Back from Tahoe.

Slightly beaten down financially (bad cards) and physically (lots of attempted skiing down moguls), but no worse for the wear.

I apologize for a very light week of updates, and look forward to being back in the saddle this week. Look for some TN's for a bunch of CVNE, Dominio del Conte and Vina Real wines, some more of those good youtube clips, and who knows what else.

Happy Saturday night.

Todd Anderson's Ghost Horse

Last week, as I was tasting through a line-up of Napa Cabs, I came across a 2003 vintage of 2003 Anderson's Conn Valley Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a pure tasting, balanced, not at all over-the-top Napa wine that was showing well. At $50 it's not cheap, but relative to all the new Napa products (not wines as they lack in any discernible wine flavor, but 'products,' because they do not lack for branding, PR and marketing plans).

So imagine my surpise when a co-worker showed me a website for Todd Anderson's super luxury cult wine, Ghost Horse. Basically, the bottles cost anywhere between $500 - $5000 each. The website brings to mind a US Marines TV commercial. I'll leave it at that and let you check out the 'ghost horse world' if you so desire

- Is Todd Anderson for real, or is this a satire on the cult wine phenomenon?
- Is Zac de la Rocha (and anyone else who co-wrote) getting royalties for the use of their recording on the website?
- Would Ghost Horse take down Harlan, Screaming Eagle, and the other heavyweights of Napa Cab Cultland?

Guided By Voices - I Am A Scientist

I post this for a few reasons:

1.) Bee Thousand is one of the great pop albums of the past 20 years
2.) My man David D was talking up the pending 1990's revival at work
3.) Earlier this evening I was checking out Pitchforkmedia's list of the top 100 albums of the '90's. [Disclaimer: I'm not a regular pitchfork reader. The website was left up on my computer and this piece looked interesting.]

Hope you enjoy some pop on a Monday morning.

Marc Tempe: 'Spiritual Godson' to Leonard Humbrecht

A few weeks ago our local rep for Roy Cloud's Vintage '59 brought in some delicious Alsace wines from Marc Tempe, whom Humbrecht refers to as his spiritual godson in the region. Well, the wines lived up to Mr. Humbrecht's billing. All of these were impressive, at times very mineral and textured, at other times just incredibly lively and fruity, like chomping on a handful of fresh grapes, so vivid and pure was the expression of fruit. All of these are produced biodynamically, with a minimum of added sulpur, and are generally fermented for longer periods of time; accordingly they are held back a year or so longer than the typical Alsace releases.

Though I apparently was in very brief note taking mood, the wines were killer.

2004 Pinot Gris Zellenberg

Bottled with a minimum of SO2; as a result the fruitiness is appealing and there is a touch of pettilance (spritz, if you must).

2004 Gewurztraminer Zellenberg

Ripe red grapefruit on the nose leads to a crisp, TASTY palate of gewurz. Not overly spicy or hot, which for an Alsatian version of this varietal is about all I can ask. If more gewurz were this fresh, delicious and full of balanced character I'd consider drinking more of it.

2002 Riesling Grafenreben

Fermentation lasted two years for this wine and took place in used Olivier Leflaive barrels. This wine is so textured and delicious - it brings to mind a vinous version of not-too-sweet lemon icing.

The Marc Tempe field blend (name? '05 vintage?)

1/3 each Pinot Gris, Gewurz and Riesling. Super fresh, lively and persistent. Fun.

1999 Gewurztraminer Mambourg SGN

I'm not an SGN guy. But this was impressive and I was glad to taste it. Super spicy, botrytized gewurz - buckwheat honey, cardamom and over ripe citrus were all there. Great wine, just not my cup.

ANTE UP! - A lo cubano

A late youtube response to Fidel's stepping down.

Hopefully our new president will have the foresight (and guts) to begin conversations with Cuba and END THE EMBARGO. I mean, how much power should some vehemently anti-Castro Cuban Americans in Miami have, anyway?

BASTA YA.

The Community Garden in SF

I recently took a brief stroll up to the base of Bernal Hill to check out a few open plots in one of the local community gardens. So my girlfriend and I are most likely going to appropriate a plot in said terraced garden. There is sufficient sunshine, and it is close enough to receive regular attention. Within several months, we should have abundant lettuces, squash and other vegetables for our table.

Here's to growing your own.

Dave Chappelle Baltimore Club Re-mix

YOU MIGHT WANT TO TURN DOWN THE VOLUME IF YOU'RE PLAYING THIS IN THE OFFICE,IT IS LACED WITH OBSCENITIES.

Yes, people! This is some funny shit. The classic sped up Bmore house beat, with looped vocal snippets. I love Baltimore house...well at least for 5 minutes at a time before the charm wears off.