Cartlidge and Browne, Pinot Noir, 2006
Smell: Strong blackberry, wood, maple syrup, chemical, yeast.
Taste: Blackberry, cherry, oak, yeast. It tastes like you're sucking on a vitamin--not pleasant. The yeast flavor ruins the bottle.
Finish: Hint of vanilla. Acidic--not smooth. Has a bite. Very short. A 1% milk consistency. That yeast, once again.
Cost: $$
Rating: *
Wine by Joe, Pinot Noir, 2006
Smell: Fruit, chemical (diesel), strawberry.
Taste: Strawberry, marionberry. Not notable, but we would buy it again--adequate.
Finish: Marionberry, cedar, a 1% milk consistency.
Cost: $$
Rating: **
Our Date Night at Wildwood
Dinner: For the first time in three years, Jason and I shared the bittersweet moment of spending nearly 24 hours away from our son. We celebrated our newfound freedom by dining at one of our favorite restaurants of Pacific Northwest cuisine, Wildwood. While our conversations naturally steered toward the subject of our child, our server steered us away from our usual bottle of Ken Wright to this wonderful discovery. Once home, I tiptoed into our son's room to watch his rhythmic breathing and to smell the last vestiges of baby scent from his slightly sweaty brow. His growing independence both terrifies and galvanizes us.
- leaves of romaine with caramelized onions, capers and cornichons
- lobster mushrooms with arugula
- albacore tuna medallions wrapped in procuitto with potatoes, green beans and sauteed spinach (Jason's entree)
- halibut with polenta and green beans in tomato sauce (Denise's entree)
- spicy prune tart with walnuts (Jason's dessert)
- pine nut torte with peaches and blackberries (Denise's dessert)
- coffee and Sauternes
Wine:
- Brickhouse 'Cuvee du Tonnelier', Pinot Noir, 2004
Posted by Denise on August 25, 2007 7:00:00 PM PDT
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Brick House, 'Cuvee du Tonnelier', Pinot Noir, 2004
Smell: Pepper, wood, prune, strawberry.
Taste: Rose, bark, boysenberry. Excellent, excellent wine--we loved this one!
Finish: Very smooth, acidic, consistency of 2% milk, vanilla.
Cost:
Rating:
9.0
Witness Tree, Pinot Noir, 2005
Smell: Gasoline, blackberry, licorice.
Taste: Heavy prune, blackberry, caramel, vanilla.
Finish: Vanilla with a hint of licorice.
Cost: $$$
Rating: **
Posted by Denise on August 18, 2007 9:30:00 PM PDT
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Guest Critics: 'Ba' and Josette Luvmour, Herb and Alexandra, and Amber and Albee Kara
Geoffrey “Ba” Luvmour and Josette Luvmour: Ba and Josette are co-founders of EnCompass, each bringing more than 20 years of professional experience to their positions. Together they created Natural Learning Rhythms, a unique and powerful formulation of human development and family systems. Their work has garnered international acclaim from professionals and parents alike. They have presented at national and international conferences. Ba and Josette have authored six books and numerous articles on a wide range of education and family-centered subjects.
Herb: Herb works for Providence in the mental health field. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Herb is a closet historian and may have anarchistic leanings.
Alexandra: Alexandra is a mental health therapist. Alexandra loves to cook, read, tackle crossword puzzles and frequent the beach.
Amber Kara: Amber, a former whale biologist, is the Director of Programs/Program Facilitator at the EnCompass Institute, an educational nonprofit serving families from diverse backgrounds. Amber is co-author of Win-Win Games for All Ages, a book of cooperative games and activities for groups of all ages. Amber holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from The Evergreen State College.
Albee Kara: Albee has worked at the EnCompass Institute for 12 years as a program co-designer and facilitator, leading groups of families, children, and professionals through experiential learning programming. Albee holds a B.A. in Music from University of California Santa Cruz and is also a co-author of Win-Win Games for All Ages, a book of cooperative games and activities.
Dinner: This was the final night of Washington Park's Summer Festival. Cana Sol, a Cuban band, sizzled on stage underneath a feathery veil of rain. Sweaters and jackets were unable to conceal the hot, erotic moves of the audience. Skip the wine, pass the water!
