Typical indifferent speed pour. @ least it was topped off. Perfunctory @
best, my bar mate reported his pint of Harp as being "corky". Nothing
to miss here.
"It's not just a job, it's not just a hobby, it's a lifestyle." This is just one guy's opinion who happens to taste a few thousand wines in the course of a year. And as wine folk know, this is a thirsty business, so I wash it all down with an ale and maybe even a whiskey (Tequila or gin when the thermometer soars). So take this all with a shaker of salt and forgive me my mispellings.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
2004 Post Scriptum
Portugese red made from (mostly?) Touriga Franca. Made by a guy from
Bordeaux, this is a freak show. Tons of polish, but retains the blood &
guts that is intrinsic to the rustic Douro Valley. Don't know how it
will age, but it will certainly impress any wine geek. Hard to identify,
but easy to enjoy, give it to anyone that's tasted every classified
growth or wants to graduate from Mateus.
Bordeaux, this is a freak show. Tons of polish, but retains the blood &
guts that is intrinsic to the rustic Douro Valley. Don't know how it
will age, but it will certainly impress any wine geek. Hard to identify,
but easy to enjoy, give it to anyone that's tasted every classified
growth or wants to graduate from Mateus.
1997 Chateau Pichon Baron
This baby's still going strong. Not dilute @ all. Many '97's are tanking
it, but this still has another decade in it. Toast, cedar, & cassis,
what more could a man want?
it, but this still has another decade in it. Toast, cedar, & cassis,
what more could a man want?
2004 Kuentz-Bas Tradition Riesling
The only wine to have w/ Thai food, dry Riesling. Aromatic, fresh, &
clean w/ good viscosity, this is a workman like effort that is solid for
any kind of cusuine you want to throw @ it. Some minerality w/ classic
pit fruit, it makes this a perfect entry level Alsatian riesling.
clean w/ good viscosity, this is a workman like effort that is solid for
any kind of cusuine you want to throw @ it. Some minerality w/ classic
pit fruit, it makes this a perfect entry level Alsatian riesling.
Graham's 20 year old Tawny Porto
Deep rich & satisfying. While Graham's vintage ports tend towards a
sweeter style, their tawnys are always streamlined. Has the richness
that Graham's is known for, but it's not cloying. A great dessert wine
for people that may not be that into them.
sweeter style, their tawnys are always streamlined. Has the richness
that Graham's is known for, but it's not cloying. A great dessert wine
for people that may not be that into them.
Dow's 10 year old Tawny Porto
A textbook tawny that's on the hedonistic side. Tawny's are typically
drier than ruby's, but this tawny is almost as sweet as the Trademark.
Nice nutty flavors lead into a nicely drawn out finish and lingers w/ a
hint of movie theatre popcorn butter topping.
drier than ruby's, but this tawny is almost as sweet as the Trademark.
Nice nutty flavors lead into a nicely drawn out finish and lingers w/ a
hint of movie theatre popcorn butter topping.
2000 Dow's LBV Porto
The next rung up the Dow's ladder from the Trademark, this Late Bottled
Vintage port actually tastes more like it's stablemate Graham's w/ it's
big chunky blackberry ladden style. Certainly worth the dough since it
delivers the flavor of a vintage port @ about a third of the price.
Vintage port actually tastes more like it's stablemate Graham's w/ it's
big chunky blackberry ladden style. Certainly worth the dough since it
delivers the flavor of a vintage port @ about a third of the price.
Dow's Trademark Porto
Figs & acetone. Definitely has all the Dow flavors here @ an affordable
price. Would be great w/ a stogie.
price. Would be great w/ a stogie.
Graham's Six Grapes Porto
All the hallmark Graham's flavor @ a reasonable price & you don't have
to wait to drink it. Always reliable & affordable.
to wait to drink it. Always reliable & affordable.
1977 Dow's Porto 1.5l
The last time I has this was out of a 3l @ a martini party that my
roomate @ the time threw @ our place on Wabansia. It was towards the end
of the night & everyone was half-crocked, but this bottle disapeared in
less than an hour amongst 15 people after it was opened! This was
probably a decade ago & man has this changed! Back then it was a fruit
bomb, now it's a fig bomb. Fully mature, this still has a great deal of
acidity on the back-end so don't rush to pull the cork if you have one.
