Third Coast Wine

Third Coast Visits the other Two Coasts

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:13:00 +0000

I had a fantastic week of wine drinking last week. After a memorial service took me out to California for a weekend I found a day to steal off to Napa for Father's day and treated my dad to a full day of tasting. The week ended with a business trip to Washington DC, a city which I'm spending more time in and will start to share about here. Here is the week in wines.

Deerfield Ranch - This is a small producer in Sonoma County. Deerfield Ranch is out in Valley of The Moon across the road from Kenwood. They were in the middle of construction of a new driveway when we were there, but it was a minimal annoyance. The wine cave they just finished is beautiful and tasting amidst the barrels and artwork in the cave added to the ambiance. Oh, and then there were the wines. We tasted two sauvignon blancs side by side and they were both fantastic examples of a milder oak aged sauvignon blanc. We moved on to a Pinot Noir that was typical Russian River Pinot Noir. It didn't blow me away but at $33 its a much better deal than some other Russian River bottles. The final memorable bottle was a "super tuscan", the Super T Rex. This had a lot of complexity to it and was a nice end to our tasting.

Beaulieau Vineyards - Beaulieau is a Napa legend, and this was the first time I have visited the winery. It was less impressive than I expected, but at the same time it was obvious that the intent of the tasting room was to convey a sense of oppulence and luxury. Looking beyond that to the wines was the goal of our tasting and a trip to the reserve room helped us do just that. They were pouring a 1999, 1989, and 1979 Georges de Latour Private Reserve along with a 1994 that they happened to have open. The '79 was absolutely showing its age, but it was a beautiful bottle. The '89 I honestly don't remember very much about, and the '99 despite being 10 years old still seemed very youthful. I'm sure that will make for a great wine 10 to 20 years down the road.

Charles Krug - Up the road a little bit we found Charles Krug. This winery has been around for a very long time and has a strong history with the Mondavi family. The grounds of the estate were pretty uninspiring, we pulled into the parking lot and went into the tasting room without a lot of fanfare. The tasting room was much the same. I key in on these things and take it as a sign that a place like that is all about the wine. We had a very nice Zinfandel followed by what was certain to be a good batch of Cabernets down the road. There were other wines thrown in, including a chardonnay I think, but nothing else stood out as fantastic.

Cuvaison - This was an interesting find. I had never heard of the winery before but I'm always happy to take a chance on something out of the way. Cuvaison is over on the Silverado Trail tucked up on the mountain side of the road. Its a small place with what seems to be limited production. We tried a couple of their Chardonnays which were quite good. I'm always a fan of Chardonnay from the Carneros and personally think its the only place worth growing Chardonnay in the Napa Valley. Well Montelena, but its so far north its like its own little microclime in Napa. We also tried a smattering of other wines but nothing stood out until the final wine, a Cab, with more tannin than anything I had tasted all day, which is a lot considering the trip had already taken us to Krug and BV. I can't say if it will be that good in years to come, but it will certainly last for quite a while. Unfortunately what kept me from enjoying the visit as much as possible was the hard sell on the wine club. I know its a huge revenue stream for the smaller producers but it just drives me nuts.

Del Dotto - Del Dotto is a bit of a connundrum for me. I don't get really excited about their wines. Maybe its because you are tasting them in a 57 degree cave or maybe its because they just aren't that good, but I can't get behind them. With that disclaimer out of the way, this is absolutely the best tour in Napa. Its educational, its entertaining, and its luxurious. The tour guide trucks you all over the caves from barrel to barrel and theives out barrel samples from what seems like endless different combinations of oak barrels and varietals. The tour ended with pizza, meats, cake, port, and bread. It was fantastic. Of course it is also $50/person, but it made for a wonderful father's day gift.

Finally I had to get back on a plane and schlep myself across the country to DC. If you've never done that at 4:30PM pacific time to land at 12:30 ET and still have to get to your hotel I will tell you it is exhaustng. I woke up refreshed however and the following day was treated to dinner at Morton's. One of our party is related to the former manager and he pulled some strings to get us some extra special treatment. The night started with 2 free botles of Paradux, a fine wine made by Duckhorn. We continued thru the night ordering so many bottles I couldn't keep up, but they were all fantastic.