- yam and black bean quesadillas with salsa, sour cream and guacamole
- carrots and hummus
- crackers and cheese
- olives
- grapes and strawberries
Wine:
- Charles Shaw, Chardonnay, 2005
- Sterling Vinyards, Merlot, 2002
- Sabazio, Rosso di Montepulciano (Tuscany), 2005
Posted by Denise on August 18, 2007 7:38:00 PM PDT
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Sabazio, Rosso di Montepulciano (Tuscany), 2005
Smell: Peat, earthy.
Taste: Sweet, chemically, peat, mossy.
Finish: Chemical, gritty (needs to cellar a bit longer and it will mellow out).
Cost:
Rating:
4.0
Sterling Vinyards, Merlot, 2002
Smell: Strong blackberry, vanilla.
Taste: Blackberry, smooth vanilla.
Finish: Vanilla, musty. Buttery smooth -- a 2% milk consistency.
Cost:
Rating:
4.0
Charles Shaw, Chardonnay, 2005
Smell: Fresh orange blossom, floral.
Taste: Tropical--citrus and melon. Light vanilla. Like an erotic parrot.
Finish: Lemon--tart. Watery--light on the tongue.
Cost:
(yes, the notorious "2 buck chuck")Rating:
4.0 (this could be a lot worse for the cost)
Guest Critics: Kenny and Elizabeth
Kenny: Kenny works in construction finance for Kaiser. He volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and his hobbies include golf, soccer, the outdoors and music. This "Weegie" is originally from the west coast of Scotland.
Elizabeth: Elizabeth is a commercial real estate investor. She is active in many Portland nonprofits and is busy raising her two-year old daughter.
Dinner: This dinner was generously served in the backyard of Kenny and Elizabeth's house. Surrounded by citronella candles, stars in a clear sky and statuesque pines, we reveled in this quintessential Oregon summer night while Elizabeth wowed us with her presentations and culinary skills.
- guacamole and corn stuffed cherry tomatoes
- ahi tuna with spicy fig chutney
- grilled portobello mushrooms with cheese and onion stuffed baby red potatoes
- gorgonzola fig tart
- cheese
- strawberry and blueberry tartlet
Wines:
- Domaine des Entrefaux, Crozes-Hermitage, 2004
- Domaine les Pallieroudas, Gigondas, 2005
- Domaine Charvin, Cotes du Rhone, 2004
Posted by Jason on August 17, 2007 9:00:00 PM PDT
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Domaine Charvin, Cotes du Rhone, 2004
Smell: Prune, earthy.
Taste: Woody and fig. Paired very well with cheese, especially sharp gouda.
Finish: Smooth with a bit of a grit.
Cost:
Rating:
4.0
Domaine les Pallieroudas, Gigondas, 2005
Smell: Prune and asparagus, but not pungent.
Taste: Woody.
Finish: Burnt match.
Cost:
Rating:
6.5
Domaine des Entrefaux, Crozes-Hermitage, 2004
Smell: Earthworms, dusty, mushroom.
Taste: Burnt match. We couldn't taste much--undefinable.
Finish: Gritty.
Cost:
Rating:
2.0
Guest Critic: Patrick
Patrick: Patrick is a Contract Manager in Education & Training. His hobbies include gardening, martial arts and ultimate fighting. Patrick participated in the infamous Gulf War protest of '91 in which students took over the House floor in the state capital of Olympia, WA, making national news. Oh yeah, he's also an anarchist.
Dinner: This evening, the summer festival showcased the swing jazz melodies of Rebecca Kilgore, Eddie Erickson, Dan Barrett and Joel Forbes. The talent was impressive, but the music was underwhelming. Thankfully, the wine stood up.
- Greek salad
- pita triangles with hummus, baba ghannooj and tzatziki
- local blueberries
Wine:
Posted by Denise on August 16, 2007 8:01:00 PM PDT
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St. Innocent, 'Temperance Hill', Pinot Noir, 2004
Smell: Tree bark, vanilla, oak.
Taste: Tobacco, coffee, smokey, molasses.
Finish: Rubber, raisin.
Cost:
Rating:
7.0
Elemental Cellars, Viognier, 2003
Smell: Chemical.
Taste: Peach, melon, pineapple, quince, apple.
Finish: Peach.
Cost:
Rating:
4.0
Guest Critics: Todd and Laura Mansfield
Todd Mansfield: Todd is a TV and radio personality who currently works as a broadcaster for FOX Sports NW and Oregon State University. He also does film and television commercials, including voice-overs for John Elway. One secret of the humble Todd: he's an award-winning sports broadcaster (Best Lack of Hair).
