260 days later....

First off, I just want to say to sorry.  Where have I been?  What have I done?  What have I been drinking?  What's good?  What's bad?  Why does every important player on the Bears offense have an injury?  Why haven't I written anything in 8.5 months or 260 days or 374,400 minutes or 22,464,000 seconds?  For shame James - for shame!  I'm so sorry for the delay, but life gets crazy.  Weddings, trips, crazy jobs, leaving crazy jobs, getting new stupendous jobs, and all that is in between. 

Anywho, there will be lots of forthcoming posts.  Dinner at one of the most difficult reservations in the US, three weeks in California during harvest, a tasting of 18 world-class wines, and everyday recommendations will be just part of what I hope will become a more consistent read for you all. 

So, what got my creative juices flowing again? An amazing dish paired with an amazing wine of course.  The wife has been on a huge slow-cooked pork shoulder and tenderloin "kick" for over a year.  Most of the recipes are cheap, easy to prepare, and make great left-overs.  Yesterday, on a particularly awful day of cold temperatures and rain, I whipped up this pork ragu recipe from Cookstr paired with some great half moon ravioli from Papa's Food Market in Wilmington, DE.  Every ingredient melds together into a truly restaurant quality dish.  You can certainly substitute another pasta, but you need to make sure to get a thicker pasta that can hold its own with the heavier ragu.  I really did enjoy the interplay of the ragu and ravioli though.  The recipe makes enough for 10 servings so it is dinner party perfect as well.  Try it on one of those depressingly dreary days that are bound to roll around during these winter months.

But, what wine to pair?  The easy and practical choice is Italian, but I've really been craving Syrah/Shiraz since I got back from California - I'll get to that trip in later posts.  When I say Syrah, I know a lot of folks' minds flash to all the big brand Aussies out in the market.  That's not what we're talking here - we're talking small production wines that go beyond the fruit bomb stereotype.  I find a lot of the nicer Syrahs have the perfect combination of fruit, acid, secondary flavors, and structure.  The wife and I found that in the 2005 Two Hands Shiraz Ares.  What a wine!  It was one of those spectacular wines that you just sip slowly over the course of a few hours and then fight over the last drop.  The flavors and aromas change and evolve from fruit to mineral to chocolate/coffee and back again with a finish that lasts for minutes. 

While not cheap, this is a bottle worthy of any special occasion.  If you are close to Wilmington, DE, check out Frank's Union Wine Mart during the days (check out the Daily Discounts tab on their site) that they offer their "X Chairman's Selection" list at 50% off to pick up this wine at a great price.  You'll probably see me there replacing our bottle. 

Cheers and happy sipping!

Cheebooger Cheebooger

What is better than burgers on the grill after a hard day at work?  Nothing I tell you....unless Thomas Keller wants to whip up something at the house with a 1982 Lafite Rothschild as an accompaniment.  Last night, I whipped up some burgers based on a recipe that I had seen on Epicurious or another web site.  Basically, I took some 75% lean beef cooked medium (of course) topped it with President's Jamon Serrano ham and shredded cheese with a side of sweet potato fries, all from Trader Joe's.  The piece de resistance was the spicy pepper aioli that we put on the burger and used as a dip for the fries.  I took some light mayonnaise, a pinch of salt, and seasoned to taste with crushed red pepper flakes, paprika, and cayenne pepper.  No real quantities - just make it how you like. 

Our wine accompaniment was a 2009 Bris Andes Cabernet Sauvignon.  Domaines Baron de Lafite Rothschild makes this wine in Chile with grapes from the Colchagua Valley.  This is a really delicious but simple wine with just the right amount of dryness to match up with a juicy burger.  Aromas of blackberry and dark cherry with additional plum on the palate.  A great value at $10 with BBQ season coming up.

Happy sipping!

Velvet Chocolate

http://have/ you ever had one of those perfect days?  You relax, hang out with friends, have a nice meal, and spend time with the love of your life.  No, I'm not talking about me - I worked this weekend.  However, the wife had a perfect 21+9 birthday, and I was happy to contribute a great meal and wine that can only be described as "Velvet Chocolate."

