Vacation has begun. Driving North from FCO, found a little family run winery. No English spoken by the very pleasant young woman who allowed us to taste the bulk wines…3 or 5L plastic bottles for sale at 1.30 Euros. An old guy was leaving with a 5L as we arrived. They sold Sangio, Cab Sauv, Merlot and blends with Montepulciano and others. This is the 2020 Sangio. Pretty dang good!
Pic to follow…maybe
@rjquillin I picked up the jar I’d opened a couple of weeks ago, and noticed I already had an even bigger jar open in the fridge. I’m gonna have to step up my caper consumption.
@InFrom Glad you enjoyed the pasta. I have another tuna/spaghetti recipe if you’re interested. It has capers and olives. The vermentino should have been a good pairing.
@InFrom Takes three or four months for us to empty one of these from Costco for ~$10 or so. Generally try to keep one or two in the pantry, as they were out of them when the Suez was plugged up with that ship run aground. Can’t imagine $10 for 8Oz or so at a normal market.
I’ve been so-so on these wines but this was drinking nicely. Better than I thought with Campo Grande Skirt steak…just another messy pile of protein. Thought I took it too far, these are thin, but it was just fine. A short brine helped I think.
@kaolis I’ve only tried the '17 so far, and I’d apply the “just fine” label to it, as opposed to some of the actual Franny Beck I’ve had, which I thought was excellent.
@InFrom@klezman@ScottW58 Can’t get away with anything around here can you? I don’t generally rate wines…in the old days I’d say it’s a solid 87-89 and given the price would seek it out (in fact I did take a look and see if these are still available, looks like they are) but no one drinks anything less than 90 points anymore so in today’s world I’d bump it up to a solid 90+… with the caveat of that bottle on that day at that time…and not sure if it was a Fruit Day
Making some pork chops and green stuff to go with this: 2017 I. Brand & Family Mourvèdre Old Vine Enz Vineyard
He makes fun wine and I love the Enz Vineyard.
Leftover French onion soup made with oxtail stock and oxtail, at this point it’s oxtail soup with some onions and a 2000 Mondavi I block fume blanc. Delicious!
Made some confit tomatoes with Campo Grande lollipops. Went a little over got distracted but still juicy and delicious! Speaking of delicious confit tomatoes omg.
@ScottW58 Hanging around here is inspirational! After seeing this I made a little confit with the tiny tomatoes I had left over from last week’s pasta alla Carlofortina, spread it on a nice multigrain baguette, and sprinkled it with the remains of the bread crumbs with capers and pine nuts I still had hanging around. With some scrambled eggs. So good! Breakfast of champions. No wine though.
@hscottk On pnp, I found it to be having muted fruit and an acidic finish. I recorked it and tried it again tonight. Much better now. Tasty red and black fruits with no acidic finish.
Looking for something to open and came across a 2016 Twisted Oak *%#&@! “Potty Mouth”. No regrets (except that it’s one less bottle of it in my cellar).
@ScottW58 Visiting my son. His house overlooks Puget Sound. Alas, he is a beer drinker - not interested in wine. And his taste buds are much better than mine.
NV Takatenjin Sword of the Sun
with some unagi, followed by
2012 Pedroncelli Vintage Port Four Grapes
with some chocolate mousse, 'cause I still wanted something else
Nothing fancy and bad pics, but cracked the other zin from the Meadowcroft offer for a little brisket. Told myself to give up trying small pieces because I turn them into leather so what do I do…buy a 3# chunk. Tried not to overthink it and it worked. Dry rubbed and wrapped for 2 days. In my little Smokin-it at 200 with mesquite/hickory/cherry. Temp was only showing 176 but a probe was going in easily so I’m thinking done. Wrapped for 30 minutes and success! You don’t get a smoke ring in these and bark was iffy but tasty.
@kaolis what are the Meadowcrofts like? I’ve never gone in on the offers and I also just noticed LA Wine Company has several of their wines at a nice price.
@klezman I liked both of them. Not delicate zins, but not jammy by any means. Solid, well made. The Wyldvin was more fruit forward and brighter. The Speedy Creek a bit more subdued, touch of leather. Drinking well now but these will both go a bit.
Last night, 2009 Noceto Sangiovese Riserva w/ground bison meat pizza at Myles’ Pizza Pub in Greenville, SC. It was my favorite pizza in college at Bowling Green in NW OH. The owners retired and moved to SC then got bored after a couple years and reopened the pizza shop with their daughter in SC. I found out about it last year and made a point to get there while we are in Asheville, NC for our Anniversary weekend.
The owners sat down and chatted with us for quite awhile. It was nice and the pizza is as delicious as ever! Interestingly, our waitress and her boyfriend who also works there used to live in Sonoma and he is a registered Sommelier. We had a nice conversation with both of them as well and left half the bottle of Noceto for them to drink. Good times!
Last night went to a dinner and the theme was Bordeaux vs Northern Rhones, fortunately they got fancy and made a menu so I didn’t take pics of the food a very good night.
@chefjess
They were all pretty great maybe the Ampuis on the Rhone side and the Pinchon or Pontet on the Bordeaux side? Although the northern Rhones wiped the floor with the Bordeaux IMHO
I am an utter philistine. Bishop Blood Orange, the last can of it from the pantry. I shall lament missing those Casemates ciders of weeks past for a long time. I will also continue to maintain the forlorn hope of one day seeing a New Zealand Feijoa cider here. (Alas, it shall never be.)
Ok so the Walter Scott, I think was a onesie from a sampler pack, hope I don’t have anymore. After the fact I see CT mentions matchstick reduction. I thought sulfur and petrol but it was god awful. No change after like 3 hours, probably going down the drain but it’s back in the fridge, see what it’s like tonight.
