I've been getting requests from some friends regarding what wines I drink and what wines I would recommend. So, today I will be posting the wines that I just bought in the past two weeks.
Reds
Falesco Vitiano ($9.59) WS 90 pts
The '04 Falesco Vitiano is a wine with lovely balance and clean plum, berry and chocolate character; medium body and polished tannins; the perfect house wine if not for the Carchelo.
Fat Bastard Cabernet 2004 ($8.79)
Rigorous parcel selection from 20 year-old vines. Destemming and crushing on arrival at the winery. Maceration for 12 days to extract maximum flavours, followed by fermentation with temperature controlled at 25°C. The fermenting juice pumped over twice daily. Eight months spent on lees, with 4 to 6 months spent in French and American oak. A gorgeous dark red color with blackberry and red currant aromas. Smooth and rich in the glass; soft cedar, spice and vanilla bring this Cabernet to a dazzling finish. Come on people, they only make a cab in an exceptionally good cab year and this is the first one they've made in 7 years.
St. Francis Cabernet 2002 ($15.99)
All the grapes in this classic varietal come from five Sonoma County appellations: Sonoma Valley, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley, and Sonoma County. Hand-picked from mid- September through early November, the fully ripened clusters are then crushed into temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and fermented from eight to fifteen days. The wine is then aged in different lots for fourteen to sixteen months in American and French oak, and then blended. The result is a full-bodied Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon with rich mouthfeel, moderate tannins, and deep color accentuating the taste of black currant, plum, blueberry, and spicy oak. The long and short of this is St. Francis Cab drinks like a $50 cab at 1/3 that price.
Agapito Rico Carchello Monastrell 2005 ($8.79)
This is one of my favorite table reds because of price and because the nose has 15 stone fruits and then the wine explodes in your mouth titilating the palate with blackberry, raspberry, and the stone fruits.
The Gabrielle Collection of Wines Vertex, Just Red 2003 ($13.99)
This red is a proprietary blend of: Cabernet Sauvignon (Lake County), Syrah, Petite Syrah (Lodi), Cabernet Franc (Napa Valley), Merlot, Malbec (Sonoma County). The structure of Cabernet Sauvignon and the deep fruit of Syrah forms the foundation of this supple, lively wine that evolves in the glass. Its juicy aromas and flavors evoke chocolate covered cherries, cassis, and herbs. A fleshy texture delivers richness and presence on the palate. This wine drinks like a $30-40 red and at $13.99 per bottle a half case minimum purchase is required.
Whites
Hess Collection Chardonnay 2004 ($17.99)
Exhibits its signature of proprietary flavors and crisp acidity that originate from the vineyard plantings of a unique blend of seven rootstocks and nine hand selected types of musque chardonnay. This spice rack of chardonnay shows in the aromas of guava, pineapple and orange blossom. Rich and lush, the palate of flavors of pear and vanilla are balanced with nice acidity and evolve through the finish.
Hess Select Chardonnay 2005 ($8.79)
Classic tropical themes of ripe cut pineapple, guava, and lemon zest give the aroma a livley life toward a similiar fl avor profi le of ripe pear, peach, and pineapple on the palate.
Souverain Chardonnay 2005 ($13.99)
The Sonoma County Chardonnay is especially enticing with vibrant aromas of honeysuckle, pear, tropical fruit, citrus notes and toasted almonds. Luscious on the palate, the flavor profile boasts a creamy, round and rich mouthfeel surrounded by flavors of yellow stone fruit, kafir lime and succulent lychee. Flavors of crème brûlée and cinnamon spice on the mid-palate are accentuated by just a hint of smoke. The long, complex finish offers layers of honeycomb and spice as the lingering flavors of pear linger to the end.
Chateau Ste. Michelle Sauvignon Blanc ($7.99)
Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Chardonnay ($15.19) WS 90 pts
I love this wine, it's like a chardonnay lost in a fog cloud (my apologies for the gay description). The warmth of the Wahluke Slope consistently produces Chardonnays with an appealing tropical fruit character. The Indian Wells Chardonnay is no exception. The wine delivers pineapple and mango aromas with hints of vanilla, caramel and brown sugar spice. This is a luscious Chardonnay with a soft, supple finish.
Dry Dreek Chenin Blanc ($9.59)
Cline Viognier ($10.39)
Monday, September 11, 2006
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
I Won $300
Last Friday I was sitting on my porch with and Old Style in hand, just home from a hard morning in the research lab (taking it in the rear by misbehaving centrifuges), and a hard afternoon at The Still pouring our Eagle Rare 10 year, Single Barrel Bourbon. My neighbor Shane O'Mac comes wandering up to the steps and I ask,
"Shane, what do you have on tap this evening?"
"Eh, not much. Why?"
