2004 Black Swan Merlot

At the Operation Philly Cheese Final Planning Conference (also a welcoming dinner for herself, GM). Although the evening kicked off in style with some memory-jogging Dark 'n Stormys (Gosling's--accept no substitute) the swerve to the Black Swan of Death was less than impressive. There had to be a reason why it was on sale for $4.99 a bottle with another coupon for $2 off thrown in: Plonk. Your basic plonk in a bottle. Plonkus Austrailicus. Cut across the tongue link a corsair across the bow. This ultimately led to the singing of the Nigerian National Anthem, the launch of the Christmas tie season, and deliberations as to how Santa can get into a house guarded by iron bars on the windows. All because I tried to save a few bucks. Hmmph.

2004 Chateau Belingard Bergerac

The second offering at the Operation Philly Cheese Final Planning Conference. This one from AD. A gasping improvement on the Black Swan. All over the place in flavor and bouquet. Once again validating the wisdom of Alfio Moriconi and the fine work he does for TW. Franze 1 , Oz - 0. This rosebud of a wine set off Lin's meat dish with vigah and turned the tide of convo into a rollicking interactive prep briefing for the weekend's sojourn to Ballmer and Philly. Agreed on the Friday rendezvous and the early Saturday departure. The handing out of expedition uniforms and kit (fleeces, patches, and GI can openers) only livened the impacto de vino. Wham of a desert--Stilton followed. Finished the evening with a pounding Navy fight songs warmup, complete with on-line accompanima, accompinimi, uh uh music (thanks Cohens). "OHHHHHHH, the Goat is old and gnarly . .. . . . . . " Expectations are now set at Condition HIGH-ONKEY. IMADOT: straight to bed after le shower.

2002 Chateau de la Tour de L'Ange Macon Suprieur

The First Turkey Day at the Doctor's in Winston Salem. Very, very smooth vino that met the bird- head on (well, really head off). This wine came from TW as an Alfio Moriconi selection, and, I have to say that Alfio can pick 'em. Well worth a second and third look. A nice balancing act that kept everyone on an even keel througout the many helpings. The Atlanta crew table setting and arrangements really put us in the mood. Might even have contributed to the 3 1/2 hour nap that followed!

2004 Mastroberardino Mastro (Campania)

As a guest of the BriggsinBru at the Amici Restaurant (not far from the TV Station) near the Masieres Metro, this Mastroberardino (vino of the Bear-Master?) was a form fitting accompaniment to the clams and risotto and the subsequent D'Agneu chops. The cold, windy, rainy night was quickly forgotten by an optimallisimo blend of wine and food. A warm Neopolitian expat atmosphere, the air was filled with moto benes and grazie milles. Add this one to the list of "do it again at the earliest opportunity" and take Lin along next time. Took a bottle home for the enlightment of the Hampton Roads fans.

2004 The Little Penguin Caberet Sauvignon (SE Oz)

Oho! Now the Penguin on the label was basically irresistable. Cruising my way through the aisles at the K-mart Supercenter (uh, I was there to pick up a trouser clasp, uh, no some sweatshirts, uh) there it was, a whole stack of "Little Penguins". Thinking mostly about the glam value among Penguin fanatics, I chose one bottle. At the veg curry dinner, it was an immediate hit--the bottle label that is. As we sat down to the table, after having let the wine breathe: "Swede. It's what you call a Rutabaga", "Sounds like the name of a financeer". "If she's really pushing the boat out, you get the potatoes to .. . " "Say the sentence will you!" " Shut up" "I'm trying to finish a sentence here. . . . " "Penaclty shredded potatoes cooked in a stock and corned beef" Now I'm sorry for all of that above, but I thought it important to set the somewhat combative scene for what followed during the assessment of the Penguin wine. Josephine: "Goh, that's pretty nice!" Lin: "not bad" AD: "It doesn't make your arms flap" Josephine: Chorking, lip smacking sound. Mike: "I distinctly remember looking at the rim of my glass and seeing a pile of debris on the edge!" So you see how the Little Penguin calmed the waters of discontent and brought harmony through a certain level of blandness. We then moved in to the comparison of British and American corned beef hash. Note the Little Penguin was the first violation of the "same hemisphere" rule but didn't violate the "same quadrasphere" rule.

