Having some friends over tomorrow. Along with burgers, dogs, chicken, etc. will be serving “Wines Across America”. Thirteen unique wines from thirteen different States, representing the original thirteen colonies. I cheated a little with AZ and NM as both wines are labeled “American” despite previously being produced in those States. A little something for everyone… AZ: N.V. Arizona Stronghold Mandala White Blend CA: 2013 Scott Harvey Zinfandel Winemaker’s Reserve MI: 2013 Jomagrha Night Sky Red MO: 2012 Augusta Winery Chardonel MT: N.V. Hidden Legend The King’s Mead NM: N.V. Gruet Blanc de Noirs NC: 2020 Shelton Vineyards Chardonnay NY: 2013 Hunt Country Seyval Blanc OH: 2013 Debonne Vineyards Vidal Blanc Icewine OR: 2013 A to Z Pinot Noir PA: 2010 Mazza Family Nebbiolo VA: N.V. King Family Vineyards Crose WA: N.V. Block Wines Farmhouse Block Extra Brut
The '13 theme continues, as six of the thirteen wines are from the '13 vintage. Obviously not pulling the “good stuff” for our casual wine drinking friends but the OH Icewine did win a jury prize at the SF Chronicle competition for the '13 vintage.
@chipgreen LOL!
There are (apparently) a bunch of wineries in IL. I don’t think I’ve ever been to any of them (other than a Cooper’s Hawk restaurant). Perhaps someday…
@chipgreen@karenhynes Prairie State Winery (Genoa,IL), makes some decent wines. If you include wineries that outsource their grapes, Stone’s Throw, Baileys Harbor, Door County, WI, makes outstanding wines.
@chipgreen@jmdavidson1@kaolis@karenhynes@ScottW58
Haha! Good answer, Scott.
I’ve never seen that bottle, but based on the glowing review, I’ll pick one up if I ever spot it. No promises on the love fest
@chefjess@chipgreen@jmdavidson1@kaolis@ScottW58
Looks interesting. Love me some bubbles! I’ll have to see if I can grab a friend and take a ride. I haven’t been out that way for quite a long time.
My youngest daughter and her (new) husband just arrived. Grilled up a bunch of chicken thighs, taking other stuff along out on the boat for a dinner on Lake of the Ozarks. Taking along a couple of 2022 Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé.
Black garlic puree and black pepper marinated chicken thighs grilled with a small amount of green stuff and tater tots, I love black garlic and for that matter tater tots
Today was “lunch on the lake” consisting of chicken salad with various accompaniments and a 2019 the girls in the vineyard Pinot Grigio. Tonight was some ribs that I started in the oven and finished over charcoal, roasted Brussels sprouts, etc., with a 2014 tercero Grenache.
and finished up dN N.62 that went with Sunday night thighs
(I just noticed that N. # is no longer on the label, that the label says LOT #…looks like the switch was made many moons ago, go figure. Although CT still lists them all, I think, as N. #… who cares right?)
@ScottW58 Drinking really well. Definitely showed the whole cluster inclusion with a savory character (sage?). The fruit was there (cherry, cran/raspberry) but was more in the background. Great acid and fine tannins still present to join the party. It definitely had an old world feel. I wasn’t sure about a lamb pairing but it held up well.
@hscottk
Nice! Funny when we visited we talked about how you really need to put years on his bottles so they have time to be ready to drink and my wife said we are to old to wait can you sell us 6 bottles that are ready to drink and the 14 was one of the bottles we took back with us, it was ready
Final dinner for this visit of my daughter and her husband. Opening a 2016 WineSmith Cab Franc. Have a 2021 WineSmith Cabernet Sauvignon, Heringer Vineyards, set aside in case we want to open another bottle.
Hung out with friends who just got an Ooni pizza oven and we drank an iron horse 2017 Winery Block Pinot Noir. The wine had improved greatly since the prior bottle we had. And the Ooni gets crazy hot.
@hscottk Just overall more interesting. More earth and spice complexity compared to the almost-all-fruit it was 18 months ago or so.
That’s not to say it’s now worth the $87 SRP, though. But at least now it it fair competition for other RRV Pinots in the mid-30s.
@kawichris650 A chicken scarpariello, by any other name, would smell as sweet. I’m with Ron though, that’s a dish for after the summer.
This was my favorite dish at a neighborhood restaurant, but they took it off the menu. The NYT’s recipe (gift link), from the legendary Rao’s in E. Harlem, looks extremely promising. And considering that my chances of getting into Rao’s are slim to none, I’ll be giving it a try.
Last night. Great restaurant. Fresh in-season veggies. Mains were flatiron, roasted chix, arctic char, and locally raised pork chop. All spectacular. Only have a few pics as we forgot to snap and just dug in.
@klezman Yessir! WTSO purchase March '16, one bottle so nothing prior to go on. No hurry but I would suggest putting this in your sooner rather than later weeknight/casual rotation. It picked up a little depth and was a bit more interesting after a couple of hours or so
2006 Marion Amarone della Valpolicella.
With Homemade Pesto (abundance of Basil, and good local Italian places for the rest of the ingredients).
