DISQUS

I'm an RSS reader not a robot. ;) Last three wines I opened were a 2006 Finca Luzón Monastrell Jumilla Verde, a 2006 Bodega Pirineos Somontano Mesache Blanco, and a 2006 Bodegas Muga Rioja Blanco. I guess that pretty much explains why I visit your site.

The difference being we used to have to pay for cassette tapes. We are so fortunate to have access to so much great, FREE content.

Anna, thanks a lot. That sounds like a great dish - even if it DIDN'T pair with the wine. But I'm also thinking it would be a great match. Thanks again.

I have a bottle of what I think will be a traditional Rioja (Bodegas Valdemar) and am planning on opening it soon. If I wanted to make a somewhat traditional meal to go with it, what would you suggest - keeping in mind I will be grocery shopping in Wisconsin?

My very first Rioja was actually the best wine I have ever had. It was the 1999 Bodegas Valdemar Rioja Conde de Valdemar Reserva. It was in 2005 that I drank it and at the time, it was the oldest wine I had ever tasted. I couldn't believe how rich and layered with flavor it was. The finish seemed to never end. I opened the bottle late one night and enjoyed a glass that night and the next three nights. It seemed to get better each night. It was with that wine that I became a wine lover!

You know how when there's a sign that says "Wet Paint" you just feel compelled to reach out and make sure it's really wet? Don't you think it's that same combination of natural curiosity and rebellion against authority that is responsible for the poor choices of many young people in this country? I believe that if wine were a normal part of meals and children were able to grow up observing their parents responsibly enjoying wine this way, it would be less of a problem.

Ryan and Gabriella, I have to say first that you have one of my favorite wine blogs out there. You're already doing amazing things. I already subscribe to two of your photostreams but so thoroughly enjoy the photos that more would be good too. (I just love all the photos you took at the bunkers on the beach - really great stuff. I love the way the lighting worked in the photos.) And as far as recipes - both authentic Spanish recipes as well as your take on them would be great. I look forward to it all.

I recently had a wine from the Languedoc that blew me away. It was the 2002 Domaine Lignères Corbières Cabanon de Pascal Montagne d'Alaric. Here is my note from CellarTracker:

10/24/2007 rated 94 points: This wine has the most beautiful earthiness I've ever smelled in a wine. It also includes raspberries and then some secondary aromas that have developed with bottle age. The fruit on the palate can't be described as anything but delicious. It's smooth, almost elegant, and shows a lot of "aged" flavors. The finish is extremely long. This is the best wine I've had in a long time.

This wine isn't as unusual as some of the ones Richard listed but it was something I found while "exploring" and I'm so glad that I found it.

I LOVE Cava. We've actually had it the last two years for New Year's Eve. I'd have to look at my notes to see what they were but I remember enjoying them. Looking forward to all you cover in the coming month.

Speaking of chocolate pairing I had a Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto d' Acqui yesterday with a Bittersweet Dark Chocolate with 70% Cocoa. The red fruit in the wine brought out a fruity quality in the chocolate and it was amazing. It was so delicious. I'll have to try it with Port and if you ever see the Banfi, give it a try.

I love reading blogs about holidays and the things people do to celebrate them. I'm currently blogging about my alternative thanksgiving. Check it out if you're interested.

http://tinyurl.com/2wnezx
http://tinyurl.com/2o432m

P.S. It's too hard to come up with a post every day, don't you think?!

I don't think I've read any "single subject wine books" except for "Champagne: How the World's Most Glamorous Wine Triumphed Over War and Hard Times". And that book actually was telling a story more than being factual. I'll be interested in hearing your commentary on this book. Who knows'; maybe a book about Port will be my second single subject book?!

I actually have an RSS feed in my google reader so that I know when you add photos on Flickr! You do some really beautiful work.

He really does an amazing job!

Did Ryan take the photographs in the calendar?

Isn't parenting difficult and awesome all at the same time.

Jack,

Here's some info on how to decipher freshness from Winecast.net:

To decode the bottling date, look on the back label for a code which starts with “L” and has a series of numbers. There are a couple of variations with either the bottling date and year in 2 digits at the end or the year in one digit at the beginning followed by the bottling date.

Here are a couple examples:

* Osborne: L18406 = bottled in 2006 on the 184th day, or July 3rd.
* Emilio Lustau: L5165 = bottled in 2005 on the 165th day, or June 14th.

I cannot back down from the TRIPLE dog dare!!! It might be one or two days, but mark my words...you WILL get my tasting note!!!!!

Beautiful writing. I'm a fan of Sherry but your writing was so compelling, I want some right NOW!!!

Is it Monastrell?