“Super Moon”

Posted on June 24, 2013 by thewineraconteur

“When the moon hits your eye.

Like a big pizza pie.

That’s amore.
When the world seems to shine.

Like you’ve had too much wine.

That’s amore.”

If one has spent any time on site Facebook in the last couple of weeks, one couldn’t miss all of the assorted postings about the “Super Moon” which will be most visible on June 23, 2013.  All of this will be a short dissertation to show how my brain works, in what I learned in Junior High English Literature of a writing style called “train of consciousness.”  This talk about the “Super Moon” immediately sent me on a search of a DVD movie that we have in the house, but alas I could not find it after two days of searching and that can happen here on occasion (so I had to go to Google to find an image, which I do not like to do).  I was looking for the DVD of “Moonstruck” which is about an Italian family in New York.  One of the charming aspects of this film, besides the actual story is that some of the “family” members are not Italian;  Cher who is Armenian/American Indian, Olympia Dukakis who is Greek and Feodor Chaliapin who is Russian and the son of the famed Basso Feodor Chaliapin Sr., and as a side note I remember an interview Sean Connery gave where he warned every actor that if they were to work with the son, that he is the most natural “scene stealer” in the history of cinema.

 GH Mumm & Co Champagne Reims NV

Food plays an integral part of the film, as there are plenty of scenes in restaurants and the kitchen table.  The actual food is a minor cog in the story, but it is always there, which I can relate to coming from my nationality and the way food was always prevalent, especially if there were more than three people at the table.  In fact, I remember reading that during the entire filming of this movie, one of the leads Vincent Gardenia was always cooking on the set for the cast and crew.  I am sure that the heady aroma of food permeated the whole set and made for a more authentic feel for all involved.

 Moonstruck (from Google Images)

Of course after thinking about the food which is an underlying theme, there is the wine.  Now you can see how my brain makes twists and turns and can bring wine into almost any discussion or topic.  There is an earlier scene in the film where Cher’s character is in a store buying a bottle of Champagne, actually it is a bottle of G.H. Mumm & Co. from Reims, France.  One of the three fabled villages of the great Champagne region; and the major users of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay varietals that are used for the wine.  While Champagne is always used for toasting and for special occasions, one aspect of this film and the Champagne created quite a stir when it first ran.  The participants would drop a sugar cube in the fluted glass of Champagne, a very simple version of a Champagne Cocktail.  The sugar increases the effervescence and sweetness of the wine, which symbolizes the wish that your life will be the same.

“When the stars make you drool just like pasta fazool.

That’s amore (that’s amore).

When you dance down the street.

With a cloud at your feet, you’re in love.

When you walk in a dream.

But you know you’re not dreaming, signore.

‘Scusami, but you see.

Back in old Napoli, that’s amore.”

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An Affordable Date Night When I Was a Student

Posted on June 22, 2013 by thewineraconteur

In my early years, the place to be was Downtown Detroit as it was bustling and still a place to be.  There were plenty of locations that were out of my price, unless it was a special occasion.  One of the places I could afford back then was Eastman’s Gaslight Room.  It was a steakhouse and restaurant that also offered dancing back in the day, when that was a common amenity.  Even though this restaurant was Downtown it was off of the beaten track for the “hot” locations, but it was close to all of the big movie houses, where that was the place to be, to see a first run film.

 Niersteiner gutes Domtal Spatlese 1975

The “Gaslight” as it was called featured good basic dishes that did not compete with the more prominent restaurants Downtown.  One could get a steak, chops or several types of fish.  The restaurant was very popular among the business men Downtown that wanted a good dinner, but were not on expense accounts, as there were many venues that catered to that crowd.  During this era, I remember that one of the more popular fish choices was Red Snapper.  I was not a big fan of fish, but on there were times when I would order it, especially if my date wanted white wine.

