If you want to buy wine online from an out of state retailer you only have 18 days left. On Jan. 1st, new legislation goes into effect that will prevent Illinois residents from purchasing wine from out of state retailers. Get the cheap stuff while you still can.
The legislation is ridiculous, and I hope it is found unconstitutional soon. In the meantime you and I are SOL. Lets all raise a glass to higher prices and a smaller selection of those hard to find wines.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Game Night
I grew up in the age of video games. I can't remember a time in my consciousness when I didn't have some sort of computerized gaming system in my home. Despite that I've always been a die hard board game player. I've played a lot of board games, but the one that will always hold a special place in my heart is Axis and Allies.
A game of strategy centered around the last morally superior war. Me and 4 friends locked in combat determining the future of the world! Whats not to love? And on top of all that, what better excuse to sit in a dimly lit room, drink Port and Scotch, and smoke cigars while cursing like, well, a general.
Can't you just see Ike or Göring sitting around planning, snifter in hand? Good times. I'm excited, because those good times will come to fruition this weekend. Game on, as they say. I'm pulling out the 15 year and the LBV (What about vintage you say? You think I'm made of money?!). The battle will rage long into the night, and in the end I'll be crowned victor. You didn't think it could end any other way did you?
A game of strategy centered around the last morally superior war. Me and 4 friends locked in combat determining the future of the world! Whats not to love? And on top of all that, what better excuse to sit in a dimly lit room, drink Port and Scotch, and smoke cigars while cursing like, well, a general.
Can't you just see Ike or Göring sitting around planning, snifter in hand? Good times. I'm excited, because those good times will come to fruition this weekend. Game on, as they say. I'm pulling out the 15 year and the LBV (What about vintage you say? You think I'm made of money?!). The battle will rage long into the night, and in the end I'll be crowned victor. You didn't think it could end any other way did you?
Let it Snow
It snowed here last night. In fact it snowed quite a bit. Shoveling snow is one of my least favorite activities. When we bought a house, my wife sold me on it by telling me she would mow the grass and shovel the snow. Any married man knows exactly how long that lasted. The nice thing about the snow is that it puts me in the mood for a glass of red wine to warm up by the fire with. So after last night's shoveling I poured a glass of Concha Y' Toro Marquis De Casa Concha 2004 Merlot.
The wine, like the name, is a mouthful. I don't remember what I paid for this wine, but I'm guessing it was around $14. I have never had a wine so mouth coating for so little money. This wine was rich, tannic, and downright delicious. It oozed blackberries and chocolate, and had tannins the texture of those strings on a banana (thats a good thing). If shoveling snow makes every wine taste this good, I say "let it snow".
The wine, like the name, is a mouthful. I don't remember what I paid for this wine, but I'm guessing it was around $14. I have never had a wine so mouth coating for so little money. This wine was rich, tannic, and downright delicious. It oozed blackberries and chocolate, and had tannins the texture of those strings on a banana (thats a good thing). If shoveling snow makes every wine taste this good, I say "let it snow".
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Goin' to California
I've got big plans for the New Year. I'm going to be out west for 9 days. My hub of activity will be Irvine, but I'm taking a couple jaunts to Santa Barbara County, and to Ensenada, Mexico.
I've got one full day to spend in the wine country, and I'm really looking forward to it. I don't know much about the area, but I know that good times await. Arthur from redwinebuzz.com has been very generous in helping me identify some good places to sip and eat. On top of that my sister-in-law has a family friend by the name of Longoria, maybe you've heard of their wines. She is trying to get us a tour of the winery which I'm really excited about.
My trip down to Mexico will be via a slow moving floating bathtub called Carnival Paradise. I've been on exactly one cruise before, and it included me breaking up with my then girlfriend, not exactly giving me a strong positive bias. I'm not incredibly excited about the cruising portion of the trip, stuck on a boat with nothing to do but drink overpriced margaritas. The food and wine part though, look out. Cruises are known for their food, I'm hoping this one lives up to the expectations. Armed with a couple bottles of Santa Barbara wine, dinners should be fantastic. To top it all off, we've decided to take an ATV ride through the countryside and finish the day off in Ensenada with a trip to a Mexican winery. It should be interesting, and if nothing else it will provide some excellent blog fodder.
