Archives for July, 2006
Wild Bunch California Red, 2003 (C)
I’m drinking a small glass as a night cap. It was a whim purchase — I was picking up some dinner and didn’t plan on buying any wine, mostly because I was at Whole Paycheck and I’m not fond of their high markup but also because I’ve got a pretty decent supply at the house. Still, it caught my eye with it’s tattoo-inspired label — normally I’d be put off by such a design but the back label proclaimed it a zin/syrah/barbera blend. What the fuck, it was only 10 bucks.
I found out after opening it that it’s made by Montevina. I’ve enjoyed several of their wines. This one is not bad. A little lighter and thinner than I expected but it goes down easily and has a pleasant, albeit perplexing, finish. I wasn’t going to write a note tonight but the aftertase of this wine is beguiling. I can’t place it but it’s distinctive and familar. Maybe caramel? Nope. Carob? Not quite. It’s less noticeable with each subsequent sip so I guess I’ll put a cork in it and try again tomorrow.
I recommend it as a good, simple pizza/pasta wine. More robust than a chianti but still pretty basic.
Murdering Bastards, All of them
It’s hard writing about wine with all that’s going on in this country and abroad, especially the Middle East. It seems so trivial and decadent to talk about a beverage in so much detail, especially one that costs as much for a bottle as some people make in a week or a month. As I write this, I’m drinking a glass of wine, eating some rosemary sourdough bread and watching images of burning buildings and bombed neighborhoods on the teevee. I know that inside those buildings and inhabiting those neighborhoods are many people just like me who just happened to have been born into less fortunate circumstances than I. Some of them are now dead, maimed, displaced or heartbroken over the loss of loved ones. I don’t care about the politics of it all. I don’t accept that violence is a legitimate means of resolving conflict. I am especially appalled and disgusted when I hear claims of “they started it.” I become sick to my stomach and depressed when I allow myself to dwell on the horrors of our inhuman capabilities and how un-evolved our societies are.
But what am I to do? I send letters (well, emails and faxes, many of which were written by advocacy groups) to politicians and I vote. I have chosen a service career that, in some small way, helps foster a greater awareness and understanding of the plight of others and how we are all each others brothers, sisters and keepers. And I give money. Between my wife and I we give to many different organizations — sometimes it seems so many that it’s hard to keep track of. There are so many worthy causes, so many critical issues and so many crises in the world. It’s hard to keep up with it all.
One organization that I support is helpful in that it allows me to direct my contributions to a number of specific areas of concern. I make multiple donations to them on a regular basis and I am able to instruct them to steer my donation to whatever cause or incident is occupying my thoughts at the time. I have used them to send money to Darfur refugees, Pakistani earthquake victims, Katrina victims and, most recently, people in need who live in the war ravaged Middle East.
I’ve done a little research and determined that this is an efficient organization that minimizes adminstrative and organizational costs with the purpose of directing most of it’s aid directly to people in need.
Please give whatever you can, whether it’s to this company or another, whether it’s $1,000 or $5. Those of us who have the luxury of drinking fine wines (or even cheap ones) are lucky to find ourselves among the most privileged people on the planet. The least we can do is ease the suffering of a few of our fellow planetary citizens.
Birthday Party Wine Sampling
For Mz. OhSoMuch’s birthday we assembled about 30 odd folks, many of whom don’t drink much wine, for a tasting. Because it was a party and I was tasting as I was pouring I didn’t take any notes so I’ll just list the wines and add a few brief comments.
Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc, 2004
Four Vines Naked Chardonnay, 2005
Zenaida ZC White Estate Cuvee, NV (Non-Vintage)
Carina Cellars Viognier, 2005
Renard Rose, 2004
River’s Edge Barrel Select Pinot Noir, 2004
Mia’s Playground Zinfandel, 2004
Four Vines Old Vine Cuvee, 2003
Core Winery Blend 442, 2003
Twenty Rows Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004
There were a few unadventurous types among us who only wanted to drink one wine but most people tried several. The clear winner of the popularity contest surprised me, if only because most of the tasters described themselves as not knowing or drinking much wine, was the Carina Cellars Viognier. Most were impressed by the spicy nuttiness of the wine and several commented that it was unlike anything they had ever tried. Several people were mystified by the Naked Chardonnay, not having ever had one with no oak. The Emmolo SB won over at least two people who claimed not to like that varietal and I have to agree that is was a delicious, lemony, summer pleaser. The Renard Rose was too weird for this crowd — too dry and dark for a pink but too light and floral for a red. I enjoyed it. Of the reds the Mia’s Playground and Twenty Rows were the most requested second (and third) pours.