Azienda Agricola Marion is a relatively small, family-run winery in the Veneto Region. Visit them if you have a chance…they make fabulous wines.
@hscottk
I (we all) liked it! It’s definitely fruit driven. The only bottle I have (from the mystery case). Would definitely consider picking up a few bottles given an appropriate opportunity.
@jmdavidson1
and they were; Costco, but really don’t show well in the pic. And yes, lamb. Sous-vide to warm it up.
Went quite well with that MM CF as well that surprised me with it’s freshness.
@kaolis one guy nearby was saying he saw his first Stones show back in '74.
This was my first because by the time I could actually consider going their prices became stratospheric. Half to have finally seen them!
Cooking some rib steaks and decided to open a bottle of 2012 Notre Vin Cuvee l’Etrier - got it at an auction but it was advertised as the Howell Mountain. Oh well.
2003 McClean Vineyards Syrah Estate Private Reserve
brats, beer boiled and grilled along with papaya, 'shrooms, squash and some Anson Mills coarse polenta integrale
@rjquillin
How is the McLean holding up? Think I have one '03 left. They were only offered 1x, IIRC. After that it was just the '05s and '07s. I think the '05 is my favorite of the three.
With baby backs, fried chicken & cole slaw. The Van Ruiten was delicious but the Pinkie Swear is on a downward trajectory. Drink 'em if you got 'em!
At my wife’s family’s 94th annual reunion. None of the next-gen kids want to do the work to keep it going, so we are just trying to limp our way to #100.
Oxtail soup, with rosemary bread. The wine, which paired beautifully, was? Come back at 11pm cdst on Friday to find out what was tonight’s wine. I can tell you it was very good.
@jmdavidson1 I was waiting until after you had posted your review on the wine. Is the recipe for your oxtail soup available online? It looks interesting (nice veggies, not overly dense broth).
@jmdavidson1 Thanks… fresh cracked pepper pasta, prosciutto that had a quick go in a frying pan first, touch of bacon because I had a cooked piece in the fridge, smidge of peas, a little pecorino, sauce is basically just a little olive oil, burrata, pasta water
Lots of good stuff coming out there!
Don’t know what I’m eating yet but I’m finishing a 2010 Two Jakes Roman Reserve Cab Franc. Excellent yesterday and today.
Then on to a 2021 Bedrock Evangelho Carignan.
Greetings from Bath, ME, on the banks of the Kennebec River. Txakolina bubbles alongside locally farmed oysters. Would’ve had more, but we polished off lobster rolls not long ago.
@InFrom From the map, that looks like an amazing place to visit! We’ve never ventured far into Maine – only up the coast as far as Boothbay Harbor for a brief visit (on our honeymoon 46 years ago).
@Mark_L There’s a lot to do in this area, and some beautiful beaches. Bath itself isn’t super-touristy, it’s still a shipbuilding town, but it’s got a quaint downtown and some nice side streets, and some fun, new businesses popping up, like this bubbles and oysters joint associated with a family-run oyster farm.
@rjquillin@ScottW58 We got it in spades last week in the city, heat and humidity, and I was running around like a nut with multiple trips to the mechanic so the car would be ready. So I don’t feel guilty enjoying the 19C, clean Maine air atm.
Finishing up the evening with Erica Orr’s 2023 Chenin Blanc. Perfect with the leftovers of the smoked pollock dip we took home from the oyster place. With Ritz crackers and rounds of sourdough baguette.
y’all are rockin’ it! I know I’m not supposed to turn the oven on this time of year, but short ribs…and the older I get I guess I’m throwing out my rule of no Bordeaux before a minimum of 10 years
Fried pork chops, cheesy Palmetto Farms white grits (made with half-and-half and homemade chicken stock, @klezman calls that cheating I believe), sliced maters (need to get north, mater season about done/done here, sad)
@kaolis cheating? How so? I’d always cook polenta in chicken (or other) stock. I usually lay off the cream and butter, but that’s just so I can eat more of it.
I had the cheesiest grits I could imagine at a Korean Cajun fusion restaurant in New York called KJUN. Wow they were rich.
@klezman Just kidding, you mentioned the cream before, but I see it’s a volume thing I’m usually just stock, but went with cheese, the 1/2 and 1/2 along with butter this time…complemented the fried pork fat on the chops
KJUN sounds interesting
@kaolis I quite liked it. The chef immigrated from Korea to New Orleans or something when she was a kid. The fusion isn’t forced at all.
I want a fan of the pickled okra, though. I can’t get used to that vegetable.
@klezman@rjquillin Lowcountry living or not, okra not on my list of go to veggies…however botanically it is fruit not veggie, as it is a seed pod…more worthless info
@kaolis@rjquillin You want to get into botanical semantics? Yes!
Most things we call “berries” are nothing resembling a botanical berry. Things that are berries, botanically: grapes, tomatoes, eggplant, redcurrant, kiwi, cucumbers, bananas, gooseberry, and blueberry.
Botanically speaking, I don’t think vegetable means much at all.
We have this discussion with our kids all the time.
