So I spent too much....

Things I bought on a recent night at Veritas

Schott-Zwiesel Lead Free Titanium Stemware - The best stemware ever. I have praised it in prior entries here. They put it on sale, so I didn't fight the urge to buy it.

Inwood Estates 2005 Tempranillo-Cabernet (65% Tempranillo - 35% Cabernet) - Best Texas wine I have had. I tasted this back in July out in Grapevine and enjoyed it then. Both grapes are grown at Newsom Vineyards in Yoakum County, Texas, near the Texas-New Mexico border. Tempranillo is a Spanish grape which does well in Texas. It is delicious. (BUT, be advised that I have had a very enjoyable tempranillo-cab for about 1/5 the price. I wish I would have thought of that at the time.... oh well, I am glad to do business with local folks.) I think this may be one to put up for a few years. I am going to inquire of the wine maker about cellaring. It is actually made here in Dallas. I might go there this afternoon.

2006 The Prisoner - (I didn't write this. I have not tasted this wine, but bought it on the recommendation of others.) The 2006 Prisoner received a stellar 91 Point Score in the May 31, 2008 issue of The Wine Spectator. The 2006 Vintage is NOT a one-hit wonder. The 2005 Prisoner, which is no longer available from the distributor, received a 93 from The Wine Spectator and the 17th Ranking in the vaunted 2007 Wine Spectator Top 100 List. Here is the Wine Spectator Review for The 2006 Prisoner: "It's rare that a Zin has this much structure and finesse. Offers appealing aromas of plum, pepper and tobacco, with focused, layered wild berry, pencil lead and sage flavors. A hint of rusticity on the tannins suggests that there's no hurry to drink. Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Charbono and Grenache. 91 Points." The tasting notes I have read online indicate some folks think this is a good one to drink now.

Some $13 French bubbly - I figure you can't go wrong with a nice, dry $13 French bubbly.

More wine!

It is really bugging me that I cannot recall the stand up routine in which Steve Martin commands,"More wine!" I think it is stand up and not a movie because I have no visual to go with it. I am not even sure it's a bit, but maybe just an exclamation between bits. I think I had the album (or 8-track, or cassette) with this on it. When you just hear stand up and don't see it, there are little exclamations or comments you don't understand because the comic is interacting with audience. Or the audience roars at some physical gesture you can't see. But I used to listen to comedy albums a lot. I recall having Steve Martin, Sam Kinison and Joan Rivers. (Did you know she used to be really funny?)
Enough of that. On to the wine!
AA and I went to a free tasting presented by Concha y Toro (Chile) at Cork. They were collecting non-perishable foods for North Texas Food Bank. Who can resist free wine and good cause? Six wines were offered, and I managed a taste of a seventh that the rep was trying to hide for herself. Sometimes it pays to be nosy.
The list I brought home does not have the year, so I have no clue.
In order tasted...
* Terrunyo Sauvignon Blanc - $20 - When it comes to SB, I always buy or order one from New Zealand if it's an option. California SBs are too soft. I like the flint, mineral, lemon, grass - the tangy tastes of the NZ SBs. But this was super tart and sharp, actually harsh. I will take a $10 bottle of NZ SB over this one any day.
* 2007 Xplorador Chardonnay - $8 - Yummy. Would have been yummy at more than $8. I don't drink chardonnay. I learned recently there is a name for folks like me - ABC ("Anything but chardonnay"). Prior vintages have gotten good reviews and been labeled a "Best Buy" by Wine Enthusiast. I taste no oak. It is fruity. It has a spicy finish. I swear I tasted a bit of gingersnap in one of the chardonnays. But now I can't recall which one. I bought this one. It will be really good with white fish.
* Marques de Casa Concha Chardonnay - $20 - Subtler than previous chardonnay - not so fruit-forward. Again there was no oak and there were some spice notes.
* Castillero del Diablo Privada Riserva - $17 - This label is the most familiar to me of the winery's labels. It was nice.
* Terrunyo Carmenere - $43 - The nicest of the reds - of course, since it is the most expensive. My only other experience with this grape was very bad. Obviously it was the wine, not the grape. I wouldn't pay $43 for this, but it was good.
* Marques de Casa Concho Cabernet Sauvignon - $23 - It was good, but there are cheaper reds I like as well.

Then I went to Veritas, and stayed far too long. That will have to wait for another entry... I need to work!

Wine Tasting at Veritas

Yesterday I attend a tasting at Veritas of wines from Serendipity Wine Imports. Eight different wines were offered at this free tasting. That was plenty of wine for a Saturday afternoon.

