Music and Wines

From my Cellar - 2005 Cossetti Barbera d'Asti La Vigna Vecchia

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Thu, 03 May 2012 01:41:00 +0000

2005 Cossetti Barbera d'Asti La Vigna Vecchia (Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Ast)

90 Points (out of 100)

What an amazing surprise. This bottle of Northern Italian wine has evolved beautifully. It is now perfectly balanced with just the right amount aftertaste. After 3 years in my cellar and 7 years of age in the bottle, I was a little sceptical since it was reported to be a medium bodied wine. Upon popping the cork and taking my first breath in through my nose, I knew I had a winner. The smell was wonderful. The flavours were subdued with a hint of mocha and cherry. I wish I had more of this elegant wine. I will be looking for more from this producer.

Jett Valentine - no album (yet), no label (yet) - Paired with Bodegas Solar de Urbezo

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Fri, 07 May 2010 20:15:00 +0000

Jett Valentine - "your lipstick tastes so damn amazing, I was doing so well"

After hearing Jett Valentine's tunes on My Space (check it out) and The Burning Ear, I discovered an immediate pairing with Bodegas Solar de Urbezo - 2005

Jett’s high register vocals don’t match that photo nearly as much as they match his particular brand of upbeat piano-pop. This Londoner is pretty new on the scene but is already making waves and getting blog love . It’s no surprise why. In “Outlaws” (CLICK ON SONG TO PLAY) Jett laments slipping into old habits with an old girlfriend but the tone of the song betrays a tinge of joy in the mistake. Whatever the topic, Jett approaches it with with the kind of style and goofiness that match that photo perfectly. We’re waiting for more big things, man.

Review from Brandon @ The Burning Ear

Take a listen and a drink and tell me what you think!

It Was The Label That Got me - 2005 Bodegas Solar de Urbezo

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 01:31:00 +0000

Hello readers and thank you for stopping by.

I have been on a bit of a Spanish kick the past few years and the 2005 vintage of various regions of Spain has been spectacular. If you find one, buy it. I think you will be greatly rewarded with 5 years of aging.

A few years ago, I purchased a 2005 Bodegas Solar de Urbezo Cariñena Urbezo Crianza at the Liquor Store. It was the design on the bottle that caught my eye. The label was a piece of artwork (see footnote). It was beautiful to look at, so in my mind I thought the wine had to be as beautiful as the cover.

2005 Bodegas Solar de Urbezo Cariñena Urbezo Crianza

The Review

My rating is 90 out of 100

I cellared this bottle for a little over 2 years and just recently came across it. I guess it was fate, so I decided to pop the cork.

This is a blended wine composed of 40% Tempranillo (traditional variety),

30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Syrah.

In the glass, this wine was dark purple. The colour of wine that was beginning to show some age. The legs on this rich blend were long and there was a bit of an overpowering aroma of alcohol. After a 30 minute decant, the alcohol dissipated and left behind the smell of rich grapes.

I poured this wine through my Vinturi Essential Wine Aerator to speed up the aeration process. It worked and after a bit more time in my glass, this wine really began to smell delicious. In my mouth, I felt a bit of sharpness at the back end of my gulp. Once again, that dissipated with a longer decant.

The wine’s more prominent flavors were a touch of toasted oak along with ripe dark berries. Some hints of smoke and vanilla were also present. This was a really nice wine that needed at least an hour or two to breath. The older a wine gets, them more air she needs.

I wish I had more, so my hunt begins…

Vampire Weekend - Paired with The Stump Jump 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:15:00 +0000

Vampire Weekend's second album was doomed for criticism from the start. As the only band to ever grace the cover of SPIN magazine before releasing an album, Vampire Weekend gained a great deal of press as the best new band around. Their beach worthy tunes for the collegiate elite took the world by storm and the little party band that originated from Columbia University soon had an album on XL Records.

If there's one word that Vampire Weekend clearly holds dear, it's "unique." Their first album introduced a sound all their own and although Contra sees the band exploring the depths of the human ear with far more elaborate frequency landscapes, the distinctive Vampire Weekend resonance remains intact. Ezra Koenig's vocals are distinctive and sound nearly identically produced to their debut while everything around him changes.

