmeister, the Zechter, Zechman, the Zech-inator; Christian. And a special thanks to my tablemates, one of which I cannot name, as he is the Not-Wino. It was fun and entertaining and should have been captured on film. October 31, 2011 So here it is my second night without It was interesting last night; the quiet and the snap of
branches were all that I could hear. I managed to drive over to Wino Rockers to
October 30, 2011 A strange night indeed. No power, which means no porn on the Internet. I have three old hurricane lamps for just this occasion and for some odd reason, only one works properly. I am not sure if it’s the wick or the wick mechanism that is creating the problem. To top it off, I felt my way through the dark basement and brought up the second bottle of AVV syrah. Wow, what a losing streak I am on. So I type by the dim light of one lamp in hopes that the battery on the laptop holds. The night is hauntingly still except for the occasional crack of a branch and the ensuing contact with ground or house. I don’t believe I have seen it this bad in the 17 years I have lived in this town. My only saving grace is that I live near a school so they will have to clear the street tomorrow lest the next generation will be one day void of building a better tomorrow. Sorry, AVV, I am dealing with you tonight since I can't take another dark walk downstairs but I will tell you this, you were very little comfort on this stormy night. I am not looking forward to the cleanup in the morning. No, I can deal with the snow. It’s the crappy stomach from the AVV syrah. October 29, 2011 Check your calendars, folks, mine says October 29th. Mine also happens to be getting covered in snow. I promise no Al Gore jokes. Facts only this time; IT’S SNOWING!!!!!!!! Actually I wanted to post a quick note. Last night I was refused service at a restaurant. No, Matt didn’t throw me out of Gourmet Café. We were looking for a bite to eat so I suggested a new place that just opened. It’s not in my neck of the woods but it’s a new location for a place I have been to before. So we parked and walked into a mob. No, I know its Jersey but not that kind of mob. It was more like a packed house. I went to the hostess station and she told me she couldn’t seat me. It was 7:15 on a Friday night in a recession. She said it was over a three and a half hour wait for a table so she wouldn’t take my name. Three and a half hour wait begs the question, where the hell did all these people eat before this place opened? And it wasn’t a small place, this was a very nice looking place, but I really didn’t see much more than the bar area. Well, it looks like a winner and I am not sure if I will be getting in there very soon, but the newest addition to the McLoone restaurant empire in West Orange will be a huge success. I enjoy their Asbury Park location as a great spot to eat before a night at the Stone Pony. This one seems to beat a Saturday night in July in Asbury. I did sign up for my McLoone’s Premium card as they offer 50% off a bottle of wine Monday and Tuesday nights. Oh, did I mention it’s snowing? October 27, 2011 Hear ye, hear ye! New wine to report on, new wine to
report on! I will admit, when I ran out to pick up a bottle of wine for
dinner, I made an impulse buy. I was cruising around the store and saw a label
that caught my eye. This California zinfandel seemed OK, but it was the Monty
Pythonesque picture under the name Plunger Head that had me bring it to the
register. A 2009 Plunger Head Zinfandel seemed a fitting wine for us two
chowder heads. Wino John went more serious with a 2004 Tenuta Vitanza
Brunello di Montalcino.