I'm looking back on my Napa trip fondly and looking forward to my upcomming trips to DC. Look for more as it happens. You may notice a several links to Snooth on the site. I've signed up as an affiliate to defray some hosting costs. Please visit the links if you have any interest in the wines I mention.

haut Brion Tasting

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Sat, 09 May 2009 18:59:00 +0000

This is a rare event to be sure, and one I wish I was going to be in town for. Binny's South Loop is doing a Haut Brion Tasting. From the looks of it the winemaker will be on hand, and 3 vintages of Haut Brion Blanc, Haut Brion, La Mission Haut Brion, and Laville Haut Brion will be poured. Stupid business trips.

Kona Grill and BYOW

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:12:00 +0000

My parents were in town last weekend. We made it out for dinner at the Kona Grill in Lincolnshire. This was the first time I've been to a Kona grill so I didn't know what to expect. I have to say though, that I was pleasantly surprised.

I ordered the Macadamia Nut Chicken, and it was absolutely fantastic. Perfectly cooked, but more importantly perfectly seasoned and with a sauce that really made me take note.

What was funny though was that for dinner we brought a bottle of Byron Pinot Noir. Which was a fine bottle I will get to in a minute. We put the bottle on the table and when the server came by asked if it could be opened. She was a young server, and the place is fairly new, but even with that I was entertained by the fact that she had no idea this could be done. She didn't say anything, but the look on her face betrayed her. She whisked away and a few minutes later she returned with some glasses and a comment. "The manager says corkage will be $20, and I have to make sure the wine isn't on our list. I didn't even know you could do this". We agreed and enjoyed our wine with dinner.

I think it is interesting. Wine is so popular when eating out, but people ignore the high markup of wine on the list. Now $20 is a pretty high corkage and makes this equation a little tough, but look at this real example. The most expensive bottle of wine on the list at Kona was a La Crema Pinot Noir. It retails for $17 and was on the list for $43. Our bottle of Byron was $22. We paid the same amount for a better bottle. Now imagine if we had purchased a $60 bottle at the store and brought it with us. That bottle would have cost us $150 at the restaurant, but runs us a mere $80. And it is a common occurrance to spend $80 on a bottle of mediocre wine at a restaurant, but rare to spend $60 on a dud at a liquor store. All in all its a much better deal and you get to drink something without all the pressure of the restaurant's wine list.

On to the bottle of Byron. My dad picked out the bottle largely on a whim. Byron's 2007 Pinot is a Santa Maria pinot. It had all the characteristics of what I think of as typical california pinot. Inviting fruity and mildly complex. For $22 I can't complain. Well actually if you know me, you know I could, but I won't. It was all in all a very good wine for the price and one I can easily recommend.

Bottle Shock

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:36:00 +0000

I'm sure most readers will never have heard of the movie Bottle Shock. It was a little known title released sometime last year. The film stars Bill Pullman, Alan Rickman, and Chris Pine. Its the story of Chateau Montelena, who longtime readers will know is one of my favorite wines.

I finally had the opportunity to see the movie a couple weeks ago. I can't say I was disappointed because my expectations were appropriately low, but it wasn't an exceptionally good movie. The cinematography was everything you would expect of a movie filmed in Napa. It featured the stunning landscape that would be hard to miss if you so much as took a flip mini to make a clip for you tube. The acting was passable, Bill Pullman put in a convincing performance as did Alan Rickman. Where the film fails is that it doesn't rise above the wine story to be more about life.

The highlight of the movie is probably the fact that it centers on one of the greatest wineries in Napa. It stirred me to go out and try to find a bottle of Montelena Chardonnay to share with my parents who were in town. Shockingly we couldn't find one at Binny's or Sams's.

If you are a big wine fan I suggest checking the movie out, but if you are looking for a good movie that stands on its own look elsewhere.

A Wine Gifting Guide for Chicago’s Busy Socialite

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:16:00 +0000

I'm always looking for new ways to provide interesting wine ideas to my readers, so when Fleming's Executive Chef Patrick Quackenbush approached me about doing a wine list for the Holiday's I was thrilled.

