Julia'sChild
-
Posts
65 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Store
Help Articles
Posts posted by Julia'sChild
-
-
Visiting Richmond Virginia
What are the don't miss food spots?
Thanks
-
2001 Cuneo Cellars, Cana's Feast, Red Mountain, $45
After years of being bored by California Meritage blends, it was exciting to taste the outstanding 2001 Cana's Feast, Red Mountain, produced by Oregon's Cuneo Cellars in Carlton from grapes from the Red Mountain AVA of Washington. This wine is rich while retaining its balance, elegance and liveliness and is loaded with exotic coffee and bitter chocolate flavors overlaying bright raspberry fruit. The finish is long and complex with ample tannins that are well rounded enough to enjoy now, but promising a wine that will be better in 2 or 3 years.
40% cabernet sauvignon, 29% merlot, 13% cabernet franc, 12% petite verdot
Strickly speaking this is not a "Meritage." Meritage (rhymes with “Heritage”,
so feel free to flick anyone who says
“Merit-aahhjj”) is actually a very specific term and a registered trademark,
to boot. American vintners who wanted to fashion themselves after Bordeaux
producers founded the American Meritage Association to come up with an
accepted definition for the term, and members pay $1/case fee for the right
to put the word on their bottle.
Red Meritage is made up of two or more of the red Bordeaux varieties of
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, St.
Macaire, Gros Verdot, and Carmenere. A white Meritage is made from a blend
of two or more of the following varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and
Sauvignon Vert. No single variety may make up more than 90% of the blend in
either case.
But here are a couple of "California Meritage blends" that are pretty good...
Robert Foley Claret
Joseph Phelps Insignia
BOND
Caldwell
Cardinale
Dalle Valle Maya
Dominus
Gemstone
Lail J. Daniel Cuvee
Niebaum-Coppola Rubicon
Opus One
Pahlmeyer
Peter Michael Les Pavots Knights Valley
Pine Ridge Andrus
Quintessa
Viader
-
-
I agree with Brad. I think TCA is kind of like the common cold virus amongst humans. It's airborne (somebody sneezed) and/or spread by contact (touching that dirty handrail or doorknob that the guy who sneezed and didn't wash his hands touched last).
I wouldn't characterize TCA as being "contagious". If you have one tainted bottle, your whole cellar will be not be contaminated. There would have to be a very specific set of unlikely circumstances to happen before TCA would be passed from one bottle to another. And luckily, most finished wines have capsules or wax on them to make that even less likely.
At a very basic level--TCA occurs when a particular type of mold interacts with chlorine and other chemical compounds called "phenolics" (which can be naturally occurring, including flavinoids, found in stems and seeds of grapes, etc). Corks are a large factor in TCA, as bark for cork used to be bleached with chlorine products regularly. Miniscule amounts of (naturally occurring) mold in corks + cholorine + exposure to wine = corky bottles.
When a cellar or wine producing facility has a TCA problem, it's likely because they've been using chlorine products for years to clean; you can imagine how some recycled barrels can results in dozens of cases ofTCA-infected wines. Put those barrels on wooden pallets that you also clean
with chlorine, and after a while, etc. and TCA can spread systemically that way.
I've opened cardboard case boxes that smell like TCA, but the wine inside was fine.
What's likely happening in these large-scale winerires is that low levels of TCA meet inferior corks, and then you have not-so-low levels of TCA.
Hope that answers your question, esp. since I'm not a scientist. I'm not so sure now that the problemis specific to California (in fact, the WS story has a link to another story that is European-based). But perhaps the California style of wines, which generally tend to be fruit forward, make TCA seem more obvious, whereas Old World styles of earthier wines mask it better.
-
But it's very, very surprising that Wine Spectator would point that out to their readers.
I don't think it's surprising at all, given WS track record with reporting TCA. Someone over there thrives on publishing this type of stuff as hardly an issue goes by where there isn't some report of it in some wine somewhere in the world. Heck, the last August issue rated a Gallo '02 Sonoma Chardonnay as a 55. They said six of eight bottles had some form of TCA.
They seem comfortable with publishing this to the world and basically saying, "You've got a problem, fix it!"
Really Nice! - I wasn't surprised, that was in responce to the lovely Carolyn Tillie's surprise.
Actually there is a big TCA problem here in California, not so much in the rest of the world far as I can tell.
Just curious - Would you rather not know what producers are selling $125 bottles of wine that they know are tainted?