2012 Braganini Reserve Whole Cluster Riesling w/ chicken and steak kabobs, corn on the cob, herb & butter rice and unseen green stuff. The Riesling was surprisingly fresh, which was a nice surprise, especially after having to pour out a Clayhouse SB of the same vintage.
@klezman@chipgreen
Beautiful presentation, but boy did we eat it all!!
Lobster turnover, pork dumpling, hamachi crudo, tomato salad. Not pictured: watermelon/tomato/peach gazpacho (amazing!), scallops, tenderloin, duck, pork, strawberry gochujang ice cream. Fresh local produce and the meats were also locally sourced. This place has great food and service.
Last night: return to the scene of the crime in Bath. Thought I was having a half-dozen this time, only to have my spouse realize oysters are delicious and eat half of them. With a fun Pet Nat from France.
@InFrom
Is it close enough to be a day-trip for you or did you just enjoy it so much that you had to go back? Either way, glad to see you living your best life but too bad about the oysters!
@ScottW58
I will have to start working on the boss. It would be an easier sell if there was an RPM tour in the works but that seems to be a pipe dream at this point. And could not agree more with the beating my head against the wall comment!
@ScottW58 I’m happy to hear it! Sounds so good. I’ll have to give it a whirl. Did you get anything else from them? Their wholesale location opens their doors to retail customers on Saturday mornings. Back in the before times they used to put out samples of chorizo and the like, and pour a plastic cup of tinto for anyone who walked in the door. That was fun.
Oh and for the record, tonight’s meal was steamed local string beans, and on the grill, corn on the cob, local scallops scampi style, and a beautiful piece of halibut. I don’t get to grill when we’re at home, so I’m enjoying it. To drink, a meh bottle of Mumm’s Rose.
@ScottW58 I’ll be interested to hear how you like it, compared to the stuff from BD.
I’m loving all this great fresh fish here in Maine, but I keep thinking about the lonely tin of Spanish sardines we schlepped along with us, in case of emergency. We got some great bread today from a transplanted Italian restauranteur. I can’t stop thinking about a nice sandwich with arugula and a little tomato. It didn’t happen last week, will it happen next week? If it does, there will be pics.
2001 Buckeley’s Shiraz; dtd
2009 MontGras Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva; pretty decent, 2nd and last bottle, swmbo didn’t like
2021 Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon; just to see what I should do with them, swmbo had this
Flannery burgers, fully dressed steak blend, with mac and goat cheese and leftover grilled papaya and a green to balance things out.
UPS will get some number of bottles. My default ship-to location doesn’t charge me, and if I call will actually wait past closing time to allow a pick-up. They get bottles!
Near term, have a bottle open or pull a cork for those that won’t really care and just need red juice? Dislike putting swmbo in that group, but she was good with it, while still, at times, appreciating better bottle. OK, that was harsh.
put it in the back of the cellar and see what happens in a few years, if I manage to get around to it again
dunno, my first Slingshot buy and I was curious. Solid gift bottles for the masses.
I will see what it does over a week or so in the fridge, no Ar, so I may have to reevaluate a bit, but for now I don’t see it becoming a daily drinker for me…
@klezman
It was! They prepared a really nice charcuterie board and fresh peppers w/ hummus and also canteloupe. We were half full by the time we ate the pizza. I started taking pics but got lazy after awhile.
@chipgreen@jmdavidson1 You don’t still have Revelry? I’m only starting to think about drinking the majority of them now! I think I’ve got 10 or so remaining.
pretty simple tonight~
the other lamb shank in the package of two from Costco,
some leftover polenta and G-beans
2018 de Négoce Cabernet Franc OG N.51
that seems to be my second bottle, the first back in Jan of '21.
Had to dump the '09 terecro Grenache Blanc Camp 4, just too much petrol for the palate; and, a couple of cases of Revelry still exist here as well.
Did the standard Alaska cruise with family.
With the help of others, brought 4 bottles on-board.
2022 50th Anniversary Caymus,
2002 30th Anniversary Caymus,
Penfolds Grandfather Port
& Wellington Port
The 2002 Caymus was in excellent shape, and was a good old-school Napa Cab.
This 2022 Tempranillo, from Kelowna BC, was being tasted at a wine shop in Vancouver, and was very good, so I stopped back after the cruise and bought a couple to take home.
@FritzCat We have never been on a cruise, but an Alaska cruise (including Glacier Bay) with a private balcony (perhaps for our 50th anniversary in 4 years?) is on my bucket list. I would love to hear recommendations/suggestions from those who have taken them.
Last night simple summer pasta, melted anchovies and garlic in olive oil with cherry tomatoes. Also slow roasted tomatoes garlic parsley olive oil with a Spanish seasoning Tomatador. Really good!
After finishing off that Ty’s Red, I’ve got ribs smoking on the grill and am about to open a 2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah T ‘n’ S Blocks Hudson Vineyard South.
w/Sloppy Joe’s.
with copious amounts of fresh grated wasabi
Blue cheese Berserker Blend
Speaking of Bordeaux Blanc…but the blend here is a 180 from today’s offer
De Negoce Chardonnay 133. Very good.