Patrick Quakenbush, amicably referred to as Chef Quak, was born in Sycamore, IL to an Air Force family, spending his first 10 years in Wiesbaden, West Germany. His European travels exposed him to exotic foods at a young age, which shaped his love of food. Quakenbush returned to the U.S. and studied Restaurant Management at Ohio State University, while simultaneously working at Dalt’s American Grill.

After graduation, Quakenbush moved to Orlando, where he became a Sous Chef at Planet Hollywood of Walt Disney World. For four years, he prepared meals for 6,000 people per day and earned Chef of the Quarter 4 times with a Silver Star. He went on to open sister restaurants in Las Vegas and Melbourne, Australia.

Quakenbush followed his General Manager’s lead and left Planet Hollywood for a position at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville at Universal Studios Florida. He opened another Margaritaville in Ochoa Rios, Jamaica, earning Manager of the Year along the way. He then joined NBA City, a sister company to Hard Rock, as an Executive Chef at Universal Studios.

In an eclectic city like Chicago, dinner party menus are vast and varied, making it difficult to pick the perfect wine for everyone on your list.

These are few of my favorite wines sure to please any palate:

* Joel Gott, Napa Valley Chardonnay ($15) – Chardonnay is popular among both wine enthusiasts and casual drinkers, and therefore, always a good choice. Joel Gott uses stainless steel tanks for fermentation, preserving the natural pear, stone fruit and mineral characteristics created by the cool climates of the southern Napa Valley vineyards. As a result, this wine has a fresh acidity and clean finish, making it a great pairing for a variety of food.

* Niebaum-Coppola Sophia Blanc de Blancs ($20) – This distinct blend of Pinot Blanc (70 percent), Sauvignon Blanc (20 percent) and Muscat Cannelli (ten percent) produces a floral sweetness that appeals to a broad range of tastes. Wrapped in cellophane, Sophia is a perfect ready-to-go gift that displays playful sophistication.

* 2003 Qupe Syrah Central Coast ($20) – This wine also pairs with a multitude of foods. The 2003 vintage has a bit more body than previous years, but still releases a forefront of fruit and aromas of hardspice, black pepper, berries and hints of lavender and licorice.

* A to Z, Wineworks Oregon Pinot Noir ($20) – The name comes from its blending – the grapes could be sourced from any Oregon winery, from A to Z. Blended from at least 16 different Oregon vineyards, this wine is light and easy to drink, pleasing almost any crowd with aromas of bright red fruit, spices and earthy undertones.

* Vineyard 29 Cru, Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon ($50) – If you’re looking to impress your host, this Cabernet Sauvignon is a great choice. This royal pedigree yields a wine truly fit for a king. Deep and complex, this wine starts with ripe dark fruit, toasty vanilla and creamy caramel, then moves to roasted coffee cassis and dried flowers before finishing with a touch of earthiness and spice.

* ZD Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay ($55) – Its name is derived from the founders, Gino Zepponi and Norman de Leuze, but it also stands for Zero Defects. This Chardonnay is their signature wine, known for its non-malolactic fermentation. Malolactic fermentation is a secondary fermentation that occurs after the sugar has fermented to alcohol. By preventing this, the wine retains a forward fruit flavor and crisp, natural acidity. A unique choice that will wow any social gathering.

* 2001 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley ($70) – Silver Oak is a wine most people recognize, making it an impressive gift. Fruit-driven and full-bodied, this wine has a long, lingering finish, with a complex nose that ranges from black cherry to ginger. If properly cellared, this wine will continue to improve for a decade or more, giving your host an extraordinary treat to look forward to.

* 2002 Quintessa ($100) – Though one of the more expensive wines, the Quintessa proves to be perfect for the person who has everything. This wine is a meritage, a blend that consists of the five classic Bordeaux varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere. The 2002 vintage is excellent now and will continue to improve in the bottle for the next five to ten years, giving your host the option to serve now or save for later.

For more information on any of the wines listed above, please visit Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar at 25 E. Ohio St., Chicago, IL

Happy Holidays!

WBW 50:Which Wine, Which Wilderness

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:25:00 +0000

Alright Russ, you've thrown the gauntlet. I know that challenge wasn't crafted with me in mind, but it sure feels like it. I don't know if you could have hit closer to home. So Russ, I'm taking you to Big Spring near Fennimore, WI.

