Wednesday, July 11, 2012
I probably should pass posting this since I cannot remember the name of the Tequila producer. They are new, from Mexico and the names starts with a "N". Something like "neloza" A cute young thing was hosting. Her family has grown agave for 5 generations and just started making their own Tequila.
Interesting fact she related - that in some parts of Mexico she cannot go into a bar because she is female and females are not allowed in. So she cannot enter to sell her product.
Her tequilas were good. We muddled, drank straight and mixed. Interesting concept and it was fun. T
I have several bottles of Tequila in my bar so I did not purchase any. They ranged from $45 to $55 a bottle.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Delius' Annual Bus Trip
Sunday. July 8, 2012
Today is the annual bus trip to the wine country with Delius Restaurant. Good breakfast at the restaurant with free flowing champagne. Lots of new faces in the crowd. Our first stop was a wine tasting room in Santa Ynez called Imagine. Artiste had occupied this space before and the theme was the same. Wine & Art. I wasn't overly enthused about the wines. They were ok and I did buy 2 bottles of a 2005 Merlot which I thought was the best of their lineup.
I do try to buy at least one bottle at each stop because to get tasting rooms to open up to a bus of 35 people is hard. They look at a group that size and decide we are just looking for a good time and not serious about the wines. Dave always has to let them know the his patrons are into wine and will buy. If the winery has good wines we have been known to buy cases of theirs but when it is a marginal winery I do my duty, buy a bottle and vow not to go back.
Next stop was at Buttonwood where we are to have lunch. When we drove in and the host greeted us I ordered my case of peaches right then. They do sell out everyday and I wanted to make sure they held some back for me. So much better than the jink in the grocery stores. We had a tour of the fermenting room and then walked a short distance to the lake for lunch. This is also where we tasted the wines. Beautiful setting but uneven ground. Best to walk slowly. I bought several bottles of their Zingy Sauvignon Blanc. A lot of people brought home peaches from here.
A unusual thing occurred when we cam down the hill to the tasting room. There was a group of 4 to 5 people that had drove in and gotten out of their car. They wandered around for a few minutes then went under a tree and rolled their prayer mats out and started to pray towards Mecca. Now I do not know if they stopped because it was convenient just to pray or what. If you are Muslim you do not touch alcohol. We left before they did so I have no idea if the went into the tasting room or not. But it seems to me if alcohol is forbidden a piece of ground in a vineyard should be off limits also.
Last stop was a tasting room is Los Olivos. Called Saarloos. Dutch name. They are from the Bellflower area which a one time was big dairy country. Their gimmick was to pair their wines with mini cupcakes in different flavors. I don't know if they felt the wines needed a cover up or what. They also had a "cute": story for each label. Pictures of their relatives and the wines named after them. I did not buy any wines here at all. I also would not go back. A wine should stand on its own without gimmicks and I felt theirs did not.
\Good trip - we were back in Long Beach by 8:30 without any problems.
Today is the annual bus trip to the wine country with Delius Restaurant. Good breakfast at the restaurant with free flowing champagne. Lots of new faces in the crowd. Our first stop was a wine tasting room in Santa Ynez called Imagine. Artiste had occupied this space before and the theme was the same. Wine & Art. I wasn't overly enthused about the wines. They were ok and I did buy 2 bottles of a 2005 Merlot which I thought was the best of their lineup.
I do try to buy at least one bottle at each stop because to get tasting rooms to open up to a bus of 35 people is hard. They look at a group that size and decide we are just looking for a good time and not serious about the wines. Dave always has to let them know the his patrons are into wine and will buy. If the winery has good wines we have been known to buy cases of theirs but when it is a marginal winery I do my duty, buy a bottle and vow not to go back.
Next stop was at Buttonwood where we are to have lunch. When we drove in and the host greeted us I ordered my case of peaches right then. They do sell out everyday and I wanted to make sure they held some back for me. So much better than the jink in the grocery stores. We had a tour of the fermenting room and then walked a short distance to the lake for lunch. This is also where we tasted the wines. Beautiful setting but uneven ground. Best to walk slowly. I bought several bottles of their Zingy Sauvignon Blanc. A lot of people brought home peaches from here.
A unusual thing occurred when we cam down the hill to the tasting room. There was a group of 4 to 5 people that had drove in and gotten out of their car. They wandered around for a few minutes then went under a tree and rolled their prayer mats out and started to pray towards Mecca. Now I do not know if they stopped because it was convenient just to pray or what. If you are Muslim you do not touch alcohol. We left before they did so I have no idea if the went into the tasting room or not. But it seems to me if alcohol is forbidden a piece of ground in a vineyard should be off limits also.