Having some friends over tomorrow. Along with burgers, dogs, chicken, etc. will be serving “Wines Across America”. Thirteen unique wines from thirteen different States, representing the original thirteen colonies. I cheated a little with AZ and NM as both wines are labeled “American” despite previously being produced in those States. A little something for everyone…
AZ: N.V. Arizona Stronghold Mandala White Blend
CA: 2013 Scott Harvey Zinfandel Winemaker’s Reserve
MI: 2013 Jomagrha Night Sky Red
MO: 2012 Augusta Winery Chardonel
MT: N.V. Hidden Legend The King’s Mead
NM: N.V. Gruet Blanc de Noirs
NC: 2020 Shelton Vineyards Chardonnay
NY: 2013 Hunt Country Seyval Blanc
OH: 2013 Debonne Vineyards Vidal Blanc Icewine
OR: 2013 A to Z Pinot Noir
PA: 2010 Mazza Family Nebbiolo
VA: N.V. King Family Vineyards Crose
WA: N.V. Block Wines Farmhouse Block Extra Brut
The '13 theme continues, as six of the thirteen wines are from the '13 vintage. Obviously not pulling the “good stuff” for our casual wine drinking friends but the OH Icewine did win a jury prize at the SF Chronicle competition for the '13 vintage.
@chipgreen
Cool idea!!!
@karenhynes
I also almost cheated with a Cooper’s Hawk for IL.
@chipgreen LOL!
There are (apparently) a bunch of wineries in IL. I don’t think I’ve ever been to any of them (other than a Cooper’s Hawk restaurant). Perhaps someday…
@chipgreen @karenhynes Prairie State Winery (Genoa,IL), makes some decent wines. If you include wineries that outsource their grapes, Stone’s Throw, Baileys Harbor, Door County, WI, makes outstanding wines.
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @karenhynes Illinois Sparkling Co. in Peru/Utica IL produces some outstanding, you guessed it, sparklers. (The bubble snobs may disagree, you know who are @ScottW58 @chefjess ha!)
@chefjess @chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @kaolis @karenhynes
Well taste is subjective, I think that’s the right answer haha. Nice try tho
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @kaolis @karenhynes @ScottW58
Haha! Good answer, Scott.
I’ve never seen that bottle, but based on the glowing review, I’ll pick one up if I ever spot it. No promises on the love fest
@chefjess @chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @kaolis @ScottW58
Looks interesting. Love me some bubbles! I’ll have to see if I can grab a friend and take a ride. I haven’t been out that way for quite a long time.
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1
I’m going to have to carve out time for a stop at Stone’s Throw this year on my annual trip to DC.
2017 Once & Future Zinfandel Sodini Vineyard
1995 Corison with a saturated and leaky cork. With a rack of lamb, corn, and asparagus. Still spring, I say!
Now a 2010 Angel Eis and apple crisp
Little hunk of boneless lamb leg, roasted rosemary taters, mediocre green stuff
My youngest daughter and her (new) husband just arrived. Grilled up a bunch of chicken thighs, taking other stuff along out on the boat for a dinner on Lake of the Ozarks. Taking along a couple of 2022 Mulderbosch Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé.
@Mark_L Sounds like you’re doing it right
Black garlic puree and black pepper marinated chicken thighs grilled with a small amount of green stuff and tater tots, I love black garlic and for that matter tater tots
@ScottW58 I forget about black garlic, need to revisit…tots I don’t forget, came home with a fresh bag yesterday
Oh and some homemade chocolate ice cream with a drizzle of olive oil and a few flakes of Maldon salt, oh man!
2006 Tudor Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
@rjquillin that’s an old one!
@klezman Hum, yeah, now that you mention it; 1 of 2 from a 12 yo w00t! that I finally got around to. Drinking well with some salmon and sides.
Paul Leredde Champagne Carte Rouge
Today was “lunch on the lake” consisting of chicken salad with various accompaniments and a 2019 the girls in the vineyard Pinot Grigio. Tonight was some ribs that I started in the oven and finished over charcoal, roasted Brussels sprouts, etc., with a 2014 tercero Grenache.
Denver steak
and finished up dN N.62 that went with Sunday night thighs
(I just noticed that N. # is no longer on the label, that the label says LOT #…looks like the switch was made many moons ago, go figure. Although CT still lists them all, I think, as N. #… who cares right?)
@kaolis This?
2019 de Négoce Chardonnay OG N.62?
@rjquillin yessir…62 has N. on it … I’m speaking of the switch From N to LOT somewhere in the 100’s looks like
With boneless leg of lamb and steamed broccoli with white truffle oil. The more well done parts are always best right out of the oven.
@hscottk Ohh how is the 15 Bishop Creek? Had the 14 when we were in Oregon and it was great!
@ScottW58 Drinking really well. Definitely showed the whole cluster inclusion with a savory character (sage?). The fruit was there (cherry, cran/raspberry) but was more in the background. Great acid and fine tannins still present to join the party. It definitely had an old world feel. I wasn’t sure about a lamb pairing but it held up well.