Big Spring is, surprise, a spring fed creek. It roars out of the side of a Wisconsin dell and tumbles through a small valley on its way to the Blue River. The spring is a short hike from Big Spring Road. The spring itself is made even more spectacular by the cascade below it that connects it to the creek below. What makes Big Spring so special is that it is full of beautiful brook trout.

Spend the morning catching trout on a fly rod and enjoying the last throws of summer, which comes in late September this far north. It is classic Wisconsin trout fishing making your way through broken patches of farmland and tree stands and in the fall months being surrounded by changing leaves and drying corn.

For wine lovers the highlight of this little valley is Spurgeon Winery. Located at the intersection of Big Spring Road and Pine Tree Road, Spurgeon is exactly what you would expect of a Wisconsin winery. Supported almost 100% by tourists, the winery caters to a more casual wine drinker with a healthy selection of sweeter wines made from offbeat more hearty varietals.

After a visit to the winery it is time to celebrate the end of trout season with a shot at a final brook trout on a dry fly. Fishing over rising trout in the evening is a beautiful way to end the day, and it would call for a bottle of 2005 Montelena Chardonnay shared with a fishing buddy as the sun starts to dip over the western hills. The Montelena is young enough to still display the bright acidity and since it doesn't undergo malolactic, it would make for a nice bright crisp reminder that it is indeed still summer time, if only for a couple more days.

When it is all over, reflect on the day with a nice bottle of wine back in Fennimore at the Eagle Creek Inn, which boasts a fantastic wine list and an unbeatable dinner menu.

Wine for the Next Generation

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:14:00 +0000

No I don't mean the millenials (sp?), I mean my next generation. My wife and I are having a baby. I'm really excited about it, as any expectant father would be. We are busy painting a nursery, and doing all the things hopeful parents do. I'm doing something a little different though. I'm hoping 2009 is a good year for the wine harvest. I'm sure there will be a good year somewhere in the world, but I'm hoping the traditional powerhouses have great years.

You see, I want to buy a case (or two or three) of wine for my little one. Wine is a family affair and I want to have some special bottles to share with my children over the years. What better way to share than wine from their birth year. My plan is to buy wine a couple years after my kid is born and keep it all the way to their wedding, doling out little bits along the way. I'm not exactly sure how to go about this, how much I will spend, what I will buy, and so on, but whatever it is I hope it will be special. Does anyone else out there do this? How has it worked out?

Montelena Vertical

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:13:00 +0000

While the Cubs were busy losing game 1, I was busy enjoying a vertical tasting of Chateau Montelena. Held at Binny's in Highland Park the event was put on by Montelena's regional sales rep. Talk about a big territory, this one guy covers the entirety of the American West from Chicago to Arizona, excluding only California. The rep was also a fly fisherman, so needles to say I was a bit jealous of his position.

On to the wine. Its a treat to get to taste 7 years worth of any winery's wine, let alone Montelena. For those that don't know, Montelena was central in the 1976 Paris Tasting, and is a favorite of Robert Parker, as well as actually producing a fantastic wine that ages quite gracefully.

I will never be the one waxing on about tasting notes, frankly I'm just not that into it. What I will say is that the 1998, 2002 and 2004 all stand out in my mind. All the wines were good, but those just had a special quality about them that jumped out. I own a bottle of the 2002 and was very excited to find that it was showing so well. I'm looking forward to popping it in a few years.

I really think this kind of tasting is a fantastic way to learn more about wine. You can go to all kinds of large tastings, but its the seated classroom type tastings that really up your game.

I'm going to try to get back to highlighting events going forward, so look for some ideas going forward.

Great Wine at Restaurants Without the Big Price Tag

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:05:00 +0000

I have always been frustrated at the price paid for wine in a restaurant. I know that liquor sales are what make most restaurants profitable and I can't fault them for that. I don't even mind paying $20 for a bottle that might otherwise sell for $10 at the store. What I get riled up about is the bottle that retails for $50-100 and can cost upwards of $200 on the wine list. In recent years I have found that there is an alternative to the high prices. Corkage!

