Archive > April 2009

From the Vaults. Episode III – May 20, 2000 – Kathryn Kennedy tasting

May 20, 2000, I purchased a bottle of Kathryn Kennedy Lateral to consume and evaluate.  It was 55% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon designated as California Appellation at 13.0% abv and cost $21.99.  Surprisingly light colored for being a quarter Cab Franc, still it possessed a lively beautiful light red color when [...]

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Pinot Noir tasting – Tier I, mk ii, affordable assaggio majoralus

Well, it’s come and gone – The Royal Tannin Bombs Pinot Noir tasting is complete.
And the contenders were:
2006 Rippon Vineyards Lake Wanaka Central Otago New Zealand Biodynamic-Organic Pinot Noir, 13.0% abv, $49.99
2006 Shea Wine Cellars Shea Vineyard Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, 14.25% abv, $42.99
2005 Domaine Harmand-Geoffroy Gevrey Chambertin “En Jouise”, 13% abv, $63.99
2005 Domaine [...]

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Throbbing Gristle, 20090423, Grand Regency Ballroom, San Francisco

I (Bad Man) am into industrial music, as you all read on my bio.  So last night I was in the audience to see the seminal band Throbbing Gristle.  What follows is my 2-minute A.D.D. review.
The concert last night was interesting.  It was sold out, but a small place (maybe 800 people).  It was very [...]

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WOTM – Wine of the Month [0904] – Château d’Aiguilhe Comtes de Neipperg Côtes de Castillon 2005

Yes, you’re witnessing a new feature here at The Royals – our official Wine of the Month sanction.  Please submit your candidates in the comment below and either one of those, or one from any of our other tastings, will be featured here each and every month.
I’m (the Bad Man) kicking things off this month [...]

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Côtes de Castillon Bordeaux, affordable, Assaggio Minoralus

Last night The Shadow and I got down to business.  I went down to the only store in the three state area that sells Bordeaux and purchased me some from my favourite region – the Côtes de Castillon.  Went back to the old house (a good Smiths song (I have the superior 12″ version)), decanted, [...]

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From the Vaults. Episode II – May 14, 2000 – Sauvignon Blanc tasting

May 14, 2000, I visited a wine merchant hosting a nine bottle Sauvignon Blanc tasting.  The selected wines were:
1998 Pezzi King Dry Creek Valley – $12.99
1998 Matanzas Creek Sonoma, Mendocino, Napa – $15.99
1998 Duckhorn Napa Valley – $17.99
1998 Mayacamas Napa Valley – $17.99
1998 Napa Wine Co. Napa Valley – $17.99
1999 Mason Napa Valley – [...]

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Pinot Noir tasting THIS FRIDAY – Tier I, mk ii, affordable assaggio majoralus (prep)

Well, it’s finally here – we at The Royal Tannin Bombs have done our research and advanced tasting sorties to put together a list of stellar Pinot Noir to evaluate.
And the contenders are:
2006 Rippon Vineyards Lake Wanaka Central Otago New Zealand Biodynamic-Organic Pinot Noir, 13.0% abv, $49.99
2006 Shea Wine Cellars Shea Vineyard Estate Willamette Valley [...]

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Pinot Noir tasting – Tier I, mk i, affordable assaggio majoralus

The Tier I mk i (affordable) Pinot Noir tasting is done – with consistent results!
Contenders
2006 Chalone Vineyard Estate Grown Chalone Appellation The Pinnacles Monterey County, Pinot Noir, No. 019120, 14.7% abv, $27.99
2006 Laetitia Estate Arroyo Grande Valley Central Coast Pinot Noir, 14.1% abv, $24.99
2006 Laetitia Reserve Arroyo Grande Valley Central Coast Pinot Noir, 14.4% abv, [...]

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Pinot Noir tasting TONIGHT – Tier I, mk i, affordable assaggio majoralus (prep)

We’re breaking the Tier I (affordable) Pinot Noir tasting into two segments to allow better focus.  Tonight is all New World offerings.  There will be New World in the next tasting (mk ii) as well, but these are all from California.
2006 Chalone Vineyard Estate Grown Chalone Appellation The Pinnacles Monterey County, Pinot Noir, No. 019120, [...]

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Artist

Just to clarify something from another post, the word artist is grossly overused nowadays.  The RIAA loves to throw that word around because they are motivated by greed, not art.  Let’s get real.  Is Britney Spears really an artist? The Jonas Brothers? Come on.  You know the real answer.
Who in pop music is then? I’d [...]

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