I’ve got a few of the whites left over so I may post some followup notes as I taste them in a more subdued environment. Overall, I think this was a fantastic sampling of wines with nothing served that I wouldn’t try again.
A Drunken Toast
(or breaking grapeful bread)
To Mz. OhSoMuch,
A Southerne Belle in
Cowboy boots and Boogie glitter
whose innocence is no match
for her intelligence
and whose dogmatism pales
in light of her oxymoronism.
She is, charmingly so,
a pragmatic idealist,
a recalcitrant elocutionist,
the most diplomatic of gadflies,
a princess, yet somehow,
a pauper.
Happy Birthday.
Jim Neal Chariot Wines (B+)
I hadn’t heard of Jim Neal’s Chariot wines when I discovered they were available locally and reasonably priced. I did a web search and found these blog entries:
Winecast: Jim Neal, Chariot, Diana 2002
Those posts convinced me to buy a few bottles of the 2004 Diana Red (B+) and the 2003 Sangiovese (B). I’m glad I did. They’re both great. The Sangiovese is light and a perfect match for pizza or almost any food. It’s like a pinot noir-ish chianti. The Diana is bolder and worked equally well as a pre-dinner aperitif, as an accompaniment to a rarely cooked t-bone and later as a dessert wine with a piece of spicy chili-laced chocolate. I’m not sure what the varietal breakdown is but it tastes like a hearty Rhone syrah blend. These are exceptional values. I think the Sangiovese retails for $12-14 and the Diana for $15-16.
Posting Again with Apologies
We’re back and under a new system. Still got some tweaking to the interface but I’m much happier with WordPress than I was with Blogger. Some very cool features of which I’ll write about when I figure them out.
I apologize to the commenters who’ve been unacknowledged (both of you) due to my recent bout of phobia.
Finishing up the Stormhoek Dinner Post
I am resurrected. Herewith the final thoughts on the Stormhoek dinner.
The Stormhoek Pinotage was the clear winner of the evening. Susie thought it tasted like vanilla and felt like chalk which might sound weird out of context but in this case reflects some oak and tannins, both of which are appreciated. Yours truly absolutely loved the oaky smoky black plum (meat not skin) chewiness. Mrs. Dink sufficed to simply say it was, “pleasing to the palette.” Ms. Oh So Much echoed with the words, ” I like it.” Mainer Chris was the harshest among us but the worst he could do was to say it a little syrupy. The Fink showed signs of needing to be cut off by loudly exclaiming “it tastes like musty pussy!” High praise, indeed, if you go in for that.
The organic Bon Cap 2003 included some braille on the back label and was aptly subtitled, “blind mans pinotage.” Let’s hope that doesn’t mean that this wine is so bad drinking it will make you go blind. I didn’t mind it much and would drink it again if nothing else was available. It had almost no personality but didn’t offend the senses. It gave Mainer Chris cotton-mouth — a sign of too powerful tannins. he and I both agreed that the first sip was the least pelasant but once the alcohol numbs the taste buds it was drinkable. Mrs. Dink liked it and said if the Stormhoek was vanilla then the Bon Cap must be chocolate. Amy’s tongue was confused - she said, “It hits the back of the tongue first then the top then the sides” but we think she gargled instead of sipped.
The meaning of my last two notes escapes me so I guess it’s time to wrap it up:
“Opolo” (speaker unknown)
“Erwin is the Mate of KoKo”, saith The Fink.
Fear and Loathing in Blogland
I’ve developed a bad case of computer phobia. Can’t. Bring. My. Self. To. Post.