For those not familiar with corkage it is the idea of bringing your own bottle of wine to dinner and having the restaurant, for a small fee, open and serve the wine. They are reasonably entitled to the fee because they serve the wine and furnish glasses. The fee is usually anywhere from $5 to $20 and usually corresponds to the menu prices. In some places that choose not to have a liquor license it may even be free.

Given our current economic crisis (I know, another blogger trying to capitalize on the big news headline, how original), I think it is fair to say that many of us are looking to save a little money. I am by no means advocating bringing a bottle of two buck chuck and paying $20 to have it opened with dinner (though it that's your style well I won't stop you). What I am advocating is picking up a $50 or more bottle of wine and paying the $20 for corkage. You can usually find some fantastic bottles at this price, and some even cheaper. That makes a $50 bottle a $70 bottle, that might have cost you as much as $200 at the restaurant.

One of my favorites for this is Tango Sur. I have written about Tango Sur before, but I just wanted to highlight its free corkage. Beer, wine, they might even let you bring a bottle of everclear if you were so inclined (eech). The point is that it is a great place to enjoy a fantastic bottle of wine with a fantastic meal and save some coin.

On the higher end of things I recently brought a bottle of 1998 Larrivet-Haut-Brion to Mon Ami Gabi. It was a fantastic wine that there was no way I could afford had I tried to buy it off a list (that is if they even had it). Sure I paid a markup on it, but it was stil lvery reasonable comparatively.

Chicago is awash in restaurants and almost all of them will accomodate you if you are willing to work with them. I recommend calling to find out the corkage policy before visiting. Some of them will even waive the fee if you buy a bottle off the list first.

One more nice resource for Chicago is the book BYOB Chicago. The book details restaurants that offer free corkage. If you don't find the restaurant in the book, call, I can almost guarantee they have a policy and will be happy to help you out.

Pass the Bottle

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:07:00 +0000

A few years ago someone gave my wife and I a bottle of Boone's Farm at a wine tasting party as a gag gift. I can't stomach the stuff so I regifted it. Since that time the bottle has traveled all over Chicago and has come back to me at least twice, and yesterday my wife got it as a birthday present. It has provided countless hours of fun as I snicker while sending it at the post office or when it arrives on my doorstep. It reminds me that some of the best gifts aren't ones that we agonize over choosing or that we spend crazy amounts of money on. No some of the best gifts are just stupid trinkets that bring friends closer together and help us to laugh.

Longoria

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 21:56:00 +0000

I'm a very lucky guy. Mostly lucky to have a brother with close ties to the Longoria family. No, I'm not talking about Tony Parker and Eva Longoria, I'm talking about Rick and Diana Longoria. In case you're unaware, Rick is the founder of Longoria Wines, and one of the pioneers of Pinot Noir in the Santa Ynez Valley.
While I was out in California, I had what I would consider the honor of spending 2 days with the Longorias. While in Solvang, they pointed us to wineries, fed us, and gave us a very personal tour of Longoria Winery. We tasted through bottles of finished wines at the tasting room, and even got a few samples from barrel at the tasting room. Insider tip, Rick is releasing a rose this season that is going to be absolutely wonderful.
The biggest treat of all was tasting alongside Rick. Anyone who has been making great wine as long as he has must have a phenomenal palate. It was very interesting to form my opinions of the wine, then have him rattle off a series of descriptors that hit the wine to a T. At one point I remarked that the wine we were tasting seemed very tanic. Rick politely disagreed, saying simply "I didn't get that". I replied that "my gums are dry". Rick thought and said, you're tasting the accumulation of the tannin, not the tannin from this wine. Aha!
All in all, it was a wonderful time. I don't know that I could thank the Longorias enough for their wonderful hospitality.

Missing Posts

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:37:00 +0000

I've been neglecting thirdcoastwine lately. Settling back into work, as well as trying to get another blog off the ground, has taken its toll on my free time. I have been writing, and if you are clamoring for more of my witty writing (and who isn't) you can check out my other project at razmaspaz.com. razmaspaz.com is my first foray into wordpress (technoblogger speak for blogging software) so hopefully I'll be able to migrate third coast to it soon, and get off blogger.

Razmaspaz is more about life and my ramblings in general. It gets a little wine talk, but mostly tech, fly fishing, photography, and all other things me.

