by Christina Waters | Apr 25, 2009 | Home, Wine |
That would be 2007,(at least in the Corralitos region of the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA) and proof was offered of this last week at the Alfaro tasting room. Richard poured tastes of two (of his ten!) pinot noirs, for me and viticultural consultant Prudy Foxx, made from the Lester Family Vineyard pinot noir estate grapes. Foxx is the viticulturist for the grapes that went into both the 2006 (shown here) and 2007 vintages.
The difference was stunning, though both wines still have miles to go before their full resolution. 2006, from a notoriously wet year, was rounded and earthy. Spherical. Loaded with fruit. The 2007 was angular and intricate, even in its extreme youth. Refreshing and edgy, it offered a more interesting ride, showing yin and yang – muscle and sinew. Bay leaves and aged copper.
by Christina Waters | Apr 25, 2009 | Home, Wine |
You bet! And that’s just what we had last Friday at the biodynamic cafe attached to the Bonny Doon Vineyard tasting room. Fresh from the oven came the pizza du jour, a feisty creation of roasted cauliflower, wild nettles, mozzarella, ricotta and sea salt. Thin crust, done ala Romana, which is my highest compliment. Seriously terrific pizza, it was miraculous paired with Le Cigare Blanc, a white Rhone-style beauty that is currently on the tasting room flight.
Changes are afoot chez Doon, and you can expect a knock-your-socks-off unveiling of all-new menu, all-new kitchen, all-new chef at Le Cigare Volant Cafe right around May 15. Stay tuned!
And check out the recent NYTimes piece on the reinvention of Randall Grahm.
by Christina Waters | Apr 23, 2009 | Home |
“A perfect storm” (ridiculous cable news addiction)
“Due diligence” (are we a nation of accountants?)
“24/7” (Lose this fast!)
“Worldclass” (puleeze!)
“We’re on it.” (of course you are)
“Well, good for you!” (said about anything – this is a mindless phrase!)
“I’m all about ——-” (lazy use of the English language)
“Have a good one!” (I loathe this one – lazy beyond belief)
“It’s all good.” (mindless pothead jargon)
“Totally!” (on the other hand, I can’t live without “Whatever!,” said ironically.)
That’s my short list. Have I missed any?
by Christina Waters | Apr 22, 2009 | Home |
So many terrific clichés submitted by readers. You all have media-driven phrases you hate, despise and loathe. How could I have overlooked . . .
“At the end of the day†(thanks Dee)
“Power down†(gracias Wally)
“In harm’s way†(courtesy of Facman)
“How goes it?†(care of db)
“Have a nice day!†(from Kate)
“I’m a —– person.†(Angie)
“Sea change†(Eleanor H.)
“That said,…†(ditto)
“Entitlement†(from Dr. H)
“The best of the rest…..†(language in a coma)
To all of you who submitted these hackneyed phrases, and so many more: Thank you for sharing. (At least we don’t have to listen to that cliché anymore.)
by Christina Waters | Apr 22, 2009 | Home |
Help keep those path-breaking apprentices down on the Farm — by sharing in the many local and Bay Area Grow a Farmer events all focused on building residential cottages for those who come to study at the UCSC Center for Agroecology.
The romantic tents nestling along the tree-lined fence are about to become things of the past. (more…)
