Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Toast to the new school year!
Toasting with a new bottle, my 2nd, of the Telmo Rodriguez Gago 2006 from Spain. Was hopeful I'd like it better the 2nd time but all I taste is alcohol(14.5%), it got a 92 from Wine Advocate & 90 Wine Spectator but I just don't taste what they do. How sad. On the other hand, the Spanish Flaco Tempranillo last night was an absolute delight, seemed more spicy to me than berry sweet as indicated on MadWine's note. So Spain is vindicated! (just wish I had bought 2 bottles of the latter instead of the former)
Friday, June 3, 2011
Rosé season is upon us!
Made my latest haul at EmpireWine.com. Got the Sabine Rosé recommended here by Leslie Sbrocco:
Leslie Sbrocco's Savvy Sipping: Summer Wine Stock Up
I've also had the Balbo Rosé and the Moscato, very delicious & refreshing for summer weather. Looking forward to seeing what Dr. Frank has to offer (Finger Lakes, you gotta love it!) and the Yalumba Sangiovese Rosé. But the Whispering Angel is by far the most exquisite, so delicate.
Here's the full accounting of my purchase, along with the Winery Notes that conveniently accompanied my online purchase:
* Bieler 'Sabine' Rose Cabernet/Grenache/Syrah 2010 - 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache 15% Cinsault 15% Cabernet sauvignon. There is the usual and wonderful underlying raspberry, bing cherry, and wild strawberry with a spicy minerality that keeps the fruit in check. The acidity is a bit brighter than the 09.
* Crios de Susana Balbo Rose of Malbec 2010 - A beautiful, deep, vibrant rosé color. Has a surprising amount of glycerin and body for a rosé wine, and beautiful aromas of ripe wild strawberries.
* Salmon Run Dr. Frank 'Rainbow Rose' - intensely fruity character and sweet palate, this is the wine for all occasions.
* Innocent Bystander 'Frizzante' Pink Moscato 2010 - Innocent Bystander's pale pink 375 ml. serve of Moscato is a refreshing sipper, offering delicious aromas of watermelon, red apples, and turkish delight.
* D'Esclans 'Whispering Angel' Rose 2010 - Look for ripe red fruits, with hints of minerals and flowers. This delicious bottle is a perfect, easy-quaffing wine for lunch, dinner or a delicious glass anywhere. ~ Winery Notes
* Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rose 2009 - has aromas of wild strawberries, lavender, sweet vanilla and a watermelon cocktail. ~Winery Notes
Leslie Sbrocco's Savvy Sipping: Summer Wine Stock Up
I've also had the Balbo Rosé and the Moscato, very delicious & refreshing for summer weather. Looking forward to seeing what Dr. Frank has to offer (Finger Lakes, you gotta love it!) and the Yalumba Sangiovese Rosé. But the Whispering Angel is by far the most exquisite, so delicate.
Here's the full accounting of my purchase, along with the Winery Notes that conveniently accompanied my online purchase:
* Bieler 'Sabine' Rose Cabernet/Grenache/Syrah 2010 - 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache 15% Cinsault 15% Cabernet sauvignon. There is the usual and wonderful underlying raspberry, bing cherry, and wild strawberry with a spicy minerality that keeps the fruit in check. The acidity is a bit brighter than the 09.
* Crios de Susana Balbo Rose of Malbec 2010 - A beautiful, deep, vibrant rosé color. Has a surprising amount of glycerin and body for a rosé wine, and beautiful aromas of ripe wild strawberries.
* Salmon Run Dr. Frank 'Rainbow Rose' - intensely fruity character and sweet palate, this is the wine for all occasions.
* Innocent Bystander 'Frizzante' Pink Moscato 2010 - Innocent Bystander's pale pink 375 ml. serve of Moscato is a refreshing sipper, offering delicious aromas of watermelon, red apples, and turkish delight.
* D'Esclans 'Whispering Angel' Rose 2010 - Look for ripe red fruits, with hints of minerals and flowers. This delicious bottle is a perfect, easy-quaffing wine for lunch, dinner or a delicious glass anywhere. ~ Winery Notes
* Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rose 2009 - has aromas of wild strawberries, lavender, sweet vanilla and a watermelon cocktail. ~Winery Notes
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Wine Tasting at the Elks
What a treat last night, attended an excellent wine tasting held at the Herkimer Elks Lodge in Herkimer, NY. Members Darren Toy & Cam Ricci presented a diverse sampling of wine from France, Chile, California, Argentina, Italy, and even a chocolate dessert wine from Holland, paired deliciously with fruit, cheese and chocolate. The Mirabeau White Bordeaux and Biagio Cabernet/Sangiovese were my two favorites, but the Villa Rossa Moscato was also spectacular, will definitely be buying that for hot summer nights.