@hscottk
Nice! Funny when we visited we talked about how you really need to put years on his bottles so they have time to be ready to drink and my wife said we are to old to wait can you sell us 6 bottles that are ready to drink and the 14 was one of the bottles we took back with us, it was ready
Final dinner for this visit of my daughter and her husband. Opening a 2016 WineSmith Cab Franc. Have a 2021 WineSmith Cabernet Sauvignon, Heringer Vineyards, set aside in case we want to open another bottle.
Hung out with friends who just got an Ooni pizza oven and we drank an iron horse 2017 Winery Block Pinot Noir. The wine had improved greatly since the prior bottle we had. And the Ooni gets crazy hot.
@klezman How would you say it has improved?
@hscottk Just overall more interesting. More earth and spice complexity compared to the almost-all-fruit it was 18 months ago or so.
That’s not to say it’s now worth the $87 SRP, though. But at least now it it fair competition for other RRV Pinots in the mid-30s.
@klezman it was a fruit bomb for sure… I just didn’t want to ask a leading question
Great to hear it’s evolving a bit. Thanks for the note!
@hscottk I’d almost relegated these to cellar defender after the first bottle of my 6 pack.
Mammas Don’t Let Your Gruners Grow Up to Be Twenty
@kaolis
OTH?
@rjquillin Way over… we suffered through 1/2 glass each…
@kaolis @rjquillin lol
@kaolis Leave that for cab sauv’s and merlots and such
@kaolis love that song, lol
Dinner was this: https://foodwishes.blogspot.com/2016/10/chicken-sausage-peppers-and-potatoes.html?m=1
It was simple, but amazing. So simply amazing is an accurate description.
@kawichris650
Oh man that’s gotta be good!
@kawichris650 what cool part of the country are you currently residing in, to go for an oven roast dish?
@kawichris650 A chicken scarpariello, by any other name, would smell as sweet. I’m with Ron though, that’s a dish for after the summer.
This was my favorite dish at a neighborhood restaurant, but they took it off the menu. The NYT’s recipe (gift link), from the legendary Rao’s in E. Harlem, looks extremely promising. And considering that my chances of getting into Rao’s are slim to none, I’ll be giving it a try.
@rjquillin nothing a lot of air conditioning can’t fix!
@radiolysis @rjquillin yum
@kaolis @radiolysis @rjquillin
I second. Yum!
Pulled pork stuffed peppers
Last night. Great restaurant. Fresh in-season veggies. Mains were flatiron, roasted chix, arctic char, and locally raised pork chop. All spectacular. Only have a few pics as we forgot to snap and just dug in.
Pistachio ice cream “pic is the base” from yesterdayand a brilliant bottle of Riesling
@ScottW58 did we ever tell you about the non traditional neopolitain ice cream we made?
@klezman
I don’t think so?
@kaolis Taking your advice
@davirom lesson learned
Campo Grande Iberico/Wagyu blend burgers topped with my bacon and my bride’s pimento cheese
@kaolis
Brilliant! And with tots
@kaolis that Burgundy from WTSO? I think I’ve got a bottle. How is it?
@klezman Yessir! WTSO purchase March '16, one bottle so nothing prior to go on. No hurry but I would suggest putting this in your sooner rather than later weeknight/casual rotation. It picked up a little depth and was a bit more interesting after a couple of hours or so
2009 Tercero Grenache Blanc Camp 4 Vineyard
2006 Marion Amarone della Valpolicella.
With Homemade Pesto (abundance of Basil, and good local Italian places for the rest of the ingredients).
Azienda Agricola Marion is a relatively small, family-run winery in the Veneto Region. Visit them if you have a chance…they make fabulous wines.
@FritzCat Bravo for having made homemade pesto. Try pesto + penne pasta + green beans= yumm!
@CorTot UC? How was it?
@rjquillin yes, but it was bought and delivered in 2021.
A bit jammy but seems to be well made. Not over the top.
@karenhynes How was the Cast?
@hscottk
I (we all) liked it! It’s definitely fruit driven. The only bottle I have (from the mystery case). Would definitely consider picking up a few bottles given an appropriate opportunity.
@karenhynes Looking forward to trying my bottle, thanks!
@kaolis That’s some amazing looking tuna.
@rjquillin What kind of shanks are those? They look delicious.
@jmdavidson1
and they were; Costco, but really don’t show well in the pic. And yes, lamb. Sous-vide to warm it up.
Went quite well with that MM CF as well that surprised me with it’s freshness.
@rjquillin Lamb? Pork? I love CF and we don’t see much of it.
@jmdavidson1 And yes, lamb. Sous-vide to warm it up.
Abba tribute band tonight. Who is planning to come on the 27th?
@davirom maybe. Might even try to bring the kids
Getting ready for the Stones to start their show, beer in hand! Whiskey for later…
@klezman Nice! I have a couple of Stones concert stories from wayyyyyy back in the day that are probably best left unsaid…ha!
@kaolis one guy nearby was saying he saw his first Stones show back in '74.
This was my first because by the time I could actually consider going their prices became stratospheric. Half to have finally seen them!
Quick Sat afternoon
@chefjess interesting mix of young and old!
How’s the Siran and Gambrels? And the bubbly Goodfellow?