 MI Eastman's Gaslight Room MB gold

As I was just learning about wine, and I still feel that I am still learning, I only knew the basics and that fish should have white wine.  German sweet white wines were the rage back then, especially by the young ladies that were just learning to drink and they did not want anything too heavy.  One night while I was there I tried a German wine from the Rheinhessen region from one of the principal villages of Nierstein.  I had already learned the basics of reading a German wine label, but I was not that educated on the nuances or that familiar with a lot of German words.  One evening that I was there I had a bottle of 1975 Niersteiner gutes Domtal Spatlese.  As I look back at this label, with more knowledge than I had back then, I feel that this wine was at odds with itself.  I have to admit that I am still not as knowledgeable about German wines, but I will explain why the label strikes me as odd.  While Nierstein is a principal village of the Rheinhessen, the term “gutes Domtal” is not a name for a vineyard which usually follows the name of the village.  “Gutes Domtal” is one step up from basic “table wine” from conversations that I have had since.  I have also learned that Riesling is the preferred varietal from this region, but it is not listed on the label, which leads me to believe that the varietal for this particular wine may be Muller Thurgau, but the laws governing the labeling may have been different when I had this wine.  The other aspect that I find unique about this wine is that even though it is a “gutes Domtal” it has the Pradikat of Spatlese, meaning that it is from a later harvesting of the grapes, where the sugar rating is higher.  Would a basic wine by a bulk producer bother buying Spatlese grapes when they are producing a more generic wine?  My thoughts are that the harvest that year must have been sizeable even among the Spatlese picking and they could afford to offer this wine.  I guess that hind sight makes one wonder about a wine tried years ago.

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A Quiet Father’s Day

Posted on June 20, 2013 by thewineraconteur

We try not to go out on holidays, as there are usually too many people, and I feel that the service and the food service can suffer from the crowds that think they have to go out.  We enjoyed a very quiet Father’s Day at home, and I heard from all three children, so life is good, not to mention some of my grandchildren as well.

Marquis de Riscal Rioja Reserva 1993

My Bride has been very hectic, as she is always in the month of June, because that is a peak month for her business.  She decided that she wanted to take a respite from all of the demands, and make a stew.  She finds stew to be a great comfort food and I think it helps her relax when she makes the dish.  As for me, I try to stay away from the kitchen and not try to add my two cents to the preparations.

 Marquis de Riscal Rioja Reserva 1993 Cork

I went down to the cellar to grab a bottle of wine for dinner, that is the true value of having a cellar, there is never an urgency to buy a bottle of wine, but it can also be a bane.  I was going to get a Cabernet Sauvignon based wine, either a Medoc or a Meritage and I wandered over to the area where I keep some of the assorted “foreign” wines i.e. not French, American or Italian wines and I started looking at some of the Spanish wines.  As I have written before, I am smitten with the wines of Rioja.  The varietals used in Rioja wines on average are 60% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha Tinta and the rest is Mazuelo and Graciano.  I prefer the “Reserva” designation over the basic Rioja.  Well, while I was looking at the wines, I discovered a Marques de Riscal Rioja Reserva 1993.  The first time that I had this wine was the 1970 vintage and I have bought it happily whenever I found it, and so has my Bride.  As I pondered whether or not the wine was too old, I recalled an article that I had read in the near past of this winery opening a hundred year old bottle and the wine received rave reviews.  So I grabbed this twenty year old Rioja Riserva to see how it had fared.  I mean I was not in a restaurant where there might have been a problem if I refused a bottle because it was over the hill, because at my home, I could just grab another bottle of wine without too much of a consequence.

 MarquesDeRiscalRed

I removed the brass “chicken wire” mesh wrapping around the bottle, and removed the metal foil cover.  I grabbed my favorite corkscrew because the screw always seems to grab the cork, with out causing the cork to crumble.  I slowly pulled the cork out and there was a slight bit of crumbling, but on the whole the cork was fully intact.  I played with the cork between my fingers to check the firmness and then I smelled the cork for any bad odors, so far, so good.  I poured the wine into my wine glass and I was amazed at the deep color of the wine, as I had anticipated a lighter shade or maybe even into the browns, and it was still the color that I always look for.  The first taste was a bit of a surprise as I tasted a bit more alcohol than I normally do.  I let the glass sit a while and I went back to it, and it had mellowed out, though the fruit was there, it was not as plentiful on the tongue as I normally taste.  My Bride was happy with the wine and I also found it more appealing as the evening wore on.  Though the wine is still younger than any of my children, it was a good choice.