We booked a 9 pm reservation at Fond Restaurant a few weeks ago and had been drooling over the menu and reviews ever since.  Fond is a BYOB in South Philly in the burgeoning East Passyunk neighborhood.  It is quite small, a bit loud, and a bit warm, but the service and food is amazing (the team is made up of Le Bec Fin and LaCroix alums - they know what they're doing). 

We chose the five course tasting menu, which couldn't have worked out better because it offered a taste of all the items we had been drooling over.  The arctic char was a perfect starter as we let the wine breathe.  If you know me, you'll know my thoughts on the next dish, wild boar pate.  I live for charcuterie, and it definitely didn't suck as we like to say at work.  My favorite dish was the skate wing with risotto.  I dread to think how much butter went into the sauce, but I hope to see if I can replicate it this summer.  Next, the pork belly skin was the crispest and most flavorful I've ever had on such a dish, but it was extremely difficult to get that perfect bite the wife loves.  A close second for dish of the night was the chocolate peanut butter ice cream with fudge and peanut brittle.  Did the chef think it was my birthday?  Definitely seemed like it.  I literally cleaned the bowl. 

Oh wait, this is a wine blog, not a food blog.  You may be asking "What wine did you have James?"  Well, it definitely didn't suck.  "Velvet Chocolate" had blueberry, blackberry, and dark, dark cherry aromas and flavors with a hint of properly stored cigar aroma and a chocolately finish.  The fruit came through over and over again.  What a bottle!  The wife and I may have a new entry to our top three wines of all-time.  The bottle?  2004 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Stag's Leap Hillside Select.

Stay tuned for a live report from Napa Valley and Sonoma County in a few weeks.  We booked our flights a few days ago and are setting up tastings all over the place.  In the meantime, happy sipping!

A Tasting to Benefit the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekend.  Wilmington was a little wild last night due to the St. Patrick's Day festivities.  The wife and I saw the cops literally rolling a guy into a paddy wagon right outside our house.  Apparently some folks had started imbibing at 10 am and kept it going well into the evening.  We went to a small gathering at a friend's house around the corner, which was quite enjoyable.  Some beer, a great cheese made with black truffles, and lively conversation.  Good times, good times.
Additionally, I had the honor of pouring some nice Italian wines at an event to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Over 200 people attended the event at a beautiful home in West Chester, PA.  I had the opportunity to meet some very avid wine drinkers and even direct Ron Jaworski to the downstairs bar for some Miller Lite.  The hits of the evening were the Di Majo Norante Ramitello and the Argiolas Costamolino.  The Ramitello is a blend of Montepulciano and Aglianico, and it has some nice dark and red fruit and licorice notes, which I love.  The Costamolino is 100% Vermentino, which is and isn't similar to Pinot Grigio.  You'll notice a hint of nuttiness with the citrus and melon flavors.  A great wine for sipping and lighter fish dishes.  Go out and try a couple bottles.

Happy sipping!

Recent Hits

For some reason I've got "Changes" by David Bowie stuck in my head.  An ominous foreshadowing?  Perhaps it's just a darn catchy tune.  Yeah, we'll go with that one.

Today's posting is brought to you courtesy of another one of those really disturbing Bret Easton Ellis movie adaptations, "The Rules of Attraction."  Somehow I always manage to get sucked into watching it or "American Psycho."  I don't remember college being as hedonistic, but it's certainly entertaining to watch Mr. Easton Ellis' musings on rich and spoiled kids at a liberal arts college.  "American Psycho" is so gory, but it has such a great commentary on the excesses of the 80's.  Is Patrick really imagining everything or does no one care that he's a serial killer because they're so worried about dinner reservations and silk sheets?  Anyway, on to the wine.

I picked out my monthly free case a couple of nights ago (I know - tough life I lead) so we've got a few notes to plow through this afternoon. 