When looking at the label I am waiting for a giant foot to come down and squash this guy. Or he will drop the sign and start hitting himself with bricks. The other interesting thing about this bottle is the closure. No corkscrew needed, it was a Zork. (www.zork.com.au) So the guy looks like a Monty Python ensemble character and they use a Zork, I’m sensing a subtext of British humor here. On a more serious note, the Tenuta Vitanza’s label boasts a crown and is 100% sangiovese. It is aged 3 Years in France tonneaux for 30% and 70% in large Slavonian barrels, with 6 months of bottle refinement. Wowzer! It also weighs in at $49.99. A sophisticated, refined wine. What the hell were we doing drinking something so classy? This was a wine that was made for a fine Italian meal. Fun night, we made it through one more time without getting banned despite WJ’s unruly behavior and inappropriate bothering of the other guests at the restaurant. Thanks, Matt. October 24, 2011 Is 50% good enough? Last night, I had a guest in town so we went to a local BYOB and I brought two bottles of red. I enjoyed one, but wasn’t as happy with the other. My guest was complimentary of both wines but the second bottle was better received by me, several people at the next table we were sharing with and the chef. The other people shared some of their homemade Bailey’s Irish Cream style liqueur so I felt obligated to reciprocate. Sparing the tedious details of dinner and the conversation that lead to the alcohol swap, I will say that the 2007 Alexander Valley Vineyards Syrah was less than I was expecting. I am a big AVV fan, especially their Cyrus, but the syrah was weak. I was hoping at $12.99 this would be a nice wine to keep on hand for casual nights. I will not be putting any more of this in the rack. The wine I did enjoy and so did several people at the next table we shared with is the 2006 Agua de Piedra Gran Reserva Malbec. Also coming in at $12.99, this wine showed nice plum and blackberry flavors with an earthy finish. A rugged red that goes well with hearty foods like grilled NY strip, I declare this one a find for the price. I will get more of this one to enjoy with a cigar or a steak, right now they cost about the same. October 16, 2011 When did Rutgers University hit the big time? I had a bit of a shock yesterday when attending the Rutgers – Navy football game. I have my daughter at Rutgers and a nephew at Navy so what better way to make a family event. When I went to get a ticket, a $55.00 price tag jumped to my credit card. How, when did this turn into pro football pricing? Either way, it was a perfect day, great weather and a nice family outing. I marvel at walking with my nephew and his roommate and having random people come up and ask to take a picture with them. It’s heart warming to see young people embracing men in uniform, well, chicks anyway. Best news, Rutgers won a close game, RU rah, rah. Which brings me to my second revelation of the weekend. Heading out to a Giants, game my buddy wanted some beer. When did a six pack turn into a ten dollar bill? Jesus, it must be a long time since I purchased beer. Say what you will about Mr. Moneypants Chablis drinker, beer is becoming an equal. The true shock was the cost of a beer at the stadium. $9.75 for a bottle of Bud Lite. That’s Chilean cabernet sauvignon pricing my friend. A plastic bottle with no cap at almost ten dollars. The game outcomes were the best, Rutgers beating Navy and the Giants squeaking past the Bills. It wasn’t a wine night but it was filled with fun and family and friends and sometimes that is all we need. The real point of this is that I need to drink wine, different wine that I can start writing about. Bud Lite is not going to make a post. It was more about the shock of college football tickets and bottled beer pricing. Sorry. I just wanted to get this off my chest. Now find me a liter of fruit of the vine. October 9, 2011 And the purpose of an Uber-PC that crashes from cruising porn is? Exactly. Say what you will about Mr. Job’s (God rest his soul) invention but it don’t crash even on a three day porn bender! (Or so I’ve heard...) Enough said. To the real news, Wino John came out from the high security mountainside bunker to join the people. No, he isn’t protesting the Wall Street. Sorry, can someone explain the message there? I saw a "stop the war" sign, a "bankers are Hitler" sign, an "I need a job sign" and a "Chris Mathews is the modern day Red Peters" sign. OK, I made the last one up, but I often do watch Chris to see what he is exercised about and if you ever heard a Red Peters’ song, you get the reference. Maybe a future entry will