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Sinbad’s on the Detroit River

Posted on June 18, 2013 by thewineraconteur

If one wants to mention an institution in Detroit, Sinbad’s Restaurant and Marina would have to be on a short list.  Since 1949 people have been driving or boating over to Sinbad’s for a bite and a drink or two.  I have been there many a time, using either means of transportation and it is always a good time.  The area may have seen a decline, but somehow Sinbad’s continues to hold their own.

 KJ Chardonnay 1998

I can not imagine that Sinbad’s was ever genteel, as I feel that it has always been boisterous and just a fun place for friends to gather.  There perch is legendary as well as some of the best sandwiches around.  Their burger has a following of its own right and most people that have been there a couple of times, tend to have their favorite dish.  While the food may get to you rather quickly, one is never rushed from a table at Sinbad’s because it seems to generate its own good time glow, and nobody is in a rush to leave this venue.  They even have their own version of a Sunday Brunch that tends to pack the loyal patrons in.

 MI Sinbad's Photo

With the marina on the back side, there is always a crowd, especially during the summer months.  Cold drinks are the norm, and one the biggest sellers is the Hummer.  I would venture to say that beer is the king, though I have been partial to a nice cold bottle of Chardonnay when I am there.  A Chardonnay is wonderful with the perch, and I have been known to even have it with a burger or one of the big sandwiches.  After all, this is not fine dining, just a good time with friends.  One lunch that kind of morphed into dinner as more friends appeared required multiple bottles of Kendall Jackson Chardonnay 1998 and who knows how many bottles of beer evaporated that day.

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A Hot Day and a Cool Wine

Posted on June 16, 2013 by thewineraconteur

We were down in Charlotte, North Carolina visiting a friend.  I was tagging along, because when ladies get together they tend to shop, and shop some more.  I am more into wine shops when I can find them.  Well the ladies were shopping, and the day grew increasingly warmer as the day wore on.  We were going to go out for dinner that evening, but we needed some solace from the sun, and perchance a moment to find something cooling from the heat of shopping.

 Orin Swift Veladora Sauvignon Blanc 2009 (A)

Our friend suggested this watering hole, which had a nice collection of wines, so off we went to cool off.   The place was rather quiet for an afternoon, and it was before the happy hour crowd would cruise into the establishment.  We just selected some cheeses and other assorted munchies, as I looked at the wine offerings.   I was looking at some of the white wines and saw a bottle that I had to turn around to see what it was, as the label had a religious icon theme to it.  It was a Sauvignon Blanc from Napa Valley from the Orin Swift Cellars of Napa and I had seen the wines before, and have heard good things about the wines, but had never tried one.  I decided that this was the moment to try the wine, which was an Orin Swift Veladora Sauvignon Blanc 2009.  It was chilled for us, and we enjoyed this white wine which was very refreshing, and not overly sweet.

 Orin Swift Veladora Sauvignon Blanc 2009 (B)

While the ladies discussed plans for the next day, I was enjoying the wine and thought I would study the back label that had identified the wine.  It read “Every day a large mostly anonymous workforce of men and women labor hard in the vineyards and wineries of the Napa Valley.  Most of them have left behind not only their country of origin but also their husbands, wives and children in order to make a better life and find a small piece of the American Dream.  In an attempt to help them realize this dream we at Orin Swift Cellars will be donating 100% of the profits from this wine to Puertas Abiertas, or Open Doors. Puertas Abiertas is a coalition formed by our dear friend Father Gordon Kalil which provides dental services, counseling and health screenings for those in need without checking for Immigration status.  We choose to use an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the label to further convey our deep respect for and recognition of Latino heritage of our fellow farm workers.  Your support is greatly appreciated.”  Not only were we enjoying some wonderful wine, but we were supporting a worthwhile endeavor, with out prior knowledge.  I just wonder how many people have enjoyed this wine, and never even noticed the statement on the back.  When I went to the website of Orin Swift Cellars, I did not see any statement to this affect, so they were not patting their own back, at the site, which I thought was a noble gesture on their part.

