Sain't Christopher

Family Love

I kid you not, two nights ago my sister laughed for 10 minutes straight when I asked her to be the person to pull the plug on me.  10 minutes. 

This is the sort of humor that my family has. 

Every Easter and Christmas my Great Grandmother, then Grandmother, made carrot bread.  Lin and I loved this bread, it was our favorite part of the meal.  A few years ago my Dad took over and it's as good as it ever was.  Or so I have to suppose- I'm not home for most holidays so I miss out.  Not this last year, though, my Dad made an extra batch just for me and he went out into that horrible Christmas storm (with his friend Hermy, who  wanted to be a dentist) to overnight me this wonderful bread. 

This Easter my folks are in Florida and my Dad made a batch of the bread ignoring all the guilt, promises, and threats of nursing homes that Lin and I could throw at him. His response was to send my sister and I this photo of them eating carrot bread.

Yep, that's my folks.  Notice the smile of pure evil joy on my father.  Those of you who've known me for any time should now see that this sort of behavior is genetic.  My Dad and Lin are better at this than I am.  So, when my dear sister laughs at my eventual doom and how she's going to go around the hospital room pulling any cord plugged into a wall, I can't blame her.  One, it's funny.   Two, look at my Dad's face again.  That's where she gets it.

Go in Peace

Slurp

This is what I'm drinking while the Goddess Dawnami is sorting her boxes o' stuff:

2003 David Bruce Central Coast Pinot Noir $21

Umm . . . this wine hasn't been reviewed. . . what will I write now.  Which brings us to I-know-what-I-like-ville. I like this.  It has that earthy Pinot nose I love (insert tar, earth, etc) and it tastes like dark fruit (plums, blackberry, etc) with just enough tannin to round out the whole mouth experience.

I can't wait to work that into a conversation: whole mouth experience.

Go in Peace

Slurp

This is what I had with Lavender Crusted Guinea Hen Breast with Merlot Sauce, Chateau Potatoes, Watercress with White Wine Vinaigrette and Crisped Shallots:

1994 California Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon
A rustic style, with a chewy, tannic edge to its currant, earth and tar flavors. Drink now through 2000 (84pts WS)

This puppy sold for a ten-spot on release and you can tell that the critic thought it tasted like dragging your tongue from the asphalt to the ditch.  And here we are drinking it 5 years past its recommended date and it was just downright loverly.  I had the chance to talk to the winemaker from Rodney Strong and he told me that 10 years is when a wine is at its best, more or less.  The man seems to be right.

Go in Peace

Casting Stones

Blink and you missed it.  The media has completely skewed the Schiavo thing beyond recognition.  In order to keep this reality show going they had to keep a controversy going when the public was clearly united. Consider the following:

• That video clip showing the poor woman vacantly smiling at her mom is just one snippet out of 6 hours of other footage.  The rest of the footage was evidence used to validate the vegetative state diagnosis.
• ABC commissions a poll that shows 70% disapproval of Congress and Shrub's actions and then ABC Tonight doesn't report the poll
• CBS does a similar poll and the number tops over 80% and it gets buried.
• The Catholic Church has a very complicated take on artificial means of support and after hearing two Cardinals try and explain it this weekend, I still don't get it- the media never really tried.
• This story got buried.  Read how Governor Jeb Bush, while saying there was a limit to his powers had his minions on the road, literally, to kidnap Terri and have the tube re-inserted.

This story is a tragedy for everyone involved and I don't pretend to be able to truly understand how heartbreaking it would be to decide to end your wife's life anymore than I can understand how the heart of a parent can keep hope alive against a mountain-slide of opposition.  I resent the American Idol like coverage and am ashamed of myself when I click on the updates.

I'm done with this.  The only way I can think to give these poor people back a bit of the dignity that I, as a part of the mob, have taken is to turn away, say a prayer for all and hope they eventually find some kind of peace.

Go in Peace

One of Seven

en·vy (nv) A feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another.

I just bought a 30 year old bottle of Armagnac for a co-worker who is retiring.  For three days I've been trying to figure out a graceful, unobtrusive, not rude or obvious way to get him to open it before he takes it home.  I really, really, really want a glass of this stuff.

Go in Peace

Risen

I'm not joining the Easter festivities this year, but the Hamstress has written about Easters past.  Enjoy.

Go in Peace

Slurp

This is what Superstar LJR and I drank while we discussed the Woody Allen movie we'd just seen (eh, we just go hoping for greatness), her wonderful child (the Boon, proof that evolution works), and whether Jack Wald is dead (not sure):

2001 Nuits-St-Georges," Les Chenes Carteaux," 1er Cru, Domaine Henri Gouges  $23
This is elegant Nuits St. Georges. Although quite approachable now, the length and power on the finish make it clear that this is a wine with lots of room to improve in the cellar. It is solid and complex, with nice minerality. Of course, since this vineyard is located directly above Les St. Georges itself, that is not entirely unexpected. But this price is a wonderful thing, more than 1/2 off from the retail price! Somehow, I suspect these will not be around for long. (Keith Wollenberg, K&L Burgundy Buyer, 02/05) Allen Meadows writes: "(a 1 ha parcel of 50 year old vines and this has only been bottled since 1997). This is not as dense or powerful as the Chaignots but trades that for additional finesse and focus. Edgy, almost nervous flavors, sneaky length and fine precision combine to create an impression of real elegance."