"Let's go to the casino..."
"When do you want to go?"
"As soon as possible."
"O.K., I'm in"
So, we are driving down 27th on our way to I-80 East, but first we must stop for gas. I see a station that is selling unleaded for $2.63 (which is a hell of deal), thus I pull in. As I am filling, a kind 40ish Latino man pulls up, bumping some merenge/mariachi music. He says to me,
"Hey, you going to the state fair?"
"No."
"Where are you from?"
"Illinois."
"Where are you going?"
"The casino, in Council Bluffs."
"Ooooooh, well may the saintos grant you luck and happiness."
(What the fuck?? Mexican Saintos blessings for the casino....is that fair??)
"Thanks....later"
We get to the new Binion's Horseshoe because we all want to be Binionaires and we walk in. I get sassed for my Illinois driver's license with my online renewal sticker on the back and have to tell them how old I am, which becomes a problem. Very rarely am I asked how old am I, even worse, everytime someone asks me my mind goes blank and I have to add it up in my head. Ask me my birthday, I rattle it off; Ask me how old I am, I'm like a lost duck. This guy meanwhile is waiting for me to add it up in my head, probably thinking I'm underage and have a fake ID, but I do finally get it right. However, the old guy is curious now and so he asks me my address. And I'm like 'oh, shit. Is it my home address in Decatur, my apartment address from sophore year in college, my apartment address from junior year in college, or my apartment address from MS?' So I go to old reliable, Decatur address and it works! I'm in the horseshoe.
Now Shane and I go to get our rewards cards, because we want comps and we want to be tracked. Turns out that the Horseshoe will reimburse us up to $500 in losses our first day at the casino, and if we play slots or a table game for 30 minutes we get free buffet.
Figure that the best bet for free buffet is penny slots. We sit down at two $0.02 slot machines and each put in $20. About 3 minutes in I'm up to $70 and I lean over and yell at Shane, "Hey man, I'm up $50." He leans over and says "Hey, I'm up....I don't know, but I have 15,000 credits" ($300) I yell over, "Cash out...wait, 15,000 credits....when did you hit that?" He says, "Third pull, I just was hitting buttons, I didn't know what they did." We end up playing slots so long that the buffet closes. On top of that, I'm only up $20 and Shane's only up $220.
But the real action that night was at the craps table. In the first 5 minutes I lost $70. Over the next 45 minutes I pulled down about $700. In the last 5 minutes I lost $200. I walked in with $200 in my pocket and out with $525. Now I have the funds to buy my Nintendo Wii.
"Shane, what do you have on tap this evening?"
"Eh, not much. Why?"
"Let's go to the casino..."
"When do you want to go?"
"As soon as possible."
"O.K., I'm in"
So, we are driving down 27th on our way to I-80 East, but first we must stop for gas. I see a station that is selling unleaded for $2.63 (which is a hell of deal), thus I pull in. As I am filling, a kind 40ish Latino man pulls up, bumping some merenge/mariachi music. He says to me,
"Hey, you going to the state fair?"
"No."
"Where are you from?"
"Illinois."
"Where are you going?"
"The casino, in Council Bluffs."
"Ooooooh, well may the saintos grant you luck and happiness."
(What the fuck?? Mexican Saintos blessings for the casino....is that fair??)
"Thanks....later"
We get to the new Binion's Horseshoe because we all want to be Binionaires and we walk in. I get sassed for my Illinois driver's license with my online renewal sticker on the back and have to tell them how old I am, which becomes a problem. Very rarely am I asked how old am I, even worse, everytime someone asks me my mind goes blank and I have to add it up in my head. Ask me my birthday, I rattle it off; Ask me how old I am, I'm like a lost duck. This guy meanwhile is waiting for me to add it up in my head, probably thinking I'm underage and have a fake ID, but I do finally get it right. However, the old guy is curious now and so he asks me my address. And I'm like 'oh, shit. Is it my home address in Decatur, my apartment address from sophore year in college, my apartment address from junior year in college, or my apartment address from MS?' So I go to old reliable, Decatur address and it works! I'm in the horseshoe.
Now Shane and I go to get our rewards cards, because we want comps and we want to be tracked. Turns out that the Horseshoe will reimburse us up to $500 in losses our first day at the casino, and if we play slots or a table game for 30 minutes we get free buffet.
Figure that the best bet for free buffet is penny slots. We sit down at two $0.02 slot machines and each put in $20. About 3 minutes in I'm up to $70 and I lean over and yell at Shane, "Hey man, I'm up $50." He leans over and says "Hey, I'm up....I don't know, but I have 15,000 credits" ($300) I yell over, "Cash out...wait, 15,000 credits....when did you hit that?" He says, "Third pull, I just was hitting buttons, I didn't know what they did." We end up playing slots so long that the buffet closes. On top of that, I'm only up $20 and Shane's only up $220.
