Joel Gott Santa Barbara Pinot Noir 2015

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Pinot Noir, UncategorizedLeave a comment

2018-05-29 Joel Gott Santa Barbara PN 2015.jpg

I feel like a plurality of
prodigal sons.

My detour through the
“value case” has led me
back to my nanny as
I inspect the cooler
filled with HAND PICKED
wines.

(If I didn’t repeat
myself, I wouldn’t be
reliably consistent
over a predictable
time period.)

I collapse at her feet
as she pats my head and
waves the PN bottle cork
beneath my nose.

I’ll eschew the hairy flowers.

I wish to be flogged
with Alfredo noodles.

I’ll endure any kind of
gustatorial torture,
just give me some freaking Pinot Noir.

(Even computing machines
with dictionaries in memory
lose spelling bees.)

I’m remembering how
incredibly wonderful
this kind of wine can be.

Light and fresh.
Tart and acidic.
Sometimes a bit of oak.
Coy flavors that you
have to chase around
in the glass.
Earthiness that can
only be fully enjoyed
after one has been raptured.

I hope I don’t spend
TOO MUCH time in
WINE PURGATORY for
going so far astray.

But, but, but, what
about THIS WINE?

It appears to be one
I picked up in Paola
and is likely to be a
“repeat impressor”.

Since I can’t remember
anything, these notes are
written “without prejudice”.

It MAY BE a bit pruney.

I’m not saying that
it’s a BAD thing, it’s
just the THING that
I’m noticing above all
other THINGS.

Let’s call it REALLY
ripe plums so we can
be PC or whatever.

No matter, I’m enjoying
this “welcome home” in
a big way.

But don’t get any ideas.

She’s MY nanny.

Curiosity killed the
penitent cat.

Let’s read some more
about the California magic
triangle of PN wine.

Twelve Reasons You Should be Drinking Santa Barbara County Wines! #wine

Click to access Joel-Gott-2015-Santa-Barbara-County-Pinot-Noir-Fact-Sheet.pdf

I’ve already drunk
most of the bottle and
I’m still drooling.

Am I missing something,
or is this wine not just
simply WONDERFUL?

Towards the end of the
bottle, I’m picking up
more oak/tannins (GOOD)
and (interestingly) more
of the red/cherry fruit.

Who needs Europe?

Hang in there.

Mureda Tierra de Castilla Sauvignon Blanc 2016

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Sauvignon Blanc, UncategorizedLeave a comment

2018-07-18 Mureda Tierra de Castilla Sauvignon Blanc 2016.jpg

This was the last of
the “value case”.

I started hugging the
bottle when I found it
hiding in the cooler
hoping to go undetected.

Perhaps this wine is shy.

Any wine lover worth their
salt will fawn over this
wine like they would over
their child at a fourth grade
piano recital.

WHY DON’T we send our
prepubescent offspring
to WINE SCHOOL so that we can
look forward to evenings
of glorious oenological delight
rather than ones of cacophony.

I DON’T KNOW.

Neighbor: Hey, come to the
game tonight, my son’s on
the dance team.
OT: Sorry, my daughter’s
helping with the barrel tasting
at the Heritage vineyard.
N: Can I come?
OT: Yeah, but don’t bring
the pom-poms.

But, but, but, what about
the wine?

Hommina, hommina, hommina…

If you don’t finish it
in one day, you will have
trouble sleeping.

Sweet dreams.

I can’t find any “useful”
information about this wine
on the web.

YMMV.

I just realized that I
almost let the FORTH pass
without making fun of
Martina McBride.

Wet Fweedom Wing…

Too bad she didn’t
go to wine school.

Hang in there.

Jean-Christophe Mandard TOURAINE SAUVIGNON 2016

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Sauvignon Blanc, UncategorizedLeave a comment

2018-07-13 Jean-Christophe Mandard TOURAINE SAUVIGNON 2016.jpg

This is another one
from the “value case”
that is almost gone.
(The case is almost gone.)

I didn’t make notes
as I drank.

I loved the wine.

I want to try this
one (or similar) again.

This is why I take
notes as I drink the
wine.

I JUST CAN’T REMEMBER
STUFF VERY WELL.

On the other hand…

I do remember a
“dry honeycomb”
and
“dry grass”
flavor.

It was totally delicious,

Hang in there.

so now I’m drooling as
I anticipate trying this
one again.

