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| ? courtesy of Steven Noble. |
Showing posts with label Fun with Photos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fun with Photos. Show all posts
Friday, December 17, 2010
Question of the Day
Scenario: You're going to lunch with a certified Master Sommelier and you can take only one bottle of wine. What would you choose, and why? (Okay, so that's two questions.)
Hit the comments with your answer, then come back and click the question mark for mine. No cheating!
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Name That Wine
Friday, October 15, 2010
Luna, Nebbia and Alba Over the Bricco delle Viole
Here's a second consecutive post in the déjà vu all over again department. I'm guessing that close to half of those reading this will already have seen the above photo courtesy of my pal Jeremy, who posted it this morning over at Do Bianchi. What can I say? The picture is just too beautiful not to share as widely as possible.The image was sent to the both of us by our mutual friend, Giuseppe Vajra, scion of the G.D. Vajra estate in Barolo. You really do need to click on the photo to view it in its full glory. I don't often upload photos in unedited/uncompressed format but with this it was a must. Giuseppe snapped the shot in the wee hours of the morning, at 6:35 AM to be exact, on October 5, 2010, from the western slope of his family's plot of the Bricco delle Viole vineyard.
From A Wine Atlas of the Langhe:
"Bricco Viole belongs to the district of Vergne di Barolo and its charming name (literally, 'violet hill') is a reminder of the flowers that bloom here in springtime. And of course, violets are very much part of the aromatic profile of Barolo. This great vineyard can be clearly seen from the road that leads from the centre of Vergne to La Morra."I love the way Giuseppe's photo gives no indication whatsoever that the terrain is one defined by vines, yet it nonetheless captures the essence of the Barolo landscape. Rugged but peacefully rolling hills and the valleys between them, the fog ("nebbia" — you'll see it in the depression between the slopes when you enlarge the photo) so omnipresent in the area, and the influence of both the sun and the moon on the land beneath... they're all there. The color of the sky, too, is simply enchanting; perhaps closer to indigo than violet on the ROYGBIV spectrum, but close enough to lend a poetic nuance to the photo's subject.
If you've any doubt of what I'm talking about, just compare Giuseppe's wee-hours photo to the mid-day shot directly above, taken by one of my traveling companions, Eric Tuverson, during a visit with Giuseppe's father, Aldo, in February 2006. The perspective is different but the flow, the hills, the essence are the same. Also, bear in mind that Alba, the name of the city central to the overall Barolo zone, literally means "dawn" in Italian. While Giuseppe and Aldo produce a single vineyard Barolo from their plot of Bricco delle Viole, their flagship Barolo, a multi-vineyard blend from parcels in Coste, Fossati and La Volta, is called Albe — "the dawns."I truly do love Piemonte; there's something about it that just pulls me in, makes me feel rooted, at home. Thanks for sharing, Giuseppe. This is as much your post as it is mine, my friend. Un abbraccio!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Clips from a Sunday in New York
Just a quick post today.... Had a great time hanging out with friends in New York earlier this week. I didn't take very many pictures this go 'round but thought I'd share a few of the highlights from day one nonetheless.
As unshutterbuggy as I was feeling then, I'm feeling even less writerly today. I should be back in the saddle tomorrow and hope this will tide you over until then.
Jacky Blot's Montlouis "Triple Zéro" — a fine prelude to a very enjoyable dinner at Bar Boulud. (I told you I wasn't taking many pictures; had to borrow this one from last time.)
Cornellisen's consistently controversial Contadino: cool, crunchy, crackling... Enough with the seven Cs. Let's just say it was provocative and enjoyable, which also happens to be a pretty good way to sum up the spot where we dug it.
As unshutterbuggy as I was feeling then, I'm feeling even less writerly today. I should be back in the saddle tomorrow and hope this will tide you over until then.
Jacky Blot's Montlouis "Triple Zéro" — a fine prelude to a very enjoyable dinner at Bar Boulud. (I told you I wasn't taking many pictures; had to borrow this one from last time.)