Salut!
Salut!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Mad Wine!! (aka "House Wine" Followup)
Found a site online with some of Fred Tasker's recommendations for House (Tuesday Night) wine, inexpensive but good. I just bought the 2008 Oak Grove Reserve Cabernet and 2008 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Zinfandel here on Mad Wine:
http://www.madwine.com
Cheers!
http://www.madwine.com
Cheers!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Wine for Moms!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
House wine
Great column by Fred Tasker for the Miami Herald about finding an inexpensive, everyday wine. My (literally) Tuesday night wine this week has been a delicious cabernet from Argentina's Mendoza Valley (ha! they don't just make great malbecs there;) Tilia 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon for only $8.99, try it! Of course Mr. Tasker makes some recommendation here too:
Everybody needs a Tuesday night wine - Wine - MiamiHerald.com
Everybody needs a Tuesday night wine - Wine - MiamiHerald.com
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Malbec Roundup
Ok, I've tried several malbecs in the last 3 weeks. The Maipe 2009 Reserve from Mendoza Valley was my favorite hands down. The Salentein 2008 Killka and Kaiken 2008 Ultra Malbec both were humdrum, unremarkable, not robust enough. The Alamos 2008 was very good though, smooth & elegant. This week I tried a malbec from a different area of Argentina, Don David Malbec Reserve 2008 from the Calchaqui Valley. Definitely a different flavor and experience, more herbal notes. It was very highly rated (a 90 WE I believe) but I am rather lukewarm about it.
Wine.com had several new merlots under $20, so that's what's coming up next!
Wine.com had several new merlots under $20, so that's what's coming up next!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Some wine humor :D
Woman is sitting on the veranda with her husband.
She says, "I love you."
He asks, "Is that you or the wine talking?"
She replies, "It's me............. talking to the wine."
[from "Moms Who Need Wine"]
She says, "I love you."
He asks, "Is that you or the wine talking?"
She replies, "It's me............. talking to the wine."
[from "Moms Who Need Wine"]
Monday, March 28, 2011
Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2008
I waited til I finished this bottle tonight to make sure I gave a fair review. Pleasant wine, but compared to that robust Maipe Malbec (also from Mendoza, Argentina) I am underwhelmed. Not as fruity or memorable as the Maipe 2009 Reserve or even the Alamos Malbec Mendoza Seleccion 2008 (week before last). Tomorrow I'll be opening Salentein Killka Malbec 2008, here's hoping!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Maipe Malbec from Mendoza (Argentina)
The labels says intense & big fruity flavors, can't disagree at all. Very dry, full-bodied. Definitely some ripe blackberry notes there. I will be purchasing this one again! And under $20 is also a bonus.
Maipe Malbec at wine.com
Maipe Malbec at wine.com
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Reflections on the Summer's Culture
My poor neglected blog, hasn't seen me since spring. I blame it all on Facebook ;)
Anyway, seeing as the summer of 2009 is about to wrap up (*sob*), I thought it was a good time to look back on its cultural highlights:
The Reader - MOVIE
A Girl of the Limberlost - NOVEL (a favorite of my grandmother's, I recently learned!)
Herkimer 4th of July Fireworks at Wal-Mart - UPSTATE NY CULTURE :)
Philadelphia Orchestra - CLASSICAL MUSIC @ SPAC
Paul Taylor - MODERN DANCE @ SPAC
La Traviata - OPERA @ Glimmerglass
In several of these I was struck by some unexpected instances of kindness. Perhaps "unexpected" because so much of today's entertainment is brutal on a regular basis. How sad.
- In "The Reader," I was moved by the young boy's thoughtfulness toward his older lover (Kate Winslet), when the waitress on their "cycling holiday" thought she was his mother. He proved differently by kissing her passionately in public as they left, yay for him!