Gorrebusto Torre San Millán Rioja Tempranillo 2016

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Rioja, UncategorizedLeave a comment

2018-07-12 Gorrebusto Torre San Millán Rioja Tempranillo 2016.jpg

Every day requires
a new miracle.

T-O-D-A-Y, this wine
and this song pulls
it off in stride.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rQxI3-xSeg

I can’t write
any more, I’m in tears.

Enjoy the wine with
my blessing.

…

Just kidding.

I can write silly stuff
with my mind tied behind
my back.

RJD was kicking around
in there and as I sipped
the wine, this was the
song I wanted to listen
to.

Maybe it is GOOD
to be melancholy
or sad from time to time.

Sometimes it happens
unexpectedly and we
struggle against the
feeling.

Sometimes we see it
coming, set the
table and enjoy the
company.

I didn’t mind having
Tempranillo on the
table today.

Maybe it’s more
“comforting” than my
beloved “PN”.

But, but, but, what
about the wine?

It doesn’t have a pedigree.

It’s the…

Some of us can relate,
so we embrace the genetic
mutations.

Take a Creolin bath and
enjoy it with a half a
pound of rice.

Hang in there

Porta do Fontelo Beiras Red 2015

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Red Blend, UncategorizedLeave a comment

2018-07-02 Porta Do Fontelo Portugal RED.jpg

From freaking Portugal…

(Yes, even wine retailers
can’t spell.)

This MIGHT be love
at first sip.

Sometimes I do get
DISTINCT impressions
of THE WINE after a few
sips.

Gamey, then a softness,
then tartness, and
finally smoke.

The fruit flavor
might be light
blackberry.

Nothing heavy.

Now I taste/feel
chalk???

I took me a while
to figure out what
I’m drinking.

It looks like
the grapes come from
the Beiras region.

http://sarmentosimports.com/product-catalog/porta-do-fontelo-red-wine/

This will show
you the location
of Beira wine regions.

https://winefolly.com/review/what-wines-to-drink-from-portugal-by-region/

To make life interesting,
it looks like there
is a
province,
geographic area, AND
wine region
named Beira.

So, I have no idea
what I’m drinking.

There is a reference
to UDACA on the
bottle.

UDACA seems to be
a commune in the
Dão wine
region that claims
to make the wine
but there is no
specific clue as to
where the grapes
are sourced.

This makes sense
since there is no
wine region pedigree
specified on the bottle.

Notice that the
Dão and Beira
regions intertwine
as you move inland.

This would be a
perfect opportunity
to make affordable wine
from grapes that come
from various vineyards
in several different
regions that aren’t
in premier locations.

AND have the wine
turn out REALLY NICE.

This wine IS
really nice.

A fullness of
flavor without being
HEAVY.

Now I’m picking up
a bit of something
GREEN and piquant.

Day Two…

Whatever GREEN there
WAS is getting lost
in the anti-braised
green beans and garlic
that I’m having today.

The wine is still
CHARMING.

Like a high school
band concert.

Beauty is in the
eye of the beholder.

I played and I
listened.

I can’t decide which
is worse.

Why weren’t the
the band and audience
BOTH drinking
(wine preferably)
BEFORE the concert?

I DON’T KNOW.

It seems like things
would have been a bit
less “tense” with
an “icebreaker”.

What a minute!

How does a
wonderful Portuguese
red wine make
one start thinking
about high school
band concerts???

Easy, the old grey
sponge can’t remember
anything else.

Shrink: How is
the old memory
holding up?
Option Trader: I
don’t remember.
S: What did you
wear to your third
birthday party?
OT: A buccaneer outfit.
S: Did you wear
a patch over one
eye?
OT: Yes, I had a
hard time reading
the wine list without
it.

http://www.buypiratecostumes.com/buccaneer.html

Hang in there.

Clos La Soleya Penedes Spain Cava Brut

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Cava, UncategorizedLeave a comment

2018-06-29 Clos La Soleya Penedes Spain Cava Brut.jpg

Clos La Soleya Penedes Spain Cava Brut

I decided to
BE DISTRACTED today.

Especially since
Penedes Cava (Penny)
would be THE CAUSE.

She has flowing
black hair, dark
hazelnut eyes and
an ever so lightly
bronzed complexion.

With an effervescent
personality.

I said my prayers
BEFORE I opened the
bottle but I doubt
that will help.

When YOU open the
bottle, you have to
be careful not
to be sucked back
into the it after
the pressure is
released.

I used a vice-grip
pliers to open the
silly thing because
I’m an options trader
and can’t spend my
day chanting in an
effort to remove the cork.