deal with Chris’ constantly changing message as he cold reads the teleprompter. To more important things... In breaking with his normal routine at this time of year of storing his nuts for a long cold winter, Wino John joined my ECWS colleagues and me for an evening of white Burgundy. White Burgundy holds two places in my wine education. The first being the embarrassment served up by the waiter at Cellars in the Sky and the second being the education WJ imparted on me in my formative years of wine drinking. This tasting looked at 2009 Mersaults. Props to Howard the presenter for bringing out the largest crowd for a white wine tasting at the society to my knowledge. We were graced with having Woody at our table. Footnote, Woody refused to allow me to dub him Wino Woody and who am I to go against his wishes? He’s worth like a 190 billion dollars and I am hoping to get an invite to his house to drink some really expensive wines from his cellar. Pathetically, he extended an invitation to WJ for a vertical tasting of Insignia of which I was not invited. What is that about? Flight 1
Like Snow White when sleeping with the dwarfs, the first one was impish and the third one was too much wood. That made the Tesson just right. Please, I know, it was the little mermaid not Snow White. Flight 2
I went Boyer over Pascal though I do like his law of fluid dynamics and I do agree there is an equal force exerted on other point, I just didn’t like his wine as much. Flight 3
For those playing at home are you getting it yet? Again, I sided with The Boyer and actually cast one of my two votes for the night for this one. Flight 4
This was simple. The number 9 wine was my top of the night. The 2003 was interesting but maderized. I am not saying that 2003 is not worth looking into if you can find it; I am saying this one was not worth looking into especially at 126 dollars a bottle. We continue an off the beaten path journey next month with Austrian reds. No, I did not misspell Australia. And no, I am not talking about Austrian reds in a political sense. I am talking wine. October 2, 2011 With a technical glitch on the server farm, things have been quiet in Winoville. Quick! Call Zynga, I now own the trademark on Winoville! Does anyone have a destemmer I can borrow? My vines need watering. Technically, I am not sure if that is pure. I know Zynga produced Farmville and people on Facebook are always asking me to give them farm tools or crap. Wino John, I say we contact Zynga and cash in on Winovile. (Winoville is a registered trademark of Wine Ventures LLC 2011). Just to be straight, it’s not like I have been drinking. It’s just that I haven’t been drinking anything different. I guess the down side of owning a case of certain wines is drinking the case in a short period of time. Two notes, when life hands you rotting, spoiled grapes, make wine. Last weekend we had a sober gathering for a sad event and by the end of the weekend, we were sitting around with bottles of wine and the wine essence kit playing “can you guess this scent.” The wines were Chateau La Chance, Epiphany and The Guilty, all stuff I have written about before. The kitchen table antics lightened the mood and softened the pain. Well not all the pain, little sleep and a lot of wine did offer a lingering headache. This weekend, I did something different; I stayed at a B&B in NJ. We received a gift of an overnight at a B&B in Lambertville, NJ. Nice place, an old 1820’s farm with modern amenities. On Friday night, we went into town and enjoyed a very nice dinner at the Inn at Lambertville Station. I enjoyed the venison special over a creamy risotto. The thing I enjoyed most was the manner in which one could order wine. A wide variety of the wine list offered a price per glass, a 375 carafe, a bottle and/or a take out case. I think this is a brilliant strategy. As I am a bottle-to-myself consumer, I backed down to the carafe, which gave me a bit more than two glasses at a slightly reduced price of the two glasses if ordered individually. With my venison, I ordered the 2009 Val de Vie “Barista” Pinotage. I enjoyed the dark cherry and plum with a finish of coffee. It mated well with the caramelized onion in red wine reduction for the hearty deer meat. This week, I have a wine tasting in the city and our first ECWS meeting. Looks like it will be a great week and I look forward to finding some new things to write about. The wine society tasting is white Burgundy, I trust it will be a fun night. September 23, 2011 Might I take a moment and give a shout out to Mama Wino John. For it was your nine months and the pangs of labor that birthed the now-famous Wino John, yet