The shrimps were tasty, a little seasoned panko and a couple of sauces. A little twist at least for me is I’ve been brining them lately. Been cooking and eating fresh shrimp this neck of the woods for 40 years but never dawned on me to try a brine. 20-30 minutes is about it. Firm/tender/juices them up a bit.
Also finished up the last of a 2018 32 Winds Pinot, Platt Vineyard. Big wine that needs some time.
@karenhynes
I loved those Juslyn’s back in the day! They got beat up a bit back on woot because they were expensive/cult kind of thing but I loved them. Good?
@ScottW58
I really like it. I completely forgot I still had any left until I found it sitting in the rack. I had opened something else but didn’t really like where it was (hoping for improvement tomorrow night).
@karenhynes@ScottW58 I’ve got a few '17’s and '18’s of Perry’s and CT says I have four '14’s but that probably means I have zero. And a couple estate cabs? You’re going to make me look. I think they sold/is for sale?
@hscottk I thought it was showing well, maybe not as well as some other vintages and not as enthusiastic as some CT reviewers. (which I don’t take much stock in but one of the reviewers there drinks a ton of Kutch) but no fizz and double checked with the bride on that. I’ve got two more to go, will wait awhile on another.
It was the boses birthday and Andrea wanted to spend the weekend at the beach so down to Encinitas. Last night went to the Pacific grill in Cardiff for dinner last night. Great food and the 94 Margaux rocked my world! Met a fellow wine lover and his wife at the restaurant and they brought over a Laurent Perrier 25 fun times! Tonight opened a burg at a high end Mexican restaurant at the hotel ( who knew?). Headed home tomorrow and the boss is really happy! I done good
@chipgreen Sometime I need to stop by Terravox when I’m around Kansas City (just a couple of hours away from me). I know that Clark has mentioned them.
@chipgreen@Mark_L I tried several of their wines recently and found them to be a mixed bag. A prior order on berserker day I enjoyed more than the recent stuff.
@Mark_L
They make wine from many interesting grapes. This was our first ever Wetumka. Supposedly reminiscent of a Melon de Bourgogne. I have only had Muscadet a few times and not recently, so can’t really compare other than to say that I recall more minerality and salinity with the Muscadet than with the Wetumka.
@chipgreen I was thinking that @winesmith mentioned a chambourcin from TerraVox, but I don’t see it mentioned in their offerings (or by searching). I’m interested in trying a chambourcin sometime.
@Mark_L@winesmith
Are you anywhere near Augusta? I still have a 2010 Augusta Winery Chambourcin from when my wife and I visited MO “wine country” after my Niece’s wedding in St. Louis about 10 years ago. I’m guessing at least a few of the wineries in the Augusta/Hermann area would have a Chambourcin.
It’s Wellington Wednesday, is that correct? Well I have purchased (all from the previous site) a total of three bottles of Wellington lifetime, tonight is bottle number two. My bride said “well this is tasty”
@klezman@rjquillin Was that confusing? I have purchased 3 bottles of Wellington wine. I purchased a 3 pack from w**t a few years back. Drank one shortly after purchase, one last night, so I have one left, a '13 Victory. So depending on how one parses them out, or I guess the one remaining bottle, it may indeed be enough for several lifetimes?
@kaolis@rjquillin your statement wasn’t confusing - just that somehow you only ever bought 3 bottles!
My second woot purchase was a 3 pack of Wellington.
Last knight a friend came out from Iowa on business so four of us got together to cook and drink some wine! The Chicken roulade or ballotine in mushroom sauce was the clear winner
Yeah yeah so I can’t count, the hosts wife jumped in. My wife couldn’t make it because she’s a working stiff I had to leave early for a golf tournament at 7am yesterday. Most of the wines that were drunk were the Rhones and champagne everything else were just small tastes. @chefjess the Madeira was silky smooth and delicious, I guess if you give one a hundred or so years those crappy wines become drinkable ha. I was just happy Kenny delivered my yearly bottle of his gorgeous hot sauce!
Celebrating an accepted offer on a new house with 2006 Iron Horse Vineyards Brut Rosé and Pizzeria Sei. Mala lamb pizza. Yeah. @ScottW58 you guys need to get over here while it’s still this house!
@chipgreen De Lorenzo’s is legendary but I give the nod to Contes with fresh garlic. Both have been around forever, but Contes flies a bit under the radar.
The boss had two clients cancel so she came home early, good thing for her because I was eating this smoked chicken and drinking this bottle with or without her
@chipgreen@ScottW58
Yes I did; just sour grapes I think for her presentation that day and unwillingness to pull a cork on her Bentley for the CS vets group.
I have continued to pick up her offers here.
Sorry for the multiple bottle shots. But thought it interesting the label says abv 9.0 and the back label says abv a range of 11-14. Might have seen the range thing before though?
Tuna/chili garlic/jasmine rice grits/wasabi and radish microgreens
Mixin it up a bit
NV Mioya Brewery Yuho Junmai “Eternal Embers”
Fresh caught (yesterday) yellowtail comma, greens with oysters, Japanese cuke from the garden and some miso soup.
Also in the thread of “drink them since they might be too old”: 2006 Buttonwood Cabernet Franc
One of my favourite wine.woot purchsaes ever. I bought a bunch more at the winery. Thanks @WineDavid49!
@ScottW58 I don’t design the labels, I just drink the wine. The wife doesn’t believe in half way when it comes to toppings. And neither do I.
EDIT: If I remember correctly, the intent of the label was to show support for farm workers.
@davirom@ScottW58 probably to leave it flexible in case she alters the blend in future years. Then she doesn’t need to go back to the government for approval.