But the real action that night was at the craps table. In the first 5 minutes I lost $70. Over the next 45 minutes I pulled down about $700. In the last 5 minutes I lost $200. I walked in with $200 in my pocket and out with $525. Now I have the funds to buy my Nintendo Wii.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Maynard Mourning Mayhem
This post is about a week late, but I just didn't have time to get it squeezed in last week. Last wednesday, the super trumpet of the world, the greatest lead player to ever step upon this earth passed from existence into nonexistence. I believe Maynard Ferguson had been teetering on the precipice of existence and nonexistence for quite some time, but old Gabriel got tired and asked The Fox to sit in on lead for a bit in that big band in the sky.
For those of you who know me, you know that I very much enjoy the madness of Maynard Fergusonn and that I have MF Horns 1, 2, 3, and 4/5 as well as the Blues Roar vinyls hanging on my wall in cherry condition only to be listened to a few times a year. The day Maynard passed, I got 3 phone calls, one from my sister, then my dad, and then my old roomie from UIUC, CTP. My dad told me that the albums I had hanging on my wall have just gone up in value (which I highly doubt). The biggest nut shot, though, is that CTP was supposed to go on tour with Maynard, whom just recorded an album over the summer, to promote the new album. In fact, CTP was scheduled to hit the roadin a week or so, but not now.... Sucks, so now he's on cruise ship.
I acknowledged the passing of MF by making a CD that I lovingly call M^3 or Maynard Mourning Mayhem. It is a collection of some of my favorite Maynard tracks both from CDs, vinyls, and boot legs of live recordings. As I listened to the CD with an Old Style in my hand, my neighbor Charlie came out of the building and heard the live cut of "Hey Jude" Maynard did in '73 for the Live at the Great American Music Festival album. He looked at me and says, "This is the version the Beatles should have recorded," and to that I say, "YOU ARE CORRECT, SIR!"
Furthermore I have been thinking about the times I did see Maynard live. The time he played with Bobby Shew at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival back in 1999 when it was Me, LP, and Maragener. The next time I saw Maynard was in Springfield, IL and he opened up the orchestra pit for swing dancing back when that was "the thing". That time I was in row 2, dead center and when MF went to do the hand shake thing during the greatest hits medley, I jumped of 30 people and stepped on feet and got dirty dirty looks, but I shook his hand. Then after that we waited for him by his bus. We say Alfonso Aldolfo Acosta (uber bad dude).
But, the time is no more....jazz can stop...the death of MF is like the death of an Era. They define the time period of Baroque music using Bach's birth and death (1685-1750). I think we should define the jazz era with the birth and death of MF.
Rest in Peace, Maynard.
For those of you who know me, you know that I very much enjoy the madness of Maynard Fergusonn and that I have MF Horns 1, 2, 3, and 4/5 as well as the Blues Roar vinyls hanging on my wall in cherry condition only to be listened to a few times a year. The day Maynard passed, I got 3 phone calls, one from my sister, then my dad, and then my old roomie from UIUC, CTP. My dad told me that the albums I had hanging on my wall have just gone up in value (which I highly doubt). The biggest nut shot, though, is that CTP was supposed to go on tour with Maynard, whom just recorded an album over the summer, to promote the new album. In fact, CTP was scheduled to hit the roadin a week or so, but not now.... Sucks, so now he's on cruise ship.
I acknowledged the passing of MF by making a CD that I lovingly call M^3 or Maynard Mourning Mayhem. It is a collection of some of my favorite Maynard tracks both from CDs, vinyls, and boot legs of live recordings. As I listened to the CD with an Old Style in my hand, my neighbor Charlie came out of the building and heard the live cut of "Hey Jude" Maynard did in '73 for the Live at the Great American Music Festival album. He looked at me and says, "This is the version the Beatles should have recorded," and to that I say, "YOU ARE CORRECT, SIR!"
Furthermore I have been thinking about the times I did see Maynard live. The time he played with Bobby Shew at the Elmhurst Jazz Festival back in 1999 when it was Me, LP, and Maragener. The next time I saw Maynard was in Springfield, IL and he opened up the orchestra pit for swing dancing back when that was "the thing". That time I was in row 2, dead center and when MF went to do the hand shake thing during the greatest hits medley, I jumped of 30 people and stepped on feet and got dirty dirty looks, but I shook his hand. Then after that we waited for him by his bus. We say Alfonso Aldolfo Acosta (uber bad dude).
But, the time is no more....jazz can stop...the death of MF is like the death of an Era. They define the time period of Baroque music using Bach's birth and death (1685-1750). I think we should define the jazz era with the birth and death of MF.
Rest in Peace, Maynard.
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