I went to the Syracuse/Louisville basketball game today (thank you Brian and Larry!) and enjoyed it a lot. I'm not a huge sports fan, so don't go often, but when I do I like the games. I'm not enough of a fan to know who the players are, but I know a good game. The score of 67-57 didn't really reflect how good the game was, and the level of excitement in most of the second half. Of course going with a good friend makes it better, especially when he's such a diehard fan that he can give me every stat/strategy/coaching history fact in the history of SU basketball! It was a fun Saturday afternoon.
January 2009 Archives
Last night my wife and I attended a Spanish wine tasting/class. It was a terrific selection of wines from several regions. We started out with a Priorat red, Martinet Bru 2005. Jay Miller gave it a 91+. I thought it had nice spice components, probably from the Syrah blended in to the Cab, Merlot, Carignan blend. We then moved to a 2004 Finca Coronado, 90 points from Parker, which is a Cab, Tempranillo, Syrah blend with some Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Graciano thrown in. I liked it, but probably wouldn't buy it again. Still, it's from La Mancha, and the label says it's bottled in Ciudad Real just down the road from where I lived when I was there. When even La Mancha is producing wines of this quality you know Spain is doing something right.
As nice as the first two were, the next three were fantastic, and I added them to my cellar. The 2004 Masia Carreras is a Jorge Ordenez import from the Costa Brava, and as we all know he's got the touch! Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate have some disagreement on scores for this bottle, and quite different descriptions of the components. Spectator calls out the dark fruits, while WA focuses on old world components. I'm a fan of old world, and loved the crushed stone, minerality, leather, and definitely got some of the black fruit. Next up was the 2003 San Vicente. Full on Tempranillo, this is Spain's grape. It's also an Ordenez import (seeing a pattern here?) and it's from Rioja. Jay Miller gave it a 92. I agree with him about the earth and graphite on the nose. And the finish went on and on. I love Tempranillo.
The last wine of the night was the 2006 El Nido Clio. No reviews out there yet, but don't let that stop you from buying a bottle. If you can find it. Actually, don't. That way I'll be able to continue to find it. Grin. This is another example of disagreement between the Wine Advocate and the Wine Spectator - WA consistently gives this wine about 5 points more than Spectator. Who cares though? It's Monastrell and Cabernet, 70/30 (exactly opposite of El Nido El Nido by the way). It's from Jumilla - a really hot (temperature and trends!) region of Spain. And, perhaps most important? El Nido is a collaboration between Jorge Ordenez and Chris Ringland. I've been a fan of a lot of wines both of them have been involved in, and this one has both.
Hats off again to The Wine House in Manlius, NY. Their owner, Tim Buckles, and their Certified Sommelier, Matt Christen, continually select outstanding wines for their classes and tastings, and share wide ranging knowledge of the industry, the wines, and the regions of the world. They've created a community around wine in the area, and we've made good friends as a result of our classes there.
As nice as the first two were, the next three were fantastic, and I added them to my cellar. The 2004 Masia Carreras is a Jorge Ordenez import from the Costa Brava, and as we all know he's got the touch! Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate have some disagreement on scores for this bottle, and quite different descriptions of the components. Spectator calls out the dark fruits, while WA focuses on old world components. I'm a fan of old world, and loved the crushed stone, minerality, leather, and definitely got some of the black fruit. Next up was the 2003 San Vicente. Full on Tempranillo, this is Spain's grape. It's also an Ordenez import (seeing a pattern here?) and it's from Rioja. Jay Miller gave it a 92. I agree with him about the earth and graphite on the nose. And the finish went on and on. I love Tempranillo.
The last wine of the night was the 2006 El Nido Clio. No reviews out there yet, but don't let that stop you from buying a bottle. If you can find it. Actually, don't. That way I'll be able to continue to find it. Grin. This is another example of disagreement between the Wine Advocate and the Wine Spectator - WA consistently gives this wine about 5 points more than Spectator. Who cares though? It's Monastrell and Cabernet, 70/30 (exactly opposite of El Nido El Nido by the way). It's from Jumilla - a really hot (temperature and trends!) region of Spain. And, perhaps most important? El Nido is a collaboration between Jorge Ordenez and Chris Ringland. I've been a fan of a lot of wines both of them have been involved in, and this one has both.
Hats off again to The Wine House in Manlius, NY. Their owner, Tim Buckles, and their Certified Sommelier, Matt Christen, continually select outstanding wines for their classes and tastings, and share wide ranging knowledge of the industry, the wines, and the regions of the world. They've created a community around wine in the area, and we've made good friends as a result of our classes there.
I had a terrific brunch at Ivy's Bistro in NYC. Drove around looking for a place for breakfast/brunch, and this one was open, looked inviting, and while I was looking at the menu the waitress walked to the door and invited me in. Hey, that's service!