Last stop was a tasting room is Los Olivos. Called Saarloos. Dutch name. They are from the Bellflower area which a one time was big dairy country. Their gimmick was to pair their wines with mini cupcakes in different flavors. I don't know if they felt the wines needed a cover up or what. They also had a "cute": story for each label. Pictures of their relatives and the wines named after them. I did not buy any wines here at all. I also would not go back. A wine should stand on its own without gimmicks and I felt theirs did not.
\Good trip - we were back in Long Beach by 8:30 without any problems.
Russo's
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Perfect weather for dining al fresco. It has been awhile since we went to Russo's. Need to go more often. But then there are so many places it is hard to get them all in.
Tonight 7 of us met. Russo's upped the ante on corkage to $10 a bottle so our extra bottles did not make the table. I managed to list 5 of the bottles but somehow missed a couple.
We decided to just have appetizers followed by a pizza and do everything family style, Easier to split the bill fairly. I don't eat as much as I used to so its my choice to take smaller portions. What I have a problem with is everyone ordering a full dinner and then the table splits the bill. I very rarely order appetizers, dessert or coffee under these circumstances but others do and then I feel I get the short end because I am helping to pay for all their extras when the entire tab is split evenly.
Tonight we ordered the "Russo's Delight" - rock shrimp, avocado and a creamy cilantro pesto on a garlic toasted baguette. So good.
"Stuffed Mushrooms" - mushrooms stuffed with chicken, green onion, cream cheese and herbs topped with Romano cheese and baked. Another winner.
"Palermo Crepes" Crepes filled with bay shrimp, jumbo shrimp, roma tomatoes, goat cheese, green onions, pepperoncini & topped with a creamy Bechamel sauce. I am not a crepe person but these are the exception.
Roasted Brie with baguettes. Sent this dish back because the cheese was not Brie. They were out of Brie and substituted without telling us. CJ caught the difference right away.
Then we ordered a pizza which was excellent . I had one piece because at this time I was stuffed.
Two people ordered desserts which looked good but where they could stuff in the bodies I have no idea. I do miss the days when I could eat like that but no more.
Our wines tonight consisted of: 23008 Coho Diamond Mtn,, Summit Ranch, Napa, Cabernet Sauvigon, 2007 Barrel Brand, Happy Canyon Valley red blend, 2005 Sapphire Hill, Russian RiverPinot Noir, 2004 Beni Duilio Castellani Brunello di Montalcino, and a 2005 Huber Chardonnay.
Perfect weather for dining al fresco. It has been awhile since we went to Russo's. Need to go more often. But then there are so many places it is hard to get them all in.
Tonight 7 of us met. Russo's upped the ante on corkage to $10 a bottle so our extra bottles did not make the table. I managed to list 5 of the bottles but somehow missed a couple.
We decided to just have appetizers followed by a pizza and do everything family style, Easier to split the bill fairly. I don't eat as much as I used to so its my choice to take smaller portions. What I have a problem with is everyone ordering a full dinner and then the table splits the bill. I very rarely order appetizers, dessert or coffee under these circumstances but others do and then I feel I get the short end because I am helping to pay for all their extras when the entire tab is split evenly.
Tonight we ordered the "Russo's Delight" - rock shrimp, avocado and a creamy cilantro pesto on a garlic toasted baguette. So good.
"Stuffed Mushrooms" - mushrooms stuffed with chicken, green onion, cream cheese and herbs topped with Romano cheese and baked. Another winner.
"Palermo Crepes" Crepes filled with bay shrimp, jumbo shrimp, roma tomatoes, goat cheese, green onions, pepperoncini & topped with a creamy Bechamel sauce. I am not a crepe person but these are the exception.
Roasted Brie with baguettes. Sent this dish back because the cheese was not Brie. They were out of Brie and substituted without telling us. CJ caught the difference right away.
Then we ordered a pizza which was excellent . I had one piece because at this time I was stuffed.
Two people ordered desserts which looked good but where they could stuff in the bodies I have no idea. I do miss the days when I could eat like that but no more.
Our wines tonight consisted of: 23008 Coho Diamond Mtn,, Summit Ranch, Napa, Cabernet Sauvigon, 2007 Barrel Brand, Happy Canyon Valley red blend, 2005 Sapphire Hill, Russian RiverPinot Noir, 2004 Beni Duilio Castellani Brunello di Montalcino, and a 2005 Huber Chardonnay.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
June's Gatherthing of The Flock
Sunday, June 31, 2012 (July 1)
This months theme was bring a bottle of your favorite wine of a wine you are enjoying right now. Expensive or not. As you can expect it was a real mish mash of wines and values. Some of the wines were really good but I would say the majority of them were pulled off shelves randomly. They ranged from Napa to Temecula to Europe. Two bubblies, eight white and 10 reds.
The host made Paella. I think the flavor would have really good if he had not burned the bottom the rice. By that I mean is was black black. That burnt taste saturated the entire dish and really threw me off. Which was too bad because the dish would have tasted good. But I do not think that Remy has any competition here. Her Paella is always outstanding.