All that and I've still got a couple days to bum around in LA. I'm visiting family while I'm in Irvine, so I don't want to drag them all over town, but I haven't really spent too much time in LA. I've seen the tar pits, Disney, and the Santa Monica Pier. I've also been to the Rose Bowl (the only truly fun thing I've done in LA). If anyone has some tips for some cheap, not entirely touristy, things to do in LA, I'd love to hear 'em.
Until then I'm counting down the days.
I've got one full day to spend in the wine country, and I'm really looking forward to it. I don't know much about the area, but I know that good times await. Arthur from redwinebuzz.com has been very generous in helping me identify some good places to sip and eat. On top of that my sister-in-law has a family friend by the name of Longoria, maybe you've heard of their wines. She is trying to get us a tour of the winery which I'm really excited about.
My trip down to Mexico will be via a slow moving floating bathtub called Carnival Paradise. I've been on exactly one cruise before, and it included me breaking up with my then girlfriend, not exactly giving me a strong positive bias. I'm not incredibly excited about the cruising portion of the trip, stuck on a boat with nothing to do but drink overpriced margaritas. The food and wine part though, look out. Cruises are known for their food, I'm hoping this one lives up to the expectations. Armed with a couple bottles of Santa Barbara wine, dinners should be fantastic. To top it all off, we've decided to take an ATV ride through the countryside and finish the day off in Ensenada with a trip to a Mexican winery. It should be interesting, and if nothing else it will provide some excellent blog fodder.
All that and I've still got a couple days to bum around in LA. I'm visiting family while I'm in Irvine, so I don't want to drag them all over town, but I haven't really spent too much time in LA. I've seen the tar pits, Disney, and the Santa Monica Pier. I've also been to the Rose Bowl (the only truly fun thing I've done in LA). If anyone has some tips for some cheap, not entirely touristy, things to do in LA, I'd love to hear 'em.
Until then I'm counting down the days.
Champagne for the Holidays
I can't stand Champagne. I can't put my finger on exactly why, but I know that from the moment I lift it to my nose until the last drop is washed down by something, anything, that cleanses the palate, I'm disgusted.
I drink the stuff roughly twice a year. Once at New Year's, once for my Anniversary, and as a courtesy at weddings. I've had everything from mainstream bottlings of Napa stuff, to this so-called renaissance growers Champagne. Never have I liked it, not even in the slightest.
Every year at New Year's my optimism is renewed and I go out and drop a good chunk of change on a nice bottle of whatever the wine guy tells me is both good and unique. I hurry home and chill it down nice and cold. Then Midnight rolls around and I'm once again riddled with disappointment.
My only respite in the sparkling wine department is a small contingent of wines that fall under the contingent of cheap Asti. Martini & Rossi and Tosti make a sweet sparkler. They are in my opinion the only stomachable sparklers out there. However, these are not what any self respecting Champagne drinker would be caught dead with. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to endure being the butt of a few jokes.
I'm writing about this because Champagne tastings have overtaken Chicago. Every liquor store is having a Champagne tasting this month. If you love Champagne, well lucky you. It might be possible to attend a Champagne tasting every day for the next 30 days. For me though, I'm stuck waiting for january to bring a return to normal for all the wine shops in town.
I drink the stuff roughly twice a year. Once at New Year's, once for my Anniversary, and as a courtesy at weddings. I've had everything from mainstream bottlings of Napa stuff, to this so-called renaissance growers Champagne. Never have I liked it, not even in the slightest.
Every year at New Year's my optimism is renewed and I go out and drop a good chunk of change on a nice bottle of whatever the wine guy tells me is both good and unique. I hurry home and chill it down nice and cold. Then Midnight rolls around and I'm once again riddled with disappointment.
My only respite in the sparkling wine department is a small contingent of wines that fall under the contingent of cheap Asti. Martini & Rossi and Tosti make a sweet sparkler. They are in my opinion the only stomachable sparklers out there. However, these are not what any self respecting Champagne drinker would be caught dead with. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to endure being the butt of a few jokes.
I'm writing about this because Champagne tastings have overtaken Chicago. Every liquor store is having a Champagne tasting this month. If you love Champagne, well lucky you. It might be possible to attend a Champagne tasting every day for the next 30 days. For me though, I'm stuck waiting for january to bring a return to normal for all the wine shops in town.
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