It's Time for European "T' wines!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

‘T’ Night with Bob & Karen

Menu: Shrimp, broccoli, cheese, crackers (Bob’s fave), pepperoni, asparagus, bread

There is some history tonight with the wine selection. One of the wines is the first wine that Karen & Bob ever had together. The year was 1982 in Williamsburg, Virginia

1. Larose – Tritaudon Haut Médoc 2005, Cru Bourgeois, France  $22.00
   
   Unanimous: “Smells good!”
   Bob: “A little tart, isn’t it?”
   Mike: “If you let it linger there’s a definite tartness.”
   Bob: “It’s like a girlfriend you can’t get rid of.”
   Mike: “Tangy, tasty, titillating.”
   Becky: “A lot of sediment in the bottom of the bottle.”
   Bob 7, Karen 7, Mike 6, Becky 7
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Chateau Talbot Gran Cru Classe Saint-Julien 2006, France    $79.99!!
   Bob: “Oh, that’s dry!”
   Karen: “All right. This one’s really nice. This is your velvet. Becky.”
   Kara called (on the phone)
   Becky: “Kara, this is a wine you would like!”
   Kara is whining
   Bob: “Dusty, dry wine. I enjoyed that.”
   Karen: “Smooth.”
   Mike: “I need some more – that’s because I drink wine.”
   Bob: “Not before it’s time……It’s time!!”
   Bob 8, Karen 9, Mike 7, Becky 7.5
   
   
   
3. Tres Picos Borsao Garnacha 2009, Spain  $15.99
   
   Karen grabbed Bob’s glass to taste….
   Bob: “You can’t do that! That’s a wine violation!! I didn’t even drink it yet.”
   Bob: “This is blood red.”
   Becky: “I’m guessing this is the Spanish wine.”
   Mike: “Spicier.”
   Karen: “I agree with you. I don’t like the smell. Berry. Like cherries. Like a cordial.”
   Bob: “Tempting but not tantalizing.”
   Mike: “It has taste. The last one didn’t have any taste.”
   Becky: “Tastes sour to me.”
   Karen: “Not sour. Tart.”
   Bob: “You need another T (word). Could be terrible.”
   Bob: “Hold on. I need to decide between 9 and 6….”
   Bob 6, Karen 5, Mike 6, Becky 6

'S' Night - European Reds continued

Thursday, March 15, 2012

‘S’ Night with Mike & Becky

Menu: Sausage, veggies, hummus, strawberries, cheddar, swiss, Gloucester, crackers, bread

1. Carlos Serres Reserva 2005, Rioja, Spain   $19.99
   
   Bob: “Mmm. The sausage is a 10.”
   Bob: “Smells really good.”
   Claire: “I’m not good at descriptive words.”
   Karen: “Peppery.”
   Bob: “We can’t all like it.”
   Becky: “There’s no rule against that!”
   Claire: “Even I like it!”
   Becky: “It has a vanilla after taste. You taste the pepper first, then it relaxes into vanilla.”
   Mike: “Spendid. Sings on my tongue.”
   Jess: “Scrumptious.”
   Bob: “Makes me salivate.”
   Claire: “Stinks.”
   Bob: That was stupid.”
   Claire: “Silly.”
   Karen: “Shut up. Seriously”
   Bob: “Sausage.”
   Mike: What was it like being alone on campus during break week?”
   Claire: “It sucked.”
   Bob 7, Karen 7, Mike 8, Becky 8, Jess 8, Claire 6 (because of the smell)
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Sabor Real 2008, Toro, Spain    $9.99
   Karen: “Smells like a Spanish wine – Sweeter. Definitely Spain.”
   Claire: “More my style.”
   Bob: “Bitter.”
   Mike: “Not bitter. More sour.”
   Bob: “Okay. I can be influenced. I’m a sucker.”
   Jess: “Easily swayed.”
   Bob: “It grows on you. It tastes like Mike’s sock.”
   Becky: “I don’t like it.”
   Claire: “I do!”
   Jess: “Street fight!”
   Bob 5.5, Karen 6, Mike 7, Becky 5, Jess 6.5, Claire 7
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Serrado Colheita 2008, DĀO, Portugal  $??
   
   Becky: “Looks really dark.”
   Bob: “Cuz there are no lights on”
   Africaans -> Baie_Dankie = Thank you very much
   Karen: “I do like this one. It’s dryer. Really dry.”
   Bob: “It has a bite. Snake bite. Right at my ankles. It hits my ears.”
   Becky: “Definitely dry.”
   Mike: “A good wine. A little dry. Not in the bottom 5.”
   Bob 5.5, Karen 7, Mike 6.5, Becky 6, Jess 6.5, Claire 6
   Mike: “Immature palates don’t know how to rank the wine!! New Rule: The person with the highest ranking has to finish the bottle. The person with the lowest ranking picks the next bottle.”
   
