"Great people talk about ideas, average people talk about things, and small people talk about wine," Fran Lebowitz once said.
And so the article begins. I am assuming she knew nothing to write about wine, and didn't have any good jokes. And yes, my dear reader, the irony is intended.
In the article there are thoughts on the language used to describe wine.
http://www.slate.com/id/2168406
Obviously the writer has never heard of The Bottle, and has yet to sip on the sagacity of Sommelier, has never wrapped his tongue around the linguistic lashings of Tawney, nor has he lingered anywhere on the transcontinental trail of Screwtop. Which means he probably started by reading Corked's posts.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Tapas
The bon voyage festivities with Tawney and Sommelier and unspecified guest (but note, not date for Corked) involved Tapas and Rioja. Also note these are not the names of other contributor to The Bottle, but actual Tapas and Rioja. The hosting pair are off to the UK and Bordeaux this weekend hope primarily to find material for your reading pleasure.
I would look upon their adventure with envy had I not done a similar tour in May (the first day of which you might have read, the remaining time seemingly difficult to recall). Actually, who am I kidding, I still look upon it with envy.
Anyway, back to T & R. Food was, as ever, a culinary spectacle involving chorizo, shrimp, smoked ham, tortilla, cheese and quince, greek salad and more.
We got down to the business of wine, after Tawney grilled me about the prices of the Barolo from the first night in Piedmont. I don't want to take away any of Screwtop's thunder, so I will leave that for still another day. It is nice to know that my writing about wine (also known as fiction) has some dramatic appeal.
We started out with some white rioja, which the person at the wine store said it was the same rioja but with the skins removed. They recommended a bottle of 2000 Cyrano. It was around $23 in the wine store.
It actually was pretty good right out of the bottle, without much breathing. The taste linger further as it got some oxygen. It had a strong nose, which I am sure why a Spanish name resorted to a French name like Cyrano, for it is indeed a long way from Bergerac.
In any case, we polished off a few bottles of that, capping the evening with a bit of Kirsh of some sort (my attention to detail in the food and wine is spectacular, as I am sure you have noticed, in my postings. It seems I tend to focus on other details, like the cherries on the tablecloth, which I think might make the topic of another posting).
In the absence of any further interesting tablecloths, and subsequent postings, I wish our intrepid explorers bon voyage into the French sun. I hope they take lots of time for tannin.
I would look upon their adventure with envy had I not done a similar tour in May (the first day of which you might have read, the remaining time seemingly difficult to recall). Actually, who am I kidding, I still look upon it with envy.
Anyway, back to T & R. Food was, as ever, a culinary spectacle involving chorizo, shrimp, smoked ham, tortilla, cheese and quince, greek salad and more.
We got down to the business of wine, after Tawney grilled me about the prices of the Barolo from the first night in Piedmont. I don't want to take away any of Screwtop's thunder, so I will leave that for still another day. It is nice to know that my writing about wine (also known as fiction) has some dramatic appeal.
We started out with some white rioja, which the person at the wine store said it was the same rioja but with the skins removed. They recommended a bottle of 2000 Cyrano. It was around $23 in the wine store.
It actually was pretty good right out of the bottle, without much breathing. The taste linger further as it got some oxygen. It had a strong nose, which I am sure why a Spanish name resorted to a French name like Cyrano, for it is indeed a long way from Bergerac.
In any case, we polished off a few bottles of that, capping the evening with a bit of Kirsh of some sort (my attention to detail in the food and wine is spectacular, as I am sure you have noticed, in my postings. It seems I tend to focus on other details, like the cherries on the tablecloth, which I think might make the topic of another posting).
In the absence of any further interesting tablecloths, and subsequent postings, I wish our intrepid explorers bon voyage into the French sun. I hope they take lots of time for tannin.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Piedmont Calling
Whilst Corked and Screwtop were tasting Barolo and Nebbiolo in situ, surrounded by the warm terracota welcome of aged Piedmont architecture, we decided to hold our own taste of Italia, surrounded the wet wooden shingles of Pacific North West.
