Tag: United States

Badger Mountain Chardonnay 2017

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn ChardonnayLeave a comment

2018-10-05 Badger Mountain Chardonnay 2017.jpg

Give me a second while
I shift gears out of that
crisp clean Cava.

This one is FULL OF FLAVOR.

A “vegetation sensation”.

I’m heating some steak
fries to see if that
helps.

Not so much…

Day Two…

I am better prepared for this
today.

This reminds me of the cider mill.

(Is this a THEME?)

The apples are in between
green and sweet.

Precociously seductive.

I had braised pork seasoned
with garlic and thyme.

This is a situation of
not being able to decide
which was better.

The garlic gets a bye.

I think the pork tamed
the wine such that the
“vegetative” flavors are
“approachable” although I
DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE.

All I can taste is garlic
at this point.

Saint Peter: Sheesh, what
did you have for lunch.
OTWN: Chardonnay.
SP: I mean food. Don’t
tell me.
Take a couple steps back…

https://youtu.be/zXpIUiPKQcw?t=55

Ordinary (interestingly,
I could have used the word
“ordinarily,”, but since I don’t
ORDINARILY drink Chard, I
chose to use the adjective)
Chard gives me the
creeps because I fear it
will be too milky/flabby
for my preference.

And to be clear, I don’t
ordinarily drink ordinary
Chard.

I try to drink exceptional
Chards, exceptionally rarely.

SO I DON’T GO BROKE.

I could stand more acidity.

Maybe.

The “heaviness” is more like
oil than milk.

Reminds me of Sémillon.

It’s high noon, do you know
where YOUR empty bottles are?

Hang in there.

Dry Creek Chenin Blanc 2016

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Chenin BlancLeave a comment

2018-09-27 Dry Creek Chenin Blanc 2016.jpg

It attracts attention
like a stick in the mud.

That’s OK.

The frailty of human
intentions dictate that
the search for pearls begin
in the pig sty.

Wash it off and let
it transport you to
the next level of your
wine enjoyment.

Already in the clouds?

Them come back to enjoy
a truly amazing Earthly
experience.

It’s the “honeycomb experience”
that always amazes me.

For whatever “unusual reason”
this wine is the one WE
pick to cook with in the
absence of “more enlightened”
guidance.

Chicken piccata today.

With “green rice”.

I know what you are thinking, but…

I don’t care.

It doesn’t matter.

I get to drink the
wine “leftovers”.

Nothing else matters…

It’s a good thing
food is nourishing or
we would starve to death.

Saint Peter: Why are you
burping?
OTWN: I had deviled ham
for lunch and then…
SP: Go stand in the corner.
OTWN: THOSE people are
FARTING!
SP: They’ve been here a while.
Hand me your crackers.
I need something to
go with these sardines.

Chenin Blanc…
Don’t leave Earth without it…

Hang in there with
the gusto of a hound dog.

Adelsheim Pinot Noir 2016

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Pinot NoirLeave a comment

2018-09-25 Adelsheim PN 2016.jpg

Today is the day before
the much awaited FOMC
announcement regarding
INTEREST RATES.

Who cares?

I do, but I feel like I’m…

For the irrelevant-old-music-
awareness-challenged folk
among us, that’s
“Waiting for the Robert E. Lee”.

For the irrelevent-old-musical-
instrument-awareness-challenged
folk among us, the awful sound
comes from a kal-ee-ohp.

What does this have to do
with the wine???

Obviously, there’s a place
for everything.

However, there may NOT be…

Let me tidy up and make
make room for this one.

I’m trying to decide what
NOT to have with lunch as
I sip this indescribably
delicious STUFF.

I’ll be in heaven before
I get hungry.

Saint Peter: You look horrible.
Why did you starve to death?
OTWN: I couldn’t decide
what to eat.
SP: What were you drinking?
OTWN: Adelsheim.
SP: Did you finish it?
OTWN: Go sit in the corner.

Story time…

This wine came from the
Paola store.

I passed it over several
times as I attempted to
keep my “bottle average”
down to something what wouldn’t
give rise to “corner time”.

Finally, I couldn’t resist.

I KNEW how good it was going
to be because I DISTINCTLY
REMEMBER having it at the
“elevator restaurant” on a
special occasion.

It is amazing how good one’s
memory can be when it comes to
things WORTH REMEMBERING.

