Tis the Season

Today did not start out with high expectations of the wine front. Dinner theater and good wine don't generally mix. What was outstanding was Sarah's performance! Bravo! Loud, stormy, applause! Lori and I ordered a mimosa considering it was brunch. Well, we almost didn't get it. The bartender couldn't get the bottle of bubbly open because of the darn plastic cork. At one point I spied him having wedged between his thighs. Sarah, of course, came to the rescue.

Somehow we managed to deny Lori her nap and ended up staying for a couple of bottles of wine and pizza - along with a Redskins win!

1. Shotfire Shiraz 2006 - at first whiff it reminded me of a St. Joseph because of the pepper in the nose. Lori rightly found it metallic in the mouth and it also seem alcoholic even the the bottle said 14.2%. It was a big wine but I don't know if it had enough fruit to carry it over the long term.

2. Armila Rosso Di Montalchino 2004 - An excellent wine that matched with pizza like a moped to an Italian family of four riding down the piazza. Earthy without barnyard. Dark fruit that didn't overwhelm. A wine perfect for any hearty Italian dish.

Pop Goes Christmas

Christmas 2007 was the first time we celebrated the season outside of New England in almost 40 years. Christmas Eve was at South Randolph and Christmas dinner was on South Hayes. What follows is a short wrap-up on the wines we had.

Christmas Eve:
Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs Sonoma County - The Wine Spectator gave this wine an 89. It clearly was not the favorite. It was almost sweet with the flavor of strawberry and appeared to be aimed at the Gen Y set. I don't know what they meant by fun and festive - a girls night out as Adelya put it so nicely.

Schramsberg Brut Blanc de Noirs North Coast 2004 - This definitely was more of food wine and won the evening hands down. A wine of finese, something not really found in the Carlson household.

Christmas Day:
Domiane Chandon Brut Napa-Sonoma Counties Etoile NV - This was the favorite of the two days. WS said Fuji and I say hints of Gala. I think I'm right. Aaron's two cents was pear and spice of the vanilla.

Christmas Dinner:
Trapiche Vina Carlos Gei Berr Malbec - WOW! Don't taste many malbecs like this. A layered fruit driven wine that may have overwhelmed the beef tenderloin if you can believe it. Clearly a wine that just needed to be sipped. Hints of cranberry that made me think of Christmas.

Paso De Piedra Malbec 2005 Reserva Malbec - This clearly suffered middle child syndrome. Coming after the Trapiche wasn't fair to this wine. A fine example of malbec and all agreed that it complemented the beef rather than the former. Still some left. I'll let you know what the second sip tastes like.

Illaparra 10 Year Old Tawny Barossa - This was a perfect match with the chocolate tart with gingersnap crust and crystallized ginger. Toffee and fruitcake flavors abound in a nicely framed portrait of an Aussie sticky.

Let it Snow Party

Thanks to all for attending and assisting me in drinking down some of the stock. While you didn't have to sing this year, it will happen next year. You have been warned! Below are the wines that were sampled. I'll offer comments on the wines I managed to taste but I'll need your assistance with the others.



1. Finca La Linda Extra Brut NV Argentina
2. Rodney Strong 2006 California Chardonnay
3. Kirkland Signature Bordeaux 2003 Pauillac
4. Teatown Cellars 2003 Napa Merlot
5. Angrove's Coonwarra 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
6. Nieto Senetiner 2004 Argentine Malbec Reserva (3 liters)
7. Von Strasser 2005 Diamond Mountain Cabernet
8. Von Strasser 2005 Marcellni Vineyard Cabernet Franc
9. Turley 2005 Lodi Dogtown Zinfandel
10. A. Rafanelli 2002 Dry Creek Zinfandel

The Malbec very much reminded me of Argentina and the many dinners of steak and Malbec. It was decanted and put back into the bottle about an hour before the party started per the sales rep.