As for the Gallo score, I guess that pokes a hole in all of the conspiracy-theorists talk of high scores for advertisers, as Gallo is still prominent in the WS ads.
-
I somewhat doubt that Montelena didn't know they had a problem. ETS is hardly an independent lab -- every winery in the valley uses them (including us) as most wineries don't have the chemical set-ups to run their own tests. They are expensive, complicated processes.
Besides, it seemed like WS was doing what Montelena had already done:
But after a Wine Spectator report in 2002 detailed how Beaulieu Vineyard's red-wine cellar had been tainted by TCA, Barrett said, Chateau Montelena hired a leading wine laboratory to test its cellar, equipment and wines. ETS Laboratories, based in St. Helena, Calif., determined the presence of TCA. "Then we realized it wasn't the cork thing," Barrett said.That is why I'm surprised.
Well ETS is independent of Wine Spectator and Montelena and all of the other wineries in the valley. ETS also enters into confidentiality agreements with their clients.
And YES Montelena did know. As did BV and Gallo. That's the whole point. They knew that they had produced flawed wines and continued to sell them. Do you think that is OK? I don't.
If they had any integrity they would pour the crap right down the drain instead of hoping consumers are too stupid to taste the TCA or try to Feed people this bullshit:
Barrett admitted that it is likely that TCA was part of the winery's "house style" and that it was present in most of the wines at a low level. TCA "may have been one of the components of our wines dating back to the 1970s," he said, "especially when the wines weren't fruity."So I guess it's not surprising that Montelena knew they had a problem that was tainting their wine and they were continuing to sell $125 bottles of it. But it's very, very surprising that Wine Spectator would point that out to their readers.
-
Pretty devastating -- although why Spectator would take it upon themselves to conduct the tests and show the winery is a bit bizarre...Symptoms of TCA taint were first detected in blind tastings in the magazine's Napa office. Many Chateau Montelena wines, from the 1997 vintage to a 2003 barrel sample, showed either wet cement and chalky, chlorinelike flavors or other off-characteristics associated with TCA. So Wine Spectator had ETS Laboratories test seven Montelena Cabernet samples; five of them had levels of TCA ranging from 1.1 ppt to 1.7 ppt, and two had less than 1 ppt.
Not sure why you find it bizzare. Looks like they had been tasting "corky" wines from there since 1997, so they sent them to the lab to have them tested. Would you believe the winery's test results? Or an independent lab?
It seems it is a better story to hear what the winery is doing about the problem, then to just print the results of the testing. This is the same approach WS used in the Gallo and BV TCA problems.
Seems it is pretty good consumer information and also fair to the producer to say, Hey we found this. Have you known about it? What are you doing about it?
-
-
I have not eaten at the Manresa, but would like to. I would like to point out that most (or all), of the VERY positive posts have come from people with VIP or SUPER VIP status and not from "regular" diners. I think that we can all agree that there is a MUCH greater chance of having a great experience when you are given extra attention. And I, for one, appreciate it when a review has a bit of a disclaimer. I also find negative reviews very helpful in the sense that one can sometimes be alerted to potential problems and try and avert them.
-
This has been going on for a couple months and speculated about for longer.
Look for most or all of Mondavi to be sold.
-
Everyone's said everything that needs to be said already, but I might want
to add a small point:
Years ago, many California producers treated Zin differently than their
other red wines. Zin was the fun and juicy wine that was often released
first of the vintage, and (outside of those that were taking it seriously),
wasn't taken very seriously.
These days, more and more Zin producers are treating it like Cabernet;
giving it more oak, releasing it later, and giving it higher prices. With
that comes an implied "you can cellar this!", but I don't think that's
necessarily the case. As others have pointed out; the ripe style and the
high alcohols don't give much hope for aging; no matter how much wood you
slap on it. And in general, since fruit is the first thing to fade when a
wine is aged, and these tend to be fruity, juicy wines, aging is a big
gamble.
-
-
I'm just heartbroken. Part of me thought she'd live forever.
Well part of her is living forever, Right here. And while I am crying I am also thinking how wonderful and full a life to have given so much to so many. To have made that kind of impact.
I am also glad to be able to share my feelings here with my friends at egullet.
I hope that we can all take the time to enjoy good food and wine, made with love, care and respect, with our family and friends--- Just like Julia taught us.
I for one will be making a meal to celebrate Julia's wonderful life. Maybe a new thread with pictures, if others do the same.