Back from Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:42:00 +0000

I'm back from vacation. I've got all kinds of news and stories. From rain in LA and a winery visit at Longoria, to cruise food and some fantastic and not so fantastic California Restaurants. Stick around for all the new stuff. It should be an exciting week.

On Vacation!

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 21:34:00 +0000

Tomorrow marks the start of a 9 day absence from civilization. Well unless you consider LA civilized. I will be on vacation until Jan. 8th. Stay tuned, because there will be lots to share when I return. Tasting Room Visits, Cruises, and New Year's Eve Champagne Boycotts.

Have a Happy New Year! See you in a week.

A Jewel in Cedar Rapids Iowa

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:14:00 +0000

Past experience has shown me that wine shops in the Rural Midwest can be hit or miss. And so it was that Christmas dinner part one found me hunting for a couple of wines in the town of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Not content with the supermarket selection that never fails to disappoint, I headed to the web looking for another option. I found it in The 1st Avenue Wine House.

This is an old house converted into a wine shop, and what a wine shop it is. 3 stories of wines, and not just any wines, but carefully thought out selections of very good stuff, paired with a generous helping of knowledgeable sales staff. I love that it seems like they have tried every wine in the shop on multiple occasions and can steer me to the perfect bottle.

On top of being well versed and well stocked, they were offering a tasting when I walked in the door. A range of wines were open, with no particular theme. The distributor was on hand full of interesting tidbits about the wines, and he was more than willing to share information about all kinds of stuff.

I came home with a mediocre bottle of Chardonnay, which was my fault since I got exactly what I asked for, and should have known better. I'm beginning to understand why Napa doesn't produce subtle Chardonnay, its too damn hot. I found redemption in a bottle of Italian Chianti that paired like a champ next to a plate of homemade lasagna. All I can say is, mmm. Unfortunately I can't recall the producer, so I'm gonna have to research that.

What I was most pleased about though was a connection I made while tasting. On my trip to Tango Sur a couple weeks ago, I had a bottle of BenMarco Malbec. The salesman at Sam's mentioned that it was produced by a husband wife team. While at 1st Ave Wine House, the distributor mentioned another Malbec under a different label, with the same addendum. I inquired, and sure enough, it was the same producer. I'll say it now, the wines of Pedro Marchevsky and Susana Balbo are worth seeking out. I'm obviously late to this party, but I've arrived.

It looks like that resolution is getting easier to keep. Maybe this year will be my year to discover Argentina and all it has to offer.

Merry Chritmas

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 04:45:00 +0000

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. For me that means lots of eating, drinking, and passing the time with family.
I hope for all of you out there it means time with family relaxing and appreciating what you have. May you have a Merry Christmas, and may it be filled with good food and great wine.

New Year's Resolutions

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:00:00 +0000

So its that time. All the bloggers, and even those who don't blog, are putting together their list of New Year's resolutions. I figured I'd join in the fun and add mine to the fray. Its a simple list really:

Drink more wine - this one is obvious, and on the surface should be pretty easy. I want to drink more wine for the health benefits, for the pure enjoyment it brings me, and so that I learn more about my palate. 2007 brought about a revelation for me that I love Bordeaux. If I drink more 2008 might bring about a newfound appreciation for Italian or Chinese wine, who knows.
Stop Drinking Champagne - I've already shared my loathing of all things sparkling. Life's just too short to drink stuff I don't like. Parties, weddings, New Years, all of it, I'm just saying no.
Drink better wine - maybe more important than drinking more wine is the quality of the wine I drink. This goes hand in hand with the Champagne resolution, but its more generic. I want to be drinking the best wine I can get my hands on. Fortunately the best way to ensure that I'm drinking better wine is to make sure I'm sticking to my first resolution.
Explore more wine bars in Chicago - this one might be tough. This was one of my goals for 2007. I made it to a grand total of 1 this year. Next year is gonna be better. I'm planning to actively seek out and visit wine bars.

So there it is. My resolution list. What about you? What wine resolutions have you made for next year?