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J. Alexander’s for a Lunch Meeting

Posted on June 14, 2013 by thewineraconteur

I was meeting a friend for lunch, as I had something to give him, and he suggested that we meet a J. Alexander’s.  This is a chain that is found in about twelve states and they give a good meal, classic American cuisine.  Nothing pretentious, but quality and I think they have achieved that goal admirably.  My Bride and I use this restaurant, when we want to have dinner and wine before catching the latest cinema.  I was meeting my friend, and we both showed up in the parking lot at the same time, so there was no need to look for each other in the restaurant.  This particular restaurant has always evoked the feeling of an old train station in its motif, at least which is the feeling I always feel.  We were led to a booth in the bar section, and that was fine.

 Elements by Artesa Sonoma 2009 (A)

Our server showed up almost immediately with menus and a carte with the daily specials, but no wine list, which she brought back after I requested it, though I found it odd that as she handed it to me, she wanted to know what I was going to drink, before I could focus on the selections, she decided that she would return in a few minutes.  We were catching up with what in the world was going on in our lives, as well as deciding on what to have for lunch.  Originally my friend was going to go “healthy” and get a salad, then he decided to change it to a steak sandwich, and then finally he opted for a “French-dip” sandwich, and I said that it sounded good, and I ordered one as well.  I being “high maintenance” asked if the horseradish that came with the sandwich was fresh or a sauce, I was told normally a sauce, but they had fresh as well, so she brought both with the orders.

 MI J Alexanders Logo

The restaurant had a nice wine list, but I was looking for a wine by the glass, as we were not going to have a leisurely lunch where we could finish off a bottle of wine.  As I was looking at the list of red wines by the glass, there were some that I have already had, and I wanted to find something different.  There on the list was a wine that was listed as a Meritage and so I decided to go with that.  The wine was Elements by Artesa Red Wine Sonoma County 2009.  This is a collection from Artesa Vineyards and Winery of Carneros, and the winery offers wines made from varietals in Napa Valley and Sonoma County.  I had our server bring the bottle, so that I could take a picture of it, since I would not have the label for later reference.  I noticed that it said “red wine” and not “Meritage,” so I knew that they must not belong to the society.  I have had plenty of blends that do not belong to the society, so I was not too concerned.  This particular wine was a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petite Verdot.  It certainly reminded me of Claret, but not as heavy, which was fine for lunch.  The color was good, and the nose was decent for a popular priced wine, which this was.  I do believe this was a case, where the wine was enhanced by the quality of the friend and the conversation.

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Taste of Monterey

Posted on June 12, 2013 by thewineraconteur

We just received the latest shipment from a wine club that we joined years ago, on one of our trips to Monterey.  They have a couple of different options and we chose the “elite” package of reserve wine selections in anticipation of getting some wines, that we may not ever have a chance of encountering here in Michigan.  I always look forward to the selections that they send and I enjoy the little pamphlet that accompanies the shipment, as it gives some background information on the wines, as well as a recipe or two, which we may try.

 Joyce Pinot Noir Tondre Vineyard 2010

The first wine Joyce Pinot Noir Tondre Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands 2010 sounds enticing.  The Tondre Vineyard has been touted as an excellent area for growing in the appellation of Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County.  Pinot Noir has been a varietal that seems to do very well in Monterey County and we have enjoyed every bottle that we have encountered.  This wine is being touted as being light, as it has been barreled for ten months, racked twice during that time and then bottled unfiltered.  The aging potential for this wine is estimated at six to eight years.

