Lane Tanner Syrah French Camp 2003

Elegant fresh fruit and medium tannins. Comparing this to a “New World” Syrah or Shiraz is like comparing rock and roll to one of the arias from Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Well, that might be an exaggeration, but this is far from the huge fruit bomb of Syrah/Shiraz that we get from Austrailia. [...]

Six Grapes Porto NV

Hey - I can add more grapes to my list: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Amarela and Tinta Cao.  A non-vintage ruby port.  Very dark purple.  Lots of fruit.  Very fine tannins.  Quite well balanced.  Good price point.  Don’t rember much more, for a number of reasons. 

Whoa - I found more data

Hey - I just figured out how to look at output in watts…

From the dips and dives, you can tell when the passing showers passed by.

Energy yield from our roof

December 11  to December 25

Roughly 166 kWh from when the plant was commissioned on 12/11/2007.  Pretty good considering (1) the rain, (2) winter overcast, (3) the rain, and (4) the rain.
I’m not 100% sure on the exact meaning of all of the data points that I get from the inverter, but…heck, this is pretty cool.

Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva 2005

Bright cherry or maybe rasberry/blackberry.  Fine tannins, full bodied, long finish.  Big (on the other hand, I’ve been drinking too much Pinot Noir), so I thought it was about 14.5% alcohol, but this is 13%.  Wonderful nose - fruity, caught some vanilla so there’s good oak structure here. 
Blend: 90% Sangiovese; 10% Malvasia, Colorino, Merlot & [...]

Best headline of the year…

‘I got a degree, I’m all set’  I don’t know Colt Brennan as a person at all, but what he said strikes me as something I wish all college atheletes would say.  Per the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Colt said: “The feeling is priceless. I just went to the Heisman Trophy (ceremony); I went 12-0 my senior [...]

What I’m reading

Not a book, but a blog.  Great comments, especially with the Mitchell Report on steriod use in the MLB.  The Sports Economist.  As for the steriods…well, I’m rather saddened, but not surprised, by the whole affair.  Just look at the 2007 Tour de France doping bust up there with Floyd Landis, Jan Ulrich, Ivan Basso, Micheal Rassumusen [...]

Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc 2003

On opening, the Lang & Reed was a perfumed blast of Cabernet Franc, almost rasiny and a bit dusty or herbal.  Hmmm…dusty.  On reflection not really dust.  More herbal than dusty.  I’m thinking of a bouquet garni type of mixed herbs.
Light body - what I’d expect from a Cabernet Franc - ruby red in color.  Not [...]

What I’m listening to

Ender’s Game, 20th anniversary.  From Audible.  A great book, we’ll see how the cast reads the book.  If you haven’t read the book, I’d say it is one of the must-read sci-fi classics.

King Estate Pinot Gris 2006

An Oregon Pinot Gris.  Typical of the area as far as I can tell.  Classic Pinot Gris?  Don’t know because haven’t had many, but this is confirmation that the Oregon wineries are right to plant both Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.
Pale yellow, slightly apple green tint.  Or was that because it was rainy outside?  [...]