he takes accolades for being squeezed out like a cantaloupe. You did all the hard work and he is primping around like a peacock. Dude, the doctor wacked your bare little ass and you cried, now you expect the royal treatment. You throw a party and only me and Wino Rocker show up? It must not be the real party. Last night a small party of three ate and drank in celebration of an event several, nay, many decades ago. OK, we just wanted an excuse to drink wine and have dinner so we blamed it on WJ’s birthday. Matt, in usual fashion, served up a tasty dinner. I went with the pasta special. I was pleased. As for the wines we enjoyed, Wino Rocker offered a bottle from his recent winemaking endeavor. The Chateau Wino Rocker served as my dessert. We definitely drank out of order, but with the day I had, I started quaffing before WJ arrived. I brought a 2004 Finca El Puig. This wine was an inky Priorat blended of Grenache, cabernet sauvignon and syrah. Trust me, it stains your insides. Nice black fruit in the glass but the finish for me was a bit of a flaw. I paid $29.00 for the wine and I would definitely buy it again. Wino John treated us with a Phillipe Gimel Saint Jean du Barroux. At $25.00, this was a treat. The blend of syrah, Grenache, carnigane and cinsault worked well. Joe and Danielle surprised the old fart with a double chocolate truffle something or other with a candle and an off-key rendition of Happy Birthday. The other diners were underwhelmed and slightly annoyed. I did my best to sing obnoxiously out of tune resembling nails on a chalkboard. Fortunately for us, the dining room emptied fairly early allowing our drunken tomfoolery to not get us kicked out. On a sober side, tomorrow would have been my dad’s 77th birthday. Miss you, pops. September 13, 2011 I know it wasn’t the best of timing but Sunday night was the Essex County Wine Society's fall dinner. For me, it was my first time at Culinaire in Montclair. The dream of chef Ariane (part of the restaurant’s namesake) and partner/husband/pastry chef Michael Duarte took shape 18 years ago, when the two graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. It has since blossomed into a superbly received dinner spot, beloved by neighborhood gourmands and critics alike. From the cornmeal crusted oysters to the warm blueberry cobbler, only the freshest, top quality and often-rare ingredients are masterfully combined. The result is a sensory experience to be savored And yes, Chef Ariane was on Bravo’s Top Chef. The sparkling wine flowed as a variety of hors d'oeuvres made their way around the room. I have to say, when you wrap anything in bacon it’s great but dates in bacon really have become a WB fav. The mushroom and goat cheese tarts were delicious as well. Then it was time to sit and enjoy the ride. Round 1 Seared Cod with sautéed leeks and potatoes in lemon thyme beurre blanc. Paired with 2006 Christian Moreau Chablis Grand Cru Valmur. I could have stopped right there. The fish was cooked to a flaky, moist opaque texture and the sauce was suited well. The minerality of the wine cut the sauce and supported the fish. Round 2 Chicken Chasseur showing cremini mushrooms, tomato and white wine. Paired with 2007 Hospice de Beaune Volnay 1st Cru Santenots Cuvee Gauvain. The wine won here. I am not saying I didn’t like the food but the nose on the wine of violet, spice and dark cherry was heady. Round 3 Braised Short Ribs with goat cheese polenta, summer greens and crispy onions. Paired with 1999 Bodegas Alion Ribera del Duero. Like the first course, a balanced delight of food and wine with neither muscling up the other but rather a four-part harmony on the palate. The Closer Assorted Chocolate Truffles (Yes Wino John, I said chocolate truffles) paired with 1994 Graham Porto Vintage. Does anyone really need me to comment on how well port and chocolate go together? I didn’t think so. It was a great event. The food and wine really worked well. I was happy I had the opportunity to attend. Next up, October 6th’s event will feature wines of Meursault. That’s right, we will be drinking white. Any problem wit dat! September 12, 2011 What a night at Tree Tavern 2.0. On Saturday evening, we had Swine and Wine Part Deux. The Gods smiled upon us with a perfect evening. The humidity was low, the temperature was pleasant and the sky was clear. Frank and Auggie from Party Chef cooked up a hell of a meal. Fortunately for me, I got there early enough to catch a glimpse of the special basting process.
After seeing the Mojo Juice injected in that part of the pig, I ate from the other end. The Mojo kept the pig meat moist with a great vinegar/citrus flavor.
