Articles from February 2010
Posted by Him on February 11, 2010
Swirl Smell Slurp Sunday Salon: February 21 at 2:00p
Join us in a casual, unpretentious setting as we learn about, discuss, and (most importantly) taste wine: Swirl Smell Slurp Sunday Salon (it’s a mouthful).
The Salon is free, We just ask that you bring a bottle of wine from the varietal/region we are discussing. There is no need to spend an exorbitant amount on a bottle, We recommend $20 or less.
For this edition of the Salon we will be slurping red Bordeaux.
Please RSVP to us@swirlsmellslurp.com and We will send you details and directions. (Space is limited to 14 guests.) Informative print-outs, glassware, and light snacks provided.
Friends Cook at Canelé: Swirl Smell Slurp: February 23 5:30p – 10:30p
It’s going to be a delicious night at our favorite neighborhood restaurant: Swirl Smell Slurp are the latest guests in the “Friends Cook at Canelé” series.
We will be donning our aprons and manning the stoves (with a lot of help from their amazing team), cooking up a prix fixe menu of:
– frisée aux lardons to start
–steaks frites for the main course
–profiteroles for a desert
In addition to this great meal, a wine pairing will be offered, with a specially chosen wine for each course from the tasty portfolio of Vintage Wine Marketing.
In the spirit of our French bistro theme, Steve Ventrello is making a guest appearance and will be playing the accordion.
Please join us–it’s going to be a delectable night.
(Canelé will also be serving the normal dinner menu. No reservations are required: simply come when you please, anytime between 5:30-10:00p. Price for the prix fixe and the wine pairing will be announced soon.)
Tags: canelé, Friends Cook at Canele, Sunday Salon
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Posted by Her on February 10, 2010
(inspired by Unhappy Hipsters, picture via Contemporist)
Despite the cheery orange chairs, their allocations of California Merlot kept everyone away from the cellar.
Tags: unhappy hipster winos
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Posted by Her on February 9, 2010
We’ve been brainstorming about some ideas for the blog (over a few glasses of wine, of course) and this is by far my favorite, cleverly named by Him: “United Slurps of America.”
It comes down to this: every state produces wine, so why not taste at least one from each? Genius. (And being suckers for maps and design, we’re already imagining a big map of the U.S. with little wine bottles tacked to the states we’ve sampled wine from and a cool logo for the project.)
The idea first started brewing while on our recent three week road trip from L.A. to Texas (we meandered). In each state we tried the local stuff, so why not take it further? We’d like to try wines we have yet to review (so no Gruet from New Mexico…oh, wait). We would also love to make the project collaborative.
Care to join us?
To add some local flavor, why not have wine bloggers from the states we’re drinking to contribute with their reviews posted alongside ours? Fun, right?
If it does not appeal to you, recommendations of what to drink from your state will also happily be accepted and credited. As are samples from wineries or distributors…with no guarantees of positive reviews, of course, and with full disclosure from us as to how we acquired the bottles.
Leave a comment here, on Facebook, or Twitter if you’d like to slurp with us. Cheers.
Tags: taste with us
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Posted by Us on February 7, 2010
Perusing our “stolen” copy of Wine Spectator, we noticed editor picks and reviews of highly rated bargain wines. We decided to find as many of these and compare our notes with those of WS.
First off, it was difficult to find the wines. We avoided our local boutique wine shops in favor of liquor and grocery stores, assuming these would be pretty mainstream bottles and easier to find at these types of retailers. As it turns out, it took us three stores to find only three of the wines listed. It seems like wines being featured in such a huge magazine would make wine buyers for these retail chains take notice and stock these bottles. Right?
We took our three selections up to the cabana, by the fire, and out of the way of the looming rain.
Sauvignon Blanc, Bogle Vineyards, 2008 (California, $11.49)
Wine Spectator said: Mouthwatering and intense, with grass, lemon-lime and green papaya flavors that are highlighted by a zingy acidity. This has great intensity, with a silky finish. Drink now. Rating 88
She said: Very pale and translucent, yellow/green color. Nose is immediately hit with lime peel, gooseberry, and lychee. Also lots of acid: smells active and fresh, if a bit bracing. In the mouth limes, lychee, grapefruit, and a bit of grass. Tastes like Spring. Whew–the wine needs something spicy or sushi or some kind of food to pair with it. Enjoyable and very reasonably priced. Not very refined or elegant, but intense. A long, quenching finish. Would be great with that avocado and citrus salad we had at Canelé the other night. 