First off, a fresh and dry Prosecco from Colli Tevigiani (North west Italy rather than the North East, admittedly) to accompany some fine antipasti. Next an Italian red I've not drunk before, a Ragitello from Mario Norante. It describes itself as a simple Biferno Rosso 2002 ( excellent value costing around twenty dollars from a Vancouver Independent wine shop). In fact it stood up better than the Barbera D'Alba Superiore from 2003 which didn't have the depth or smoothness that you like for and usually recieve. Both accompanied a Parmigiana made in honour of a vegetarian guest. In reserve for the cheese I held back a lovely bottle of Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2000 from Frescobaldi, being prepared to step south and embrace the Tuscan Sangiovese. With some cave aged Pecorino, a mature Talegio and a fine Torta di Mascarpone e Gorgonzola the Brunello delivered. Although still young it is drinking very well now, supple and complex, deep ruby in colour and layered in taste.
Under Tawney's influence (always a good thing) I was persuaded to abandon the Italian theme at the meal's conclusion and opened a fine Banyuls, rather like a light Tawney port, from the south of France. I believe Tawney is due to post a report on a number of southern French digestifs from Rasteau to Rivesaltes so I leave the detail to her. Save to say that, despite being half way round the world from the Southern Mediterranean, by the end of the night we were more than amply there in spirit.
First off, a fresh and dry Prosecco from Colli Tevigiani (North west Italy rather than the North East, admittedly) to accompany some fine antipasti. Next an Italian red I've not drunk before, a Ragitello from Mario Norante. It describes itself as a simple Biferno Rosso 2002 ( excellent value costing around twenty dollars from a Vancouver Independent wine shop). In fact it stood up better than the Barbera D'Alba Superiore from 2003 which didn't have the depth or smoothness that you like for and usually recieve. Both accompanied a Parmigiana made in honour of a vegetarian guest. In reserve for the cheese I held back a lovely bottle of Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2000 from Frescobaldi, being prepared to step south and embrace the Tuscan Sangiovese. With some cave aged Pecorino, a mature Talegio and a fine Torta di Mascarpone e Gorgonzola the Brunello delivered. Although still young it is drinking very well now, supple and complex, deep ruby in colour and layered in taste.
Under Tawney's influence (always a good thing) I was persuaded to abandon the Italian theme at the meal's conclusion and opened a fine Banyuls, rather like a light Tawney port, from the south of France. I believe Tawney is due to post a report on a number of southern French digestifs from Rasteau to Rivesaltes so I leave the detail to her. Save to say that, despite being half way round the world from the Southern Mediterranean, by the end of the night we were more than amply there in spirit.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Where's the beef?
Some of you might be irritated by my penchant for using questions as titles for entries. I crave your indulgence...
Screwtop, I am dying to hear about the prices in Piedmont. Bring it on honey!
For my own part, I consumed way too much 10 year old Taylor Fladgate on Friday evening, which effectively put me out of action for the whole weekend. Time was, I wouldn't have turned a hair, now I have great difficulty completing a sentence with a subordinate clause. The hair of the dog almost put me right on Saturday evening. A fine bottle of 'Clos des Fées', and it might be said that those fairies had been trampling blithely in the Côtes de Roussillon. Well balanced, honeyed but not oversweet, with a lingering Burgundian aftertaste, although it did propel me into bed rather swiftly once the sun had gone down.
The proprietor, one Hervé Bizeul, has his own rather amusing blog http://www.closdesfees.com/blog/. Fomerly one of France's foremost sommeliers, here is is cultivating his own ' jardin'. I need a vineyard. I really do. What do I have to do to get one?
Post scriptum.
Whoever regulates BC wines has decided that there are far too many animals on the labels. Apparently the liquor stores are concerned about the menagerie-like quality of the shelves, so no more owls, quails, grouse, elephants(?)
Screwtop, I am dying to hear about the prices in Piedmont. Bring it on honey!
For my own part, I consumed way too much 10 year old Taylor Fladgate on Friday evening, which effectively put me out of action for the whole weekend. Time was, I wouldn't have turned a hair, now I have great difficulty completing a sentence with a subordinate clause. The hair of the dog almost put me right on Saturday evening. A fine bottle of 'Clos des Fées', and it might be said that those fairies had been trampling blithely in the Côtes de Roussillon. Well balanced, honeyed but not oversweet, with a lingering Burgundian aftertaste, although it did propel me into bed rather swiftly once the sun had gone down.
The proprietor, one Hervé Bizeul, has his own rather amusing blog http://www.closdesfees.com/blog/. Fomerly one of France's foremost sommeliers, here is is cultivating his own ' jardin'. I need a vineyard. I really do. What do I have to do to get one?
Post scriptum.
Whoever regulates BC wines has decided that there are far too many animals on the labels. Apparently the liquor stores are concerned about the menagerie-like quality of the shelves, so no more owls, quails, grouse, elephants(?)
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