Look at that beautifully crisped skin. Frank was nice enough to save the cheek (head check, not ass cheek) for me to enjoy. The crowd arrived at 5:45 PM and the last one turned off the lights at 2:05 AM. The food seemed to be kept in never ending dishes. With this lovely swine were three bean salad, grilled veggies, corn on the cob and rice with beans. Trust me, no one left hungry. Of the stated time, the food actually went from 7 PM till 10:30. The rest of the time was consumed in deck shuffleboard and wine consuming. As the event was originally planned for August 27th, we poured out two Roses and one Red. The Roses were the Oriel Femme Fatale and the much sought after Morris County crack- Tuck Beckstoffer’s Hog Wash. The red was TaMas Double Trouble, a blend of cabernet sauvignon, barbera and petite sirah. The crowd of 50 generously complimented Mike on the new look to the outside bar and dining area. And if I am not mistaken, there were two standing ovations for the great job Frank and Auggie (don’t worry I looked "Auggie" up on the urban dictionary and there are no alternative definitions) did with the pig. (Although I think Frank might have been a little too attached to the pig if you know what I mean...) This was really a great night. There are about 40 pictures posted over at the meetup site if anyone is interested. 9-11-2011 This is what I posted 10 years ago.
As I drove on Route 280 East into Jersey City, just North of Newark Airport, my thoughts and prayers on this day are with the friends and families of those who lost their lives in this disaster. Unlike the clear day of last year, there is a haze over New York and the forever-altered Skyline is dotted with half-mast flags. Seeing the construction sites in Jersey City with touching signs, and tributes, one can only hope that our collective backbones will not go soft and let those responsible go unpunished. One year has tattered and frayed the fabric of our country, but it has not torn or divided it. We are a Great nation and no truer are the words that Abe Lincoln delivered at Gettysburg in a defining moment in our Country’s history then today. As the national media is dedicating their time memorializing this event, I felt compelled to publicly thank the iron workers, firemen, policemen, Emergency workers and the thousands of volunteers that went sleepless this year in their unselfish efforts to restore normalcy to our lives. I will always cherish the events I attended at the World Trade Center, the World Trade Center Club and The Windows of the World Wine School. Let us never forget those innocent 3,280 Americans who are our Aunts, Uncles, Mothers, Fathers, Brothers and Sisters. We are One Nation, indivisible…. 9-11-11 When was the last time you saw a flag flying from the antenna of a car or house? When was the last time you dropped by the local firehouse and thanked a fireman? When you see a solider in an airport coming back from a tour, do you say thank you? We woke up on 9-12-01 as a new nation, united, determined and purposeful. Where are we today? September 9, 2011 Just a quick, non-wine entry... This picture is dedicated to my great uncle Walter who told me one summer night while he smoked his White Owl cigar, “Son, you can tell a quality cigar by the size of the ash it can hold.”
I am liking the quality of this one. September 8, 2011 I guess the golf thing was enough fun for the three of us and Some Dude Named Rich to grab dinner last night. Fortunately for me (let’s face it, it’s all about me), Some Dude Named Rich (SDNR for short) showed up with a red wine. If he had arrived with a girly white wine, I would have had to ask him to leave and pay for our dinners as punishment. I need to make a disclaimer up front; I am fighting some kind of sinus deal that had all of the wines tasting like cherry phlegm. I brought a Gigondas which was medium-bodied and for me, didn’t have a lot of fruit. The others at the table said it wasn’t bad, just not lush. Since I am handicapped at the moment, I will let you know the wines we enjoyed but not really give them a full out review. I was a bit disappointed with my 2004 Chapelle St. Arnoux, which rocked a 14% alcohol and little fruit for me. We passed this one off and moved to TOB’s Italian wine. He contributed a 2004 Piccini Sasso Al Poggio Toscano. Even in my altered state, I found this wine jammier, with plum and raspberry. It was a good wine for the pasta. WJ unloaded a Big Ass Barossa. As I had chicken and shrimp in a demi glaze, this wine fit my needs. The 2008 John Duval Entity Shiraz was deep and dark, kind of like my camp counselor. For those who don’t remember, Mr. Duval spent formative time at Penfolds and some of his family’s fruit went into making Grange. A side note, the Duval family, besides growing grapes, ran