-
I have made arugula pesto, (or added some to my basil pesto), which is good on a lot of different pastas. And it is good on potato salad as well.
-
Here is a tomato hornworm--a big guy, 2 or 3 inches wide. Might find it flying around your porch light at night.
This is my first garden as well. It has been a tremendous learning experience and rewarding beyond description. I have 32 heirloom tomato plants, 15 kinds of peppers, 3 types of melons, 3 types of squash, 2 types of eggplant, basil, parsley, corn, carrots, and beets.
Here is my first encounter with the Red Horned Tomato Worm
Just after snacking on my Green Grape
Just before it met the bottom of my shoe (Note my green grape exiting it's rear)
But alas, It did not get them all. From Today
-
In Bangkok I had Green tea Potato chips. My mouth couldn't tell what was going on. So naturally, I just kept eating them.
-
I was always afraid that I might be offending the sushi chef.
It might be "OK" but I think you do run the risk of offending the sushi chef if you are sitting at the bar. I have found you get the best fish and service if you engage the chef and try to establish a little rapport with them. I feel a little enthusiasm is always met with appreciation.
-
SLAMMED is now running a special promotion for eGullet members -- $20 for 9 issues, which is $7 off their regular subscription price ($27). To take advantage of it, click on this link:
http://www.slammedmagazine.com/subscribe/s...9.php?r=egullet
Jason
Link says "For just $27, you'll get 9 issues of the best magazine on the planet!"
I don't see the discount you mention.
-
My guess is Franzia is going to appeal.
-
p.s. I'll spare you the gorey details of the roadkill sushi at Taiko-- just to give you an idea, the sushi that my local supermarket tastes like manna compared to whatever it was I consumed that night.
C'mon... You're going to need to share - If they don't have an angry lion roll then it's not as bad as it can get. Check out this thread on a Sushi dive in Northern California.
Now, I love "dives" and certain "value" places, probably more than the next guy. "Dive" bars, taco stands, pizza joints, hamburger places, just to name a few. But there are certain words that should NEVER proceed the word Sushi.
1. Dive
2. Value
3. Cheap
4. Budget
5. All you can eat
6. Sale
7. Monday
If ever these words proceed "Sushi" you should run as fast and as far as your legs will take you.
Should you not heed the above caution; STOP and ask yourself, "Why am I eating this?"
-
Roxannne's was effectively the nexus of the raw food movement in California, it will be interesting to see how all the other raw food restaurants and raw food pundits take in the news.
Actually I believe it was Juliano Brotman who was the nexus of the raw food movement in California. His book "RAW"
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-h...3128311-8251937
It was reported in Gourmet (can't find link) that Roxanne (a pastry chef), hired Juliano to live in her Tiburon mansion for a month ($40,000), and teach her his food. She then opened Roxanne's shortly after.
-
In the Mission district you want to hit Bombay Bazaar (on Valencia btw 16th & 17th St)
for spices, and all things Indian, including ice cream.
I would skip the Mexican food around here, although it is prefered by some, (too Americanized), the food is much better around 24th St.
Lucca, as mentioned, (22ndSt & Valencia) is a temple and not to be missed. Homemade Ravioli since 1924 or so.They also import a TON of stuff for most restaurants in SF so the prices here are better than anyone. period.
In China town, (a short walk to/from North Beach), I would go to The Wok Shop, on Grant, for every kind of Asian cooking gadget imaginable (This is not Sur La Table). Fun place.
Have a great trip.
-
Has anyone tried Tartare yet? The menu is really interesting...
If we had the website, manresa, we too might salivate along with you ...
Nothing here
www.tartarerestaurant.com
-
I suggest the following
Big Bowl Noodles and Rice: Fresh Asian Cooking from the Renowned Restaurant
by Bruce Cost, Zeva Oelbaum, Matt McMillin - an engaging book, easy to use, delicious recipes.
Hot Sour Salty Sweet: A Culinary Journey Through Southeast Asia
by Jeffrey Alford, Naomi Duguid. Good for the mind, soul and stomach!
Essentials of Asian Cuisine Corinne Trang. Authoritative and informative. Rich in detail and recipes.
I would add Thai Food by David Thompson- on Ten Speed Press
Sort of the Bible on Thai
Richmond Virginia
in Southeast: Dining
Posted
Visiting Richmond Virginia
What are the don't miss food spots?
Thanks