The Dream

Robert Cray and Albert Collins. More of a modern Blues feel than what I normally like, but something about Cray's guitar playing works for me:

Quite a Bargain

In case 150 Million Euros is out of your price range Naked Mountain Winery is on the market for about $3.5 Million. I've never been a big fan of their wines, they aren't bad, just nothing spectacular. On the other hand, for $3.5 million you get 41 acres AND your own mountain and the views are amazing, even in the dead of winter:






Sadly, $3.5 Million is still out of my price range...but if you buy it let me know and I'll make sure the wine club comes out to visit :).

Winter at Breaux

I went out to Breaux this afternoon to pick up my Cellar Club shipment. Today also happened to be the first real snow we've gotten this season. I took a couple of pictures, there is something about vineyards this time of year that really epitomizes winter to me (well, something besides the obvious).

Everybody Got The Blues

Dr. John and Taj Mahal -- good stuff starts around 1:46.

Barrel Oak Blog

Since it appears I am in a writing slump again, you should read Brian's Barrel Oak Winery blog...just make sure you come back here :)

Tanqueray

Johnnie Johnson:

Review: 2005 Twin Brook Cabernet Franc

Wine: 2005 Twin Brook Cabernet Franc



Review: In October of 2007 we went up to Brandywine for a weekend tour of wineries. One of the wines I especially enjoyed that weekend was the Twin Brook Cabernet Franc.

Even in 2007 this wine was smooth, but over the last year and a few months it has really mellowed transforming it from a medium bodied wine to almost a lighter one. The wine had strong aromas of cherry and vanilla and was very light on the palate and did not linger very much. A noticeably different interpretation of the Cabernet Franc grape, at least compared to Virginia wines.

Price: $18

Grade: 85

Mondavi's Sales Fall

An old adage claims that when times are good people drink. When times are bad people drink. That may be the case, but when times are bad people get more selective about what they drink:

Constellation, the world's largest winemaker by revenue, said net income fell to $83.5 million, or 38 cents a share, in its fiscal third quarter ended Nov. 30, from $119.6 million, or 55 cents a share, a year earlier. Sales slipped 6% to $1.03 billion, hurt by the U.S. dollar's strengthening against other currencies.

Constellation shares fell 8% in Wednesday trading.

Constellation is among several major alcohol producers to report slowing sales growth because of the economic downturn, but the industry is holding up better than most others, which is typical in recessions.

I don't think we have to worry about liquor companies going to Congress for bailouts anytime soon, but seeing how various companies weather the economic downturn will be an interesting story to follow.

Mean Old World

T-Bone Walker:

Do You Want to Buy a Winery?

According to Times Online legendary winery Chateau Latour is for sale. From the article:

The Château Latour estate consists of 78 hectares of Bordeaux vineyards but only grapes from the 47 hectares that surround the chateau at the heart of the estate are used to make the Grand Vin de Château Latour.

In case you were wondering, a bottle of 2005 Chateau Latour goes for about $1000 on WineBid.

The asking price is reportedly somewhere between 150m-200m Euros.

Review: 2005 Fat Stan's Rockfish Red

Wine: 2005 Fat Stan's Rockfish Red



Review: The label says Ketchikan, Alaska but the wine is actually from Northwest Cellars in Washington. It is a blend of 50% Merlot, 28% Syrah, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Under the Northwest Cellars label it is called Intrigue, which is not nearly as interesting as Fat Stan's Rockfish Red.

This is one of those wines that I wish I had purchased in greater quantity. Its not that the wine is great, it is good, but not spectacular. Instead, the wine holds special meaning because of the memories of Alaska that will forever be tied to the aromas in the bottle. The wine itself is a smooth wine, well-aged, with hints of plum, raspberry and just a tinge of pepperiness. Soft tannins and smooth on the palate, it is a good everyday drinking drinking wine.

Price: $20

Grade: 85

Mie N Yu

Mie N Yu get a lot of well-deserved praise, including being given a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and named the best Wine Bar for 2008 by the Washington City Paper.

The appetizers are filling and unique I especially liked the Chipotle Orange Spare Ribs and the Tzatziki Lamb Kabob. The Artisan Cheese Tray was presented well, but the cheeses were not anything unique.

On the other hand, the wine list is incredible, a very wide selection of whites and reds and a strong component of organic wines. The wine list manages to be large without coming across as thrown together, there looks to be a good layout and logic to the selected wines (although, note to the Sommelier: Its Pirramimma Petit Verdot, not Petite). I especially liked their collection of Bordeaux wines, I was disappointed that there were no local wines, but aside from that no complaints.

Overall, Mei N Yu is an eclectic bar, with a good food and really good wines...a great place for a happy hour.

Review: 2003 Marojallia Margaux

Wine: 2003 Marojallia Margaux



Review: To date, I have reviewed the 1999 and 2001 vintages of this wine. Both were excellent, as reflected not only in my review but in the 91-point reviews they both received from Robert Parker.

The 2003 vintage is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot. The wine has a deep purple color and an aroma that contained hints of smoke, blueberries and vanilla. It has a medium body with some tannins, but not overly so. The wine was little young, but with a couple more years it will reach full maturity and should be even better.

Price: $50

Grade: 95

New with this vintage, a little bit about the winery on the back of the bottle:

Boogie Chillen

John Lee Hooker...

Oya

I went to happy hour at Oya with some friends a few months back.

We stuck to small plates and everything we tried was really good. The fried oysters were especially impressive. They weren't so weighed down in batter that you couldn't taste the oysters. The calamari and the braised short ribs were also really good.

The wine list is mid-sized, but impressive with wines from all over the world -- including a couple of wines from Virginia and Maryland. it also rotates by season, which means there is always something new to try. The Angeles Crest Cabernet Sauvignon and the Bitch Grenache were excellent.

Rock Me Baby

So all the cool bloggers are embedding their favorite music videos into their posts. I guess the assumption is that if you like their opinions on one thing, you are bound to like their taste in music.

Well, never let it be said I am not cool. In my opinion there are few things in life that go better with red wine than a good Blues Guitar solo, so in honor of their visit to Constitution Hall February 20th here here are B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Vaughn and Eric Clapton singing Rock Me Baby: