2001 Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Reserve Cab Sauv

What a great wine to kickoff 2006--buy it over and over. Josephine, AD, and Peter with an "i" visited for an early glass or two complete with a cross-oceanic telecon with B&V (Big Ben ringing at London midnite) and finally an MLC prax across the street. The Louie Martini matched up well mit der Nederlands split pea soupa. "Put that thang away Youngblood!"

Barefoot California Merlot

95 Points at the 2003 California State Fair. 4 Gold medals since 2000. Now these awards may not apply to the wine in this bottle mind you, but let's give credit for good marketing. No year mentioned. The wine was slightly chilled and in sharp contrast to the witches brew in the beautiful twisted neck bottle that preceded. Smooth and defenceless with the "footprint of freedom" on the label which also advises "Get Barefoot and have a good time". OK, let's do it.

Fratelli Twisted Bottle Vino

Musty, very musty. Harsh, biting, caustic brew. Randall Wayne claimed wine ignorance and quaffed glass after glass. Offered a legal waiver to absolve providers of any responsibility. Matches earlier post about bottles with straw coverings. Nice looking bottle though. Will add to the decor of any room. Unnh.

Almaden Cabernet Sauvignon (5 liter box)

What a body slam deal from the Marine Corps Exchange discount center. Worked out to a buck twenty something per liter! Good lord, you don't even need to think about the taste at that price. And evidently that would be a good move: the Doctor's initial reaction was "Awful" and Lin's opinion was "I don't like it". Other views were similar if only slightly more courteous. Luckily we had a earth moving roast to distract the Christmas eve crowd. Somehow we passed through two liters fairly quickly however, and, of course, the liters passed quickly through us.

Almaden Mountain Red (California)

Another year-less wine. Tried this first in a mulled wine recipe--quite tasty. Then at the E3 birthday bash--a bit bland but harmless. Matched up with the barbecue chicken, mashed potatoes, and cornbread quite well---not that you're going to see that on the Almaden website anytime soon--but there's got to be some wine that fills that bill! Ideal segue (yes I had to look the word up) into the timeless evening slide show on the Revs trip to Sedona and the Pac NW. No better way to spend a Christmas Eve Eve. Next: looking forward to the five liter Almaden box on the Christmas Eve launch pad.

Almaden Mountain Red (California)

Another year-less wine. Tried this first in a mulled wine recipe--quite tasty. Then at the E3 birthday bash--a bit bland but harmless. Matched up with the barbecue chicken, mashed potatoes, and cornbread up quite well---not that you're going to see that on the Almaden website anytime soon--but there's got to be some wine that fills that bill! Ideal segue (yes I had to look the word up) into the timeless evening slide show on the Revs trip to Sedona and the Pac NW. No better way to spend a Christmas Eve Eve. Next: looking forward to the five liter Almaden box on the Christmas Eve launch pad.

Kloof en Berg South African Ruby Cabernet

Where did I run into this: On the Thalys train from Paris to Brussels. Realizing way too late that my ticket was for the day before and after a touch and go experience with two porters (train managers) working this out, I found the last available seat in the dinner car section. Dining on chilled meats and vegetables (so la France, oh boy) this wine saved the day. Now okay, there was no year on the little bottle, but this wine log isn't about years really. What are the chances of ever seeing this again? Well you have to consider the chain of events that culminated in this small bottle making it into the Thalys inventory and the fact that none of the key words retrieved anything from Google. There's a river Kloof and the Berg Mountains. Anyway, once again an SA wine worth further investigation.

2001 Hardy's Nottage Hill Merlot

Opening comment: Got this absolutely dirt cheap. I think this was another one of those "the wine is marked down 'cause it s getting old" things from the MCX.-haha Might have been from that noted vintner Rite Aide. In any case this was surpisingly serviceable and complemented the pre-dinner Brie as well as the aged ham and potato casserole. GM's comment was "I don't like the taste" but, after all, she was already in a self-described "woozy" state. The wooziness became the focus of dinner convo prompting even more wine consumption. I would have to say the wine is now at the optimum flavor and the last two bottles would do well in the future to dance with a bird of some sort. Retired to the couch to watch Prin engage the new Army game blankie (heretofore used by GM) including a good, thorough sniffing.