2004 Rosemount Estate Shiraz Cabernet

The third wine of the night came from a violation of the "same hemisphere in a row" rule: This wine had a odd familiarity to it. Very smooth, yet undistinguishable. At the tail end of Josephine's superb vegetable curry dineer. It DID highlight the conversation about the British Army Can Opener "we've had one for 25 years". In response to a request for a demonstration, there was no question the little item worked a trick--went right through the top of some Campbell's in no time flat. How did we get to this high point? Well, it all started with a comparison of British and American Corned Beef Hash--hah somebody got the wrong word on this one: two hash's divided by a common culture.

2004 Santa Maria (Merlot?, Cab?, Shiraz?)

Ole reliable. No complaints, just solid tasteful vino. A good pre-cursor to a Josephine and AD dinner of vegetable curry with all the trimmings. Lin kicked it off with some nice shrimp. First wine from the southern hemisphere. We finished this, just in time for the move to the family dining room. And then . . .. . .

2002 Louis Jadot Pinot Noir

Very nice light wine that perfectly complemented the menu at Teeth and Keena's maritime gourmet meal. Buy as much as you can find. Just what you'd expect from a micro-climate. References to "Sideways" (will this film never go away!) Unbelievable steak (a good thing) and unbelievable vegetables (some kind of pea thing casserole). Now there were other opinions comparing the potatoes: "perfectly whipped, but soggy like the wine". Mike "Can we lick the beaters?" Teeth, "Sure, just turn the unit on first". "She only has a a small plate for your meat. Your meat will only fit on the small plate". Finally: Wow what a dessert, fraiche with raspberries.

2002 Frei Brothers Dry Creek Valley Merlot Reserve (northern Sonoma)

"Tipples the tastebuds like Tinkerbell", a second offering from the Teeth and Keena dockside dinner, this wine, from the Northern Hemisphere, was the final transition into the dining room. AD: "An alright wine that sets up you up for an Armageddon morning."

2001 Jacob's Creek Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Dinner at Teeth and Keena's new waterfront house in Buckroe Beach at SaltPonds Marina. The JC Reserve was a superb transition from the smacking Harvey Wall Bangers into the more settled part of the evening. After a wonderful stroll on the dock with fantastic views of the Salt Ponds and Hampton Roads, boat dreaming, golf-cart avoiding, and neighbor chatting we returned to imbibe the JC. This was a flavorful wine that would have matched superb the follow-on steak, but in our haste was consumed too early! A chance to meet new friends, Bambi and Stag One, who proved to be the source of insightful opinions: some positive: "The nose is very nice, and, after all, I have the devil's trident!" and some, well, not so positive: "Reminiscent of the muck on the shores of the Hudson at low tide, otherwise, barely palatable" Now, you can't ask for a more consistent set of opinions than that! There followed some deterioritization (yes, that's right) in the sophistication of comment: Josephine: "EXCUSE me, that's the one WE brought!" "The nose is dead like a carp." AD: "Arghhhh". Stag One: "It has the legs of Hervé Villechaize (De plane, de plane!)" AD: a boring little product from Van_Diemen's_Land. The odor of an Abbos jockstrap and passed the cloud test"A moaning little bastard from the Southern Hemisphere, received a gold medal from Japan, this from the people who eat bait!" (Now don't tell me this blog doesn't offer you useful comments!) Let me say unequivocally--this was a very nice wine and I think that the comments were just some sort of competitively, escalating contest to challenge the borders of political incorrectivity. Mission accomplished! There was then a collective interest to visit wine from another hemisphere--off we went.

2002 Jacob's Creek Barossa Valley Shiraz

Another in the line of wines served at the Burwell extravaganza. Stag One: "Bloody Plonk". Also, there was the comment: "Musty Oak Aftertaste". I think the major problem was "Hemisphere Overkill". This happen's when you serve too many wines from the same hemisphere in succession. We have to turn to the Wine Bosun and ask how this happened? Where is he? Oh, its me. Hmmm. Anyway the final note is about Joe Zucharelli, two of Keena's former suitors (beat out handily by Teeth) who were conceptually kluged together--by merging the names Joe Zucherini and Jack Carelli. Not even this t wo Philadelphia Italian combo could compete with the skin-zappin', cigar-chompin, bee-keepin', coffee-grindin', grill-master from Salt Ponds!