Cornellisen's consistently controversial Contadino: cool, crunchy, crackling... Enough with the seven Cs. Let's just say it was provocative and enjoyable, which also happens to be a pretty good way to sum up the spot where we dug it.Friday, August 20, 2010
Name That Wine
There's been a rather long hiatus since the last episode of Name That Wine. Today seems like as good a day as any for a rekindling and, hopefully, a little fun for all. Just to make things a little more challenging, I've doubled the trouble. So bring it on: What've I been drinking?And for extra credit: The Ps abound. Is there a connection?
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
TDF 2010 Stage 9 Revisited: Bonus Shots from Le Grand Bornand
As a follow-up to yesterday's post on Stage 9 through the Haute Savoie, Brett "The Wine Maestro" Jones sent along some more photos that he snapped as the race passed through Le Grand Bornand Le Chinaillon.
Panoramic view of Le Chinaillon
Just a couple of the crazy vehicles that form the immense publicity caravan that leads the way around the course of Le Tour every day.
Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Farnese Vini) in hot pursuit of the early breakaway.
The unmistakable riding style of Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana), on his own in no man's land between the peloton and the breakaway.
Robbie Hunter (Garmin-Transitions), the only rider from South Africa in this year's Tour, braking hard in preparation for a downhill hairpin turn.
One of the many splinter groups formed within the main peloton, on a very tough stage of this year's Tour.
Panoramic view of Le Chinaillon
Just a couple of the crazy vehicles that form the immense publicity caravan that leads the way around the course of Le Tour every day.
Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre-Farnese Vini) in hot pursuit of the early breakaway.
The unmistakable riding style of Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana), on his own in no man's land between the peloton and the breakaway.
Robbie Hunter (Garmin-Transitions), the only rider from South Africa in this year's Tour, braking hard in preparation for a downhill hairpin turn.
One of the many splinter groups formed within the main peloton, on a very tough stage of this year's Tour.Monday, June 7, 2010
One Beautiful Glass
I'd hoped to publish my report on 2006 Barolo, as experienced during the blind tastings at Nebbiolo Prima, today. But it's not quite ready for prime time and I know trying to wrap it up this late, my energy and concentration fading, would not be for the best. Some of you may have noticed by now that I'm not going to win any prizes for being the world's fastest blogger. What can I say, I've always been more of an LSD guy than a sprinter.What I can share with you tonight is one of my photos from the trip, taken during a visit that was a really lovely surprise. Major bonus points on offer to anyone who can guess where it was taken and/or what specifically is in the glass.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Name That Wine
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Name That Wine
Yessiree folks, it's time for another episode of "Name That Wine." Anyone care to hazard a guess as to what I enjoyed with dinner over the last couple of nights?And by the way, did I already mention that the DIAM is my preferred alternative in-neck closure? Why yes, yes I did.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Name That Wine
Just for fun while I'm getting a full post together, here's a shot of a cork that was drawn during the cooking fest that followed Sunday's ramp romp. Bonus points to anyone who can name the wine* (click the photo for an enlarged view). You have until around midday tomorrow, so don't delay.
* Other participants in said wining and dining event excluded.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Name That Wine
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Noteless Wonders
The photos below are of a few casualties from a dinner with friends. It was actually a decent while back. So long ago, in fact, that as I didn't take notes -- I was too busy cooking and enjoying -- it's way too late to wing it now.
What's my point, you may be pondering? As long as I'm turning over a modicum of organizational control, I figured why not just open things up creatively as well. So, whether or not you've actually tried any of the above wines, here's your chance to write your own tasting notes. There are bonus points for creativity, y'all, so hit the comments and have fun.
What's my point, you may be pondering? As long as I'm turning over a modicum of organizational control, I figured why not just open things up creatively as well. So, whether or not you've actually tried any of the above wines, here's your chance to write your own tasting notes. There are bonus points for creativity, y'all, so hit the comments and have fun.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
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