@kaolis Nice.
How was the Pax?
I had a 2005 Pax Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard and didn’t at all care for it.
Still have a couple 2003 Pax Syrah Cuvée Keltie I’m now not sure what to do with.
@rjquillin I have to say we were pleasantly surprised. I was worried it was going to be nothing but a mouthful of acid after first taste and it did need a good hour to come around. Meaty/beef broth/leather. Still enough fruit, tannins resolved. Last of my Pax from that era.
In Costco today and spotted the swordfish steaks again so had to do @jmdavidson1 Tuscan grilled steaks again with hassleback potatoes, and some green stuff that is not worth a pic
@kaolis
Sadly impossible to find on the left coast but I buy a few bottles each vintage because it actually pairs very well with garlic well and it is delicious!
Revisits the 2020 Peachy Canyon Zin from the case I ordered. Bottle shock is a thing if you are drinking the day after it ships(referring to the rat bottle). Had it with Korean bbq beef ribs tonight and…. Amazing! Definitely not disappointed in the case.
Last night made a teres major cooked in a cast iron pan wit mushroom gravy and a dollop of green stuff. Carrie from Morgan ranch emailed she had some of these she needed to unload (she knows a sucker when she sees one) anyways did a little research and found out it’s more or as tender than a filet but with flavor! They were great, who knew? Wine was also fantastic
@hscottk I like those little tails, a little boring I agree. I like the aged short loin tails more, used to buy a ton of them. But they got moved from the it’s a deal category so don’t buy as often.
Okay I blame @ jmdavidson1 for this. Recreating a Swanson TV dinner. Salisbury steak/gravy/green beans/mashed potatoes and cherry pie with a 76 because that might be the last year I ate one.
2018 Columbia Winery Cab Sauv w/pizza
2017 Flowers Pinot Noir Rosé
2019 Winesmith Malbec, Diamond Ridge Vineyard
Flannery Kali burgers
Finishing up the zin from a couple of nights ago…burg nothing crazy but a-ok with the tuna…which looks a mess on further review, must’ve been hungry
Vacation has begun. Driving North from FCO, found a little family run winery. No English spoken by the very pleasant young woman who allowed us to taste the bulk wines…3 or 5L plastic bottles for sale at 1.30 Euros. An old guy was leaving with a 5L as we arrived. They sold Sangio, Cab Sauv, Merlot and blends with Montepulciano and others. This is the 2020 Sangio. Pretty dang good!
Pic to follow…maybe
@FritzCat
Lots of pics I hope
Long live the King!
@hscottk I drink a tad of Pseudo Sue cans/draft, the only one I come across when WI way
@jmdavidson The sincerest form of flattery…
Pasta alla Carlofortina, where have you been all my life???
Green stuff is white tonight, roasted cauliflower under a panko/caper/pignoli topping.
@InFrom luv me some capers in most anything
@rjquillin I picked up the jar I’d opened a couple of weeks ago, and noticed I already had an even bigger jar open in the fridge. I’m gonna have to step up my caper consumption.
I just remembered a chicken recipe I made several times, years ago. I’m gonna have to get it back into the rotation. https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/sauteed-chicken-olives-capers-and-roasted-lemons
@InFrom Glad you enjoyed the pasta. I have another tuna/spaghetti recipe if you’re interested. It has capers and olives. The vermentino should have been a good pairing.
@jmdavidson1 It was a good pairing. I was happy to find the Vermentino in the liquor store next to the supermarket this morning.
I’d love to have a look at that recipe, thanks for offering.
@InFrom Done. Buon appettito!
@InFrom Takes three or four months for us to empty one of these from Costco for ~$10 or so. Generally try to keep one or two in the pantry, as they were out of them when the Suez was plugged up with that ship run aground. Can’t imagine $10 for 8Oz or so at a normal market.
@rjquillin Dang, you don’t play! A quart!
@InFrom @rjquillin but only salt packed capers are worth eating
2013 Carte Blanche Pinot Noir, Nobles Ranch Vineyard, Sonoma Coast
Damn this is good. Somewhat bigger for a Pinot but nicely full of earth and spice.
I’ve been so-so on these wines but this was drinking nicely. Better than I thought with Campo Grande Skirt steak…just another messy pile of protein. Thought I took it too far, these are thin, but it was just fine. A short brine helped I think.
@kaolis I’ve only tried the '17 so far, and I’d apply the “just fine” label to it, as opposed to some of the actual Franny Beck I’ve had, which I thought was excellent.
@InFrom @kaolis what’s the rating after taking price into account?
@InFrom @kaolis @klezman
Does wine get better based on price?
@InFrom @kaolis @ScottW58 would it have been better to ask how the QPR compares?
@InFrom @klezman @ScottW58 Can’t get away with anything around here can you? I don’t generally rate wines…in the old days I’d say it’s a solid 87-89 and given the price would seek it out (in fact I did take a look and see if these are still available, looks like they are) but no one drinks anything less than 90 points anymore so in today’s world I’d bump it up to a solid 90+… with the caveat of that bottle on that day at that time…and not sure if it was a Fruit Day
fwiw…ha!
@InFrom @kaolis @ScottW58 Scott never misses a chance to poke fun at me, it’s true!
@InFrom @kaolis @klezman
Someone has to step up why not me
On the deck, enjoying a beautiful Fall evening.
Actually, late afternoon. Segue into dinner with steaks on the grill, mac n cheese, redskin potatoes, green beans and a Jean Edwards Cab.
@chipgreen Nice wine. BD purchases for me and all were solid.
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1
I always like those too! I know I must have more of those laying around somewhere
@chipgreen @jmdavidson1 @ScottW58
2016 BD, I think that was my first year. I’ll have to endeavor to find them.
Delicious. Perfect with meatloaf
I’ve been slacking lately, so…
Happy Wednesday!

