Posted on 05/22/2016 12:09:43 AM PDT by lee martell
One year ago, I helped a friend of mine find a place to rentshare and move into. I knew she would fit right in. We have been coworkers in the past, just platonic friends. She thanked me by giving me a bottle of Chianti; red Italian wine. I thanked her of course, and put the bottle in my storage closet for when I got ready for it. I was ready today, having just finished writing a group of Quarterly Reports for my Manager of a Group Home. I was planning to reward myself for completing the job to everyone's satisfaction.
I rarely use real glasses, if it's just me, but for this moment, I washed out an old glass goblet with fluted sides, perfect for sipping wine. I take the bottle out of the storage closet, bring it to the sink, and I make a discovery. This is one of those bottles with a cork in it. Damn. I no longer have one of those spiral cork removers, it was loaned out, and never returned some time ago. So I was stuck. I had a feeling this might get messy, so I took off one of my nicer Polo Shirts, and changed into an old one that always fits no matter how long it stays in the dryer.
I got my favorite steak knife out, and pushed down cork. No movement. I needed to tap the knife handle with something. I used a heavy rubber spatula, raised the spatula high over my head, and swung down hard on the knife handle, now jammed into the cork. It worked! I got the cork to move. Only it went down the neck of the bottle, getting stuck halfway. I used a siphon to pour the dark red wine into an empty juice bottle that I had been planning to turn into a terrarium. Finally, all the wine was out. Now I had to pull my steak knife free from the cork.
I put the now mostly empty bottle into the sink, filled it with warm soapy water. Soon, the bottle has expanded just enough so that I could wrench it out. I give it one last strong tug, like Thor pulling his hammer out of that stone. The knife comes out, with cork still attached. I get sprayed with a little wine, the kitchen wall gets sprayed too.
Finally, I pour some Chianti into my fine glass goblet. I was...disappointed. I had forgotten just how bitter Chianti could be, even when red. I doubt if I finish the rest of that wine any time soon. I guess you could say, I have 'pedestrian tastes, or low class preferences. When I'm in the mood for wine, something that doesn't happen very often, I much prefer a sweet taste. I don't always come out and tell people that I one of my favorite after dinner sipping wines is Carlos Rossi Sangria, or Riunite Lambrusco. I admit, it's not very worldly or sophisticated. What can I say? I was brought up with Mogen-David Concord Passover Wine being the only alcohol in the house, except for during Christmas, when we needed to add a kick to the Egg Nog. I have also enjoyed German wines here and there, such as Zinfandel and Liebfraumilch. Sometimes you buy something different just to experiment and learn.
” good Irish boiled steak...”
You mean beef stew? :-)
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lol no, saw or heard a comedian once say he came from an Irish family and while everyone was out grilling steaks and burgers his mom would bring out a big pot, put it on the grill and boil their steaks and burgers :)
Heh! ;-)
I’ve heard of boiling bagels, but never hamburgers.
That could work, the meat just wouldn’t have a grilled flavor unless she poured liquid hickory flavor on it later.
The next line of the jingle “what’s the price? say thirty twice”. :-)
Sorry, can’t get the URL to come up... Go to Google images https://images.google.com/?client=safari&channel=mac_bm and type in ‘dry riesling’ Maybe you’ll be able to identify the label and be able to buy some more. I know what it’s like to have tasted and loved a wine, then not be able to remember its name! A few years ago my wife went to a convention in SF where she was put up in a fancy hotel and wined and dined for a week. When she came home, she raved about the champagnes they served but couldn’t remember the names at all.
Back when we were still friendly with the Lebanese, lol, red and gold.
I remember thirty twice. Older maybe.
What’s the word? Thunderbird.
What’s the price? Forty twice.
Try Trader Joe’s Argentina and Chilean wines.
Panilonco Carmenere, @$3.99/bottle is reliable.
Peter Vella Delicious Red. $14 for 3 liters. A small price to pay to keep the wife happy for 2 weeks.
Try Moscato (Barefoot winery California.) Pink Catawba is very good. (St. James or Stonehill, both Missouri wineries.) Sweet, fruity. They also have Concord Wines.
I think the corks are made of plastic.
Where and when I got into Tbird, Boone’s Farm was not around and Mad Dog cost more. Mad Dog was the venerable tradition of the old commercial fishermen who passed out in the park.
Boon’s Farm existed but this was a pretty isolated area and back then the Sheriff really was the local Boss. There was no Federal presence at all and the State was limited to a highway patrol station at the west end of town. When I was in SF in 67 I discovered Boone’s Farm. I found I preferred Tbird. I guess it’s what you get used to. I tried some Tbird a couple of years ago just for old times and discovered it really is BAD. That impression is probably helped because I haven’t drunk as much in the last 30 years as I probably did in any 6 months period back then.
HAH! I got you beat by right at a year.
In that case:
I seldom like to associate with old people such as your self, you just wouldn’t understand us young folks!
In your case, I will make an exception, cuz you seem like a pretty cool old man :)
-— I tried some Tbird a couple of years ago just for old times and discovered it really is BAD
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I reckon it was downright awful.
Some time ago my kid brought some ratty wine (maybe boons) up to our cabin and I had a taste.
I swear it had Vicks 44 in it. A sip was all I needed. I didn’t remember it being that bad, as in they changed the formula or I grew taste buds over the years.
I forgot another horrible one: Manashevitz (I’m sure my spelling is WAY off here)
That was kind of premium though, every once in awhile you’d see someone had brought that to a party. Nasty.
Thanks
Manischewitz Wines are made under the strict Rabbinical supervision of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. Tradition Kosher wines.
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