The weather was perfect for June and the event was held outside which made it quite pleasant. Lots of appetizers and desserts. The Margarita cheesecake that Judy made was excellent.
Next month (July) off to William & Patte's for Greek Wines with Greek food. That will be interesting to see if there are and if so, how many duplicates of wine are brought. Most wine stores carry about the same labels. I will have to go way out of town to try and find something different.
This months theme was bring a bottle of your favorite wine of a wine you are enjoying right now. Expensive or not. As you can expect it was a real mish mash of wines and values. Some of the wines were really good but I would say the majority of them were pulled off shelves randomly. They ranged from Napa to Temecula to Europe. Two bubblies, eight white and 10 reds.
The host made Paella. I think the flavor would have really good if he had not burned the bottom the rice. By that I mean is was black black. That burnt taste saturated the entire dish and really threw me off. Which was too bad because the dish would have tasted good. But I do not think that Remy has any competition here. Her Paella is always outstanding.
The weather was perfect for June and the event was held outside which made it quite pleasant. Lots of appetizers and desserts. The Margarita cheesecake that Judy made was excellent.
Next month (July) off to William & Patte's for Greek Wines with Greek food. That will be interesting to see if there are and if so, how many duplicates of wine are brought. Most wine stores carry about the same labels. I will have to go way out of town to try and find something different.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Tastings
June 2012
Along with all the other functions that I attended this month I did 5 wine tastings and a champagne tasting to fill in my empty evenings.
Along with all the other functions that I attended this month I did 5 wine tastings and a champagne tasting to fill in my empty evenings.
Road Trip
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Left early am to drive to Lompoc for a "fund raiser" at Clos Pepe. My friend, William decided to join me. Got to Buelleton about 10 am and had breakfast at Ellen's. Always the place for good breakfast.
Hit the Lompoc Wine Ghetteo about 10:45 and tasted at Evening Land, Arcadian and Palmina. All excellent wines
The function at Clos Pepe was at 12 noon. This was a fund raiser for the local libraries. Five wineries were pouring that day along with Clos Pepe. Ampelos, Kessler-Hawk, Huber, Transcedence along with a winery that ran out of wine before we got to it.
Lots a specialty, gourmet pizzas, farro salad, grilled vegetables, fresh grilled pineapple and mangos along with 4 kinds of brownies.
About 2:15 we left Clos Pepe and went across the road to Huber. I had wine to pick up. After talking with Norman & Traudl for awhile we headed over to Los Olivos. We tasted at Dragonette and Stolpman.
Bought wines at Stolpman, Arcadian, Evening Land and Palimia today. Stolpman has a new wine called Villa Angeli that I had not tasted yet. They did bring it out for us to taste and I bought several bottles. Excellent addition to their "high end line".
About 5:00 we started to head back. William wanted to stop at AK Spurs and have s teak dinner but that would have added a couple of hours to the trip along with more wine.drinking. That I was not up for.
I was surprised that William had never heard of the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, which now has 19 wineries pouring there and he had never been to the town of Los Olivos. He had driven past it but never stopped. Los Olivos must have 30 wineries with tasting rooms there and its a town that is only 2 blocks by 2 blocks big.
Got back to the OC about 8:00, still daylight, dropped William off and went home to unload wine. Good day.
Left early am to drive to Lompoc for a "fund raiser" at Clos Pepe. My friend, William decided to join me. Got to Buelleton about 10 am and had breakfast at Ellen's. Always the place for good breakfast.
Hit the Lompoc Wine Ghetteo about 10:45 and tasted at Evening Land, Arcadian and Palmina. All excellent wines
The function at Clos Pepe was at 12 noon. This was a fund raiser for the local libraries. Five wineries were pouring that day along with Clos Pepe. Ampelos, Kessler-Hawk, Huber, Transcedence along with a winery that ran out of wine before we got to it.
Lots a specialty, gourmet pizzas, farro salad, grilled vegetables, fresh grilled pineapple and mangos along with 4 kinds of brownies.
About 2:15 we left Clos Pepe and went across the road to Huber. I had wine to pick up. After talking with Norman & Traudl for awhile we headed over to Los Olivos. We tasted at Dragonette and Stolpman.
Bought wines at Stolpman, Arcadian, Evening Land and Palimia today. Stolpman has a new wine called Villa Angeli that I had not tasted yet. They did bring it out for us to taste and I bought several bottles. Excellent addition to their "high end line".
About 5:00 we started to head back. William wanted to stop at AK Spurs and have s teak dinner but that would have added a couple of hours to the trip along with more wine.drinking. That I was not up for.