- At the Paul Taylor Dance show, one number featured a little "boy" sleeping and dreaming guided by a father-type figure. When the boy slipped on his pajamas and fell, the father tenderly picked him up and looked at him with such love to make sure he was not hurt. The boy limped in pain but the father-figure was there to comfort and help him.
- And lastly, at the fireworks, a REAL LIFE act of kindness. As night fell over the Wal-Mart parking lot I spied and was touched to see an ARC staff member hold the hand of a disabled older adult waiting for the show to begin. The staffer seemed completely content to keep his client/friend happy and didn't act like it was a "job" or a "duty."
How satisfying to have kindness so intertwined with my delightful summer experiences.
Anyway, seeing as the summer of 2009 is about to wrap up (*sob*), I thought it was a good time to look back on its cultural highlights:
The Reader - MOVIE
A Girl of the Limberlost - NOVEL (a favorite of my grandmother's, I recently learned!)
Herkimer 4th of July Fireworks at Wal-Mart - UPSTATE NY CULTURE :)
Philadelphia Orchestra - CLASSICAL MUSIC @ SPAC
Paul Taylor - MODERN DANCE @ SPAC
La Traviata - OPERA @ Glimmerglass
In several of these I was struck by some unexpected instances of kindness. Perhaps "unexpected" because so much of today's entertainment is brutal on a regular basis. How sad.
- In "The Reader," I was moved by the young boy's thoughtfulness toward his older lover (Kate Winslet), when the waitress on their "cycling holiday" thought she was his mother. He proved differently by kissing her passionately in public as they left, yay for him!
- At the Paul Taylor Dance show, one number featured a little "boy" sleeping and dreaming guided by a father-type figure. When the boy slipped on his pajamas and fell, the father tenderly picked him up and looked at him with such love to make sure he was not hurt. The boy limped in pain but the father-figure was there to comfort and help him.
- And lastly, at the fireworks, a REAL LIFE act of kindness. As night fell over the Wal-Mart parking lot I spied and was touched to see an ARC staff member hold the hand of a disabled older adult waiting for the show to begin. The staffer seemed completely content to keep his client/friend happy and didn't act like it was a "job" or a "duty."
How satisfying to have kindness so intertwined with my delightful summer experiences.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Two institutions done in by the economy
CloverPatch then Shriners. Both with fabulous staff members who work as an interdisciplinary team.
RIP.
RIP.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Brangelina & the Dalai Lama Visit Albany - at the same time!
Mayor Meets Angelina Jolie
Last updated: 6:53 p.m., Tuesday, May 5, 2009
It was a routine Saturday for Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings a number of events to attend, including a stop in North Albany.
Also, on his "to do" list was a visit to the set of "Salt," the movie starring Angelina Jolie that was finishing its last weekend of shooting on the highways near the Empire State Plaza.
"Who's in charge," Jennings asked one of the set guys as he arrived. The guy pointed and Jennings went over and introduced himself to the "boss," who said he was aware the mayor had reached out to director Phillip Noyce when the filming began.
"Is everything all right?" Jennings asked the boss, adding, "If it's not inconvenient, I'd like to welcome Angelina to the city."
Jolie walked over dressed in jeans, a cap covering her hair and a light-colored coat for the scene where she jumps off a truck shook Jennings' hand and told him she enjoyed her stay in Albany.
The city was chosen because of the three levels of highways near the Empire State Plaza meant to represent the nation's capital. On the set was a D.C. police car, Jennings said. "They looked at this and loved it," he said of the roads.
He knew the actress was staying the night and suggested, if she needed anything, to let him know. She said "Brad (Pitt) was coming over and they were going to take it easy, stay in the hotel room and watch the fight," referring to the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton light-welterweight championship from Las Vegas, Jennings said.
Jolie invited Jennings to stay for some of the shooting. He declined, saying he had other commitments. But, before he walked away, the mayor posed with the star for a photo on his cell phone.
------------------------------------------
Dalai Lama Tickets Available
By BRIAN ETTKIN, Staff writer
Last updated: 6:36 p.m., Tuesday, May 5, 2009
As of 4 p.m. today, about 300 tickets were available for the 14th Dalai Lama's public talk Wednesday at the Palace Theatre, marketing manager Sean Allen said.
Capacity at the 2,800-seat Palace will be about 2,600 for this event, Allen said.
That the Dalai Lama's first appearance in Albany hadn't sold out yet could be attributed to the unusual start time of 2 p.m.