Christmas Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:16:00 +0000

I'm faced with a conundrum this year. I'm spending Christmas this year with my wife's family. They are wonderful people, but they are not wine drinkers. I can be sure that the closest thing to a bottle of wine at Christmas dinner will be rum and coke. Actually I suppose there's a chance a bottle of Blue Nunn might make it to the table, but I don't know if that really counts. So while the roast cooks, and my mouth waters thinking of all the great wines that could have been matched with it, what's a wine lover to do? Should I bring a couple bottles along with me and just offer them up? Should I get over it and just enjoy the meal? I'm at a loss, any thoughts?

If I had $275 I didn't need...

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:20:00 +0000

...I'd be spending it on this.

http://www.localwineevents.com/Chicago-Wine/event-159388.html

While its a little out of my budget, a comparative tasting of 40 of the worlds best wines from two of the best vintages of the past 25 years, would be high on my list of fun things to do.

If you're so inclined, and have the expendable income, this one should be a memorable experience.

Tango Sur

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:25:00 +0000

My sister was in town this weekend, so despite the 9 inches of snow falling on the city Saturday night, I braved the elements and spent the afternoon shopping on Michigan Ave., and capped the night off with a phenomenal meal at Tango Sur.

All afternoon we played tourist and hopped from shop to shop along the Magnificent Mile. As is typical for a full day of shopping we returned to the car with a solitary meat thermometer. The lights were pretty, and the free chocolate from Ghiradelli was scrumptious.

The highlight of the day was absolutely our trip to Tango Sur. Tango Sur is an Argentinian steak house. They serve generous portions of Latin American and Argentinian dishes. We started the meal with some great empenadas and warm chewy bread. I've said it before, but I could eat nothing but hot, moist bread and be very happy. After the appetizers we moved onto the real attraction, the meat. I hat a filet, "El Filet" actually. It was good, and on any other night I would have been satisfied. The trouble was that my wife and sister ordered Steak Vesuvio. This was a cut of sirloin, I believe, stuffed with cheese and spinach, and cooked to mouthwatering perfection. The steak was moist, well marinated, and downright amazing.

To top it all off Tango Sur is a BYOB establishment. Not only can you bring your own wine, but there is no corkage fee. We stopped by Sam's on our way to take advantage of their nice selection of Argentinian wines. We picked up a nice bottle of Ben Marco Malbec on the recommendation of the salesman. It was a good bottle of wine, but for $20 in what I consider a value region, the wine should have been more complex and powerful. As it was, it was lacking in a tannic element and all around depth.

Overall it was a wonderful meal to cap off a wonderful afternoon with family that I see too little of. I'm looking forward to a return visit very soon.

Ruby Tuesday's new menu

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:55:00 +0000

Benito's Wine Reviews just posted about a trip down memory lane involving some Yuengling and a turkey sandwich. The sandwich sounds good, but it was the Yuengling that got me going. I had Yuengling Lager for the first time over the Thanksgiving holiday. On a trip from Knoxville to Nashville (I was home in Tennessee for the week), we stopped at a Ruby Tuesday for lunch.

If you haven't been to Ruby Tuesday in a while you are missing out. There is a class of restaurant just above fast food, but not quite fancy. The restaurants that fall into that category include Friday's, Chilli's, Applebee's, and so on. I've always lumped Ruby Tuesday into the same category. I must say though that my last few trips there have been fabulous. In an effort to differentiate themselves from the aforementioned pack, Ruby Tuesday's has created what seems like a new category of dining. They are attempting to offer an original menu, exquisitely made food, and a price that doesn't go too much above their competitors. Its working.

They have wonderful crab cakes, the best burger I've ever had in any restaurant anywhere, and a set of signature drinks to match. So far every visit I've made since the new menu has been stellar, with the exception of one.

At a Ruby Tuesday in Central Illinois I stopped for lunch after a backpacking trip. Usually after a backpacking trip, I am starving, and as such don't really care what goes down the gullet. This particular trip though I was delighted to find a well put together menu of carefully chosen craft beers. Not only was I going to feed myself, I was going to get to do it in style. Mmm mmm. So imagine my surprise as I went down the list, the list on the menu mind you, and rattled off one wonderful sounding ale after another, only to be told by the server that "we don't carry that beer", and "that's on the 'corporate' menu. Ruined. My. Day. I settled for a lemonade, hoping that it wasn't just on the corporate menu.