The warning on the
label states that
there is no lifeguard
on duty inside the bottle.

This wine came in
a “prescribed” case
focused on VALUE.

From Spain predominately.

(I’m curious as to
whether the doctor
ventures outside of
Spain for value.)

I was ecstatic when
I saw this one in
the case.

(Actually, this one
might have been
delivered in a separate
bag because the bottle
was TOO FAT TO FIT
IN THE CASE.)

It’s time for some
food, but first I
have to go write
“You’re an idiot”
on my bathroom
mirror and hope that
my wife doesn’t
go in there before
I do.

But, but, but…

What’s the wine like?

It’s like playing
kiss the bottle with
the Rockettes.

Or Chippendales,
if you are a
female member of
the opposite sex.

Obviously, most of us
don’t drink “THE
BUBBLY” every day
because the world
would be a better
place if we did.

And we don’t want THAT.

Better to suffer and
complain, and drink
still wine.

Can we have Champagne
with the orange cake?

Shut up and drink your
powdered milk.

Day Two…

I did the vacuum
pump thing on this
one in hopes that
it might help
preserve the fizz.

(Actually, this
doesn’t make sense
but I had to do
SOMETHING.)

Good enough.

This has been
a real treat.

I was kind to myself
yesterday, so I have
plenty of this one
to drink today.

I expect my mind
to start drifting
away any minute now.

…

Why DON’T WE drink
the sparklers everyday?

For breakfast preferably.

I DON’T KNOW.

In the 1960s,
people drank TANG.

And powdered lemonade.

That’s quite insane.

Too much TV I suspect.

(Yes, we also ate “TV”
dinners.)

NOW, I’m thinking
about seeking out
bubbly from ALL OVER
THE PLACE.

I DON’T KNOW, but
I suspect that I
couldn’t fill
a shopping cart
(say two cases) with
these kinds of wine
at the LARGEST wine
superstore in the
KC area and still
have a bank balance.

Since I’m an EARLY
DRINKER, this is
a mouth watering
ambition.

(Meaning, Champagne
breakfasts sound good.)

HOWEVER…

I would really like
to find 375ml bottles
since…

But seriously folks,
It’s only money…

http://www.premierchampagne.com/categories/champagne-sizes/half-375ml.html

And if you have
to buy full bottles,
this is MORE evidence
that it gets expensive
in a hurry.

http://honestcooking.com/25-best-american-sparkling-wines/

I’m not particularly
discouraged.

If life wasn’t challenging
we wouldn’t need
shrinks that don’t
drink TANG for breakfast.

Option Trader: None of my
trades work out unless
I make them after 12:30PM
or so.
Shrink: What time do you
start drinking?
OT: As early as possible.
S: Try getting up earlier.
The French start trading
while you’re still dreaming
about naked puts.

Hang in there.

Foye Valle del Maule Chile Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Cabernet SauvignonLeave a comment

2018-06-28 Foye Valle del Maule Chile CS 2016.jpg

I don’t hear
no stinkin’ bells.

What do you call
the sound when
you get kicked in
the head?

Thudding in on
the lighter side,
this wine appears
to be a CAB in
spite of the skimpy
clothing.

Straight CABs are
just not my style.

A truly light BLEND
might be OK.

This one IS light
for a CAB.

I’m not COMPLAINING
about the wine,
I’m just having
a hard time adjusting
to it.

I can’t help it…

HOWEVER

The more I sip, the
better it gets.

Duh.

When my head stops
“ringing” maybe I
can start to taste
something.

OK, the wine is
wonderful now.

I can taste the
DARK cherries.

That IS interesting
in a CAB with bells
on its toes.

If the vanilla was
any more “subtle”,
you could short its
detection by a
yellow Lab.

I’m tryin’, I’m tryin’.

Maybe some food will help.

Oh YES! Now the wine
tastes like honey mustard
with cough syrup on it.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Note to self: Don’t
doodle with the HM.

That’s one sandwich down,
and as expected,
the wine is “coming alive”.

Some of us have to
suffer through SEVERAL
sips of “adjustment”
before the wine starts
to BLOOM.

The Lab has her nose
in the air and life
is wonderful.

My AMBITION in life
is to be able
to fully enjoy each
wine that I drink
to the extent that
each one is the best
I have ever had.

Wine ZEN.

http://lawandstyle.ca/style/short_cellar_zen_and_the_art_of_wine_tasting/

I figure that if I can
do THAT, then I can
take the other CRAP
in stride.