@kawichris650

Piggybacking…
Making some pork chops and green stuff to go with this: 2017 I. Brand & Family Mourvèdre Old Vine Enz Vineyard
He makes fun wine and I love the Enz Vineyard.
Leftover French onion soup made with oxtail stock and oxtail, at this point it’s oxtail soup with some onions and a 2000 Mondavi I block fume blanc. Delicious!

@ScottW58 '00? Nice
Probably past prime but ok in my book. With lamb burgers/caramelized onions/goat milk curds/demi
@kaolis
Damn baller
Made some confit tomatoes with Campo Grande lollipops. Went a little over got distracted but still juicy and delicious! Speaking of delicious confit tomatoes omg.

@ScottW58
Yum!!!
@ScottW58 Hanging around here is inspirational! After seeing this I made a little confit with the tiny tomatoes I had left over from last week’s pasta alla Carlofortina, spread it on a nice multigrain baguette, and sprinkled it with the remains of the bread crumbs with capers and pine nuts I still had hanging around. With some scrambled eggs. So good! Breakfast of champions. No wine though.
@InFrom
Nice! I did something similar tonight but put a little tuna on top and same here no wine
@ScottW58 You did have a drop or two last night…
@rc70 surf and turf…how’s the vino? no '15 but picked up a few from WTSO and have enjoyed them
@kaolis Drinking very nicely, I’ve picked up a few vintages and enjoyed them as well.
@davirom Pizza night here too! I opened the 2018 Our Wines PN. Very nice, it exceeded what I expected after the comments on CT.
@davirom @InFrom r
I’ve got some of that Our Wines Pinot somewhere. I should find that one of these days.
@InFrom Wie have some of the Our Wines also, but we’re on the road so we picked up this bottle at a Grocery Outlet.
@karenhynes Worth searching for, IMO.
@karenhynes How’s that 2013? I keep staring at mine and wondering whether it’s matured enough.
@klezman
Still pretty tight. Lots of life left.
@karenhynes Thanks…sounds like I still need to give it a year or two.
@jmdavidson1 How was it?
@hscottk On pnp, I found it to be having muted fruit and an acidic finish. I recorked it and tried it again tonight. Much better now. Tasty red and black fruits with no acidic finish.
Tasting group last night. First time I’ve actually smelled and tasted barnyard. I think my description was, ‘horse stall.’
Two side-by-sides: the three 2012 Freedom Hill Pinots and two 2017 1910 Block Zins. That Elizabeth Chambers was fantastic along with the St Innocent.
@chefjess fan of those St Innocent’s for sure
Looking for something to open and came across a 2016 Twisted Oak *%#&@! “Potty Mouth”. No regrets (except that it’s one less bottle of it in my cellar).
@davirom
Where are you I think I like the view
@ScottW58 Visiting my son. His house overlooks Puget Sound. Alas, he is a beer drinker - not interested in wine. And his taste buds are much better than mine.
@CorTot How are those doing?
@hscottk last one!
Drinking real well, I always felt this was one of the better WC releases.
@CorTot Great to hear! I have a couple somewhere…
@CorTot @hscottk
Yup, now, to find them…
NV Takatenjin Sword of the Sun
with some unagi, followed by
2012 Pedroncelli Vintage Port Four Grapes
with some chocolate mousse, 'cause I still wanted something else
2012 Wellington Cabernet Sauvignon, Karren Vineyard
With Flannery NY strips and green stuff
@klezman almost pulled that same cork tonight, but too lazy to check inventory, instead, see below
Nothing fancy and bad pics, but cracked the other zin from the Meadowcroft offer for a little brisket. Told myself to give up trying small pieces because I turn them into leather so what do I do…buy a 3# chunk. Tried not to overthink it and it worked. Dry rubbed and wrapped for 2 days. In my little Smokin-it at 200 with mesquite/hickory/cherry. Temp was only showing 176 but a probe was going in easily so I’m thinking done. Wrapped for 30 minutes and success! You don’t get a smoke ring in these and bark was iffy but tasty.
@kaolis what are the Meadowcrofts like? I’ve never gone in on the offers and I also just noticed LA Wine Company has several of their wines at a nice price.
@kaolis
What the hell I have never seen a chunk of brisket? And tender at 179 wow?Looks rendered and fantastic.
@ScottW58