My letter to the folks at Ruby Tuesday is still forthcoming, and Benito's post on Yeungling has reminded me that its time to write it up. Maybe my time in Iowa over Christmas will afford me the opportunity to write it.

Buying Wine Online

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:37:00 +0000

If you want to buy wine online from an out of state retailer you only have 18 days left. On Jan. 1st, new legislation goes into effect that will prevent Illinois residents from purchasing wine from out of state retailers. Get the cheap stuff while you still can.

The legislation is ridiculous, and I hope it is found unconstitutional soon. In the meantime you and I are SOL. Lets all raise a glass to higher prices and a smaller selection of those hard to find wines.

Game Night

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 18:05:00 +0000

I grew up in the age of video games. I can't remember a time in my consciousness when I didn't have some sort of computerized gaming system in my home. Despite that I've always been a die hard board game player. I've played a lot of board games, but the one that will always hold a special place in my heart is Axis and Allies.

A game of strategy centered around the last morally superior war. Me and 4 friends locked in combat determining the future of the world! Whats not to love? And on top of all that, what better excuse to sit in a dimly lit room, drink Port and Scotch, and smoke cigars while cursing like, well, a general.

Can't you just see Ike or Göring sitting around planning, snifter in hand? Good times. I'm excited, because those good times will come to fruition this weekend. Game on, as they say. I'm pulling out the 15 year and the LBV (What about vintage you say? You think I'm made of money?!). The battle will rage long into the night, and in the end I'll be crowned victor. You didn't think it could end any other way did you?

Let it Snow

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:41:00 +0000

It snowed here last night. In fact it snowed quite a bit. Shoveling snow is one of my least favorite activities. When we bought a house, my wife sold me on it by telling me she would mow the grass and shovel the snow. Any married man knows exactly how long that lasted. The nice thing about the snow is that it puts me in the mood for a glass of red wine to warm up by the fire with. So after last night's shoveling I poured a glass of Concha Y' Toro Marquis De Casa Concha 2004 Merlot.

The wine, like the name, is a mouthful. I don't remember what I paid for this wine, but I'm guessing it was around $14. I have never had a wine so mouth coating for so little money. This wine was rich, tannic, and downright delicious. It oozed blackberries and chocolate, and had tannins the texture of those strings on a banana (thats a good thing). If shoveling snow makes every wine taste this good, I say "let it snow".

Goin' to California

noreply@blogger.com (razmaspaz) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 16:47:00 +0000

I've got big plans for the New Year. I'm going to be out west for 9 days. My hub of activity will be Irvine, but I'm taking a couple jaunts to Santa Barbara County, and to Ensenada, Mexico.

I've got one full day to spend in the wine country, and I'm really looking forward to it. I don't know much about the area, but I know that good times await. Arthur from redwinebuzz.com has been very generous in helping me identify some good places to sip and eat. On top of that my sister-in-law has a family friend by the name of Longoria, maybe you've heard of their wines. She is trying to get us a tour of the winery which I'm really excited about.

My trip down to Mexico will be via a slow moving floating bathtub called Carnival Paradise. I've been on exactly one cruise before, and it included me breaking up with my then girlfriend, not exactly giving me a strong positive bias. I'm not incredibly excited about the cruising portion of the trip, stuck on a boat with nothing to do but drink overpriced margaritas. The food and wine part though, look out. Cruises are known for their food, I'm hoping this one lives up to the expectations. Armed with a couple bottles of Santa Barbara wine, dinners should be fantastic. To top it all off, we've decided to take an ATV ride through the countryside and finish the day off in Ensenada with a trip to a Mexican winery. It should be interesting, and if nothing else it will provide some excellent blog fodder.

All that and I've still got a couple days to bum around in LA. I'm visiting family while I'm in Irvine, so I don't want to drag them all over town, but I haven't really spent too much time in LA. I've seen the tar pits, Disney, and the Santa Monica Pier. I've also been to the Rose Bowl (the only truly fun thing I've done in LA). If anyone has some tips for some cheap, not entirely touristy, things to do in LA, I'd love to hear 'em.

Until then I'm counting down the days.