Sheesh.

I think “describing” this
wine would be “irreverent”.

I wouldn’t want to be
irreverent.

…

In the days of milk
and honey, the fermentation
fairies descended upon
Earth and bestowed
greatness unto the grapes.

In an attempt to capture
the fairy essence, the
Earthlings bottled the grape
juice and discovered…

Obviously, some Earthling
fossils drank too much and got
carried away with their praise.

…

Day two…

This wine is like a daydream of
curling up on a lawn chair
in late September, lying in full sun,
and soaking up the last few
rays of autumn sun.

Oh wait a minute. That’s reality.

The wine was REALLY good too.

SP: Did you enjoy the warm
autumn days that we blessed
your planet with?
OTWN: Yes, I had the Adelsheim.
SP: Excellent. Why are you
wearing all those clothes?
Here, take my hand…

Butt, butt, butt,
what is the wine like?

It’s like a PLEASANT rebirth
experience.

A veritable…

SP: Why are you trembling?
OTWN: I just finished the Adelsheim.
SP: Open another bottle.
OTWN: No, I mean totally gone.
SP: Why are you HERE then?
OTWN: I had a heart attack
when I realized I couldn’t
afford to buy more.
SP: OK then. Go through
the gate, veer right and
take this chalice to the
first deva you see.
OTWN: Then what?
SP (looking toward
the corner): Move it.

Just stay in the groove I guess…

Hang in there.

Picket Fence Pinot Noir 2007

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Pinot NoirLeave a comment

2018-09-23 Picket Fence PN 2007.jpg

This is the wine from
the Paola store that I
PREVIOUSLY purchased
at a “negotiated price”
because the vintage
WAS SUSPICIOUSLY OLD.

This is a repeat at
full price ($23).

I enjoyed the first
bottle so much that I
decided to pay up for
a second bottle in an
attempt to redeem myself
for “cheating” on the
first bottle.

I think I paid $12 or
so for the first bottle.

Maybe the wine is a bit
old, but it shows up as
a very mellow blend of
flavors and qualities.

The fruit marries the oak.

The acidity marries the tannins.

Flavor marries paleness.

This works NOW
but would obviously
degenerate over time.

For the time being, it
is quite delicious.

To me anyway.

I have no idea whether
this wine is actually
GOOD or not.

Don’t care either.

Story time…

Years ago I thought it
would be interesting to
try the PNs of CA going
from north to south.

Starting in Medocino,
I got lost after drinking
just a few wines.

I knew that the Russian
River AVA was in my path
but I never figured out
how to get there.

One obstacle was price.

I have not made it a point
to purposefully try RR PNs,
but this wine has me thinking.

What WAS I thinking?

I don’t know.

I’m thinking NOW that
I better get my fill
before CA burns up or
falls in the ocean.

Saint Peter: Do you
remember California?
OTWN: Wasn’t that a
vegetable dish?
SP: Don’t you ever
get tired of being
punished?
OTWN: I’m getting
used to it.
SP: What kind of
wine went with
California?
OTWN: Anything not
exported to Peru.
SP: Help me with
these Alpaca harnesses.

The wine almost tastes
moldy.

In a most delightful way.

The only KNOCK on this
wine is the high ALC
level.

At 14.5%, it is above my
maximum of 13.5%.

So what?

So, I have to to be
REAL CAREFUL not to drink
TOO MUCH of this one
in one sitting.

How hard is that?

REAL.

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.

Straight Shooter Pinot Noir 2016

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Pinot NoirLeave a comment

2018-06-23 Straight Shooter PN 2016.jpg

Sometimes, there are days
when you NEED a drink
and the “notes” can just
WAIT.

Today isn’t one of those days.

Nevertheless, I (meaning
ME), decided to NOT take
notes RIGHT AWAY.

No first sip nonsense.

No aroma insanity.

No “mouth feel” superfluous
mumbo jumbo.

Then WHAT?

Just an “overall sensation”
after drinking HALF THE
FREAKING BOTTLE, and before
letting the world intrude.

GOOD.

GOOD WHAT? GOOD meaning
that it’s OK not to take
notes, or GOOD as an
indication that one might
like this wine?

YES.

Silliness Alert: The
author of this note has
ventured into a region
of silliness that 80%
of wine note authors
are unwilling to go.
Continued reading of
this note constitutes a
tacit recognition on
your part that you are
equally silly or more so..