With a 12 hour lamb shoulder.
Cooking some rib steaks and decided to open a bottle of 2012 Notre Vin Cuvee l’Etrier - got it at an auction but it was advertised as the Howell Mountain. Oh well.
@klezman
I ended up with some of both, and found the Cuvée quite serviceable.
@rjquillin oh, am excellent wine in its own right. But half the price of the other.
2003 McClean Vineyards Syrah Estate Private Reserve
brats, beer boiled and grilled along with papaya, 'shrooms, squash and some Anson Mills coarse polenta integrale
@rjquillin Thems good grits
@rjquillin
How is the McLean holding up? Think I have one '03 left. They were only offered 1x, IIRC. After that it was just the '05s and '07s. I think the '05 is my favorite of the three.
@kaolis
That might be the most sexy leg quarters I have ever seen!
With baby backs, fried chicken & cole slaw. The Van Ruiten was delicious but the Pinkie Swear is on a downward trajectory. Drink 'em if you got 'em!
At my wife’s family’s 94th annual reunion. None of the next-gen kids want to do the work to keep it going, so we are just trying to limp our way to #100.
@jmdavidson1
SWMBO loves oxtail.
If the wine is as good as that soup looks…
@jmdavidson1 I was waiting until after you had posted your review on the wine. Is the recipe for your oxtail soup available online? It looks interesting (nice veggies, not overly dense broth).
2008 Inspiration Vineyards Chardonnay Russian River Valley
@rjquillin another oldie from WW days!
@kaolis is this typical of how peeps eat and drink in retirement?
Perhaps I need to reconsider a few life choices
@kaolis Your pasta looks delicious. What’s in it?
@jmdavidson1 Thanks… fresh cracked pepper pasta, prosciutto that had a quick go in a frying pan first, touch of bacon because I had a cooked piece in the fridge, smidge of peas, a little pecorino, sauce is basically just a little olive oil, burrata, pasta water
With the rare occasion that entire family is together at the lake. Perfect with steak. Merlot was an emergency third bottle.
Did a batch of Pollo A Jocomino, basically
garlic, chili and cumin roast chicken. With a really nice champagne to keep me cool in this sweltering heat 
Pressed ribs, pork belly, kielbasa, chorizo and Peruvian chicken.
@msten
Yum!
@msten And, yumm for the Corliss!!!
Lots of good stuff coming out there!
Don’t know what I’m eating yet but I’m finishing a 2010 Two Jakes Roman Reserve Cab Franc. Excellent yesterday and today.
Then on to a 2021 Bedrock Evangelho Carignan.
Prime time for this, sadly last one
Greetings from Bath, ME, on the banks of the Kennebec River. Txakolina bubbles alongside locally farmed oysters. Would’ve had more, but we polished off lobster rolls not long ago.
@InFrom From the map, that looks like an amazing place to visit! We’ve never ventured far into Maine – only up the coast as far as Boothbay Harbor for a brief visit (on our honeymoon 46 years ago).
@InFrom
Outstanding! I can almost feel the cool air
@InFrom @ScottW58
A chill 25C; hit 40 here today.
@Mark_L There’s a lot to do in this area, and some beautiful beaches. Bath itself isn’t super-touristy, it’s still a shipbuilding town, but it’s got a quaint downtown and some nice side streets, and some fun, new businesses popping up, like this bubbles and oysters joint associated with a family-run oyster farm.
@rjquillin @ScottW58 I feel for you. We’re closing the sliders here, it’s getting a bit chilly. Wait a sec, I’ll send a cool zephyr your way.
@InFrom @rjquillin
Biotch no offence intended
@rjquillin @ScottW58 None taken lol.
@rjquillin @ScottW58 We got it in spades last week in the city, heat and humidity, and I was running around like a nut with multiple trips to the mechanic so the car would be ready. So I don’t feel guilty enjoying the 19C, clean Maine air atm.
2009 Iron Horse Vineyards Summer’s Cuvée
another WW bottle from 11 years ago
Finishing up the evening with Erica Orr’s 2023 Chenin Blanc. Perfect with the leftovers of the smoked pollock dip we took home from the oyster place. With Ritz crackers and rounds of sourdough baguette.
@InFrom
So nice, enjoy!
@InFrom @ScottW58
23’s already? Just received some '22’s from BD this year.
Just saw the release notes a few days ago
@rjquillin @ScottW58 You made me double-check! Maybe you bought the '22 in bottle on BD? I got the '23 futures, which shipped in the spring.
@InFrom @ScottW58
Yes, BD, not futures; but BD also shipped this spring.
Still available @~$30. Buy?
@rjquillin @ScottW58 We’re loving it.
y’all are rockin’ it! I know I’m not supposed to turn the oven on this time of year, but short ribs…and the older I get I guess I’m throwing out my rule of no Bordeaux before a minimum of 10 years
@kaolis Looks delicious! It is early for a Pauillac of that age, but why not! YOLO!
(Had some of those in years past, and they were great).