JH and EH met me at Veritas. We had a fabulous cheese plate to go with the yummy wines. I hate to go on and on about how much I like Veritas and the folks who work there. Earlier posts attest. But I have to make some comments about the really neat stuff they are doing. There are cheeses, chocolates, jerky, pate' and honey from Texas producers. Brooks (one of the owners) seems genuinely passionate about offering these great finds from his home state. Then again, I think he is passionate about the business period. I feel like I take too much of his time when I am in there, but he has interesting stuff to say. He gave us some education on some of the cheeses - and a little sample of a cheese made with porter ale, which was great. Veritas is going to be so great this winter - there is a fireplace up front, and it is dark and cozy.

But back to the wines... I don't think I have ever been to a tasting at which there was no wine I didn't like, until this one. One interesting thing was that every one, even the ones I didn't love, had a great nose. Maybe my olfactory system was just ready for some grapes, but the smells were super yummy (that's a technical term). I didn't make notes while tasting (trying to look slightly less dorky than I really am) so I will make notes of my scattered recollections.

* 2006 Vina Robles Red4. I picked up a bottle of this one. At $16 it is a great one to take to your holiday party host and to have around the house. It is a good everyday red.

Somebody other than me wrote this: "This blend of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Touriga and Tannat received a Gold Medal and 90 Points at the Beverage Tasting Institute World Wine Championships 2008, where it was labeled 'Exceptional' and a 'Best Buy'."
* 2007 Renato Ratti Dolcetto d'Alba Colombe 2007. Touted as a great wine for pairing with pizza and pasta, I really wanted to be crazy about this wine. But it fell a bit flat. I never had a dolcetto until a few months ago at Times Ten Cellars. Theirs is made with Mendicino County grapes and it very, very enjoyable at only $14 for a bottle to take home. For sipping, I really like softer reds. With food I can enjoy a stronger red with a firmer structure. The dolcetto is soft. I definitely prefer the dolcetto at Times Ten to this one.
* 2003 Attila Gere Kopar Cuvee. Seriously - this is a Hungarian wine. Read this interesting article which mentions a prior vintage. It is indeed yummy, but over $50 is more than I will typically spend.
* 2006 Durigutti Mendoza Malbec. Wine Spectator says: "89 points."

A few years ago, I let my first experience with Malbec be my last for a long time. I just didn't like it. (In retrospect, I am starting to realize that my experiences at La Duni don't really measure up.) But I liked this wine. And I liked the Malbec Veritas is offering by the glass right now. I guess I have a new grape to explore. Retail is about $16 - a good value.
* NV Carpene Malvoti Prosecco di Conegliano. Wine Enthusiast says: "88 Points"

This prosecco is tasty and easy to drink. I picked up a bit of yeast in the nose. It is clean and fresh on the palate, but finish is a little sweet for me. Folks that don't drink a lot of bubbly would probably like this very much. I find the more that I drink bubbly, I want Brut. Retail is about $22. (Note: I know some of you that read this aren't big into wine. Be advised that NV means "non-vintage" - it isn't from a single year.)

* Domaine de Montvac Vacqueyras Variation. From Wine Spectator: "92 Points." Only 500 cases of this one were made. It was hearty and flavorful.

2005 Petroni Syrah. Only 150 cases of this wine were made. It was good and retails for about $49 a bottle.

* 2005 Spann Merlot. Only 193 cases of this wine were produced. This blend of 97% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc was very nice. (This is where I wish I had made some notes to come up with more than "very nice". We were talking drinking and eating cheese... sorry.)

If you go to Veritas, and you should, be sure to put your e-mail address in the notebook on the bar so you will get notice of tastings. There was a good discount on all bottles on the day of the tasting. Also check it out for happy hour - a plus is that, unlike Times Ten, Veritas offers some beers. As amazing as it seems, not everyone wants all wine all the time. Also, on Monday nights, they are offering half-price wines by the glass all night! That might be enough to miss Monday Night Football for, especially if the 'Boys keep stinking it up.

Our Leaders and Our Future

Last night I had a strange, hard-to-describe feeling after Obama clinched victory. Was it the let down that sometimes comes after a monumental, long-awaited moment? Was it the fear that our country's multiple active crises will prevent the president-elect from effectuating any real change? Did I feel a little sad for John McCain? Was it just that I really wanted it to be Hillary?

I so desperately want to be optimistic, to believe that real change is possible. I want my party to resist the temptation to exert its will simply because it has the power to do so, even if some Republicans deserve it. I want my party to accept the challenge to be bigger and better for the American people - all American people. Holding control of the White House and of Congress is truly to hold power.

I really like the speeches excerpts below and hope that Obama and McCain can hold on to these principles individually and can influence those in their parties to do the same.

From Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention
But what I will not do is suggest that the Senator takes his positions for political purposes. Because one of the things that we have to change in our politics is the idea that people cannot disagree without challenging each other's character and patriotism.The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain.

From McCain’s concession speech
These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.
... I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.
Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.
It is natural. It's natural, tonight, to feel some disappointment. But tomorrow, we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again.
…
Tonight — tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Senator Obama — whether they supported me or Senator Obama.
I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president.

From Obama’s victory speech
In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.
…
Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.
…
That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.