1.  Ropiteau Pinot Noir 2009 (with assistance from the wife) - Aromas of raspberry, lemon, and herbs; flavors of strawberry, raspberry, vanilla, and spice with a touch of earthiness.  An easy summer wine that would be great for BBQ or salmon.  Can't go wrong for under $10.

2.  River Road Chardonnay Hopkins Vineyard 2008 - Aromas of apple, citrus, and buttered toast; creamy, oaky flavors of apple, pear, melon, and citrus.  This has always been a favorite of mine, but this vintage toned down the creaminess I really love.  It would go with anything with cream sauce, lobster, and crab.  Treat yourself for $20.

3.  River Road Pinot Noir Scarlett 2009 - Aromas of dark cherry, oak, spice, and raspberry; lots of cherry and strawberry flavor with oaky, spicy, vanilla coffee goodness.  It's delicious and well worth the $5 jump up to $25 from the other single vineyard bottlings from River Road.  Try with some duck breast a la Yimmee, roast pork with sweeter sauces, and chicken or salmon teriyaki. 

Hope everyone is having a excellent day.  Happy sipping!

Da Bulls

Daaaaaaa............Bulls da Bulls da Bulls da Bulls da Bulls.  What a game today!  Of course we just had to go grocery shopping right when the game started but thank goodness for ESPNRadio.  Got home in time to catch the 4th quarter, which the Bulls almost gave away.  Luckily Tom Thibodeau is a genius and put Joakim Noah on Lebron to force him into a difficult shot right at the end.  I feel like Chris Farley must have done his hula dance from SNL up in heaven at the beginning of the season. 

This team looks great.  We're so spoiled with the quality of Chicago sports these days.  Can't wait for baseball to get going.  Go go go go White Sox!

Wild and Wonderful DC

httvinturiI just had a wonderful three days in Washington, D.C. celebrating my belated/the wife's early 30th birthday.  Good food, wine, and friends always earn an A+ in my book.  Unfortunately, Monday afternoon came too soon as usual. 

I realize that I'm a little long-winded when I write this "thing" so I'll try to be brief.  Bullet points are good, right?  Lazy you say?  How about this once?  I am trying to find another job during the evenings so give me some slack.  Some weekend highlights included:

- some of the most authentic fish and chips outside the British Isles at Eamonn's in Alexandria.  You need to order the curry sauce for your chips.  It's delectable. 

- a cheese and charcuterie platter at our friend's house pre-dinner accompanied by 2005 Nicolas Catena Zapata and 2009 Dr. Heidemanns-Bergweiler Bernkasteler Badstude am Doctorberg Riesling Spatelese.  The Zapata was open for two hours beforehand before being poured through a Vinturi straight into our glasses.  I should have opened it earlier because it still felt "tight" until the last few glasses we shared.  I don't have any specific tasting notes other than deep color, fruit and spice nose, and silky smooth finish.  My earlier post on the 2009 German rieslings should tell you how excited I was to taste another offering from Dr Heidemanns.  This particular one had bigger body, white raisins and minerals, and a finish that hung around beautifully.

- dinner at our favorite French place in Georgetown, Bistro Francais, accompanied by a magnum each of 1999 Provenance Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon and 1997 Chateau Haut-Batailley Pauillac (French Bordeaux).  The group seemed to be split between the two while I narrowly gave the edge to the Cab.  It just had more balance between fruit and secondary notes like earth and meat.  The rack of lamb and duck rillette were superb as usual.

- dinner at a new place in Van Ness, Jake's American Grill, that was very mediocre.  It's only been open for a few days so the staff and kitchen are still working on a few things such as timing, trying to open a screw-top cork with a wine key, and making sure a molten lava cake is actually molten.  Our pre-seating rose was so-so.  My pork stew was decent but not mind blowing.  We split a bottle of 2007 Argyle Pinot Noir "The Nuthouse," which was drinking really well with cherry, raspberry, and a touch of mocha. 

All in all a great weekend.  What was everyone else drinking this weekend?

Happy sipping!



Me with the Provenance and Haut-Batailley magnums