Yes, this is the best
cinnamon PN that I can
REMEMBER drinking.

Have you (meaning ME
as I talk to myself)
ever had this one before?

I don’t remember.

Let’s consult the local
listings…

(Lemme say that there
is no FORMAL contraction
for “let me”, so I’m using
the US contraction
and hoping that you
and/or my imaginary
friends will join me as
I scan my old notes.)

Hmmm…

I HAVE HAD this one
before ON HALLOWEEN
and my prior notes were
“interesting” even to me,
AND even more so in hindsight.

Huh?

(I woke up this morning
with the overwhelming
urge to use a verb in the
present perfect tense.
I feel better now.)

Old note here.

Perhaps the first sip
TODAY put me into the
shut-up-and-enjoy mode.

All of a sudden, the
world is a peaceful and
wonderful place where
all things are
“as ordained” and
“in balance”.

Why aren’t WE ALL
drinking THIS stuff???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXFeeJ6LSMc

You have to imagine the
sixteen year old
future Option Trader
singing this song in
the church choir.

WITHOUT WINE!!!

(Although we (the boys)
sought to consume
other forms of libation
whenever the opportunity
arose.)

As the musical key
changes, I can detect
fermented grapes
distributing joy to
the enlightened inhabitants
of our planet.

The problem is that this
is a…

So what then?

Obviously we need to GROW UP.

¿Hay voluntarios?

OK then, you first.

But, but, but…

What about the wine?

Just Enjoy.

In an inner child-forward manner.

Hang in there.

Erath Resplendent Pinot Noir 2015

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Pinot NoirLeave a comment

2018-06-16 Erath Resplendent PN 2015.jpg

This one is too good
for MY words.

Beautiful, clear
presence in the glass.

Indiscernible yet
alluring perfume.

Taste bud seducing paleness.

Perfectly smooth tartness.

Redemptive second
voice flavors.

Silky tactile comfort.

I can ALMOST hear
this wine cooing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXTe3K7BllM

It is difficult to
enjoy the wine when
your knees, forehead,
and hands are planted
in the earth.

Rise my son and enjoy
the fullness of my
bounty.

Your homage is noted
but now is this the
time of celebration
and elation.

I have to take a
giant step back and
ask if Oregon PN can
compete with Borgogne
PN ON BALANCE.

I don’t know.

The question is whether
I would take an “average”
Oregon OR Borgogne PN
if BOTH were offered.

I DON’T KNOW.

Wait a minute…

Hang in there.

Sean Minor Central Coast Pinot Noir 2016

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Pinot NoirLeave a comment

2018-06-10 Sean Minor Central Coast PN 2016 front.jpg

Whoosh.

And it’s gone…

Sometimes the wine just disappears.

Too soothing to analyze.

Too comforting to second guess.

Too “roundly on target” to cause
you to adjust your sights.

Bingo.

Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.

Extra play.

My favorite “flipper” machine was
“Lawman”.

How many dimes/quarters? did I pour into
this monster as I was was drinking $0.25
beers on Sunday nights?

Sheesh.

I haven’t found a video that
contains the WHACK sound when
you get an extra play.

The third video is REALLY INTERESTING.

What does this flipper machine
stuff have to do with “fine wine”.

Everything.

Something has to “ground you”
into your “current existence”.

We don’t always know what thing
is doing the grounding.

It is just “stuff” happening.

When we finally look up, we go
Ah, that’s what was happening.
I wish I had been more aware.

Sometimes we are aware,
sometimes not.

Today I’m aware of an
ocean of fine wine being
produced for my enjoyment.

What am I DOING ABOUT IT?

I’m flipping enjoying it.

I just need an extra play now.

I am NORMALLY put off by
“family stuff” on the back
of wine bottles, but I
will excuse this one because
IT IS GOOD.

2018-06-10 Sean Minor Central Coast PN 2016 back.jpg

Also, note that this
“approachable” wine
is from the “Central Valley”.

“Mars” would be a more
definitive AVA though it
may be less approachable.

You can observe the phenomenon here…

Click to access CA_WineMap_2011.pdf

Some of the grapes in this
one might be tan line free.

Who knows?

The daisies won’t tell.

I had to snort this
stuff when I was a
kid.

Hang in there.

