Monthly Archives: September 2020

Sources for many musings

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Hannibal, Ernle Bradford, ISBN 0-88029-667-4


A Life on the Road, Charles Kuralt, ISBN 0-399-13488-3


A Place for Us, Eleni’s Children in America, Nicholas Cage, 0-395-45517-0


Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres, 0-7493-9754-3

Birds without Wings, Louis de Bernieres, 0-676-97694-8


Mongols, Huns and Vikings, Hugh Kennedy, 1-552-78281-6


Mr. Clemens and Mark Twain, Justin Kaplin


Witness to A Century, Encounters with the Noted, the Notorious and 3 SOBs, George Seldes 345-33181-8


Dinner with Persphone, Patricia Storace, 0-679-74478-9


Pieces of my mind, Andrew A Rooney, 0-689-11492


Peter Gzowski, The Private Voice, 0-7710-3749-X

Memories are made of this

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I’ve walked by it many times. This time I stopped and picked it up.  And I knew just the occasion to share it with friends.


Boutari Naoussa

UPC:  05201022540504

Regularly $18.99, on Sale for $17.99

12% alcohol


For more than 10 years, this was a standard order for us when dining with our Greek friends.  The quality, unfortunately, varied between vintages.  But how times have changed since we gave them a rest.  The Wine, not the Greeks!


The Boutari family has been making wine in the village of Naoussa for more than 130 years and they are one of only 5 world-wide wineries to have been named the International Winery of the Year by Wine and Spirits.


Xinomavro is the grape, and it flourish on Mt Vermio at moderate elevation (700 to 1700 feet).  The other great wine from the region is the white, Assyrtiko.


The 2016 vintage is earthy, well balanced, and has a medium finish.


The occasion was a get together with two other couples who often shared the table with us and we used to work together.


As they were coming through the door, I started this.  It was the song that Patrick and his band Kefi started many a wonderful night of partying.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhmDsJEr4cc


That sparked many great flashbacks and memories. Homemade rhubarb gin followed homemade ginger ice cream cones. 

Milestone 100

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The 100th post today.


Lots of things have happened in the last 100 days.

The eldest great granddaughter, at age 5, got to hear her first song in English when she was here recently.  I figured that it’s an appropriate beginning – and timely for this time of the year.

Gracie – Seasons

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajl3fE5VYOA


It wasn’t as easy as you think to pick that first song.  I could have started with the likes of Santa Esmeralda, or Tina, or Er-wick, or …. 


She has also added a Polish song to her list of International Drinking songs: to go with the German, Greek, and French.


Looking forward to the seasonal changes we are about to experience, with the advent of the Fall colours and the photo opportunities.


Haven’t started it yet, but have boxes, and I mean BOXES, of negatives and slides that need to bescanned to digital.  My latest excuse is I’ll wait till the rains come.


In the meantime, I’ve started editing the libraries (4) in an effort to cut down on what I want to keep and remove what’s not of relevant interest any more.  More than 40 books got the toss from the first book shelf in my office.


After books, comes pictures; then we will get to CDs. (THAT is going to be a biggie).  By that time, it should be Spring.


It’s perfectly acceptable to drink white wine after Labour Day, and we’ll soon be continuing with a 3rd Mystery Case from the Goddess of Wine.


I’ve done some change-ups to the site, so have a wander around beside the blog.

If you’re that bored with what’s going on, put up the Christmas tree and have a virtualChristmas dinner.  I’ll be handing out some other ideas over the next while.

Heading to the top

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MONTSANT – CELLER DE CAPCANES MAS DONIS NEGRE
Montsant, Spain
UPC:  08427154011935
13.5% alcohol
$17.99

Full and Robust combination of Tempranillo, Merlot, Cabernet and Syrah.

The grapes come from old vines between 30 and 60 years old, planted on clay and granite soils located on terraces.


This could very easily become one of our favourite red blends yet, because it’s pleasing from beginning to end. Lovely bouquet and a strong finish. It will go with just about anything the cook prepares.

Rewarded for a return visit

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CABERNET SAUVIGNON – MONTES LA FINCA COLCHAGUA 2018

$17.99
UPC:  00628451651208
14% alcohol

We’ve been to this Vineyard before on the Goddess’ recommendation (Pinot Noir), so thought we’d return totry the Cabernet Sauvignon.  Glad we did.


Works really well with pork chops, pasta or braised meats.


This one is nicely balanced for acidity and is medium bodied with a nice smooth finish

.
There’ll be another visit to try others from this Colchagua Valley collective.

Book Power

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Everything is Miscellaneous: The power of the new Digital Disorder, David Weinberger, ISBN 978-0-800-8043-8


Wild Swans – Three Daughters of China, Jung Chang, ISBN 0-385-42547-3


Markings, Dag Hammarskjold, IN 394-43532-X


View from the Summit, Sir Edmund Hillary, ISBN 0-385-60020-8


Darrow A biography, Kevin Tierney, ISBN 0-690-01408-2


Spirit of Place, Lawrence Durrell


Education of a Wandering Man, Louis L’Amour, ISBN 0-553-28652-8


Blessings in Disguise, Alec Guinness, ISBN 0-00-637108-6


Blisters and Bliss – A Trekkers Guide to the West Coast Trail – David Foster Wayne Aitken, ISB 0-938567-27-6


The Greeks have a word for it – Barry Unsworth, ISBN 0-393-32148-7

Subtle and crisp

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VALDADIGE PINOT GRIGIO – SANTA MARGHERITA 2018

UPC:00632987111112

Regularly $20.99 on sale for $18.99


12% alcohol

ALTITUDE: 985 – 1475 ft. above sea level

TYPE OF SOIL: Moderately loose and pebbly of morainic and fluvial origin.  In the Italian Alps region of Alto Adige.Soft crushed.


Very dry. Serve it nice and cold.   It’s a great way to start any meal (fish, shell fish, chicken).  Flavours are subtle, but stick around.  The next bottle of this will be with cheeses.