Laura Mansfield: Laura is an adjunct professor at Portland State University, teaching courses in Film & Social Change and Hybrid Nonprofits. In addition, Laura runs her own nonprofit consulting business, Laura Mansfield Consulting. Prior to this work, Laura co-founded and ran an international nonprofit, Little Voice Productions, that creates documentaries of women and children in developing countries.
Dinner: The group Stolen Sweets, a 30's jazz band, was another fine surprise at the Washington Park Summer Festival. Three beautiful women in waist-hugging dresses seduced the crowd with their delicate, heavenly voices. At first, these sensual songs nearly made us sleep-deprived parents fall asleep. But by the end of the night, adults and kids alike were invigorated by the trio's erotic swaying and their flawless melodies--a perfect sensual pairing with wine. This dinner was comprised of a variety of salads from Zupan's food bar:
- beet and blue cheese salad
- pesto pasta salad
- orzo pasta salad
- potato salad
- stuff portobello mushroom
- baguette and cheese
- peaches
Wine:
- Parallele 45
Posted by Denise on August 13, 2007 8:01:00 PM PDT
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Paul Jaboulet Aine, 'Parallel 45', Cotes du Rhone, 2000
Smell: Raisin.
Taste: Like a forest: grassy, woodsy, earthy, smokey. It must be peaking--delicious!
Finish: Pine--like Forest Park and Washington Park (large Oregon forests). A communion finish (for those of you who went to church and took communion).
Cost: $$
Rating: ***
Guest Critics: Todd and Laura Mansfield and Amber and Albee Kara
Todd Mansfield: Todd is a TV and radio personality who currently works as a broadcaster for FOX Sports NW and Oregon State University. He also does film and television commercials, including voice-overs for John Elway. One secret of the humble Todd: he's an award-winning sports broadcaster (Best Lack of Hair).
Laura Mansfield: Laura is an adjunct professor at Portland State University, teaching courses in Film & Social Change and Hybrid Nonprofits. In addition, Laura runs her own nonprofit business, Laura Mansfield Consulting. Prior to this work, Laura co-founded and ran an international nonprofit, Little Voice Productions, that creates documentaries of women and children in developing countries.
Amber Kara: Amber, a former whale biologist, is the Director of Programs/Program Facilitator at the EnCompass Institute, an educational nonprofit serving families from diverse backgrounds. Amber is co-author of Win-Win Games for All Ages, a book of cooperative games and activities for groups of all ages. Amber holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from The Evergreen State College.
Albee Kara: Albee has worked at the EnCompass Institute for 12 years as a program co-designer and facilitator, leading groups of families, children, and professionals through experiential learning programming. Albee holds a B.A. in Music from University of California Santa Cruz and is also a co-author of Win-Win Games for All Ages, a book of cooperative games and activities.
Dinner: The highlight of the summer festival was tonight--The Portland Symphony with 3 Leg Torso. As always, 3 Leg Torso was charming and irreverent and the crowd fell in love. Us six on the blanket agreed that we felt like we were trapped in a cartoon. It was certainly a bewitching night of music.
- greek salad
- Amber's garlic and butter shrimp
- pita triangles with hummus, baba ghannooj and tzatziki
- Amber's marionberry cobbler--yum!
Wine:
- Estancia, Pinot Grigio, 2004
Posted by Denise on August 12, 2007 6:43:00 PM PDT
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Estancia, Pinot Grigio, 2004
Smell: Pineapple and pear. Surgical and antiseptic.
Taste: Pineapple, honey, rose, water. A round and fruity taste.
Finish: Onions, rose, pear. Easy--melts away quickly.
Cost:
Rating:
4.0
Guest Critics: Madeleine and Andrew
Madeleine: Madeleine is a part-time therapist and yoga instructor. She speaks fluent French and Spanish. When not working, Madeleine enjoys knitting, "date nights" with her husband, and playing with her two-year old daughter.
Andrew: Andrew works for a large corporation and frequently travels around the world on business. Ironically, unlike his wife, Andrew does not speak other languages. But to his credit, Andrew graduated with a Masters from Stanford University. When at home, Andrew enjoys time with his wife and playing with his two-year old daughter.