@kaolis
although I’m drinking my 18’s
Eh Fonbadet is made to drink early and that’s a good one
@ScottW58 Def tasty but clamped down like a dog’s butt after pooping after a couple of hours…
@kaolis drink faster
Flannery hanger & Virage, a great way to close out the weekend…
@rc70 Great stuff on both counts!
Carne Asada tacos, peach cherry and burrata salad and a couple of fine bottles imho.
2011 Notre Vin L’Etrier with a Flannery hanger. 2011 has turned out to be a better vintage than I realized. These are just so good.
@hscottk 'tso has some other vintages of Notre Vin still available
@hscottk agree on 2011. In a place so warm like Napa it really helps when you get a colder year.
A cheap wtso rosé, worth the thirteen bucks though, and pulled pork tacos, last of the last butt.
A surprisingly good delivered wood fired pizza and a great young Produttori.
@ScottW58 Well that’s a damn nice Wednesday bottle, I’ve a few regulars haven’t popped one. And pepperoni quantity gets a thumbs up!
2023 Goodfellow Pinot Noir Rose
Fried pork chops, cheesy Palmetto Farms white grits (made with half-and-half and homemade chicken stock, @klezman calls that cheating I believe), sliced maters (need to get north, mater season about done/done here, sad)
Finished up a 2018 Fritz RRV pinot
@kaolis cheating? How so? I’d always cook polenta in chicken (or other) stock. I usually lay off the cream and butter, but that’s just so I can eat more of it.
I had the cheesiest grits I could imagine at a Korean Cajun fusion restaurant in New York called KJUN. Wow they were rich.
@klezman Just kidding, you mentioned the cream before, but I see it’s a volume thing
I’m usually just stock, but went with cheese, the 1/2 and 1/2 along with butter this time…complemented the fried pork fat on the chops 
KJUN sounds interesting
@kaolis I quite liked it. The chef immigrated from Korea to New Orleans or something when she was a kid. The fusion isn’t forced at all.
I want a fan of the pickled okra, though. I can’t get used to that vegetable.
@klezman
You weren’t a fan…?
@rjquillin Stupid autocorrect
@klezman @rjquillin Lowcountry living or not, okra not on my list of go to veggies…however botanically it is fruit not veggie, as it is a seed pod…more worthless info
@kaolis @rjquillin You want to get into botanical semantics? Yes!
Most things we call “berries” are nothing resembling a botanical berry. Things that are berries, botanically: grapes, tomatoes, eggplant, redcurrant, kiwi, cucumbers, bananas, gooseberry, and blueberry.
Botanically speaking, I don’t think vegetable means much at all.
We have this discussion with our kids all the time.
2012 Braganini Reserve Whole Cluster Riesling w/ chicken and steak kabobs, corn on the cob, herb & butter rice and unseen green stuff. The Riesling was surprisingly fresh, which was a nice surprise, especially after having to pour out a Clayhouse SB of the same vintage.
Wine dinner last night. Food was delicious!
@kaolis - we also had a J Rochioli chard.
@chefjess
Looks almost too good to eat!
@chefjess yum!
@klezman @chipgreen
Beautiful presentation, but boy did we eat it all!!
Lobster turnover, pork dumpling, hamachi crudo, tomato salad. Not pictured: watermelon/tomato/peach gazpacho (amazing!), scallops, tenderloin, duck, pork, strawberry gochujang ice cream. Fresh local produce and the meats were also locally sourced. This place has great food and service.
@chefjess @chipgreen strawberry gochujang ice cream?! WANT
@chefjess The 2015 Rachael’s was ready to go, if I have more it’ll go into the rotation sooner rather than later
A tad of Frogmore Stew
@kaolis
A proper meal with a proper drink
Last night: return to the scene of the crime in Bath. Thought I was having a half-dozen this time, only to have my spouse realize oysters are delicious and eat half of them. With a fun Pet Nat from France.
@InFrom
Is it close enough to be a day-trip for you or did you just enjoy it so much that you had to go back? Either way, glad to see you living your best life but too bad about the oysters!
Tonight’s pic: midway through a crustacean demolition in Belfast. With an excellent Loire blend, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc.
1:
@InFrom
Why do you hate me ??
@ScottW58 You’re swimming in oysters, with caviar, no less, and a cargo container’s worth of lovely bubbles, and you’re the one who’s suffering?
The grass is always greener on the other side… of the country.
@InFrom
Well you have cool air and a view, it’s the little things
@InFrom
Those crustaceans never had a chance!
Well a week or so ago had pulled pork not pictured. Coleslaw not pictures a boat load of oysters with caviar and some great wines
@ScottW58 Holy cow!
@rjquillin
Oops delete them
@ScottW58 Nice spread!
2007 Meeker Grenache Forklift
last bottle, not the vendor, but in the cellar
Shakshuka with Merguez Sausage damn good! and this is drinking really well.
@ScottW58
Looks delicious!
@chipgreen
It was! When are you coming out to California to eat and drink rather than beating your head against the wall talking politics
@ScottW58 I’ve been sitting on 4 bottles of the Sammarco. How is it? Decanted? CTers recommend 2 or more hours.
@ScottW58
I will have to start working on the boss. It would be an easier sell if there was an RPM tour in the works but that seems to be a pipe dream at this point. And could not agree more with the beating my head against the wall comment!