He said: Very translucent and watery in appearance. Lemon, lime, citrus on the nose. Smells crisp, clean and good. There is a little heat in the nose too. My first sip was a little disappointing, not as crisp an SB as I prefer. Subsequent sips prove crisper and the acidity is showing up. Lingers in the mouth for quite a while. I don’t really love or hate it, it’s an average-to-good drinkable wine. I will definitely finish the bottle. 
Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, Château Ste. Michelle, 2008 (Washington, $11.49)
Wine Spectator said: Bright and jazzy, with pretty pineapple, grapefruit, elderflower and spice flavors that linger on the finish without excess weight. This just floats on for a while. Drink now through 2012. Rating 90
She said: Golden hue. Swirl shows viscous texture. In nose: butter, wood, butterscotch, lemon curd, burnt orange peel. Rich and full on the palate. Honey, buttered popcorn, creme brulée. There is a heaviness at the beginning and then right before the swallow there is a harshness. The citrus flavors are not bright, but rather cooked or like custard. High in alcohol. Not my style, but the wine is fine, smooth, and silky. Like the Bogle we tasted, think this wine needs food to take off some of the rough edges. Would pair with trout almondine or monkfish with a cream sauce. score:
He said: Why am I smelling an herbaceous smoked turkey sandwich? Is this the wine? Wait, the fire in our “tasting room” is beginning to smoke. Ok, back to it. Golden and shiny with a little cloudiness. All butter, butterscotch and wood on the nose. Soft and big in the mouth (that’s what she…) and more butterscotch. The bottle text proclaims “subtle oak” but I don’t think it’s so subtle. I really like it, this is what I imagine a big, oaked chardonnay to taste like. And it has the creaminess I like. 
Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, Hogue, 2008 (Washington, $13.99)
Wine Spectator said: Bright in flavor and silky in texture, with creamy pear and apricot flavors that linger on the refined finish. Holds on nicely Drink now through 2012. Rating 89
She said: Whoa, so much wood and yuk on the nose…can barely go back for another sniff. Really smells terrible and I would say it was corked, but it’s a screwcap. Very golden color. In the mouth the wine is all wood and butter with a touch/kick of acid at the finish. The flavors in the mouth are much more pleasant than the nose. Butterscotch and some orange, and vanilla bean in the finish. I actually like the way it tastes, but it smells awful. In comparison to the Chateau Ste. Michele the flavors are more clean and fresh, but also shows an intensity. Again would pair with fish in cream sauce or even clam chowder. The stink on the nose is hard to take, but I like the mouthfeel and flavors…makes the wine very hard to rate. score: 
He said: Oh, gross. Smells like compost. I can’t pinpoint anything because I can’t keep it by my nose long enough. I would think it’s corked, but it’s a screwcap. It has the equivalent smell to the sound of the word “hogue.” Not quite as bad in my mouth, a little buttersco–wait, gross, still gross. Too much heat. I don’t want another sip. It tastes like eating old hot dogs on lunchbreak at the paper mill. Get it away from me. This should be recalled.
So, we are in agreement with WS on the Bogle and both admitted we overlooked the green papaya flavors.
We liked the Chateau Ste. Michelle but don’t agree (or understand) the flavor profile listed. She said “maybe pineapple.” But bright, light and “jazzy” this wine is not. [Note: This is Him typing: what the hell does jazzy mean?]
And finally the, urgh, (sorry I can hardly type it without remembering that stank) Hogue. We can’t believe we are tasting the same wine. This wine is bad. The other two are quite nice recommendations for their value, but this one should be avoided at any and all costs.
Tags: Bogle Vineyards, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Hogue, Wine Spectator
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Posted by Him on February 6, 2010
- L. Preston Dry Creek Valley, Sauvignon Blanc, CA 2007
- avocado citrus salad with grapefruit and lime, arugula, and cracked picholines
- chicken liver pâté
- chanterelles over polenta
- oven-roasted pork chop with small potatoes, brussels sprouts, and apples
- buena chica cheesecake
- cookies and confections
- Bordeaux Château Cadillac, France 2006
Tags: canelé, L. Preston
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Posted by Him on February 5, 2010
“They hang like grapes on vines that shine. And warm the lovers’ glass like friendly wine.”
- “California Stars” by Billy Bragg and Wilco
“I sip the Dom P, watchin’ Gandhi til I’m charged”
- “The World is Yours” by Nas
“But hood lies, you afraid of a good wine?”