Dinner: Washington Park's Summer Festival always produces some surprises. Tonight's show, Loveness Wesa & The Kgotso African Cultural dance troupe, was one of those discoveries. We knew the Zimbabwean music and dance would be fun for the kids and beautiful to the ear, but we weren't prepared to see a 70-year old grandmother pulled onto the stage, enthusiastically dancing a tribal jig. Loveness Wesa spread her magic throughout the amphitheatre and had everyone laughing and dancing like children. Ah, such a wonderful, life-long memory to harbor...
- Denise's Caesar salad
- roasted fingerling potatoes and garlic cloves
- smoked trout
- salami
- baguette and cheese
- local blueberries
- vegan chocolate cake
- organic chocolate
- Well Red Organic Red
- Cameron, "Columbia Gorge", Pinot Noir, 2006
Posted by Jason on August 11, 2007 8:01:00 PM PDT
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Cameron, 'Columbia Gorge', Pinot Noir, 2006
Smell: Woody, pine.
Taste: Carbonated--a seltzer-like fizz at the beginning. A lot of oak.
Finish: Cherry and apricot. Has a chlorine finish because it's sharp, and will likely be much better in a few years.
Cost: $$
Rating: ***
Well Red 'Organic', Table Red, 2006
Smell: Pineapple.
Taste: Floral, tropical fruits, pear, pineapple. Like sherry--oxidized a bit. Tastes kind of like a pinot.
Finish: Ends weak and very flat. Presents a lot of fruit though.
Cost: $ (such a great deal for such a delicious wine)
Rating: **
Guest Critics: Amber and Albee
Amber Kara: Amber, a former whale biologist, is the Director of Programs/Program Facilitator at the EnCompass Institute, an educational nonprofit serving families from diverse backgrounds. Amber is co-author of Win-Win Games for All Ages, a book of cooperative games and activities for groups of all ages. Amber holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from The Evergreen State College.
Albee Kara: Albee has worked at the EnCompass Institute for 12 years as a program co-designer and facilitator, leading groups of families, children, and professionals through experiential learning programming. Albee holds a B.A. in Music from University of California Santa Cruz and is also a co-author of Win-Win Games for All Ages, a book of cooperative games and activities.
Dinner: Lyndee Mah and Steve Cannon crooned to the Blowhard Big Band's horns this evening of the summer festival. The duet's staged jokes were reminiscent of our picnic--please pass the cheese.
- grated carrot salad with golden raisins, cilantro and olives
- pasta with cauliflower, walnuts and feta cheese
- spiced chicken
- grapes
- baguette and cheese
- Nigel's zucchini muffins
- bite-sized mix of Reese's peanut butter cups, Hershey's kisses and chocolate-covered caramels
Wine:
- Smoking Loon
- Arbanta
Favorite quotes heard on the blanket:
- "You're already apologizing and we haven't even had (this wine) yet." --Albee, commenting on Jason's unveiling of the Smoking Loon
Posted by Denise on August 9, 2007 8:00:00 PM PDT
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Smoking Loon, Chardonnay, 2005
Smell: Plastic, poopy diaper.
Taste: Chemically, apple. The classic low-end chardonnay.
Finish: Fungus and apple. Raspy with a chemical metallic finish.
Cost: Unknown
Rating: *
Arbanta, Rioja, 2002
Smell: Earthy, herbaceous, leather.
Taste: Spicy. Like a mouthful of walnuts. Makes the mouth pucker.
Finish: Chalky, sour, acidic. A bitter bite that really lingers.
Cost:
Rating:
2.0
Guest Critics: Matt and Jason
Matt: Matt is a commercial property insurance adjuster. His hobbies include spinning Reggae music (he has 8,000 vinyl records and two turntables) and cooking Carribean, Spanish and Italian foods. Matt lived in St. Thomas for a spell, but now resides in Hartford, Connecticut with his wife.
Jason: Jason is a former brewmaster who has worked for Bridgeport Brewery, Shaft Brewery, River City Brewing, Bayou Brewing... (the list goes on and on). In between brewing jobs, Jason worked as a roofer. Currently, Jason is a window installer and lives in Vancouver, Canada with his wife and two daughters.
Dinner: This dinner took place at Dave and Jenny's house, where a mix of old-time friends -- former mods, goths and thugs -- reunited and reminisced about the raucous days of Portland. Now that everyone's hair has been cut and responsibilities have shifted to raising children and paying mortgage, it was nice to see the former tribe together again for one final attempt at high-spirited disorder.
- Doritos, Cheetos and Sun Chips (yeah!)