Well it started out as a pretty conventional albeit small piece of flat. But cooking, it chunked up
@klezman I liked both of them. Not delicate zins, but not jammy by any means. Solid, well made. The Wyldvin was more fruit forward and brighter. The Speedy Creek a bit more subdued, touch of leather. Drinking well now but these will both go a bit.
@kaolis
Ah got it that makes sense.
Last night, 2009 Noceto Sangiovese Riserva w/ground bison meat pizza at Myles’ Pizza Pub in Greenville, SC. It was my favorite pizza in college at Bowling Green in NW OH. The owners retired and moved to SC then got bored after a couple years and reopened the pizza shop with their daughter in SC. I found out about it last year and made a point to get there while we are in Asheville, NC for our Anniversary weekend.
The owners sat down and chatted with us for quite awhile. It was nice and the pizza is as delicious as ever! Interestingly, our waitress and her boyfriend who also works there used to live in Sonoma and he is a registered Sommelier. We had a nice conversation with both of them as well and left half the bottle of Noceto for them to drink. Good times!
@chipgreen
Oooooh. That looks delicious!!
@chipgreen Happy anniversary!
@chipgreen most always a good turn to share a bottle with the servers and staff, and enjoy that anniversary!
@chefjess @chipgreen
Yum! Happy anniversary and if you’re in the Greenville area for breakfast Biscuit head is great.
@chipgreen
Happy Anniversary!
@chipgreen oh man, thinking we missed out on a great pie
@chipgreen Happy Anniversary to you both!
@kaolis
.
You can go almost any time
I do think you would enjoy it!
Thanks to all for the well wishes.
Last night went to a dinner and the theme was Bordeaux vs Northern Rhones, fortunately they got fancy and made a menu so I didn’t take pics of the food
a very good night. 
@ScottW58
What a fantastic lineup! What was your WOTN?
@ScottW58 That’s amazing.
@ScottW58 Wowza!
@InFrom @ScottW58 baller
@chefjess
They were all pretty great maybe the Ampuis on the Rhone side and the Pinchon or Pontet on the Bordeaux side? Although the northern Rhones wiped the floor with the Bordeaux IMHO
@jmdavidson1
Wish I had some older ones of those
@kaolis
And you call me a baller ha
2004 Meeker Diamond Mountain Cab Sauv at Ruth’s Chris in Asheville, NC. Drinking beautifully!
2016 Babylon’s Peak Warp+Weft Shweshwe
2014 Tercero Grenache with baby back ribs. Lived up to high expectations. Can’t wait for my case to arrive!
@hscottk
I feel the same way, had a 13 & 14 so pulled the corks the other night with friends both excellent - looking forward to the case arrival!
@hscottk @rc70 you mean Stelvin
@hscottk @losthighwayz Twisted off the cap just doesn’t sound right
Also had baby back ribs. Still in beer country. Moose Drool brown ale (Montana) 5%
Eating like a king tonight!

@ScottW58
Love those Saunter’s, at BD pricing QPR is off the charts.
@ScottW58 ditto on the saunter
@jmdavidson1 @ScottW58 @rc70 Truth!
@hscottk @jmdavidson1 @rc70
Yup every time I open one I am very happy!
I am an utter philistine. Bishop Blood Orange, the last can of it from the pantry. I shall lament missing those Casemates ciders of weeks past for a long time. I will also continue to maintain the forlorn hope of one day seeing a New Zealand Feijoa cider here. (Alas, it shall never be.)
Happy Wednesday!

No drinkers tonight?
@jmdavidson1 Just a meh Vermentino, nothing to write home about.
@jmdavidson1
That menu reminds me of Swanson TV dinners from the 50’s, minus the wine of course.
@jmdavidson1 @rjquillin
man I have not had a Salisbury steak in a while.
I remember those fondly just missing the cherry pie
@rjquillin @ScottW58 Some call it diner or comfort food. We called it delicious last night.
@jmdavidson1 @rjquillin @ScottW58 Memories for sure…but I needed corn, no broccoli for me in those days
Wednesday 2.0

