Hey Y’all,
Just thought I’d check in right quick.
Word on the street is that there’s mad foos out there that don’t know how to use chopsticks.
To me, that shiz is unacceptable.
It ain’t hard.
Just take a peek…
Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Now, you too can pick up anything!
Stay Rad,
Jeff
It’s a La Nina year… as was last year.
Because of lower than normal temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, we Californians are experiencing an extremely dry, mild Winter.
Take this last weekend (Please!)…
It was F-ing beautiful outside.
Clear skies.
Not a drop of rain.
Highs in the 70’s.
And it’s the end of January!
It’s days like these when you just have to take advantage of the situation.
It’s days like these when you have to break out the grill.
It’s days like these when you’ve gotta have a barbecue.
But first…
The wine!
La Crema 2009 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Color: Golden yellow.
Nose: Vanilla. Oak. Lemongrass. Toast.
Taste: The La Crema has a rich mouthfeel. There’s some good green apple fruit on the palate, rounded out with some fluffy whipped cream. It’s got a nice mineral driven finish.
Score: The La Crema runs for $16 at Trader Joes. I give it an 89+. This should be your go-to under $20 Chardonnay for get-togethers. This wine is a crowd pleaser.
Next…
Valreas 2009 "Cuvee Prestige" Cotes du Rhone Villages
The Valreas is a Southern Rhone blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah.
Color: Dark burgundy.
Nose: Leather. Blackberries. Jerky.
Taste: This wine gives a nice burst of cherry and plum up front with a touch of rubber and fine tannins. There is a mid-palate of cranberry that transitions to a citrus finish. This is a food friendly wine with some fantastic acidity.
Score: 87. For six bucks a bottle (or something like that), you should give it a try at your next barbecue.
Now, to the food…
I tossed some broccolini with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and rosemary. I grilled it over low heat.
Deconstructed Turkey Guac Burger, Grilled Broccolini, and some Pickles
I topped this turkey burger with a lot of the stuff I throw in my Killer Guacamole. It’s got a nice slice of onion, tomato, and roasted red bell pepper. I mashed the avocado with salt, pepper, and a touch of mild deli salsa. On top, there’s a dab of salsa and diced chiles.
F-ing dope!
Look…
I’m not saying that I’m happy with the lack of rainfall so far this Winter…
But…
There’s nothing like a January Summer.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
We all know that this past Thursday was Australia Day.
I did my duty, and gave you an episode on Australian wine (like a good blogger should).
So I was shocked to wake up Friday morning to discover on Twitter that it was now #PortDay.
Really?
The next day?
How could this have happened?
How could a day of celebration for the national dessert wine of Portugal come this close to a day celebrating the foundation of Australia as a country?
My brain just couldn’t process this information.
I mean… really…
What do you do when worlds collide?
I never thought it would ever come to this…
When Kara came home from work yesterday, I looked her in the eyes and said, “I need a drink.”
I grabbed her hand, and took her down the street to Fuzia for some happy hour drinks and apps.
Here’s what we had…
Vinegar, olive oil, bread, and actual olives!
The house Chardonnay. The best 3 dollar wine you will ever taste.
Bruschetta. You betta!
French Fries
Sure…
The food was fantastic.
The wine was great.
But…
We were dealing with Armageddon!
Kara didn’t seem to see anything wrong with the whole Australia Day / Port Day doomsday event (Obviously, she didn’t see the trailer).
Feeling defeated, I decided that we should go to Bubbles Wine Bar.
If we’re headed for the end of days, the least we could do was enjoy the present.
Here’s what we got…
I ordered up the Domaine Terlato & Chapoutier Syrah. Good acidity and spice.
The Three Fromage Plate with creamy goat cheese, Danish blue, and English cheddar.
That cheese plate was fantastic!
After I finished the Syrah, I got a craving for some dessert wine.
Considering it was #PortDay, I figured I’d get some of that fortified Portuguese nectar… So I asked our server which Port she preferred.
“Actually, I really like the Yalumba Antique Tawny. It’s Australian, so it’s not technically a Port. They like to call them Stickies over there.”
How serendipitous!
An #AussieWine… on #PortDay!
“I’ll take one of those.”
Yalumba Antique Tawny
Color: Well… It was a little dark in Bubbles, so I can’t give you an accurate description. Just look at the picture. Pretty, ain’t it?
Nose: Caramel. Toffee. Coffee. Walnut. Grape skin. Apple brandy. Yup. It’s pretty.
Taste: Sweet, but not overly so. There is a great balance of toasty oak, caramel, and whipped fudge.
I tried the Sticky with both the blue cheese and the English cheddar. Each pairing was fantastic.
Score: I loved this wine. Give it an 89.
If this is what happens when worlds collide, I think we’re gonna be just fine.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
In this episode, Jeff tries two wines from Lindeman’s Bin Series…
Wines Tasted in This Episode:
Lindeman’s 2010 Bin 99 Pinot Noir
Lindeman’s 2010 Bin 50 Shiraz
Kara and I hit up a baby shower last weekend near Sacramento.