I did good today.

I enjoyed the wine.

It’s all in my mind…

Broken records have
a way of…

repeating themselves
repeating themselves
repeating themselves
repeating themselves
repeating themselves
repeating themselves
repeating themselves
repeating themselves

Day FOUR…

I took two days
to recover from this
one by drinking the
Cava from the value case.

Finishing the CAB
today was WORK.

Hang in there.

Averaen Pinot Noir 2016

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Pinot NoirLeave a comment

2018-06-27 Averaen PN 2016.jpg

Since I get so bored
making these mindlessly
dull notes about boring
wine, I was going to
skip the notes on this
pick of the litter.

But, but, but,,,

This wine is SO GOOD.

If I was tired of it
I might shut up.

If the wine was nothing
less than Mmmmmmmmmmmm,
I might not ever buy it
again.

But I keep buying it,
and continue to be seduced.

Today I’m noticing that
the wine label DOES NOT
contain information about
inbred family member’s
love of knotty fence posts,
but rather contains some
PERTINENT INFORMATION
ABOUT THE WINE.

I’m pretty sure that
highly paid winemakers
marry outside
of their clan.

At the risk of
repeating myself,
this one is
“rich” without
ANY of the
defective baggage.

Not too hot.

Not too oaky.

Not too acidic.

Not too tannic.

Not too pruney.

What are the odds
of a winemaker making
a rich PN WITHOUT
delivering one of
these “faults”?

I DON’T KNOW.

I’m an option trader
Jim, not a statistics
professor.

I don’t have a PRECISE
idea what PH THIS or
TA THAT means but it is
nice to know that the
winemaker does not have
brain damage.

We should all
have goofy cousins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpR8grj1XCI&list=PLsxGHHZDolE-XXLy1THTcC9UOB58-x1IU&index=5

Hang in there.

Underwood Rosé IN A CAN

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn RoséLeave a comment

2018-06-26 Underwood Rosé CAN.jpg

Underwood Rosé IN A CAN

What am I missing?

Not a thing apparently.

So much for glass…

https://www.npr.org/2017/07/21/538472671/world-faces-global-sand-shortage

We don’t need no
stinkin’ containers,
hand me that goat
bladder full of Zin.

(Don’t ask for it
on the rocks.)

I DON’T KNOW, but
the low ALC leads me
to believe that there
is a wee bit of sugar
in this one.

That’s OK, it GOES
WITH the potato salad.

(Are they dating?)

Wine Babe: I have a date,
I’m leaving.
Single Mom: Who is it?
WB: Mr. Potato Head.
SM: Are you “going
with” HIM?
WB: Sure, he’s a bit
starchy, but he has
great tubers.
SM: Does he have any
leafy green friends?
WB: Oh, you mean Mr.
Pot Head?

This is WAY TO EASY
to drink.

Sheesh.

Story Time…

My first “wine experience”
was “Boone’s Farm” during
freaking MARDI GRAS in
1970.

I brought three friends
home to NOLA from my
“religious school” in
Birmingham AL just for
the weekend before
Mardi Gras.

One of my “friends” was
a rich kid with a brand
new Gran Torino.

Saturday night was party
time as I gathered up
several of my local church
misfits to help us
celebrate my
first +18yo “outing”.

You could drink
ANYTHING legally in
NOLA if you were
18, or younger if
the cashier was a
friend or even a young
person, or you had
an older brother,
or you stole liquor
out of the back of
WRECKED cars, yada,
yada, yada.

Nobody checked.

WHAT
A
MESS

SOME OF US
survived and
I learned to
eschew cheap wine.

I also learned to
consult the dictionary
before writing words
whose meaning escapes
me.

(You got that right.)

On the other hand…

CHEAP = FUN = GOOD

(I majored in MATH
when I was sober.)

But, but, but…

What about the wine?

Buy more, drink more.

How hard is that?

Crash Victim: I
should have bought
more insurance.
Option Trader: I
can sell you a good
policy on your
totaled vehicle.
CV: Why?
OT: So you won’t lose
MORE money if you total
it again.
CV: Where do I sign?
OT: Right under “loser”.
CV: How do I know you
can pay up?
OT: Your car isn’t worth
anything NOW.
CV: Oh yeah, OK.

And just in case you
have the 23rd, 20th, and
6th letters of the alphabet
wedged between your ears…

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/reo+speedwagon/ridin+the+storm+out_20115772.html

Hang in there.