Not feeling well. Bacher grapefruit radler with decent ramen. Not a night for better.
2013 Castello di Gabbiano Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Bellezza with ravioli
Ok so the Walter Scott, I think was a onesie from a sampler pack, hope I don’t have anymore. After the fact I see CT mentions matchstick reduction. I thought sulfur and petrol but it was god awful. No change after like 3 hours, probably going down the drain but it’s back in the fridge, see what it’s like tonight.
The shrimps were tasty, a little seasoned panko and a couple of sauces. A little twist at least for me is I’ve been brining them lately. Been cooking and eating fresh shrimp this neck of the woods for 40 years but never dawned on me to try a brine. 20-30 minutes is about it. Firm/tender/juices them up a bit.
Also finished up the last of a 2018 32 Winds Pinot, Platt Vineyard. Big wine that needs some time.
Delicious
2016 Kutch PN McDougall with some damn good sushi.
@hscottk Nice spread! How was the vino?
@kaolis Drinking really well. Stylistically right up the middle with good acid that went very well with the meal. My first Winebid purchase!
@karenhynes
I loved those Juslyn’s back in the day! They got beat up a bit back on woot because they were expensive/cult kind of thing but I loved them. Good?
@ScottW58
I really like it. I completely forgot I still had any left until I found it sitting in the rack. I had opened something else but didn’t really like where it was (hoping for improvement tomorrow night).
@karenhynes @ScottW58 I’ve got a few '17’s and '18’s of Perry’s and CT says I have four '14’s but that probably means I have zero. And a couple estate cabs? You’re going to make me look. I think they sold/is for sale?
2016 zeppelin negrette
2009 Wellington victory
Trader Joe’s pink bubbly
@CorTot how’s the negrette doing? I have one of those floating around.
@hscottk I had zero expectations, quite good. Lighter than I expected. Like a spicy PN or Grenache.
Might be guilty of over-saucing. Flannery pork cap, capellini, mushroom/green peppercorn etc sauce
oh, the Walter Scott still sucks
@kaolis Thoughts on the Kutch?
@kaolis Meant to add, did you find it very mildly effervescent?
@hscottk I thought it was showing well, maybe not as well as some other vintages and not as enthusiastic as some CT reviewers. (which I don’t take much stock in but one of the reviewers there drinks a ton of Kutch) but no fizz and double checked with the bride on that. I’ve got two more to go, will wait awhile on another.
@kaolis the fizz was so faint I almost missed it. Didn’t detract from the wine imo.
Grilled some rib eye, opened a 2016 Pedroncelli Cab. Delicious!
@Mark_L which cab? 3 vineyards? Block 007?
@hscottk Block 007
@jmdavidson1 Learned of an interesting looking winery and that calluna is heather.
It was the boses birthday and Andrea wanted to spend the weekend at the beach so down to Encinitas. Last night went to the Pacific grill in Cardiff for dinner last night. Great food and the 94 Margaux rocked my world! Met a fellow wine lover and his wife at the restaurant and they brought over a Laurent Perrier 25
fun times! Tonight opened a burg at a high end Mexican restaurant at the hotel ( who knew?
). Headed home tomorrow and the boss is really happy! I done good 
@ScottW58 Nicely done, and happy birthday to her!
@klezman @ScottW58 Nice little lineup, I’d have to agree y’all done good.
@ScottW58
The only problem is that now you have to live up to your own reputation.
@chipgreen
That’s what she said
2015 Ravenswood Icon Mixed Blacks and beef ribs
2019 Bedrock OVZ. These need a little more time but I’ve enjoyed this from the get go. Wings/tots/celery/homemade ranch and blue
Double feature, with Chinese take-out.
@chipgreen Sometime I need to stop by Terravox when I’m around Kansas City (just a couple of hours away from me). I know that Clark has mentioned them.
@chipgreen @Mark_L I tried several of their wines recently and found them to be a mixed bag. A prior order on berserker day I enjoyed more than the recent stuff.
@Mark_L
They make wine from many interesting grapes. This was our first ever Wetumka. Supposedly reminiscent of a Melon de Bourgogne. I have only had Muscadet a few times and not recently, so can’t really compare other than to say that I recall more minerality and salinity with the Muscadet than with the Wetumka.
@chipgreen I was thinking that @winesmith mentioned a chambourcin from TerraVox, but I don’t see it mentioned in their offerings (or by searching). I’m interested in trying a chambourcin sometime.
@Mark_L @winesmith
Are you anywhere near Augusta? I still have a 2010 Augusta Winery Chambourcin from when my wife and I visited MO “wine country” after my Niece’s wedding in St. Louis about 10 years ago. I’m guessing at least a few of the wineries in the Augusta/Hermann area would have a Chambourcin.
@chipgreen Augusta is about a 2.5 hour drive. Hermann is about 1.75 hours – I’ve thought about making a trip there sometime.
It’s Wellington Wednesday, is that correct? Well I have purchased (all from the previous site) a total of three bottles of Wellington lifetime, tonight is bottle number two. My bride said “well this is tasty”
Flannery hanger etc etc
@kaolis I opened a 2012 Victory myself tonight, I agree with your bride!
@catcoland well that makes three of us
@kaolis you only bought 3 bottles of Wellington? I don’t understand.
@kaolis @klezman
I was trying to sus that one out as well.
Bottles for three lifetimes?
@klezman @rjquillin Was that confusing? I have purchased 3 bottles of Wellington wine. I purchased a 3 pack from w**t a few years back. Drank one shortly after purchase, one last night, so I have one left, a '13 Victory. So depending on how one parses them out, or I guess the one remaining bottle, it may indeed be enough for several lifetimes?
@kaolis @klezman
just an inconceivably small quantity to us hoarders
@kaolis @rjquillin your statement wasn’t confusing - just that somehow you only ever bought 3 bottles!
My second woot purchase was a 3 pack of Wellington.
Last knight a friend came out from Iowa on business so four of us got together to cook and drink some wine! The Chicken roulade or ballotine in mushroom sauce was the clear winner

@ScottW58
Fantastic!
Wow. 1897. How was it?
@ScottW58 Plating? Impressive! Wines, nothing can be said. Nice!
@ScottW58 nice spread!
@klezman @ScottW58 Well that was certainly a didn’t suck evening…math not my strong suit but appears to be a 2 bottle per affair…
@klezman @ScottW58 Hold it…I saw five plates, but you said four…a 2.5 bottle affair
@kaolis @klezman
Yeah yeah so I can’t count, the hosts wife jumped in. My wife couldn’t make it because she’s a working stiff
I had to leave early for a golf tournament at 7am yesterday. Most of the wines that were drunk were the Rhones and champagne everything else were just small tastes. @chefjess the Madeira was silky smooth and delicious, I guess if you give one a hundred or so years those crappy wines become drinkable ha. I was just happy Kenny delivered my yearly bottle of his gorgeous hot sauce!