It doesn't take long for Vampire Weekend to introduce their newfound complexity. The lead single, "Horchata," begins with a simplistic and instantly catchy verse, but quickly dives into a sea of percussion, rhythmic electronics, and vocal harmonies. On "California English," the all too overused Auto-Tune program becomes just another tasteful and appropriate instrument for the band to exploit. The entire album plays as a perfectly calculated blend of their original sound and a new direction making them easily recognizable, but giving their fans something special instead of more of the same.

Contra is not the instant classic their debut was, but if Vampire Weekend had just taken the safe road and released another album exactly like their self-titled debut, which I'm sure would have been possible for them, the result would have ultimately been boring and Vampire Weekend would have been dismissed as an old dog. Instead, Vampire Weekend is here to stay and I have no doubt they will continue to develop their unique style as the years go by.

So if you have never heard of Vampire Weekend, take a listen and share the experience with a glass of The Stump Jump 2008.

2008 The Stump Jump Red - No Food Required

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:07:00 +0000

OK, I get it!

WRITE PAUL WRITE.

To get back on track, lets start with an Aussie Red that is easy on the pocket book and vibrant in the mouth.

D’Arenberg is wonderful winery located in the infamous Mclaren Vale of Southern Australia. The winery has a long history that began in the early 1900’s. Most of the wines from d'Arenberg are in the mid-priced range with some vintages fetching 100’s of dollars. This review is of their younger sibling.

The wine I will be writing about today is in the lower end of the price spectrum, but on the upper end of the taste scale.

The Stump Jump Red 2008
($14.95 at the LCBO, $10.00 in the US)

The Review
My rating is 88 out of 100

The name “Stump Jump” is derived from an Australian invention – the Stump Jump plough. This plough was adopted worldwide because it was able to ride over stumps and roots saving the farmer lots of frustration. It was a huge hit in late 19th Century.

As the name “Red” implies it is blend of 3 grapes, Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre (Rhone blend).

In the glass, this wine had a dark purple hue with a touch of red. It was a bit shocking to me, that the nose was not as big as I would have expected for a wine of this blend and this colour (never judge a book by it’s cover).

My first glass was consumed right away. I would pin this wine a medium bodied red with a small nose. The initial taste was sweet with a hint of tart. I also detected some saddle leather and a touch of oak (just the right amount).

As with most wines, it definitely got better with a bit of air. This wine greatly improved after a 2 hour decant. At first I would have rated this wine as an 86, but with the right amount of air, it jumped up to an 88. It became more balanced and the tannins mellowed a bit.

If you are looking for a good medium bodied wine that does not have to be consumed with food (i.e. just a drink in the evening), check this one out. All I would suggest you do is listen to some music while drinking this Aussie Red.

Good value and easy drinking. Try it!

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:29:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!! Enjoy your dinner and wine!

2007 Papa Luna - A Wonderful Spanish Blend

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 02:27:00 +0000

I said I would start writing again, so here we go. Once again, I am sorry for taking so long, life sometimes gets in the way. I had to stop writing, but I did not stop drinking.

To begin the winter season, I want to introduce you to a really nice full bodied Spanish Red. I am big on Spain right now.

Papa Luna 2007 produced by Norrel Robertson in Calatayud Spain (LCBO price is $16.95 - LCBO 39883).

The Review
My Rating is 89 out of 100

This wine was a huge hit a few years ago. This vintage is an unfiltered red blend of 70% Granacha, 25% Shiraz and 5% Mazuela Y Monastrell. Upon opening the bottle a beautiful aroma of dried fruit emerged. In the glass, this wine was a dark purple and just begged to be drunk. After an hour decant, all the complex flavors began to blend into a really nice full bodied red wine. Hints of dried fruit, dark berries and a touch of oak was apparent to me. The finish was really nice and the acidity was on the low side.

This young wine needs some time to breath before it is drunk and can be stored in your cellar for a few more years. Drink now or hold, either way you will enjoy this well priced Spanish Red.

Music Review to come….

I AM BACK

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:44:00 +0000

I have to begin by apologizing to everybody for taking most of the summer off. Between filming all summer long for Rush HD and a crazy time with the family, I did not have much time to review and write.