@jmdavidson1
I popped it yesterday and had a glass it was great. Put a cork in it left on the counter today it was fantastic! Ymmv
@ScottW58 Thanks. I’ll have to go into the stash. I also have 4 of the 2011’s.
@ScottW58 that’s a great idea! Love merguez.
@infrom
You really nailed this one! Thanks for the rec. Spain really has the best fish conserva’s canned in the world and this tuna belly rocks!
@ScottW58 I’m happy to hear it! Sounds so good. I’ll have to give it a whirl. Did you get anything else from them? Their wholesale location opens their doors to retail customers on Saturday mornings. Back in the before times they used to put out samples of chorizo and the like, and pour a plastic cup of tinto for anyone who walked in the door. That was fun.
Oh and for the record, tonight’s meal was steamed local string beans, and on the grill, corn on the cob, local scallops scampi style, and a beautiful piece of halibut. I don’t get to grill when we’re at home, so I’m enjoying it. To drink, a meh bottle of Mumm’s Rose.
@InFrom
yes ordered more and some of the regular tuna belly Ventresca to try. 
That sounds great, I would be there all the time
@ScottW58 I’ll be interested to hear how you like it, compared to the stuff from BD.
I’m loving all this great fresh fish here in Maine, but I keep thinking about the lonely tin of Spanish sardines we schlepped along with us, in case of emergency. We got some great bread today from a transplanted Italian restauranteur. I can’t stop thinking about a nice sandwich with arugula and a little tomato. It didn’t happen last week, will it happen next week? If it does, there will be pics.
@InFrom
Interesting. I have only had Mumm 2x but had the same “meh” reaction both times.
2001 Buckeley’s Shiraz; dtd
2009 MontGras Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva; pretty decent, 2nd and last bottle, swmbo didn’t like
2021 Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon; just to see what I should do with them, swmbo had this
Flannery burgers, fully dressed steak blend, with mac and goat cheese and leftover grilled papaya and a green to balance things out.
@rjquillin
What did you determine you should do with with the Slingshot?
@kawichris650 Multiple options…
I will see what it does over a week or so in the fridge, no Ar, so I may have to reevaluate a bit, but for now I don’t see it becoming a daily drinker for me…
Going to a friend’s house for some wood fired pizza.
@chipgreen looks like that’ll be a delicious evening!
@klezman
It was! They prepared a really nice charcuterie board and fresh peppers w/ hummus and also canteloupe. We were half full by the time we ate the pizza. I started taking pics but got lazy after awhile.
@chipgreen I can’t believe you still have Revelry. Epic. Ckassic.
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 How was that Juslyn?
@jmdavidson1 @kaolis
Still have quite a few Revelry. The Juslyn was easily WotN.
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @kaolis
Always loved Juslyn wines and always discounted somewhere, need to pick some up.
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @ScottW58 Juslyn comes and goes at Wineslash. They have the '19 estate cab for $65 at the moment
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 You don’t still have Revelry? I’m only starting to think about drinking the majority of them now! I think I’ve got 10 or so remaining.
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @klezman I have a few Revelry stored alongside my Victories.
pretty simple tonight~
the other lamb shank in the package of two from Costco,
some leftover polenta and G-beans
2018 de Négoce Cabernet Franc OG N.51
that seems to be my second bottle, the first back in Jan of '21.
Had to dump the '09 terecro Grenache Blanc Camp 4, just too much petrol for the palate; and, a couple of cases of Revelry still exist here as well.
tasty enough little bottle that I overpaid for on an unplanned stop
pasta was quite good
@kaolis
I used to buy a lot of Perbacco always liked them. Looks great!
Did the standard Alaska cruise with family.
With the help of others, brought 4 bottles on-board.
2022 50th Anniversary Caymus,
2002 30th Anniversary Caymus,
Penfolds Grandfather Port
& Wellington Port
The 2002 Caymus was in excellent shape, and was a good old-school Napa Cab.
This 2022 Tempranillo, from Kelowna BC, was being tasted at a wine shop in Vancouver, and was very good, so I stopped back after the cruise and bought a couple to take home.
@FritzCat We have never been on a cruise, but an Alaska cruise (including Glacier Bay) with a private balcony (perhaps for our 50th anniversary in 4 years?) is on my bucket list. I would love to hear recommendations/suggestions from those who have taken them.
Last night simple summer pasta, melted anchovies and garlic in olive oil with cherry tomatoes. Also slow roasted tomatoes garlic parsley olive oil with a Spanish seasoning Tomatador. Really good!
@ScottW58 You rock it with that pasta. The simpler, the better. Yumm!
Celebrating SWMBOs promotion with some sushi and bubbles.
@hscottk Mazal tov!
That is exactly how molarchae prefers to celebrate, too.
After finishing off that Ty’s Red, I’ve got ribs smoking on the grill and am about to open a 2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah T ‘n’ S Blocks Hudson Vineyard South.
These delicious pork patties wrapped in caul fat and the tomatoes on Focaccia.
@ScottW58 Never heard of those patties, another pork product to try!