A really refreshing, bone-dry Riesling. Very good value. Not as complex and deep as a good Alsace, but terrific for a hot day.
Very light gold with gorgeous greenish glints. Fun, lively nose of perfumey, powdered stones, crisp cool pears, and crunchy Macintosh apples, along with a peachy note. Light-bodied, mouthwateringly refreshing, and dry, it sports crisp, apply fruit and a clean, stony streak. Clean, crisp, medium length finish. 88. Was $16 at Houston Wine Merchant on South Shepherd.
Dark ruby. Ripe but kind of galumphy nose of tangy berries and pungent stone powder. Gutsy, straightforward, ripe fruit in the mouth, with full body and a moderately long, minerally finish. Not bad. The Aussie equivalent of a solid, entry-level Cotes du Rhone. 85. $13 and change at Spec's on Smith.
Very dark black ruby. Disjointed nose showing some ripe berries, but very low-toned, almost bitter minerals underneath. Very full-bodied, with low acid ripe Zin flavors marred by too much alcoholic pepperiness and not enough acidity. Slightly bitter finish. All the earmarks of being picked way too ripe, particularly for a Paso Robles Zin -- whose best features are their vibrancy, crisp berry fruit, and stony minerality. 79. Was $15 at Spec's on Weslayan.
"And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love you make."
I want to write this while still basking in the afterglow. It was a thrill to be among the 40,000 fans at the Paul McCartney concert last night. We were there! By "we" I mean three of my sisters and one brother-in-law, my son and his wife, two of my friends and their husbands -- those are the ones I know of. We didn't all sit together, we were scattered about. Where I was sitting, the seats were wonderful -- I had a great view of the stage. I knew this would be good, but had no idea how truly fantastic it would be.
From the time McCartney took the stage around 8 p.m. until he exited at 11-ish, he was singing, dancing, playing all kinds of instruments, telling stories, and entirely positive and upbeat. We all felt that he really was thrilled to be performing for us. And the band members, too. Each one appeared to not only be really into the performance, but also truly having the time of their lives doing it.
I feel infused with so much positive energy today, I am practically floating.
And speaking of the band, really, what a sound from the most basic group. A drummer, a bass, a lead guitar, and a keyboard -- and Paul switching off with every tune. The band did the backup singing too. The synergy of the group was marvelous. You could tell they liked being together.
This was an event I've waited for for 46 years. I've been a Beatles fan since there were Beatles. The experience was everything I expected and more. And now it's a memory, but it will be among the treasured memories of my lifetime.
And one thing I take away from the experience is the importance of producing positive energy in our lives. Paul has certainly suffered tragedy and trial. But he emerges smiling and happy, and then proceeds to make thousands of people around him feel happy too. I have a desire to do the same with my small life -- to greet each day with a positive energy that feels good to me and influences those whose lives touch mine that day.
Another well-made, good value wine from this consistent Chilean producer. Lots of flavor and body for the money.
Thickly saturated ruby mulberry color. Ripe, highly extracted nose of sticky blackberry oozings and graphite. Mouthfilling, full-bodied flavors of very ripe blackberry and cassis, with significant notes of baker's chocolate. Lots (a bit too much) of peppery heat from the alcohol intrudes on the finish. A massive bruiser of a wine. Subtle as a sledgehammer. Some may like this style better than I do. I find it just a tad overdone, particularly in the heat of summer. Still, 86, for oomph, mostly. Was under $10 at Whole Foods on Bellaire.
Light, peach-tinted pinkish color. Beautiful nose of just-picked grapes, watermelon, and peach, with a hint of flowers and dry, stony minerals. Round, ripe, yet lithe flavors of crisp berries and fruit salad. Decent acidity and freshness for such a ripe style of rosé. Absolutely pure tasting, just off-dry finish. Very nice summer sipper. 88. Was $15 at Spec's on Smith. Imported by Neal Rosenthal Selections.
Hoo Rah! Pete Hegseth takes down leftist ideologue Elena Kagan before assembled members of the Senate Judiciary Committee considering Kagan's nomination to the highest court in the land.