@ScottW58
Retirement seems to be working out pretty well so far?
@CorTot That’s a fun one. I seemed to keep buying one or two every time they’re up on the Marathon.
@radiolysis me too. Too good to pass up.
Celebrating an accepted offer on a new house with 2006 Iron Horse Vineyards Brut Rosé and Pizzeria Sei. Mala lamb pizza. Yeah.
@ScottW58 you guys need to get over here while it’s still this house!
@klezman congrats!
@klezman
Congrats!!
@klezman Mazel tov!
@klezman
Congrats! You moving out of town or something?
@klezman Wow! Congrats.
Hope the financing is favorable…
@ScottW58 no, just one zip code over. Maybe a mile, probably less. You’ll just have to go one additional exit on 10.
@rjquillin not as favourable as what we have, but doable. And then we hope interest rates drop and we can refinance in a year or two.
@klezman
Not bad but we will try to get there soon! If only to pickup the 4 or 6 bottles you have for me so you don’t have to move them
@klezman Does it have a wine cellar?
@davirom actually, yes. A 130 sq ft little basement will do the trick.
@davirom @klezman will you be renting space?
@davirom @klezman @rjquillin oh no!
@klezman Did it matter what other features the house has?
@klezman
Congratulations!!!
@klezman
Woohoo! Congrats!
Central NJ pizza smack down! Dilorenzo Tomato Pies vs Contes Pizza. The 2014 Campesino Baybos was a perfect compliment.
@hscottk
I need more pizza in my life!
@hscottk @ScottW58 If you can get to Pizzeria Sei for the mala lamb special before it vanishes you won’t be sorry…(and you could stop by on your way)
@hscottk
Winner? Just based on appearance, I’d take the sausage and sauce from DeLorenzo’s and the cheese and crust from Contes.
@chipgreen De Lorenzo’s is legendary but I give the nod to Contes with fresh garlic. Both have been around forever, but Contes flies a bit under the radar.
2008 Cabot Vineyards Syrah Humboldt County
Seems a bit over the hill or maybe just a touch oxidized. Not too far gone thankfully.
@klezman
Thanks for the update, I need to work on those older Cabots.
2013 Bell Wine Cellars Chardonnay
with some light pasta/shrimp
The boss had two clients cancel so she came home early, good thing for her because I was eating this smoked chicken and drinking this bottle with or without her
@ScottW58 That’s a nice thing to come home to!
@InFrom @ScottW58 I’m sure she’d have no problem if you drank the whole thing before she got home, eh?
@InFrom @klezman @ScottW58 You meant to say, of course I’ll wait for you dear. Right?
Rib tips / fresh sweet corn (fall planting is picking) / cheap burg and finished up an OG N.247
From the 2014 RPM Tour. No Tommy Bahama merch required.
@chipgreen
That was a difficult stop to like, I only got the '12 Barbera
@chipgreen @rjquillin
Didn’t you say that about Laura Michael too, well until RPM said her wines were great recently
@chipgreen @ScottW58
Yes I did; just sour grapes I think for her presentation that day and unwillingness to pull a cork on her Bentley for the CS vets group.
I have continued to pick up her offers here.
With Italian Pot Roast and polenta.
Sorry for the multiple bottle shots. But thought it interesting the label says abv 9.0 and the back label says abv a range of 11-14. Might have seen the range thing before though?
Tuna/chili garlic/jasmine rice grits/wasabi and radish microgreens
After last night’s bottle that was over the hill and/or had a mediocre cork, I decided to go to another that is risky: 2010 Harvest Moon Pinot Noir
And this one is in great shape. Excellent.
@klezman Good to know. Yet another bottle I’ll have to find. CT thinks there’s three up your way.
@klezman @rjquillin
2 now, haha
2007 Nola Winery Syrah Alder Springs Vineyard

Morgan Ranch Wagyu Stroganoff and Haricots Verts
@rjquillin
Shit that looks great!
@rjquillin @ScottW58 What he said!
RRV-esque cola on the nose with Carneros-like funk on the palate, from a Lodi Pinot. Easy drinker, enjoyable!
@jmdavidson1
Nice work!
Mixin it up a bit

NV Mioya Brewery Yuho Junmai “Eternal Embers”
Fresh caught (yesterday) yellowtail comma, greens with oysters, Japanese cuke from the garden and some miso soup.
@rjquillin Just so long as you aren’t drinking Yellow Tail!
@hscottk @ScottW58
only if it’s white zinfandel with some age
Also in the thread of “drink them since they might be too old”: 2006 Buttonwood Cabernet Franc
One of my favourite wine.woot purchsaes ever. I bought a bunch more at the winery. Thanks @WineDavid49!
@jmdavidson1 hmmmm …might have one of those. Guilty of buying a ton of pinot, but a few cabs as well
2020 Erica Orr Royal Slope Red Wine, which is 92% Merlot, 6% CS. Labeling makes no sense to me. With homemade pizza.