 Bernardus Chardonnay Soberanes 2010

The next wine we received is an old friend, as we were at the winery and enjoyed dining at their stellar restaurant Marinus, while touring Bernardus Winery.   Though we have enjoyed the wines from Bernardus, this is a new offering from the Soberanes Vineyard in the appellation of Santa Lucia Highlands, as opposed to the classic Bernardus in the Carmel Valley.  This wine Bernardus Chardonnay Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highland 2010 has been fermented and aged in the classic Burgundy style of winemaking and this is the first vintage from this vineyard.  The aging potential for this wine is estimated at five to seven years.

 Le Mistral Red 2008

The last wine in the package is from Le Mistral Vineyard and is simply called a red wine.  We have had this wine from other years and I do believe they are being modest.  Le Mistral Red Wine Monterey County 2008 is a blend of the following varietals; Syrah, Grenache, Alicante Bouschet and Petite Sirah.  This is also a wine that has some further pedigree that it is the sister vineyard to Ventana Vineyards of Monterey County.  The other part of the pedigree is that it was founded and planted by Joseph Phelps of Napa Valley, another winery that my Bride and I had visited as well as tasting and enjoying some of their famed Insignia wine, not to mention purchasing.  The aging potential of this “red wine” is six to ten years.

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Zoetrope

Posted on June 10, 2013 by thewineraconteur

For as long as I can remember, once my daughter started thinking with logic, she has bombarded me with “Dad, why don’t you go on Jeopardy and become rich.”  Now that is not to say that I am a genius, it just has to do with the fact that my brain likes being a depository for arcane and esoteric knowledge, hence even the use of the word “raconteur.”  She would get so enamored that I could be in another room and I could give out the answer normally before, it was announced on the television show, and to this day, she still watches the show and attempts to do it, herself.

 Coppola Directors Cut Chardonnay Russian River 2007 (A)

All this is a long segue for the title of this article “Zoetrope.”  I remember being introduced to this word, when I was in grade school, as we were shown how the concept of motion pictures was developed, just like we were taught to make a series of drawings with ever so slight difference of movement on each corner of a pad of paper, and then fan the pages, so as to watch our own self made cartoon.  The Zoetrope actually means “life movement” and I know the first actual Zoetrope that I saw was at Greenfield Village or the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan as Thomas Alva Edison was an early fan and developer of this new fangled invention.  A film maker who was born in Detroit Francis Ford Coppola named his film corporation Zoetrope as well.

 Coppola Directors Cut Chardonnay Russian River 2007 (B)

Ever since I covered the bare walls in my wine cellar with the labels of the assorted wines that I have drank, I think I have even been more cognizant of the marketing and the designs of the labels.  Some are very prosaic and some are full of whimsy.  This particular bottle caught my eye, and I wish I had photographed the actually bottle, because the label was one long label that the encircled the bottle diagonally a couple of times, that is why I had to scan the label in two parts.  It may be the longest wine label that I have ever encountered.

 The Desk

We had the good fortune to visit the Niebaum-Coppola estate on a trip to NapaValley, where we had booked a special tour of the property, the film museum and a special wine tasting in one of the old cellars of the building.  I wrote about it last year, and I was even photographed next to a very famous desk, that was in the museum, just think of the opening shot of a man, with his back to the camera listening to a man extol “I came to America,” yes it was that desk.  Well here was another production item from this multi-talented man.  The long label had a long name; Francis Ford Coppola Director’s Cut 2007 Russian River Valley Chardonnay.  I had to buy this wine, not only for the label, but for the great memories both of the estate in Napa, and the films that I have enjoyed.   I also have to say, that the wine was very enjoyable and refreshing for my Bride and myself as well as our friends that were over that day for dinner and drinks

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A Great Save to End a Day

Posted on June 8, 2013 by thewineraconteur

Once a year, normally my Bride makes a business trip to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for business.  Some years I tag along and other years I do not, depending on the schedule of the meetings, otherwise I may be sitting in a parked car for many hours, and that is what would have occurred on this trip.  I also had to endure the problem that she encountered with the rental car that she was driving, as she had a blow-out on one of the tires.  The good news is that she was in an area where she had good reception for her cellular phone and was able to get a service vehicle to correct her problem.  She called the rental agency, to find out what they wanted her to do, and they asked her to buy a new replacement tire, when it was determined that the tire was not salvageable.   Alas she could not find a tire, but there was good news in that the agency had only one office and it was in the city of Marquette where she was going to spend that evening in anyways.  She proceeded to drive very carefully on the “donut” tire that was put on for her and made plans to change cars the next morning.