Check out the art I made with some left-over clothespins from one of the games…
Lincoln Logs in the Ghetto
On the way back from the baby shower, we stopped by the Pyramid Alehouse in Walnut Creek with some friends for dinner.
The restaurant was fairly packed, so we decided to get a drink in the bar while we waited for our table.
The Bar at the Alehouse
The four of us split a pitcher of the Draught Pale Ale…
Pyramid Draught Pale Ale
For a pale ale, this bad boy was amber in color. The beer had a medium head. It had a clean aroma and flavor. The palate was quite malty. There was not so much as a hint of hops to it.
The beer was okay, just not what I expected.
Score: 3 (out of 5) bottle caps
We finished up the pitcher…
Where'd it all go?
And were promptly seated… behind the bar.
The view from out table behind the bar.
We ordered up another round…
A view through the brew...
And I got myself the Black and Blue Burger…
You gots ta order it medium, foo.
The burger was covered with cajun spices, smothered with crumbled blue cheese, and topped with a scattering of shoe string onions…
Delicious!
Kara ordered some sweet potato fries with curry. I could not help but dip each of my fries into her curry sauce.
Super dope!
The food at the Pyramid Alehouse was pretty good. I just wish the beer was better…
You know what I’m sayin, baby.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Look…
You know I’m a 49er fan, so I feel I need to backtrack to earlier this day…
There was so much hope…
I made this killer guac!
Killer!
We were headed over to visit some friends to see the NFC Championship Game.
Niners…
Giants…
Winner goes to the Super Bowl against the Patriots…
Loser goes home.
Considering this was a football party, I was prepared for copious amounts of “junk food”.
Knowing this, I was on the lookout for the perfect wine to pair for the event.
Here’s what I chose…
Piper Sonoma Brut sparkling wine...
Here’s how it went down…
Color: Pale yellow.
Nose: The aroma was dominated by lime fruit with a bit of peach, followed by a touch of yeast.
Taste: This is a mineral driven wine. Tons of river rocks covered with a lime fruit acidity. There is a medium finish of fresh-baked sour dough bread. Quite dope.
Score: 88
First, I paired the wine with some potato chips… The acidity cut right through the fatiness of the chips to give a round and smooth finish.
Next, I tried the Piper Sonoma with some guacamole… The crisp wine provided a nice contrast to the creaminess of the guac.
Back to the game…
You can look up the final score on the interweb.
All I remember is that we went to overtime…
My buddies and I decided to text pictures of food to each other for luck.
Dave Thevegtetarian sent me a picture of pizza dough, so I fired back with this…
Cheese Balls!
He came back with some mixed nuts, so I shot this pic…
Deviled Eggs... Ewwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!
Next thing I knew, the Giants kicked a field goal to win the game…
Shucks!
The crowd scattered in an instant.
Now I’m home, and I just don’t know what to do…
At least I got this guac…
Let's go Pats... I guess.
Thanks for a great season, Niners.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Jeff gets another blind wine to try. A treat? Let’s find out…
Wine tasted in this Episode…
Rex-Goliath NV Cabernet Sauvignon (The NV stands for Non-Vintage… or Not VeryAwesome)
In this episode, Jeff honors the first big rain of the season with the Sterling 2008 Vintner’s Collection Central Coast Syrah.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
I know. I know.
Sundays tend to be pretty quiet… for many a reason.
Fridays and Saturdays are meant for staying up late. For going all out.
I get it.
Sundays are all about rest… recovery… relaxation.
You’ve got to recharge for the work week.
Sundays are meant for TV’s and burritos.
But not this Sunday.
Not in the middle of the weekend when we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Not when we have Monday off.
Not all of us.
Not most of us.
But many of us.
At least more than usual.
Not on a clear day in the mid sixties in the middle of January.
On days like this, you must go wine tasting.
You must.
How else are you going to celebrate life… That, and a Forty Niner victory.
So, when Kara and I showed up to Sarah’s Vineyard in Gilroy, I just had to wonder…
Where did everybody go? A lazy day at Sarah's Vineyard.
When we walked through the doors of the tasting room at Sarah’s Vineyard, we were shocked to discover that we were the only guests there.
At one o’clock.
On a Sunday.
During a three-day weekend.
When the wine is this good!
Here’s how it went down…
Sarah’s Vineyard 2010 Jour de Joie:
This is a very clean white Rhone blend of Roussanne, Marsanne, and Grenache Blanc. Nice floral notes, with a touch of oak. A bit oily, but in a good way. Give it an 86+.
One thing that’s neat about the location of Sarah’s Vineyard is that straddles both the Santa Cruz Mountains and Santa Clara Valley appellations. Both growing their own grapes, and sourcing from nearby vineyards, they have the ability to display the microclimatic influences of fruit that is grown just a few miles apart. This is never more true when we were able to compare two of their current Chardonnays.