Allen said he wouldn't be surprised if the event sells out.
The Dalai Lama, the winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, will speak on ''Compassionate Ethics in Difficult Times'' as a guest of event organizers the World Ethical Foundations Consortium.
Last updated: 6:53 p.m., Tuesday, May 5, 2009
It was a routine Saturday for Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings a number of events to attend, including a stop in North Albany.
Also, on his "to do" list was a visit to the set of "Salt," the movie starring Angelina Jolie that was finishing its last weekend of shooting on the highways near the Empire State Plaza.
"Who's in charge," Jennings asked one of the set guys as he arrived. The guy pointed and Jennings went over and introduced himself to the "boss," who said he was aware the mayor had reached out to director Phillip Noyce when the filming began.
"Is everything all right?" Jennings asked the boss, adding, "If it's not inconvenient, I'd like to welcome Angelina to the city."
Jolie walked over dressed in jeans, a cap covering her hair and a light-colored coat for the scene where she jumps off a truck shook Jennings' hand and told him she enjoyed her stay in Albany.
The city was chosen because of the three levels of highways near the Empire State Plaza meant to represent the nation's capital. On the set was a D.C. police car, Jennings said. "They looked at this and loved it," he said of the roads.
He knew the actress was staying the night and suggested, if she needed anything, to let him know. She said "Brad (Pitt) was coming over and they were going to take it easy, stay in the hotel room and watch the fight," referring to the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton light-welterweight championship from Las Vegas, Jennings said.
Jolie invited Jennings to stay for some of the shooting. He declined, saying he had other commitments. But, before he walked away, the mayor posed with the star for a photo on his cell phone.
------------------------------------------
Dalai Lama Tickets Available
By BRIAN ETTKIN, Staff writer
Last updated: 6:36 p.m., Tuesday, May 5, 2009
As of 4 p.m. today, about 300 tickets were available for the 14th Dalai Lama's public talk Wednesday at the Palace Theatre, marketing manager Sean Allen said.
Capacity at the 2,800-seat Palace will be about 2,600 for this event, Allen said.
That the Dalai Lama's first appearance in Albany hadn't sold out yet could be attributed to the unusual start time of 2 p.m.
Allen said he wouldn't be surprised if the event sells out.
The Dalai Lama, the winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, will speak on ''Compassionate Ethics in Difficult Times'' as a guest of event organizers the World Ethical Foundations Consortium.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
At the Convenience of the Undertaker?
This is a phrase I've often seen at the end of winter obituaries. "Interment/burial will be held at the convenience of the family." Sounds nice, pleasant, considerate of the grieving family members.
NOT!
It's seems like it's more at the convenience of the funeral home. My father-in-law's burial would have cost more if held on a weekend, and since business is brisk apparently, we had to quick book a date soon. Hmph. So 1:00 on a Friday right before Memorial Weekend. Real convenient.
NOT!
It's seems like it's more at the convenience of the funeral home. My father-in-law's burial would have cost more if held on a weekend, and since business is brisk apparently, we had to quick book a date soon. Hmph. So 1:00 on a Friday right before Memorial Weekend. Real convenient.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
ESAM Visit
The three of us (Alison slept in, of course) enjoyed an all-you-eat pancake breakfast at the Empire State Aerosciences Museum in Glenville this morning. We spent an hour touring the museum inside and out after our satisfying meal. It's a great place, next to the Schenectady Airport, $8 per adult and free for kids. Eric had a blast sitting in the Army Chopper!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Spring "Break"?
Let's hear it, all ye parents of school-age kids! Spring break is no break for us. Especially if your family is a two-income one like ours. It's quite a spectacle to behold, working parents juggling play-dates and sleepovers with other parents to make sure all those gaps when you can't be home yourself to play chaperone are filled.
And the sleepovers. Ouch. We agreed to let four of Alison's 12-yr-old friends sleep over Monday night. There was NO sleep for anyone (except her 3-yr-old brother who can sleep through anything apparently, I admit I was jealous of that ability).
And the sleepovers. Ouch. We agreed to let four of Alison's 12-yr-old friends sleep over Monday night. There was NO sleep for anyone (except her 3-yr-old brother who can sleep through anything apparently, I admit I was jealous of that ability).
"Spring is Exhausting"
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