Quick Book Review

Over the past week I finished Don and Petie Kladstrup's Wine and War. This book came highly recommended by many people we talked with in Oregon on the last wine excursion. The book itself sis not disappoint. It's a collection tales that tell of how the Nazi's attempted to plunder France's greatest asset, her wine. Things get interesting when the French go to great lengths to protect what they felt the Germans wouldn't appreciate. Hiding wine consisted of building new walls to block off hidden cellars, weighting cases to the bottom of the pond, or burying bottles in the garden. There was also the sabotage of shipments bound for Berlin and the Resistance using Champagne's underground maze of cellars as a impromptu headquarters. The book mainly follows individual story lines and how each one had varying effects on the war and the wine industry. The authors also examine how each major region was affected how the vineyards dealt with the occupation and eventual liberation. As a wine lover, as well as history lover, this book blended two of my favorites into an enthralling tale of determination, intelligence and heroism.

Wine at Dinner, Wine at Home

Reporting live from the new Dell XPS 400 at the Felty home. For starters...big thank you to Mike, not only did we have a great time at his graduation party, but boy did he treat us right at dinner last week. Last Friday we trekked up to Providence's Napa Valley Grille for peaceful dinner in order to properly celebrate Katie's promotion, and low and behold, mike was our waiter. We started out with a glass of Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc and a glass of Pine Ridge Chenin-Blanc-Viognier. We had tasted the Pine Ridge earlier in the week at Go Fish, and Napa Valley Grille clearly takes better care of their wine, as the fruit flavors were much more forward and noticeable on the nose. The Fume was as good as always, one of my all-time favorites. For appetizer, Katie had a salad with Goat Cheese Croutons, and I had Tuna Tartare. The raw Yellowfin Tuna with wasabi cream was amazing. It wasn't too long before Mike arrived with a delectable bottle of red. A 1997 Clos Du Val Stag's Leap Cabernet! Ahhhh! Nothing touches me like a '97 single AVA Cabernet from Napa, they set my heart on fire! This one did not disappoint. I know a good Cab when it smells like Nana's basement with the cedar walls. For those of you who knew Nana and Poppy's house you know what I am talking about. For other's, it was like taking a deep waff of a cedar chest. That heavy cedar is what made me fall in love with California Cabs. The Clos Du Val followed with flavors of black currant and an earthiness across the finish which last for well over half a minute. It was an excellent wine at an unbelievable price thanks to Mike. For entrees, I had the Filet Mignon with potatoes and mushrooms, while Katie had a delicious Salmon dish with Palenta. Of course, after desert the night led to more libations, mostly tasty ales at various location across Providence. Once again thank you to Mike, and Demonica, for allowing us a fun evening and a place to rest our heads in the wee hours of the morning.

Tonight my wife and I decided to have short celebration before I ship off to Martha's Vineyard for the week. For starters, big surprise here, a bottle of the 2004 Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc. As delicious as always. Next up was the 2001 Pine Ridge Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. All I can say is WOW! My kind of Cab, not to heavy but still filling. I tasted loads of creamy milk chocolate, a sign of California Merlot, but something that clearly developed in the Pine Ridge over its four years in the bottle. I couldn't get enough of this wine and must search out another bottle. In other news, Katie and I are in the preliminary planning stage of our monthly wine tasting party. The plan is to get together one Friday each month and taste some wine for the possibility of purchase by the case to save a dollar or two a bottle. Leave a comment if your interested. Till next time..."I haven't been so happy since we crushed Poland!"--Franz Liebkind, The Producers (2005)