- “Memories” by Slick Rick
“And life is wine”
- “No I in Threesome” by Interpol
“Red, red wine, stay close to me. Don’t let me be alone”
-”Red, Red Wine” by Neil Diamond, not that other band I don’t like
“…and up top ahh, 2 bee stings, and im beasting off the Riesling”
- “Run This Town” Kanye West (Jay-Z track)
“Lay on the crime scene, sippin fine wines. Pullin nines on, UFO’s, takin they fly clothes”
- “Knuckleheadz” by Raekwon
“Caught beneath the landslide in a champagne supernova”
- “Champagne Supernova” by Oasis
“I’m mind shockin’, body rockin’, earth shakin’, money makin’. Sittin’ high, lookin’ fly, drinkin’ on the best wine…”
- “Wildflower” by the female rapper on the song by Ghostface, one of the greatest rappers of all time.
These are lyrics I can remember off the top of my head that are going on my “Wine Mixtape” playlist. Yes, I really, really like rap music.
Tags: Wine Mixtape
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Posted by Him on February 4, 2010
These quizzes, when I am in a good mood, are really fun. Today I am in a good mood. Today this quiz was fun. I answered Her questions immediately after reading the chapter, but still confused and/or forgot a couple of things. I, of course, have drunk loads of bubbly in my life, but really never knew much about its production, history or anything. Oh yeah, did you know that early Champagne glasses were molded from Helen of Troy’s titty? And later molded from Marie Antoinette’s frontjunk? According to historians, Marie had bigger titties. Which makes me wonder about the phallic shape of modern Champagne flutes. I wonder what historical figure’s cock penis these were molded from. My money is on Louis XIV. Or maybe Rasputin, that’s at least a Magnum.
Tags: Champagne, Louis XIV, Marie Antoinette, penis, quiz, titties
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Posted by Her on February 4, 2010
(what is a handwritten typo called?)
Thinking of Valentine’s Day and what to drink, like so many others I choose Champagne. Oh how I love Salon. Then again, in the spirit of the holiday, maybe a Nicholas Feuillatte rosé would suit me better. And then I started thinking about how nice it would be to receive a box of delicious, decadent dark chocolate…so perfect with a luscious, nutty Madeira. Or a tawny Port. Which made me think about PX and having a generous pour over vanilla bean ice cream. Bubbles and sweets and sweet wines on my mind.
When I proposed a Champagne, Port, Sherry, and Madeira wine lesson and quiz He wasn’t as wooed as I was. In fact he yelled at me. “What??? That’s too much. No way.” So back to Champagne.
Tags: quiz
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Posted by Us on February 3, 2010
On Monday night we met our pal Corina Weibel, chef of Canelé in Atwater Village, for Silverlake Wine‘s Blue Monday tasting. (When your favorite chef has the night off and invites you to join her at a wine tasting, well, of course you say yes.)
Silverlake Wine is our neighborhood wine shop so we’re frequent patrons, but it had been quiet a while since we participated in a tasting. In fact, the last time had been at the invitation of Valerie and Stanley of Valerie Confections (geez, we have some talented friends). SLW put together a terrific lineup to compliment VC’s sweets on a Sunday. It was a fun and tasty afternoon with some antics thrown in. Between sips we got a few of the tasters (including Val and Stan) to play a little game: Just an Eyeful. (Read what it’s all about and see the whole series of pictures here.)
Unlike the vendor specific food pairings on Sunday afternoons, on Monday nights SLW offers three wines, a selection of farmhouse cheeses, olives, and La Brea Bakery bread in an atmosphere SLW’s website describes as “blatant low-key relaxation.” The shop’s Tweets and Facebook updates about this particular Monday night’s line-up, however, were anything but mellow:
Really, a $20 bottle of wine. Although this may not sound too expensive, Blue Monday’s tastings cost only $12 for three generous pours of three different wines and lots of delicious snacks, so having a $20 bottle poured makes for a great deal.
We were also super intrigued about the “perfectly perfect” label art of their new proprietary wine. Could it be by the “Awesome Bears” artist Phil Lumbang? The happy bears have popped up all over the Silverlake, waving hello, smiling, giving a wink. They feel like as much a part of the neighborhood as SLW is. The wine shop is a huge fan of the bears…so much so they got Lumbang to paint their bathrooms. What could be more “perfectly perfect?”
Living up to the hype, when we arrived at 7 p.m. the place was packed and lively, full of happy people nibbling on cheese and lucques olives and sipping wine. We made our way through the crowd to the bar for the first pour. It was a delightful, perfumey Torrontes with a hint of sweetness in the finish that complimented the rich blue on the cheese board. Corina joined us and quickly caught up. We all agreed the wine was a bargain for just $10. Next up was a quenchable Tempranillo, also reasonably priced at $15.75. So what was this $20 bottle going to be?