   
   
4. Chateau Segondignac Médoc 2006, France  $10.49
   
   Bob: “Lighter. Light red. Almost blood.”
   All: “Blood. Not funny.” (go to YouTube if you don’t get this joke)
   Bob: “Ewww.”
   Discussion about prepping for surgery….
   Bob: “Are you going to wash your hands?”
   Doctor – Opens a book.
   Bob: “Seriously?”
   Doctor: “Gotcha!”
   Mike: “We have to save this story for the ‘V’s”
   Jess: “Has a…” (sticks tongue out, scrunches nose, furrows brow)… “taste.”
   Mike: “It doesn’t smell as crisp.”
   Claire: “My hands are sweating.”
   Karen: “This is so dry. It’s almost too dry. Like persimmons – dries your mouth out!”
   Bob 6, Karen 6, Mike 5, Becky 5.5, Jess 5, Claire 5

'R' You Ready?

Thursday, March 8, 2012

‘R’ Night with Bob & Karen

Menu: Antipasto – olives, prosciutto, mushrooms, artichokes, garlic.

Cheeses: Asiago, Parmesan, Provolone, Mozarella.

Red, orange, green sweet peppers. Marinated with olive oil & olive sauce.

Supresat, Carpazzo, Salami. Crackers. Taleggio cheese.

1. Las Rocas Garnacha 2008 Viñas Vigias de San Alejandro, Spain   $19.99
   Bob: “Smells velvety.”
   Karen: “Ooh. I like this!”
   Becky: “Smells really good. Sometimes you can’t smell anything.”
   Bob: “Dark Purple or Ruby Red – the Rotund guy said that.”
   Bob: “Surprisingly mild.”
   Karen: “A velvety bold.”
   Bob: “Ravishing”
   Karen: “Fantastic smell, taste, finish. That’s why it’s a 9.”
   Bob 8, Karen 9, Mike 8.5, Becky 8.5
   
   
   
   
   
2. Côtes du Rhône 2007 – Appellation Coôtes du Rhône Contrôlée, France    $14.99
   Bob: “Eww. We’re done.”
   Karen: “It’s a pretty color, though.”
   Mike (poured a lot): “Becky, this is your glass. I have too much.”
   Bob: “Smells yeasty.”
   Becky: “Which one is it? The one with the sock?”
   Karen: “It’s dry. I like it.”
   Becky: “I don’t think it’s that bad.”
   Karen: “This is a good drinker.”
   Mike: “It has gotten better than the first taste.”
   Bob: “Kind of rosy. A rosy radiance.”
   Mike: “It’s resounding. You have to get past the smell.”
   Becky: “Has the metallic/iron taste.”
   Karen: “I don’t like the smell.”
   We talked about work…blah, blah, blah, blah.
   Bob 6.5, Karen 6.5, Mike 6.5, Becky 6
   
   
   
3. Museum Real Reserva – Cigales 2005 Tempranillo, Spain  $29.99
   Best Label! Awesome!!
   Karen: “We’ve had all dark ones.”
   Becky: “Eww.”
   Mike: “Are you swirling? Are you going clockwise or counterclockwise? You have to go counterclockwise.”
   Bob: “Didn’t I say it can only go down from here?”
   Karen: “The taste is not unpleasant.”
   Over the lips & through the gums, look out stomach here it comes.
   Bob: “It’s not bad. It is dry. You taste the fruit.”
   Becky: “I can’t get past the smell. I haven’t tasted it yet…. It tastes better than it smells.”
   Counterclockwise is harder with your left hand.
   Bob 7, Karen 7, Mike 7, Becky 7

It was Quite a Quest to find Q's from Europe

Thursday, March 1, 2012

‘Q’ Night hosted by Mike & Becky but held in the home of Bob & Karen

Bob: “Claire is Q-less.” Mike: “That’s the quote – Claire is here but has no ‘Q’s.”

Claire in pain after her operation, and unable to taste the Q’s tonight.