a sheep stud farm in Australia. No doubt that is why WJ is familiar with him. I found blackberry, plum and spice in this one. Either the other two wines cleared my nasal passages or this was one powerful ass wine that fought through phlegm like a hot knife. Wowzer, this was one to enjoy. By the time we opened SDNR’s wine, all I could taste was a cherry cough drop that was from the 2008 Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon. I think we should have had the Entity last, it ruined me. I was fixated on the sheep stud farmer’s fruit. Anyway, it was a fun night with good food, lively conversation many laughs and a cornucopia of wine. I am looking forward to doing that again soon. To round out the evening, I brought a bottle of Amarula Cream Liqueur. This is made from the marula fruit of South Africa. It’s not true that elephants get drunk on this fruit but it is tasty and provides the elephant a good nutritional value. Goes great with coffee. August 30, 2011 For a personal reason, I ended up in Seaside Park yesterday afternoon. Yes, Seaside, bitches! One day after the storm of the century, as the century is 10 and a half years old we don’t have a large database. I know the media made it the storm of this administration. Good thing that Vineyard vacation was cut short and our Prez de-energized the eye of the storm and saved the oceans from rising. Actually, I was in Seaside and Barnegat, both showing signs of sand on some streets but I only saw one downed tree and the homes on the water were still standing. Fairfield is dealing with more devastation than what’s down here. No, I did not see the crew of Jersey Shore while in Seaside. The boardwalk and beaches were sparse. For the sake of the business people, I hope this week picks up. The meager volume of beach goers will not end the season well for those who make a living taking money from guilt-ridden parents as their crying, bratty kid forces them to spend hundreds of dollars for the latest stuffed toy. For me, I looked in the wine store window and cried until I bought myself a bottle. What can I say, I looked for a diamond in the rough and ended up with basic carbon. This wasn’t even a low-grade diamond, cloudy and unpolished. It just about made it to graphite. It would have been better leaving this in the ground and not placed in a bottle. So I took a chance and it fell flat. 2008 Roe Saint Andre Grand Vin Bordeaux
$ (6.75)
August 29, 2011 I don’t know how it happened but we ended up in a small piece of the area that still has power and few downed trees. Several miles away, the Avenue is crisscrossed with oaks and elms and the Passaic River has consumed much of the junction to Rt. 46 west. It will take several days to get the dampness out of the basement and to rake all the small twigs and branches but things are running. With dinner yesterday, I had a sample of a wine Mike located at a trade show. The wine isn’t yet available in the USA, they are currently searching for an importer. I went with the less expensive of the two reds as it wasn’t a day to celebrate, more like a day of quiet thanks. I am a bit reluctant to comment on the wine, as it will not be found here. For those outside the USA, the wine was 2009 Clos Pons Alges Costers del Segre. This blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Syrah, offered blackberry and black cherry flavors and a raisin, woody finish. At the right price this could be a very nice buy. More to come. August 28, 2011 I am sitting on the front porch with a cup of Paul Newman bold from my Keuric coffee maker and an A. Fuente Gran Reserve cigar celebrating the passing of Irene. I heard from all but Mike that they faired well. I hope Mike is OK. Barnegat still has power and no house flooding. I have about three inches of water in the low spots of the basement but that is minor. The trees are still standing and the power is on. It did take me until this morning to see the PPV movie ending as DirecTV sucks in bad rainstorms. I watched the same part of Win Win and kept cutting out for the last 8 minutes. Finally, I saw the Hollywood happily-ever-after finish, which was disappointing. Life is not happily ever after, so why heap bullshit on the audience. Many times, it doesn’t work out but as humans we adapt and make the best of it. With recent turn of events, I decided to go back to my rambling column and when wine is able to be included it will be. I backed off for a while but sometimes you need to go back to basics. You dance with the one that brought you to the prom, you damn the torpedoes. You buckle your chinstrap and put your nose to the grindstone. Bloomfield Ave must have flooding. With the unusually high volume of traffic right now, they must be diverting cars off the main road. The storm has taught me a few things.
