a ripping Refosco, and some Good Wood (not talkin' 'bout barrique either!)

This Ermacora 2008 Refosco (from K&L wine merchants) was a much needed treat last week.  Ermacora was one of the standout producers from the Tocai tasting on the COF2011 trip, so I gave their Refosco a try here in the states.  This was such a food friendly red, and can really go swell with a number of dishes.  Both bright and dark fruits, very balanced in it's alcohol and a beautiful acidity.  The tannins were not overwhelming and it went fine with pasta and a tomato eggplant sauce.

In Other News.....

Today we will start the Transworld Snowboarding 2012 Good Wood session where we (a group of snowboarders) will test next seasons 2012 snowboards here at Mammoth Mountain.  Some arduous 8 to 4pm snowbording sessions ahead of us....

June Mountain closing week

Shredded June mountain this week with my good pals Cody and Kramer....  last few days before closing day on Easter Sunday. Above, is first a picture of Kramer and I about to drop into the slushy face of June.  following is a sequence shot by Cody of me getting played by a mctwist on June's quarterpipe.

Terje's Picnic

Below is some minishred from Terje Haakonsen himself.  His ''first picnic'' since 1990, meaning he is not a jibber but a powder rider.  But check out the stilo on this picnic table without a need for a jump before it!  classic skate style

Perrin les Christins Vacqueras 2003

Perrin Les Christins Vacqueyras 2003 
80% Grenache 20% Syrah
14.5% Alc

A nice surprise opening this bottle with my good pal Peter Benchetler after working a shift at the Side Door here in Mammoth. I have been way off lately in terms of tasting wines I enjoy.  Haven't had time to search out the very few bottles that fit my palate in this small mountain town.  I reached for this Rhone wine tonight and it was showing wonderfully.  I hope not only because of the Rombauer mouthwash I have recently switched to, but also because at 8 years out it's at a prime drinking point.  Snooth lists it's maturity at 2005-2011, and I think it's definitely at a beautiful peak.

First opened, it displayed a very foresty and gamey nose.  Right off the bat the Fruit was explosive on the palate (almost in a fruit forward way) and then tamed down dramatically 5 minutes into the bottle (in a good way).  From then on it was harmonious with a slightly gamey/liquorish nose, a nice red fruit and bright acidity on the palate and finished with a big but not overwhelming dry tannin.

It reminded me of how personal a wine can be (and usually is).  This is how this wine tasted to me at this very moment with this single bottle.  May I have been in a different setting or tasting superior quality wines previously it would have tasted totally different.
Anyway, cheers to some fucking good wine for the time being!

above, some bubbly on display at Side Door in Mammoth Lakes.  

ananas in barchetta.

 

Just saw this classic Ananas in barchetta (Pineapple in a small boat, a typical way to serve the fruit in that area of Italy.) photo posted by my cousin Justine in Florence, Italy.  It brought me back to the restaurant Da Diego in Rome where we were serving these boys left and right.... 

maybe I miss Italy

delusional Chardonnay

If I never see this label again.... 

9 out of 10 people prefer Rombauer Chardonnay.  Who the F is that 1 person hating? ... That person is me, and I'm quite proud of it!  I haven't written much lately, and that is partially the fault of snowboarding every day, and also because, well... I haven't drunk anything worth writing about!  So if you havn't had any positive experiences to write about, that just leaves the negative, right?

Well, after a day of pouring wine at Side Door here in Mammoth I couldn't help but feel a discomfort from one person after another ranting and raving about Rombauer Chardonnay.  ''It's so delicious and yet such a good deal!''  Yes if delicious is a wine that tastes like a Yankee Candle scent, and Yes if $19 a glass is a good deal.  After asking one dude from a group of 7 if he would be the one tasting the just opened Rombauer he exclaimed, ''No just pour the wine.  There's no need to taste it, I know Rombauer.'' .... Okay?  That isn't the point and if you do ''know it so well'', that's all the more reason to taste it first.

That said, everybody has their own palate which is the most beautiful part of the wine world, there is no right or wrong.  But at times you definitely wonder..


in other news...

After a heavy snowstorm the snow is melting fast from a heat wave all week with temperatures in the 60's.  Below, local skaters shovel out the park at the Volcom Brothers Skatepark in Mammoth Lakes.