I was surprised that William had never heard of the Lompoc Wine Ghetto, which now has 19 wineries pouring there and he had never been to the town of Los Olivos. He had driven past it but never stopped. Los Olivos must have 30 wineries with tasting rooms there and its a town that is only 2 blocks by 2 blocks big.
Got back to the OC about 8:00, still daylight, dropped William off and went home to unload wine. Good day.
Williams Selyem Wine Vertical & Dinner
Saturday, June 16, 2012
There were 12 of us tonight to taste a 10 year vertical, 2001 to 2010, of Williams Selyem Russian River Pinot Noir. Most people brought some type of food dish and several people joined forces and cooked the main dishes. I brought the 2006 and 2007 years of this vertical.
There were also two magnums of Williams Selyem Weir Vineyards Pinot Noir, a 2000 & 2002. These magnums did not get opened as there were plenty of wine to go around. Being saved for another get together.
We started off with a couple of bottles of 2008 Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc Champagne and appetizers. The appetizers were enough for a meal. After a plate of them I had no room for dinner.
A black olive tapenade was excellent along with vegetable Samosa's. I brought a wild mushroom, cream cheese pate which naturally pairs well with Pinot. A Borscht soup was served. Somehow I missed that. Rounding out the appetizers were Kettle chips in 2 flavors, 4 cheeses, cashews, fresh pineapple, fresh bluberries and goose pate.
Dinner consisted of grilled Copper River salmon with 3 different sauces, Paella, Lamb Stew, country style potatoes, Haricot Verts and wild mushrooms, broccoli wih vinaigrette & pine nuts.
I took a small potion of the salmon and some Paella. I was full from appetizers and could not each much.Unfortunaely for the dinner portion I will say that some of the dishes were not done well. The salmon was put in a chafing dish to keep warm. But it was put in without any liquids and it dried out. Even putting a Buerre Rouge sauce on it did not help it.
The dish labled Spanish Paella was more like Spanish Rice with additions. The chicken, shrimp & chorizo sausage was cooked separetly and you added what you want to your rice. This was the furtherest thing from Paella I have ever had. I know they took a long time and a lot of effort to make this dish was it was by no means a "Paella". I am glad I took a small portion.
I cannot comment of the Lamb stew, potatoes, green beans or broccoli because I did not put any on my plate.
Dessert was a Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake that was brought by another guest. It was excellent. This was served with a Krohn 30 year Tawny Port. I ate the cheesecake and then got a few pices of cheese to eat along with the port. I am not an advocate of sweet on sweet. I prefer my dessert wines to be eaten with something savory.
Compaany was good and the wines excellent. It is such a shame with the effort that was put into this dinner that the results were so mediorce.
There were 12 of us tonight to taste a 10 year vertical, 2001 to 2010, of Williams Selyem Russian River Pinot Noir. Most people brought some type of food dish and several people joined forces and cooked the main dishes. I brought the 2006 and 2007 years of this vertical.
There were also two magnums of Williams Selyem Weir Vineyards Pinot Noir, a 2000 & 2002. These magnums did not get opened as there were plenty of wine to go around. Being saved for another get together.
We started off with a couple of bottles of 2008 Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc Champagne and appetizers. The appetizers were enough for a meal. After a plate of them I had no room for dinner.
A black olive tapenade was excellent along with vegetable Samosa's. I brought a wild mushroom, cream cheese pate which naturally pairs well with Pinot. A Borscht soup was served. Somehow I missed that. Rounding out the appetizers were Kettle chips in 2 flavors, 4 cheeses, cashews, fresh pineapple, fresh bluberries and goose pate.
Dinner consisted of grilled Copper River salmon with 3 different sauces, Paella, Lamb Stew, country style potatoes, Haricot Verts and wild mushrooms, broccoli wih vinaigrette & pine nuts.
I took a small potion of the salmon and some Paella. I was full from appetizers and could not each much.Unfortunaely for the dinner portion I will say that some of the dishes were not done well. The salmon was put in a chafing dish to keep warm. But it was put in without any liquids and it dried out. Even putting a Buerre Rouge sauce on it did not help it.
The dish labled Spanish Paella was more like Spanish Rice with additions. The chicken, shrimp & chorizo sausage was cooked separetly and you added what you want to your rice. This was the furtherest thing from Paella I have ever had. I know they took a long time and a lot of effort to make this dish was it was by no means a "Paella". I am glad I took a small portion.
I cannot comment of the Lamb stew, potatoes, green beans or broccoli because I did not put any on my plate.
Dessert was a Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake that was brought by another guest. It was excellent. This was served with a Krohn 30 year Tawny Port. I ate the cheesecake and then got a few pices of cheese to eat along with the port. I am not an advocate of sweet on sweet. I prefer my dessert wines to be eaten with something savory.
Compaany was good and the wines excellent. It is such a shame with the effort that was put into this dinner that the results were so mediorce.
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