I highly recommend the traditional Egg's Benedict - it's exactly what I want, with the slight twist that it was a thin slice of ham rather than Canadian bacon. The hollandaise sauce had the lemon tang I expected. The brunch potatoes have peppers, onion, and great seasoning, a little bit of spice. The service was first rate, and they also have a prix fix menu for breakfast that's not a bad deal. They're in Tribeca, and the ambiance was also terrific - a corner table with a view of the river and New Jersey was nice. (Hey, even Jersey looks nice from across the river...) I also liked the photos on the wall - appeared to be mostly Paris, but I'm not certain. All black and white, nicely framed and matted. Classic bistro. Loved it!
Highly recommended, worth seeking out. Ivy's Bistro.
I highly recommend the traditional Egg's Benedict - it's exactly what I want, with the slight twist that it was a thin slice of ham rather than Canadian bacon. The hollandaise sauce had the lemon tang I expected. The brunch potatoes have peppers, onion, and great seasoning, a little bit of spice. The service was first rate, and they also have a prix fix menu for breakfast that's not a bad deal. They're in Tribeca, and the ambiance was also terrific - a corner table with a view of the river and New Jersey was nice. (Hey, even Jersey looks nice from across the river...) I also liked the photos on the wall - appeared to be mostly Paris, but I'm not certain. All black and white, nicely framed and matted. Classic bistro. Loved it!
Highly recommended, worth seeking out. Ivy's Bistro.
I enjoyed a nice wine over the weekend, Solpost Cellars San Rafel 2004. It's from the Montsant region of Spain (my favorite wines almost all come from Spain). It was $24.95 - explaining one reason this country is one of my favorite sources of wine. It's good value for the price. Wine Spectator gave it a 92. It might have merited it had it decanted longer, I'm not sure. Their description:
I found that it did show the vivid cherry, but didn't get many of the other components. The tannins were well integrated as noted, and the finish was long, but the wine wasn't particularly complex or distinctive to my nose or palate, and it wasn't one I'd seek out again. I'd certainly have a glass if someone was pouring it, and I liked it, but there are other wines I like better from the region - by comparison it simply wasn't better than others in the same price point.
I found it at Morrell Wine at Rockefeller Center in NYC.
Wine Spectator (WS): 92 Voluptous in texture, deep in flavor, this red shows vivid cherry, boysenberry, lilac, mint and mineral notes. Firm, well-integrated tannins underpin the plush palate, and the finish is fresh and long. Grenache, Carignane and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2015, 800 cases made.
I found that it did show the vivid cherry, but didn't get many of the other components. The tannins were well integrated as noted, and the finish was long, but the wine wasn't particularly complex or distinctive to my nose or palate, and it wasn't one I'd seek out again. I'd certainly have a glass if someone was pouring it, and I liked it, but there are other wines I like better from the region - by comparison it simply wasn't better than others in the same price point.
I found it at Morrell Wine at Rockefeller Center in NYC.
This morning my daughter flew from Syracuse to Cedar Rapids on American Airlines. It cost roughly $600 for a round trip fair. She flew round trip on United at Thanksgiving. It cost roughly $350. My son flew round trip from Syracuse to Minneapolis at the same time. His flight was $50 as a result of using frequent flier miles. Quite a lot of variation for essentially the same distances in a relatively short amount of time.
Both of them were delayed two days at the beginning of their trips, neither had delays on their return flights. Sure, the airlines let us change for free at the beginning of the trip due to weather delays, but the result was a two day shorter trip for each of them, plus extra trips to the airport. My daughter said this morning on the way to the airport "We sure go to the airport a lot, don't we?" She's right.
Ah, the joys of travel, holidays, and families going in multiple directions to spend time with families. FWIW I used Expedia, Travelocity, and United's sites when booking and planning.
Both of them were delayed two days at the beginning of their trips, neither had delays on their return flights. Sure, the airlines let us change for free at the beginning of the trip due to weather delays, but the result was a two day shorter trip for each of them, plus extra trips to the airport. My daughter said this morning on the way to the airport "We sure go to the airport a lot, don't we?" She's right.
Ah, the joys of travel, holidays, and families going in multiple directions to spend time with families. FWIW I used Expedia, Travelocity, and United's sites when booking and planning.
I'm a big fan of food and wine. I don't always get the pairings right, but when they're right, wow! Last night my wife had to be on the road most of the day and so we stayed home instead of going out. We decided on a platter of jamon iberico, jamon serrano, various Spanish cheeses, some peppercorn and parmesan bread, cibatta, peppered salami, and Manu wine, 2005. The peppercorn in the bread with the peppered salami was really picked up by the spiciness of the Manu (it is syrah, grenache, cabernet, merlot and tempranillo, about 40% each of the first two).
This was followed by Veuve Cliquot and the fruit tart later in the evening.
This was followed by Veuve Cliquot and the fruit tart later in the evening.