1. Château Queyssard 2005 Premières Côtes de Bordeaux, France   $13.99
   Bob: “Basic.”
   Becky: “Thin.”
   Karen: “Smells lighter than it tastes.”
   Jess: “Not my favorite.”
   Karen: “Not bad after the salami.”
   Bob: “It’s not bad, it’s just not good.”
   Karen: “I’m liking it better with food.”
   Jess: “I agree.”
   Mike: “I haven’t found the right food. yet.”
   Bob: “Quaint.”
   Mike: “Quick.”
   Jess: “Quiet.”
   Karen: “Quirky”
   Becky: “Not queenly.”
   Bob: However, I’m going to drink it because it’s going to quench my thirst.”
   Bob 6, Karen 5, Mike 5, Becky 6, Jess 5
   
   
   
   
   
2. Quasar Gran Reserva from Chile…Oops! Not European    $11.99
   Becky: “Look at the color!”
   Karen: “It’s darker.”
   Mike: “I have a lot.”
   Becky: “You have quite a lot.”
   Karen: “PLEASE taste as good as it smells…Quality.”
   Bob: “Look at it. It quakes.”
   Karen: “Yum.”
   Bob: I’m with her. You’re not going to get a quarrel out of me.”
   Jess: “I quite agree.”
   Bob: “You know what’s interesting? It’s Q night and you may go watch Quidditch!”
   Becky: “This one is queenly.”
   Mike: This was worth the quest.”
   Jess: High quality.”
   Karen: “It has enough dryness. It has a nice finish.”
   Becky: “It has a beautiful color.”
   (Mike: “Take the bus.” Jess: “Where do I catch it?” Bob: “At said bus stop.” Becky almost spits wine out.)
   Bob 8, Karen 8, Mike 7, Becky 7.5, Jess 8
   
   
   
   
   
3. The Spanish Quarter 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon tempranillo, Spain  $9.99
   Karen: “What is that smell? I don’t want to taste it yet. Licorice?”
   Bob: “Clove.”
   Karen: “Yes! Clove!” (Karen brought out cloves to smell)
   Jess: “It’s pretty good.”
   Bob: “It’s not bad.”
   Mike: I like it. I’m quaking.”
   Becky: “This does have a little spice to it.”
   Mike: “The taste at the end is better. But no quake.”
   Bob 6.5, Karen 7, Mike 7.5, Becky 7.5, Jess 6.5
   
   
   
4. Clos des Quatre Vents – Fleurie 2009 George Duboeuf, France  $18.99
   Becky: “Wow! Look how dark that is!” This is the metallic smell.”
   Bob: “Eww. What is that? Smells like big balls.”
   Karen: “I don’t like this. I don’t want to drink it. Who wants it?” (pours her wine into Bob’s glass)
   Mike: “I don’t think it’s that bad.”
   Bob: “Tastes like those chips. Tastes like olives.”
   Bob 5, Karen 4, Mike 7, Becky 3, Jess 6

Some 'P'leasing European reds

Thursday, February 23, 2012

‘P’ Night with Bob & Karen

1. Chateau Pas de Rauzan 2008 Bordeaux Superieur, France   $11.99
   Karen: “I don’t know if I like this one.”
   Bob: “Doesn’t smell bad.”
   Becky: “Sewer smell.”
   Karen: “Sea smell – on the beach, in the sand, on the porch.”
   Becky: “Tastes like it too! Stuff on the beach.”
   Mike: “A bad first taste.”
   Bob: “I’m not disappointed. I’m not in the sewer with the rest of you.”
   Bob 6.5, Karen 5, Mike 5, Becky 5
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Camins del Priorat 2009 – Alvaro Palacios, Spain    $??
   Becky: “Pretty color. Deep.”
   Karen: “Smells similar to the first one. Is our aerator bad?”
   Becky: “This is better.”
   Bob: “Tasty.”
   Mike: “My headache is gone. It’s growing on me. Better than the first one.”
   Mike: “It’s a pleasing perfumed palate pleasure.”
   Becky: “Thtat doesn’t make any sense.”
   Bob: “Just write it down.”
   Bob 6.5, Karen 6.5, Mike 6, Becky 6
   
   
3. Prado Rey Crianza 2005 Tempranillo, Spain  $19.99
   Becky: “Smells really good.”
   Karen: “A really good smell.”
   Mike: “Pleasurable Plum” (before even tasting)
   Bob: “Not Plum.”
   Mike: “P for Perfect”
   Becky: “Spicy.”
   Bob: “Did you write down Purple?”
   Karen: “The smell is awesome.”
   Bob: “Perfect? Peppery? Somewhat potent isn’t it?”
   Bob: “It kind of makes you a little Parched. What is it called when you do this with your lips?”
   Becky: “Pucker?”
   Bob: “Yes! I’m pleased.”
   Mike: “Plethora of Purity. Pleasing.”
   Bob 7, Karen 7.5, Mike 7, Becky 7

'O' My! Some more European red wines...

