La Muse Verte - Absinthe

Thanks to Ron at VOS selections, I was able to try Absinthe for the first time. We tasted it full strength at 68% alcohol, What a drink. The nose was full of fennel and star anise. The taste was very complex. Just as one flavor was coming through, another flavor came knocking at the door. We may just have to play with this when deglazing fish dishes. This is a very memorable taste. I can't wait to get a bottle and sip during poker night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywOY2Uy6QS4
The hyperlink above shows how to make the cocktail. Usually the proportions are 5/1 water to absinthe. The sugar cube holder usually comes with the bottle. Do not try to shave after you have consumed.

Jadot Beaujolais

Dinner at Dad's. Grilled rib eyes, sauteed mushrooms, and baked potatoes. Calls for a big, expensive, full-bodied red from the Rhone, Bordeaux, or Napa, right? I was amazed at how good this red tasted with the dinner. Good fruit on the nose, decent finish, and just enough acidity to stand up to the rib eye. I later called for the vintage, but dad couldn't find it on the bottle. Drinking this wine was like the beer I had last night at a block party. The host asked how I liked the keg beer. It was nice and smooth. Some hops on the nose with great color. I thought it was a Sam Adams. It ended up being Yuengling.

This dinner also made me think of my wife's Sicilian grandparents and wine. Grandma would make an unbelieveable red sauce and "macaroni". With this we would drink CR Fortissimo red wine. I will never forget those meals, slowly being accepted into the family. Drinking the Fortissimo out of small tumblers that look like what jelly came in when I was a kid. Maybe we should take into consideration how much love will be around the table when eating and drinking. Love and family, I guess, go a long way for our taste buds. Thanks Dad 8.1 (for the wine).

Kenwood Artists Cabernet

I was a little reluctant to meet with Julio for a Heck tasting. We had had a really busy lunch and I agreed to meet at 3pm. The wine distributors are often called upon to bring winery people around to accounts. I almost never say no because it is a great way to meet some wonderful people. (Clay Fritz who has a primo Sauvignon Blanc) Anyway, I admitted that I had never heard of Heck Estates and Julio mumbled something and that was that,

Heck Estates owns Kenwood and Valley of the moon. We tasted six wines, but three are very memorable to me.

Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc. I really liked this white. It was medium bodied with a citrus and floral nose. The taste was creamy citrusy and well balanced. I would have loved to buy this for our list, but I believe it would be a hard sell. It had enough acidity to stand up to a grilled salmon . My first thought was Sword with a mango salsa.

8.4

Kenwood Russian River Pinot Noir. This was a good solid pinot. Light to medium bodied with a strawberry and raspberry nose. Well balanced and smooth tannin. A good reception wine. I did buy this to fill a gap in our cellar. Will work with our Mustard Salmon.

8.4

Kenwood Artists Cabernet 2003. Very good Cab with a pepper and chocolate nose. Smooth and long dark fruit finish. Ready now, and will probably age pretty well. Reminded me of an aged St Julien, very graceful.

8.7

1964 Pichon Lalande

Brownish ruby color. Dark cherry nose, surprising fruit still there. good acidity and silky tannins. Long finish
8.8
It was a treat to taste a wine that is older than I am. I was amazed at the complex nose, this bottle had waited 44 years to be opened.

2003 Hewitt Rutherford Cabernet

Based on a Wine Library TV video, I sought out the Hewitt Cabernet from V, one of my favorite wine reps. I finally tasted a fresh bottle of the 03 tonight. Drank with Jeremy and Patrick who both appreciate a good wine. The Hewitt was kick butt good. Dark purple.The nose was dark fruit, Cedar and chocolate. The inital attack was like D Day, full bodied, but really mellowed somewhat. Finish was wicked long with more chocolate. Tasted with broiled brisket, pretty good. Also tried with pierogies and scallops. Not so perfect.
Love this wine, glad I bought 12 of the 03 and 6 of the 04.
Rated 9.1

1999 Dominus

Two bottles were bought by a table last night. Monte was kind enough to save a glass for me. Now, mind you the bottle had been opened for fourteen hours so what I tasted is different from what the guest tasted.

The nose was still full of dark cherries and a nice vanilla. The front palate was full bodied and still tasted of fresh fruit. The tannins had definitely mellowed to the point where the word silk comes to mind. Also, the finish was long and enjoyable.

My rating 9.1