 KJ Avant Chardonnay 2009

Since I was not traveling with my Bride, she was doing carry out dinners each evening and retiring to her hotel to catch up on her business work, as she does not like to dine alone, and I understand her thoughts on this.  Though I did insist that she go out that evening as she had planned on and revisit L’Attitudes in Marquette where we had eaten the year before.  She had enjoyed her last dinner there of Seared Ahi Tuna with Wasabi and she said it was just as good that evening, as she had remembered.  She also enjoyed a glass of Kendall Jackson Avant Chardonnay, I informed her that we had tried that wine, as we had bought it one evening for a party, she had just forgotten it.  For the other nights she had bought some small individual bottles of Cavit Collection Pinot Grigio 2012 that she could enjoy with her carry-out dinners and “relax” over the computer.

 Cavit Pinot Grigio 2012

The day she returned home after a six hour drive, we had plans for the evening at an outdoor affair.  Between the high humidity, the high temperature and the occasion heavy shower we felt like wilted roses, and the only thing to drink was soda pop and water at this affair.  Like the “always prepared” Scout that she is, she remembered that she had still had a couple of bottles of the Pinot Grigio wine in the trunk of the car.  I grabbed a couple of glasses of ice, went out a filled our glasses with the wine, which is not how we would normally drink the wine, but if made the heat of the evening more endurable.

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A Query from a Reader

Posted on June 6, 2013 by thewineraconteur

A while back I received an inquiry about a couple of bottles of wine that were discovered in the basement of a house, while the house was getting a thorough cleaning out.   Two bottles of sparkling wine were found on a shelf, long forgotten about.  The question pertained as to whether the wine would still be good.  This tends to be one of the most common questions I get, right after what is the best wine should I buy? The two bottles in question were a Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut and a Henkell Cuvee Brut 2005.  As I said earlier both were sparkling wines, one from Spain and the other from Germany.

 CC Freixenet Cordon Nego Brut

I started off by addressing the black bottled Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut, which is a wine that I have often ordered and bought myself.  This is a charming sparkling wine that is done Methode Champagne, meaning that it is fermented in the same process as the classic Champagnes of France.  The major difference is in the varietals of grapes used in the production of this wine.  There are three varietals that are used, as a side note for those attempting to get membership in the Century group; they are Macebeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada.  The blending of these varietals and the eighteen months of fermentation combine to create a very fresh and charming wine, which my Bride and I have ordered for pre-dinner or after dinner wine.  I suggested that since, the reader felt that the two bottles were bought probably around the same time, and since this was not a vintage bottle that I would get it well chilled and try it first.  I wrote that it may not have much in bubbles, but it should still be a nice wine.  It turns out that the wine still had the bubbles and was a charming wine for a get-together.

 CC Henkell Brut 2005

The other sparkling wine Henkell Cuvee Brut 2005, I had never had, so I did some research on this German wine.  This wine is also produced Methode Champagne and is a blend of two classic Champagne varietals; Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc.  I must confess that they are two varietals that I do not immediately associate with German wine production, but my knowledge of German wines is not as deep as other areas, but they are great grapes for making sparkling wine. Since this was a vintage bottle, and I had to presume that it is similar to the concept of France, where a vintage year in Champagne is not always declared, I felt that it must have been a fine bottle of wine.  This is why I suggested that the reader try this bottle after the Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut.  I had to presume that they were both stored relatively well, and since one was good, I was sure that the second would have positive results as well.  The reader informed that the second bottle was recently opened among some friends and that it was sound and enjoyed by all.  I do enjoy a happy ending, and I must say that the reader sent me photographs of the two wines by email, in hopes that I could write about them.  I thank the reader for being so gracious and am glad that the wines were sound and resulted in a good time for all concerned.

CC Champagne Flutes

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