Thursday, February 16, 2012

‘O’ Night with Becky & Mike

1. Ostatu 2006 Rioja Alavesa, Spain   $15.99
   Mike: “Hmmm.”
   Karen: “Smells good.”
   Bob: “Tastes like bubblegum.”
   Dane: “No.”
   Karen: “I kind of like it.”
   Bob: “Cuz it’s Juicy Fruit.”
   Jess: “It’s not Juicy Fruit.”
   Karen: “No, it’s not sweet.”
   Mike: “I can’t figure out that taste.”
   Becky: “Light. Not sweet.”
   Becky: “Bob’s off his game.”
   Bob: “No I’m not. I’m just getting picky.”
   Bob 6, Karen 7, Mike 7, Becky 7, Jess 7, Dane 6
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Onix Priorat 2006, Spain    $14.99
   Dane: “This one is better.”
   Mike: “More flavor.”
   Jess: “It goes pshesss in your mouth. A party in your mouth. Draw a can.”
   Karen wrinkled her nose: “This is NOT better than the 1^st one. Sweater. Not dry. Peppery finish.”
   Mike: “Tobacco.”
   Bob: “Karen, do you want more?”
   Karen: “I do not want it” (with a flare she poured the bottle into Bob’s glass)”
   Becky: “A spicy smell.”
   Bob 6, Karen 4.5, Mike 7.5, Becky 6, Jess 6, Dane 7.5
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Oniro 2008 Alicante red wine, Spain  $9.99
   Bob: “Three strike outs today. Are you sure this isn’t a ‘K’?”
   Karen: “I like this better than the 2^nd one.”
   Mike: “An oak-y taste with licorice & black cherry.”
   Bob 6, Karen 6.5, Mike 6, Becky 5, Jess 6.5, Dane 7
   
   
   
   
   
4. Chateau Festiano 2005 Minervois, France  $6.95
   Dane: “This one’s good!”
   Becky: “I like the smell.”
   Mike: “Licorice.”
   Becky: “This one is the best one of the night.”
   Karen: “Tastes like chocolate. Mocha.”
   Mike: “It’s not chocolate. I don’t buy chocolate wine.”
   Bob is pissy tonight.
   Becky: “Smooth.”
   Karen: “And chocolate-y. I’m sorry.”
   Bob 5.5, Karen 6, Mike 6, Becky 7.5, Jess 7, Dane 7.5

N Night with some 'N'ice European Reds

Thursday, February 9, 2012

‘N’ Night with Bob & Karen

1. Guillon Nardou 2009 Grand Vin de Bordeaux France   $12.99
   Bob: “Ooh. This is so…different. A different dry. A good different.”
   Becky: “Interesting. Smooth like vanilla with a little bite afterwards.”
   Karen: “Has a lot more taste than smell.”
   Mike: “Smooth”
   Karen: “I think this is dry, but not super dry. A nice dry which makes it really smooth.”
   Bob 8, Karen 7.5, Mike 8, Becky 7.5
   
   
   
   
2. Le Nain Violet Domaine de la Pertuisane Grenache 2008    $24.99
   Karen: “This is dark!”
   Becky: “Purple.”
   Bob: “This Gouda is good. Oooh. That’s a different smell. Not necessarily good.”
   Karen: “Very different from the last one but not that bad.”
   Bob: “Forget the not bad part. It’s bad. It’s crap.”
   Karen: “Licorice.”
   Mike: “Maybe it needs to breath.” (he got the aerator out) “Looks dusty.”
   Karen: “I blew it…don’t write that down!”
   Bob: “Even Bob blew it.”
   Bob: “It does actually taste better. A lot better!”
   Mike: “Definitely smoother. I think this wine velvety caresses my palate.”
   Bob: “All I envision is a hair ball.”
   Karen: It has a sweet taste. I love the color.”
   Bob: “Note: Becky gave it a 7 but was hit by a bookshelf earlier today.”
   Bob 6, Karen 6.5, Mike 6, Becky 7
   
   
   
   
3. Fixin 1er Cru Clos Napoléon 2007 France  $33.99
   Bob: “It’s lite.”
   Mike: “It is lite. Rose.”
   Karen: “There are no legs, I don’t like it.”
   Becky: “I don’t like the smell.”
   Karen: “What is that taste?”
   Mike: “I have a stuffed nose & it’s terrible.”
   Bob: “Your nose or the wine?”
   Mike: “Both.”
   Becky: “It’s giving me heartburn.”
   Mike: “Bad smell. Like pork bellies. Chicken livers.”
   Becky poured hers into Bob’s glass.
   Bob: “Why do we get the crap?”
   Becky: “Because you can handle the crap.”
   Mike: “You need me in that glass.”
   Bob 4, Karen 1, Mike 2, Becky 1