Sarah’s Vineyard 2009 Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay:
This Chardonnay has some good red apple and asian pear fruit, rounded out by lemon-flavored acidity and custard. A food-friendly wine that can stand on its own. 87+
Sarah's Vineyard 2009 Central Coast Chardonnay
Sarah’s Vineyard 2009 Central Coast Chardonnay:
In contrast with the Santa Cruz Mountains effort, this Central Coast Chardonnay is a citrus-driven wine. Think grapefruit juice and orange zest. There is a beautiful, creamy finish to this one. Give it a solid 88.
Sarah’s Vineyard 2008 Cote de Madone:
A Silver Medal winner in the 2011 SF Chronicle Wine Competition, one could consider the Cote de Madone Rhone blend to be their flagship wine. This blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignane, and Counoise brings a dark red to purple color to the glass. There is a huge nose of cherry and leather. The palate is loaded with dark fruit, spice, and a rich, meaty finish. Good stuff! 89
Sarah's Vineyard 2007 Fifty Fifty
Sarah’s Vineyard 2007 Fifty Fifty:
Sometimes, you don’t have to over-complicate wine. Sometimes you just do an even blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and let the fruit speak for itself. This wine is simple. This wine is reserved. This wine has depth. Cherries and blueberries up front give way to a long finish of leather and spice. The subtle use of oak allows the Santa Clara Valley to speak to your palate. My palate likes what it hears. 89+
Sarah’s Vineyard 2007 Santa Cruz Mountains Merlot:
A great nose of soil and chocolate. The palate is dominated by juicy dark cherries and fine tannins. A very nice cool-climate Merlot. 89
To finish off our flight, our server poured us something special…
Sarah's Vineyard 2007 Nuits d'Enfer... Yeah... It's special.
Say it with me... "New-Ee Dawn-Fair!"
Sarah’s Vineyard 2007 Nuits d’Enfer:
Have you ever “painted the town red”? That’s what it means when a French dude talks about the “Nights of Hell” (the literal translation of Nuits d’Enfer). This red wine is mainly Merlot, with a touch of Charbono and Cabernet Sauvignon. There is a BIG hit of blue and black fruit on this nose. On the palate, the wine is powdery fine with its tannic structure. Good blueberry fruit gives way to tobacco and spice. At 20 bucks, this is a great wine if you plan on tying one on… Or… if you just wanna taste something really good. You should get this. 90+
We had a great time as Sarah’s Vineyards, and you will too.
Lazy Sundays be damned.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
So…
A few weeks back, I got a text from my old friend Nick Thedrummer with a photo of the Francis Coppola Monterey County Pinot Noir that read…
You should do a Stay Rad episode about this one. I’d be interested to see what you u think cause I found this to be pretty damn delicious
My reply?
I’ve had other Coppolas, but not the peen-o
I’ll check it out
You know that all the Diamond Collection wines from Francis Coppola (the movie director turned wine maker) can be found almost everywhere… and they are always a good value, so I made a mental note of the wine. The last time I was in Target, I saw the wine for 19 bucks, but I was in the mood for something else… so I let it slide (and subsequently forgot about it).
Last week, I came up on some tickets for the 49ers vs Saints playoff game. Kara was gonna be out of town, so I asked Nick if he wanted to go.
He was hella down.
So…
Early this past Saturday morning, Nick and I met up to head out to the game.
Once we got to the parking lot outside of Candlestick Park, I was prepared to throw back some brewskies when Nick pulled out this badboy…
Francis Coppola 2010 Monterey County Pinot Noir
Never one to turn down a taste of the grape juice, I was all…
Let’s do this!
So…
Let’s do this!
Clear plastic cup. You know what's up.
Color: Classic burgundy in color. Very light… As Pinot Noir should be.
Nose: This wine has a big, fruit-forward nose dominated by blackberry. There are secondary aromas of green bell pepper and rubber.
Taste: This “value” wine has mad layers of flavor. There is a huge, black pepper explosion with a twist of lemon juice up front that gives way to some good strawberry fruit. I was surprised by the loooooooooong leather baseball glove finish.
Score: No doubt. This wine was delicous. As much as I love the varietal, I have trouble picking out Pinot Noirs at the store without tasting them because they are often over-priced. With as many gems (like this one) as there are at this price point, there are twice as many disappointments. The Coppola is not one of them. Give it an 89, and don’t wait until the apocalypse to pick this one up. Get it now!
The wine really set the mood for what turned out to be a pretty awesome day…
A view of The Stick from the lot. The bay gave way to an amazing combination of sea salt and rotten eggs.
Gearing Up!
Game Time!
"Who's got it better than us?"
"Noooooooooooobody!"
Niners Win!
Victory Lap
Candlestick Park at night. The blurry white stuff is trash. It never looked so beautiful.
Stay Rad,
Jeff
Stay Rad 