Noble Vines 667 Pinot Noir Monterey 2015

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Pinot Noir, UncategorizedLeave a comment

2018-06-08 Noble Vines 667 Pinot Noir Monterey 2015.jpg

This one is way off
my taste target.

Pruney.
Oaky.
BIG (14.5% ALC)
Soft.

That’s enough misses
for me.

But I don’t want to
give the impression that
the wine is anything other
than GOOD.

Let’s spin the description.

The fruit is rich like
raisins and super ripe
jammy plum preserves.

Throw in some blackberries
and boysenberries.

As a testament to the
barrel ageing treatment,
the wine exhibits an
overt oaky smoothness.

You can feel the ALC
heat on the first sip.
If that puts you off,
then chill the wine.
That will help.

This wine would be good
with smoked meats such
as turkey or pork.

Just nibbling on more
flavorful cheeses will
work too.

I’m trying the hot pepper
cheddar from Dean & Delucas.
(from a gift? BOX of
Vermont cheeses???)

Why is this wine so jammy?

Let’s look at the map…

http://winewitandwisdomswe.com/wine-spirits-maps/swe-wine-maps/california-u-s-wine-map/ca-central-coast-u-s-wine-map/

We’ll assume that the wine
is from the Monterey AVA,
and not “the county”.

Look how close the boundary
comes to the water.

I can just imagine the
grapes…

Super ripe, bursting with
sugar.

As I continue my enjoyment
of this one it occurs to me
that it shouldn’t be too hard
to learn to love this style
of PN.

But, it’s like making the
transition from a tart
fruit pie to…

Now where can I find me
another fire breathing PN?

Australia maybe. Hmmm.

Hang in there.

Cupcake Central Coast Pinot Noir 2015

On By optiontraderswinenotesIn Pinot NoirLeave a comment

2018-06-04 Cupcake Central Coast PN 2015.jpg

If you are going to drink THIS KIND
of wine then why not have “camp food”.

Bannock with sausage and dirty eggs.

My bannock mix has baking powder
in it and I will cook it on a
covered cast iron griddle.

This wine is good at lowering my
“cost per bottle” and is a
“reasonable facsimile” for PN wine
in general.

This was my first attempt at
bannock.

Even with the baking powder it
was “filling”.

Less fluffy than, but similar to
biscuits.

The wine reminds me of the
smell of balloons.

Maybe this was a poorly
inspired “wine pairing”.

I’m picking up a bit of the
“cherry cola” in this one.

That’s nice, but the overall
feel is that of “softness”.

Too soft for me.

Maybe a bit of cinnamon.

Who cares?

This is a “hugely generic”
wine, so the important question
is whether it is a “palatable
cost per bottle reducing
agent”.

It’s on the borderline in
terms of palatability.

Dear Cupcake,

Please excuse my meanness,
I’m just having a
“day of disorientation” and
YOUR WINE ISN’T HELPING
ONE BIT.

Sincerely,
OTWN

“RETAIL” could be rescued
out the jaws of AMAZON simply
by having this wine freely
ON TAP in the center of the
mall or store.

Wife: Oh darn, I have to go
to Walmart to get some
.
Hubby: I’ll go.
W: Huh?
H: I need to look for
string trimmer line.
W: What kind of wine
is on tap today?
H: Cupcake PN 2015.
W: You’ve got 15 minutes.
H: Hand me that last
piece of bannock.
W: Here you go dear, but
let me wipe the egg off
your face before you go.
<15 minutes elapses>
W: See anything interesting
at Wally Mart?
H: Not really. Just the
usual…

The wine bottle made
me do it…

Day Two…

I’m not letting FOOD get
in my way today.

Let’s track test this
puppy without any
competition.

Hmmm.

Cheap perfume on a skinny
runway model.

Seductive, IN A WAY, but
still a bit Spartan.

https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-hottest-women-from-spartacus-tv-series

Ooops. Not what I had in mind…

“Obsession” on Twiggy.

Something like this…

And if you dwell on the
wine long enough, you
HAVE TO START BELIEVING
IN MAGIC…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuyhawvlFXo

What? You didn’t know she
was “singing” about bannock
and cheap PN?

Why don’t the Walmart
“greeters” sing and dance
like ONJ?

Drink. Enjoy.

Rinse. Repeat.

Ahhh, PN, I’m…

Hang in there.