Would be great w/ a cigar after an afternoon of raking leaves.
roomate @ the time threw @ our place on Wabansia. It was towards the end
of the night & everyone was half-crocked, but this bottle disapeared in
less than an hour amongst 15 people after it was opened! This was
probably a decade ago & man has this changed! Back then it was a fruit
bomb, now it's a fig bomb. Fully mature, this still has a great deal of
acidity on the back-end so don't rush to pull the cork if you have one.
Would be great w/ a cigar after an afternoon of raking leaves.
2003 Graham's Porto
Big & chunky, this baby needs time. Loads of structure & blackberry
fruit here. Buy 1 or a dozen & forget about it for @ least 2
Presedential election cycles. Great stuff for those that are patient or
memory impaired.
fruit here. Buy 1 or a dozen & forget about it for @ least 2
Presedential election cycles. Great stuff for those that are patient or
memory impaired.
2003 Dow's Porto
Figs & tar wrapped in a bowl of blackberry juice. I don't know if that
makes a whole lot of sense, but this is some seriously sweet juice (in
more ways than one). Vintage Port nomarly needs a decade in the bottle
before it really starts to show it's stuff, but this is a great choice
to drink young. Rupert Symington was just here @ the shop & he said you
can drink vintage ports young. He recommended up to 5 years old @ which
point they shut down for awhile. This should still be on the shelves so
if you're looking for something to get you through the cold days, give
this a whirl.
makes a whole lot of sense, but this is some seriously sweet juice (in
more ways than one). Vintage Port nomarly needs a decade in the bottle
before it really starts to show it's stuff, but this is a great choice
to drink young. Rupert Symington was just here @ the shop & he said you
can drink vintage ports young. He recommended up to 5 years old @ which
point they shut down for awhile. This should still be on the shelves so
if you're looking for something to get you through the cold days, give
this a whirl.
2004 Dow's Quinta Senhora da Ribeira
The proverbial iron first in a velvet glove. Not as figgy as a regular
bottle of Dow's (this is the single vineyard bottling), but still has
tremendous aromatics. Silky smooth, but has the acidity for the long
haul. Try in 5 years, if you can wait that long.
bottle of Dow's (this is the single vineyard bottling), but still has
tremendous aromatics. Silky smooth, but has the acidity for the long
haul. Try in 5 years, if you can wait that long.
1970 Graham's Porto
What can I say, but incredible. One of the best wines I've had all year.
Smelling this alone was a treat, but drinking it was a stunning
experience. Still a baby, but with mature flavors. Wouldn't be cheap to
buy, but what an experience. This is what wine is all about.
Smelling this alone was a treat, but drinking it was a stunning
experience. Still a baby, but with mature flavors. Wouldn't be cheap to
buy, but what an experience. This is what wine is all about.
Go Bears!
Just watched DA Bears win a game they had no business winning. My
original plan was to transcribe my notes from a Spanish wine tasting I
particiated in, in the 1st quarter, but Da Bars stormed backed & now I'm
posting on 1 of my all time favorite beverages, Guinness!
For the record @ Jake's:
Decent pour, good temprature. Beer comes out w/ a decent head (sometimes
too much). Overall, always a good pour, but sometimes it's a little too
rockin' here to always be @ the top of it's game. Always a favorite.
original plan was to transcribe my notes from a Spanish wine tasting I
particiated in, in the 1st quarter, but Da Bars stormed backed & now I'm
posting on 1 of my all time favorite beverages, Guinness!
For the record @ Jake's:
Decent pour, good temprature. Beer comes out w/ a decent head (sometimes
too much). Overall, always a good pour, but sometimes it's a little too
rockin' here to always be @ the top of it's game. Always a favorite.
Monday, October 16, 2006
The Brewer's of Lagunitas Freak Out! Ale
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of this Zappa's album release,
Lagunitas has created a pretty rockin' ale (sorry, I couldn't resist).
Really nicely textured w/ plenty of malt & hops, I would gladly plunk
down my 5 bucks for this bomber again (in full disclosure, I have a
friend that works for Lagunitas, but I did buy this myself). This thing
is seriously chewey & should pair well w/ my midnight snack of Cheese
Waffies. & to quote Mr. Zappa off of the bottle, "Don't forget to
register to vote!"
Lagunitas has created a pretty rockin' ale (sorry, I couldn't resist).
Really nicely textured w/ plenty of malt & hops, I would gladly plunk
down my 5 bucks for this bomber again (in full disclosure, I have a
friend that works for Lagunitas, but I did buy this myself). This thing
is seriously chewey & should pair well w/ my midnight snack of Cheese
Waffies. & to quote Mr. Zappa off of the bottle, "Don't forget to
register to vote!"
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