@davirom
What’s wrong with the label? Or confusing? And you do have enough pepperoni on that pie
@ScottW58 I don’t design the labels, I just drink the wine. The wife doesn’t believe in half way when it comes to toppings. And neither do I.
EDIT: If I remember correctly, the intent of the label was to show support for farm workers.
@davirom
Yes
@davirom @ScottW58 The pencil is a nice touch.
@ScottW58 In case I misunderstood your comment, my initial reference to labeling was to wonder why a wine that is 92% Merlot is called “red wine”.
@davirom @ScottW58 probably to leave it flexible in case she alters the blend in future years. Then she doesn’t need to go back to the government for approval.
Burger patty yes once again there is one hiding…beef from farm up the road, country ham and pimento cheese
@kaolis Nice.
How was the Pax?
I had a 2005 Pax Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard and didn’t at all care for it.
Still have a couple 2003 Pax Syrah Cuvée Keltie I’m now not sure what to do with.
@rjquillin I have to say we were pleasantly surprised. I was worried it was going to be nothing but a mouthful of acid after first taste and it did need a good hour to come around. Meaty/beef broth/leather. Still enough fruit, tannins resolved. Last of my Pax from that era.
Drank my last Toothsteijn 2 - the 2009 Cab Franc. Like the prior bottle it’s on the down slope. Drink up if you have any left!
@klezman Thought it was PS. Checked mine…it’s a Sangiovese 2005.
@FritzCat yeah that’s the original toothy. This is the second one.
https://www.cellartracker.com/w?1736615
Day 2 of Penfolds Lot 389 Cab/Shiraz.
Excellent!!!
Opened yesterday, drinking today
2011 Wellington Syrah Estate Vineyard Sonoma Valley
In Costco today and spotted the swordfish steaks again so had to do @jmdavidson1 Tuscan grilled steaks again with hassleback potatoes, and some green stuff that is not worth a pic

@ScottW58 Looks amazing!
@ScottW58 gotta find those, looks amazing!
@ScottW58 Googled up that wine, interesting
@kaolis
well and it is delicious!
Sadly impossible to find on the left coast but I buy a few bottles each vintage because it actually pairs very well with garlic
@karenhynes
Happy Friday!
@karenhynes So, how’s the Tercero? Did that Lab Rat know what she was talking about?
@InFrom @karenhynes It is a lovely bottle of wine. Glad I got a case.
@danandlisa @karenhynes Looking forward to trying it.
@danandlisa @InFrom
It’s quite tasty and was enjoyed by all who had the opportunity to taste tonight. The lab rat was spot on!
@karenhynes lol, looks like my kids found your bottle and sticker’d it
2014 Pedroncelli Cabernet Franc “Barrel Select”. Very nice at this point. With pizza.
@InFrom
These so reward patience.
@rjquillin omg so true. It opened up beautifully. Wish it weren’t my last one.
2019 Onesta Grenache Blanc
2012 Pedroncelli Vintage Port Four Grapes
@rjquillin was thinking of finishing the night with that same port. Cheers.
Revisits the 2020 Peachy Canyon Zin from the case I ordered. Bottle shock is a thing if you are drinking the day after it ships(referring to the rat bottle). Had it with Korean bbq beef ribs tonight and…. Amazing! Definitely not disappointed in the case.
Roessler Pinot Noir Lennox Vineyard 2018
2021 Campesino Isa, enjoying (likely) the last warm day of the year in the northeast.
Flannery hanger, nothing fancy but them beans were picked yesterday and particularly tasty
@chipgreen well that’s a fun label…is your wine really that well organized? Nicely done…and looks like you have enough to last the weekend…ha!
@chipgreen @kaolis yes great label 27 proof haha you gotta love that guy!
Last night made a teres major cooked in a cast iron pan wit mushroom gravy and a dollop of green stuff. Carrie from Morgan ranch emailed she had some of these she needed to unload (she knows a sucker when she sees one) anyways did a little research and found out it’s more or as tender than a filet but with flavor! They were great, who knew? Wine was also fantastic
@ScottW58 Beserker day purchase? Nice.
@jmdavidson1
It was, a while ago.
@ScottW58 looks too good to smother in gravy!!!
@CorTot
It was but I didn’t want to take a chance cause I never had that cut before
Braised a veal shoulder chop, a little sauce from the braising liquid, on fresh red pepper pasta
Last night at Din Tai Fung
2022 Roche winery Rose
@CorTot
Nice I have to get out to that restaurant again!
@CorTot Where’d you find Roche?
@klezman their tasting room in the Sonoma square.
Dusted off the Ooni
@kaolis
That pie looks amazing! I had that bottle a few weeks back.
Been awhile since I had a Welly. A nice match for a Flannery filet tail. Filet isn’t my favorite, but not bad for a Monday.
@hscottk I like those little tails, a little boring I agree. I like the aged short loin tails more, used to buy a ton of them. But they got moved from the it’s a deal category so don’t buy as often.
Okay I blame @ jmdavidson1 for this. Recreating a Swanson TV dinner. Salisbury steak/gravy/green beans/mashed potatoes and cherry pie
with a 76 because that might be the last year I ate one.

de Negoce OG N.30
With some Flannery Hangers
some red beans and brown rice
and some white stuff (Cauliflower)…
of course w/Mayo.
Pretty darn good!
Short rib, Anson Mills grits
@kaolis
Wait!? Short rib, Anson Mills grits at a bar?? Where the hell are you