Well, it turns out there was no $20 wine (it really was just hype), but the third wine was a treat: Para Silverlake Red from Monterey Country, featuring on the label…an Awesome Bear. The jubilant wine pourer explained it was a Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet and Merlot. It was a soft, friendly wine (just like those lovable bears). As we finished our last sips of Para Silverlake, the shop continued to buzz. 
We all remarked on how great it was to have SLW in the neighborhood and to see so many happy faces at the tasting. It was a truly delightful way to spend a Monday evening. On the way out grabbed a bottle of the bears and Tempranillo, thirsty for more. We headed up the hill to Corina’s to continue our tasting ways, vowing to be more serious and take some notes this time.
First up was a bottle of L. Preston Red which Canelé has just started to pour it by the glass. Corina explained she had been looking for a replacement for the popular Donkey and a Goat Rhône style red they had been pouring. “I wanted a Rhône style wine, but not something that was 100% syrah or French…I like the jamminess that the California wines offer.” She recommends it with the lamb with roasted eggplant, capers, olives, and garlic they serve at dinner. Sounded good to us.
There was really just enough for a serious sip left in the L. Preston, which had been opened the night before, so Corina decided to pop open a bottle a friend had left at her house. We did not protest. The Murtas, San Michelea Torri was an older vintage: 2001. The generous friend who left the bottle was on a “peak frequency” diet,
which has something to do with old wine and enzymes. Our bewilderment was erased by the delicious wine.
Not quiet ready to call it quits, and because we did want some notes about at least one of the wines we tasted at SLW, we popped open the Tempranillo, Ardales we had picked up on the way out.
In between discussions about Awesome Bears (She had seen one during our trip to New York), movies (“the story was insulting…they should have been more responsible…”), and music (“Maps is a way better song than Sweet Child O’ Mine, but Modern Romance is still the best…”) we jotted down some notes.
L. Preston, 2007 (Healdsburg)
She said: The nose is raspberries, candy, and some earthiness. For being open a day it still has a lot of heat. Flavors of cola, pepper, and mixed berry jam. It has a really lovely mouthfeel; not too rich but intense with refined tannin and a kind of freshness. Does that make sense? It is both richly flavored and austere. Completely agree with Corina that it would go great with lamb.
He said: First things first, love this label design. Cherry and raspberries on the nose and very earthy. Taste is strongest in the finish. Medium bodied, I agree it has a great “mouthfeel” but that term still gives me weird brainfeel. Front of tongue feels it right away and it’s dirty with some spice. Some heat in the finish. A little tart, but I really like it.
Murtas, San Michelea Torri, 2001 (Tuscany)
She said: Very little fruit on the nose, rather it is minerals, salt, and a bit of earth. Drinks like a large, refined Chianti. Lots of bright cherry fruit, high tannin, and very dry finish. Very elegant and quenching. Could stand up to all kinds of food, including strong flavors like bbq–are those foods allowed in the “peak frequency” diet? Whatevs…it’s delicious. 
He said: My notes are bad, wait, I mean they don’t exist. I was busy making my point that Maps is to the 2000′s what Sweet Child O’ Mine was to the 1980′s. And then Corina told me that Karen O is a regular at Canelé and I was like “whoa.” Because as I have said before, if She were to die in a tragic wigwam accident, I would want Karen O to be my girlfriend. Back to the wine, I wrote “some heat.”
Tempranillo, Ardales, 2007 (Spain, $15.75)
She said: Soft tannin, cherries, youthful acidity…similar flavors to the Murtas we tasted earlier, but not quiet as refined. Enjoy Tempranillo and this is an example, truly lovely and at fifteen bucks, a bargain. I’m buying more. (the price on the bottle includes the tax…this is how SLW does their pricing).
He said: I got nothing. Was I even there anymore?
We decided to save the Para Silverlake for another time…enough bottles had been popped for the night. Before we left Corina’s house we vowed to come to Canelé soon for dinner. Must try the L.Preston with the lamb.
(The Awesome Bear spied near Cooper Union in New York last week.)
Tags: Awesome Bears, Blue Monday, canelé, Corina Weibel, L. Preston, Murtas, Phil Lumbang, Silverlake Wine Co, Tempranillo, Valerie Confections
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Posted by Him on February 3, 2010
Today we are the “Featured Wine Personality” on Weekly Wine Journal. Read our interview here.
Tags: Horn Tooting, Weekly Wine Journal
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