Last night while on storm watch, I poured myself the
remains of the wine I opened Thursday evening. For a storm like this one, I
should have treated myself to a better companion. Just so it’s not a total
wasted entry, I was drinking the 2004 Bodegas
Ondarre Rioja Reserva $ (14.99)
OK, big Guy, (and I mean the real big guy not our big guy at WinoStuff), thanks for sparing us, friends and family, from what could have been some major shit. Over the next few days, I will be berming around the foundation to lessen the water intrusion. But most of all, I am going back to inane ramblings from the dark, dank third floor room. August 27, 2011 Editor's Bonus Update! Check out these pix of the newly renovated patio area of the TREE TAVERN. Damn, Mike, the place looks great!
August 27, 2011 Wow, the forecast looks bad so, basically, the internet will
be down. Without the internet, how can I Stay safe. Hopefully your power is OK and you had the chance to hunker down with some nice wine. August 26, 2011 I told you it was coming. Yes, the end of the world. Those Mayans knew what they were talking about. This week in New Jersey, we will have felt the rumbling of an earthquake followed by the battering of a hurricane. I swear to Christ, if locusts rise from the ground next Wednesday, we are f&%$’d. As the human clock nears the stroke of midnight and soon the earth regenerates for another hundred million years, I caught apocalypse fear. First, and very late in the game, I ran from store to store looking for a back-up generator to survive the pending power outages. OK, nothing left. Secondly, I hit the war-torn food store to stock up on the staples. Which leads me to the question... What wine goes with French toast? By the way, what do the French call French toast? French toast, you ask? Based on the areas of Stop and Shop that were empty, it seems like my town bought out the bread, milk and eggs, plus the bottled water. I never saw a food store picked clean like that. So after tomorrow, when the power is back and we are all OK, what the hell do you do with all the eggs, milk and bread? Make French toast of course. And what do I recommend you wash down that French toast with? I am saying a nice sparkling wine like Schramsberg 2001 Reserve. It has been described as having spiced aromas of gingerbread and brioche lends density and richness to the varied fruitful pears and peach. Brioche, bitches! What more do I need to say? So think of me over the next few days when you are wondering what to do with all that milk and eggs and bread.Hopefully, all will be safe and the storm will bounce eastwardly to lessen the damage to property and lives in the balance. Since it will be too nasty to drive, I will be drinking.PS: For the record, I did not wear the salmon pants with the man boobs shirt. They were two separate fashion occasions. Salmon pants are very fashion forward, my friend. (Editor's note: Dude, pictures don't lie...)August 7, 2011 As you well know, I am not an Italian wine expert. As most are meant to be enjoyed with food, I mostly drink wine alone, naked, just me and the bottle. And by naked, I mean without anything to enhance or accompany the flavors in the wine. Ok, I mean most of the time I am in my dark, dank third floor office with nothing on watching reruns of I Dream of Jeannie. If only a cute blonde genie lived in my empty CdP bottle my world would be complete. At dinner the other night, WJ brought a Brunello that I found drinkable without the necessity of food structure to balance the acidity and to coax out the deep-rooted flavors through interplay with…. (wine geek talk alert). This wine was able to stand-alone and for that I say “Lei mi ha toccato in un brutto posto”. This might actually be the best wine for a Thursday night as you watch Jersey Shore Italy. 2004 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino $$ For an Italian, I found this very approachable. The nose was black fruit and floral with blackberry, blueberry and a touch of minerality on the palate. A sexy, silky finish drew me in. August 6, 2011 I have no interest in repeating a week like this one. I have been lax in posting several wines that I had the past few weeks. I am not much in the mood for jokes so I’ll get right to the point. I have been ignoring the BLOTY, so last time we crashed Café Gourmet, I brought along a CdP... 2007 Domaine
du Pere Caboche Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Elisabeth Chambellan Vieilles Vignes
$$ (26.99)
|
I
enjoyed the Plunger Head and was surprised when the label stated 14.9 per cent
alcohol. The wine wasn’t hot like many of the zins. The plum and black fruit
was approachable with mushroom and spice. This one came in at $14.99 and is
worth the price of admission.
,
to rate my wines. The more icons, the better I liked it and would love
to share this bottle with some good food and my rat friends. WinoBob