A lovely wine that we truly enjoyed.  Subtle, that's a word you never hear with American wines except when the critic is trying to define a taste he can't really peg.  This does need to age before it's true brillance comes out.  The wine club sold out immediately on re-orders.  Probably because they've buried us in California Cabs for the last few months.  The Boy-Named-Sous tried to re-order and was told it was sold out.  I went on line when he told me and was surprisingly sold two more bottles.  I talked to the head guy at the wine club, he told me that it shouldn't have happened, that there were people on the waiting list who should have gotten first shot . . . "but, hey, enjoy!" he said.  So this one goes in the cellar for a couple of years.  Just a tip for those novice wine enthusiasts: never listen to anyone who might call a wine "edgy and nervous".  Wine spends it's time mostly in repose and not in therapy.

2002 Torbreck "The Steading," Barossa Valley
Price: $27.99
93 points Robert Parker: "David Powell consistently excels with The Steading, an 8,000 case blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, and Shiraz. Aged 22 months in 300 liter hogsheads (foudres), it represents Australia’s version of Chateauneuf du Pape. The 2002 The Steading’s big, spicy, earthy nose reveals notions of cherry liqueur, licorice, pepper, dried Provencal herbs, raspberries, and leather. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, chewy, and heady, it is best drunk during its first 7-8 years of life, although it will last a lot longer."

Sous and I were all excited about the Burgundy and didn't give much thought to the other wine, the Austrailian.  This is because we are victims of our own snobbery.  A great Burgundy (Pinot Noir) is orgasmically wonderful and pretty damned rare (which ties into a joke about ex-girlfriends and my "talents" in the  . . . never mind).   Anyway, we opened this bottle second, but it rocked our world.  I didn't taste the Provencale Herbs (you need lavendar for that and there is no, I repeat NO, lavendar in this wine) and the review portrays the wine as heavier than it actually is- I loved it and recommend it to you all.

Rex Goliath 2001 "47 Pound Rooster" Central Coast "Free Range" Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is named for His Royal Majesty Rex Goliath, who was once the world's largest rooster, or at least Texas'. Even if it seems to have no bearing on what you should expect from the wine in terms of flavor or quality, you must admit that forty-seven pounds is a lot of rooster. In fact, there is an axiom of the classic winemaking tradition at work here: When the product costs only seven dollars, an interesting label might be a good idea. Some of us-and we think you know where we're coming from here-were surprised to discover how delicious this wine actually is. The grapes for Adam LaZarre's free range Cabernet live an unencumbered life in Monterey County-until, that is, they're forced into the servitude of this little powerhouse. Which, with its considerable weight and handsome comb of red fruit, is rather muscular and proud. (5/2003 Jon) [#3 in 2003] Gold Medal Winner, SF Chronicle Wine Competition.

Yet another reason to admire, nay, worship LJR- she has found a great bargain priced  Cab!  The algerbra in your head makes you question things like: was this, at a third the price, only one third as good at the "The Steading"?  Actually, what you ask yourself is was "The Steading" three times as good as the Rooster?  Luckily, we can drink both.  I'll buy the Rooster for daily drink and a half case of the Steading for overnighters here in Redwood City "Climate Best by Government Test!"

Anyway, a great night with a lovely friend, truly a Good Friday.

Go in Peace

Slurp

This is what the Boy-Named-Sous and I had after work in the Laurel Court of the Fairmont.

Pinot Noir Oregon Preview Cuvée Gary & Christine's Vineyard 2002
Round and ripe, with crisp acidity to balance the plum and currant flavors, shaded with tarry, meaty notes as the finish lingers. Has plenty to offer, and a long way to go. Drink now through 2012. 690 cases made.
(Wine Spectator 91pts)

Famed winemaker, painstaking work, loving care . . . all to make a Pinot taste like a cab.  Here, read this from their website:

WINEMAKING
Individual grape clusters were sorted first in the vineyard, then upon arrival at the winery. The wine was fermented with 38% whole clusters and, using gravity, the fermentors were topped with the crushed berries. It was cold-soaked for five to seven days prior to fermentation, which occurred naturally with the grapes’ indigenous yeast. Punched down up to six times per day, the wine fermented for twelve to seventeen days in both oak and stainless steel tanks. The wine was racked by gravity directly to 100% new French oak barrels and left to age for 14 months. This wine was bottled without fining or filtering.

Not that it wasn't good, it is very good but it reminds me of this New Zealand farm raised Red Deer that's on the market.  It is a beautiful product: natural, organic, carefully handled . . . but it ends up tasting like beef.  You couldn't tell that this is venison if your eyes were closed, the corn feed just does that.  And the dense fruit, the 14 months in new oak, the high acid all add up to that trendy California cabernet tast.  Since we were at a Hotel, I expected it to be $15 for the glass and it was $17 instead.  Last Fall Maitre 'D raved about it when we went out so I really wanted to try it. 

And now I have.

Go in Peace

Final Offer

Conversations with family about my small request for a 40th birthday present:

Sis:  Whattaya mean, we don't exhange gifts for birthdays.
Me:  I never said I was buying you anything.

Mom:  Out of the price range, what else do you want?
Me:  How's 'bout this, get me the bottle and I promise not to involve Congress in any end of life choices you make?

Go in Peace

Gifties

Don't delay, only 28 shopping days left until the Sain't turns 40.  Now, I know it's difficult- what do you get someone like me?  Well, let me help you out

1965 Dartigalongue 40-year-old Armagnac 750ml Price: $184.99

It was in 1838, under Louis-Philippe that Pascal Dartigalongue opened his Maison d'Armagnac in Nogaro, in the very heart of Bas Armagnac, a region renowned for world-class spirits. His descendants continued to run the distillery, which has passed from father to son for five generations within the same family. Each year the highest quality white wines are distilled to produce these vintage Armagnacs. Ideal for birthday and anniversary bottles!

And you can buy it here*.

*I won't be the least bit offended if several of you chip in as a group.

Go in Peace