Eighty Nine Points (Wine Spectator)

KINTON Syrah Santa Barbara County 2006 (89 points, $19)

Serves up a tasty mix of blackberry and wild berry flavors woven in with mineral and pebble notes, ending with a touch of tobacco and sage. Drink now through 2012. 5,400 cases made.

--James Laube

just asking. . .

What are you most likely to order off a wine list?
How do you decide what to order?

I just read this dude's blog about ridiculously long wine lists. I agree, TMI (even when it's food related) can be overwhelming. Not all of us are going to plunk down a housing payment to try a once in a lifetime bottle of wine. Although if you know a single man who is willing to do this, send him my way!
I know how I order wine.
Varietal followed by Price followed by Appellation.



So if I'm doing some serious oyster damage I know I want a $25-$30 bottle of either something French from the Loire or I want a domestic Pinot Gris or even maybe a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

But how do you figure out what to order?

Super Bowl

Thats right. It's THAT time of the year, to figure out how to wow everyone with fingerfood that packs a punch.
Superbowl food should be tasty and be made on a grill to capture that gritty, smoky, MANLY flavor.

How about Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp - which would do really well with beer from a keg or a juicy glass of Syrah.

24 count, cleaned, shrimp tails
1 can sliced jalapenos, drained
1 package thin cut bacon, sliced in half (to create 3-4 inch wide slices)
toothpicks or skewers



Fire up your grill and bring the temperature up to 350 degree's, roughly.

Meanwhile, tuck a jalapeno into a shrimp tail and wrap them together in bacon. Secure with a toothpick. Repeat with all 24 shrimp.

Smoke on your barbecue until bacon is crispy on the outside and transfer to a plate. Bring inside and get ready for compliments and orders for more shrimp!

Felice Super Bowl!

Flowers

Flowers Winery of Sonoma has come under a new majority ownership. It will be interesting to see how it's Pinot Noir and Chardonnay production either improves or declines in quality and quantity in the coming years. Historically, once a winery comes under new ownership it's the old Hublein effect. Poorer quality and more of it.

Right?

Miel

Honey pairs so well with so many dishes. It's also all-natural and if you use the unfiltered version its chock full of pollens, and flower detritus that will help you combat the common cold.

Try Honey Draped Pork Chops with dried golden raisins and black mission figs. Try Lady Finger Sandwiches comprised of Brillat-Savarin and Honey Comb with lavendar sea salt. Compose a soup of carrots, curry and honey with creme fraiche and chives as a decoration. Stuff a chicken breast full of shallots, cumin and honey - when its fresh out of the oven add arugula and dress it in a summer vinaigrette.

Mmmm.

And don't forget to add a nice accoutrement of Kinton Santa Barbara Syrah ...

Is it really wiping the slate "clean"?

If your past felonious record is wiped clean vis a vis a presidential pardon from one of the most hated presidents, George W. Bush, is said record really "clean"?

Is it like a tree falling in a forest and no one being around to hear it?

Click here to read about Fred Franzia's attempt at starting really fresh in 2009.

enjoy!