- Sandy's garden salad
- Jenny's Caprese salad
- Jenny's quesadillas
- Matt's spicy beans with chunks of yams and onions
- Matt's spicy rice
- Matt's manly slabs of marinated steak
- marionberry pie
- backyard S'mores
Wine:
Posted by Denise on August 4, 2007 6:00:00 PM PDT
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Alianca, Vinho Verde, 2007 (release year)
Smell: Strawberries and cream, a pineapple hue. It has such a low alcohol content that it's surprising that it really comes out in the smell.
Taste: Bubbly, but not bubbly like champagne--effervescent. Fruity, floral. Really light-bodied--it just falls off your tongue. Like sucking pineapple off the bosom of a Spanish woman.
Finish: Silky, oakey, citrus, seagrape. Tangy and tart. Like an ocean.
Cost:
Rating:
4.0 (for the cost, it's worth drinking)
Domaine Huber-Verdereau, Volnay, 2004
Smell: Earthy, mossy.
Taste: Medium-full body. Subtle fruit. Violet and ripe berries.
Finish: Earth. Pine needles and moss. Like walking through a forest.
Cost:
Rating:
8.0Winery: www.huber-verdereau.com
Guest Critics: Amber, Albee, Bob and Crystal
Amber Kara: Amber, a former whale biologist, is the Director of Programs/Program Facilitator at the EnCompass Institute, an educational nonprofit serving families from diverse backgrounds. Amber is co-author of Win-Win Games for All Ages, a book of cooperative games and activities for groups of all ages. Amber holds a B.S. in Marine Biology from The Evergreen State College.
Albee Kara: Albee has worked at the EnCompass Institute for 12 years as a program co-designer and facilitator, leading groups of families, children, and professionals through experiential learning programming. Albee holds a B.A. in Music from University of California Santa Cruz and is also a co-author of Win-Win Games for All Ages, a book of cooperative games and activities.
Bob: Bob is a massage therapist and a jeweler who has worked in the jeweler industry for 35 years. Bob lives in Carmel, CA.
Crystal: Crystal is a ballet, jazz and modern dancer. She lives in Carmel, CA.
Dessert: The Washington Park Summer Concert Festival offers blanket loungers the opportunity to graze on quaint sugary treats while listening to the music. Chocolate and fresh berries were the perfect accompaniment to this night's melodies played by the Oregon Symphony. We couldn't decide which was more delectable--the music or the dessert.
- vegan chocolate cake
- local blueberries
Wine:
- Patchwork Cellars, Pinot Noir, 2005
Favorite Quotes heard on the blanket:
"This (wine) has the taste of sodium penthanol with a hint of cyanide." --Albee, in a snooty nasal tone
Posted by Denise on August 3, 2007 8:00:00 PM PDT
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Patchwork Cellars, Pinot Noir, 2005
Smell: Woody, earthy, grassy, cedar, vanilla, boysenberry, pomegranate.
Taste: Woody with a hint of cedar. Dried fruit: raisin, prune, fig. Definitely earthy, quintessential pinot.
Finish: Sour, acidic and tart. Hard and dry. Bourbon finish. A bit oakey. Not too dry. Fruit and berry aftertaste.
Cost: $$
Rating: ***
Guest Critic: Laura Mansfield
Laura: Laura is an adjunct professor at Portland State University, teaching courses in Film & Social Change and Hybrid Nonprofits. In addition, Laura runs her own nonprofit consulting business, Laura Mansfield Consulting. Prior to this work, Laura co-founded and ran an international nonprofit, Little Voice Productions, that creates documentaries of women and children in developing countries.
Dinner: This dinner took place at Washington Park's annual two-week long Summer Concert Festival in its outdoor amphitheatre. The sound of the music, the smell of the pine and the dancing children and dragonflies make it a truly magical experience. Soul Vaccination, a soul/funk/R&B party band, was the perfect kick-off to the festival, energizing the crowd and compelling adults and children alike to get up and boogie.
- yam and black bean quesadillas with sour cream
- red bell pepper strips
- local blueberries, blackberries and cherries
Wine:
- Volcano Winery, "Symphony Dry", Hawaii
Posted by Denise on August 3, 2007 6:32:00 PM PDT
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Volcano Winery, 'Symphony Dry', Hawaii
Smell: Wet dog, apricot.
Taste: Wet dog, raspy. Maybe this is a sauvignon blanc?
Finish: Thank god the wet dog is gone!
Cost:
Rating:
2.0