The Von Strasser Cab Franc was surprising elegant and waltzed through my mouth. Probably the best Cab Franc I ever had which always found harsh and to veg ital. The Diamond Cab needs more time in the bottle and was tannic. While it wasn't harsh. I'm just glad that I'll be able to taste it again in the few years.

The Turley, well, it's a Turley. Everything I like and come to expect. Almost never disappointing. I did feel that the 2005 Duarte was a bit better.

And finally A. Rafanelli, was an excellent way to end the evening. Doing the dishes didn't seem so bad after that. It was a wine that was fruity without being a fruit bomb. Perfectly balanced like a high-wire artist.

Pinot-tickular (Ken Wright) - Summer Wine Series

Well, another successful event at Tony's Summer Wine Series. Here's my take on the evenings wines:

1. Belle Valley Grand Cuvee - very workmanlike - reminded me of the garage. Nothing spectacular but a good solid effort.
2. Ken Wright Carter - Almost Presidential bordering on regal. Too bad Jimmy Carter couldn't appreciate something like this. Candied fruit with cola notes.
3. Ken Wright Freedom Hill - Remember Bunker Hill! This wine charges up the hill. Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead.
4. Ken Wright Canary Hill - Rainforest like because it was so dense.
5. Ken Wright Guadalupe - It's no illegal immigrant. Smokie and meaty.
6. Ken Wright Nysa - As Neal Diamond sings "Sweet Caroline."
7. Ken Wright Shea - Kind of like the 62 Mets. Casey Stengal would be a little restless tonight.
8. Tyrus Evan Syrah - A teaser that doesn't follow through.

Now for the class notes. Who has been naughty or nice?

I did this side
It's easy to fix
Never do this
I'm going to spin this
I didn't by the stinky
You are in the right seat
A spoon?
Please bite into it!
You can smell our pits from miles away
Anyone Else?
I guess it will live here
I never saw it
I have trouble opening....
I was a little shocked but plenty of room
Ridged for comfort
Depends where the hitch is in your giddy up
I just put in all in my mouth
How much wood?
Where's the exercise?
It's not esthetically pleasing
Is it smooth on the bottom
It's really deep
I shame them into giving me
She won't eat it but has
to push it out
It's a goat
I'm already hot
I like goat
Do you have room for the goose and duck fat?
Don't spit it out.
I pour it
It's all muscle
It changes all the time
No on is in the mood
It's not fun struggling with one hand
Di the same thing Tony did
Don't flour the meat
She's just staring at it
Someone has to pour me into the car
I can't promise but I'll see what I can do
I'm going to get up and kick your ass
As least their's that
Its' a a girl scouts thing
All YOURS!
It could get ugly.
All closed up!
That's in wrong place!
I've given ti to her like three times
I've found the perfect note
I know nothing
I'll pull
Go sit in your seat
Then spread it...amazing!
I'm a lesbian trapped in a man's body
This is why pant's fall off
It worked for the blindfolded thing
We are coming in behind the big ass
I'm not touching him.
It's DUH for YOU
You weren't ready
I'm ready now
Almost Empty?
That's the deepest point I've made in a long time.
Wana a bite?
I'll be a couple of minutes
I get a little more
I'm a novice

Paradise by the Dashboard Light! "SLV"

Thankfully the Patriots won and I won't be doing shots tomorrow after bike class! This evening the Black Family provided the Stag's Leap Wine Cellars sister wine "S.L.V." While the FAY was immediately approachable this was a slow developing hurricane that became a Category IV a couple of hours after it was open and was devastatingly brilliant in it's finish. You could tell that the SLV and FAY were definitely related but SLV was in for the long haul even over dry land. With it we had two different lasagnas - a Neopolian and Bolognese. Ultimately, I had to cut Tom Black off and save him from himself. Finished with flambéed apples done by BAM. As a comparison wine we had a Kirkland Signature Shiraz from 2004. A great wine with a definite creamy milk chocolate edge and everyone declared as one of the truly great under $10 wines they had.