I will begin again and start bringing you the best in Music and Wines. Stay Tuned!

Paul

Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir - 2003

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:37:00 +0000

I was saving this bottle for a special occasion. Upon decanting this vintage, I knew it was going to be a good one. I also knew it would need to sit for at least an hour before it would show it's true colours. I did try a bit right out of the bottle and it was STRONG and Tangy (not drinkable). After 30 minutes this wine began to transform into a work of art. After 1 hour in the glass, this wine took on a life of it's own. It was re-born into a glorious Pinot Noir. Perfectly balanced, with hints of smoke, rich berries a touch oak. It became so smooth and silky it almost melted in your mouth. This was one bottle I wish I had more of. I would suggest drinking it very soon as I don't think it will age much more. Enjoy, you are in for a serious treat if you have a bottle. Don't forget, avoid temptation and let it sit for at least an hour. Enjoy.

Another New Zealand Gem - Mt. Difficulty Pinot Gris Central Otago 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:36:00 +0000

Mt. Difficulty Pinot Gris Central Otago 2008

As summer time ramps up, finding time to write has been harder and harder. I will try not to leave you in the dark over the summer months.

I want to introduce you to another wine from New Zealand. In my search for unique and affordable wines, I stumbled upon a Pinot Gris from a winery called Mt. Difficulty.

I love wines that come from challenging terrains. The harder it is to grow the grape, the better it tastes. Vines thrive on some drought, rough soils and inclines. Mt. Difficulty is located in the Central Otago region of New Zealand. The winery states that they are situated in “a unique and rare area of extremes”. Now let’s taste the wine…

The Review
My Rating is 89 out of 100

This is not your average Pinot Gris so don’t expect it to taste like a Pinot Grigio from Italy. In the glass, this wine had a crystal clear yellow hue. There were nice aromas of mild fruit. In my mouth, I found this wine to be much dryer than the typical Pinot Gris. There were a lot of crisp fruit flavors (citrus fruit and peach) without being too intense. The end had a bit of bitterness. This wine should be drunk now and better enjoyed with food. Perfect for summer lunches and mid day getaways.

I also highly recommend their Pinot Noir; one of my new Kiwi favorites.

Music review and pairing to follow…

MUSIC REVIEW - Empire Of The Sun - Pair with Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:56:00 +0000

This is the first album by Empire of the Sun, a side project for Luke Steele of The Sleepy Jackson and Nick Littlemore of Pnau. Since both bands appear to be popular in Australia and not in America, I had never heard of them.

Walking On A Dream (click here to play)is a strange mix of 80's new wave with modern funk and neo-new wave tendencies. They get compared to MGMT, but actually I think about Prince, Duran Duran, Roxy Music and Pet Shop Boys rolled into one with a dash of 1980's Genesis.

There are key tracks here like Standing On The Shore (click here to play), We Are The People (click here to play)and Swordfish Hotkiss Night (click here to play).

This makes for a mixed album. Neither great nor awful, just average. Still, if the duo continue one with another album, things could get more interesting. They could refine their sound, and make things more compelling. The other reason for my average rating is that this type of music is not new to me. I like this genre, but there are other artists who have mastered this type of music. These two are still feeling their way around, and while their debut is solid, it's not quite the best they can do.

Red Bull Air Race World Championshp in Canada

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:14:00 +0000

I am sorry for the music review delay, but I have been away covering one of the greatest shows on earth. Take a look at the Red Bull Air Race World Championship held this past weekend in Windsor, Ontario.

Click Play on the video:

A Secret From New Zealand - Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 02:10:00 +0000

New Zealand is known for a lot of things, like adventure sports, kiwis, lamb and Sauvignon Blanc. That is why I am not going to write about that varietal. Having attended the New Zealand Wine Fair a few weeks ago, I discovered some amazing wines that will hopefully be showing up on shelves around the world. My first review is of a Syrah…

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2007

Villa Maria Estate has been a staple winery in New Zealand since 1961. It is a family run shop that has been producing award winning wines for the world to enjoy, including the Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2007. I will admit, this was my first experience with this winery, but I can tell you it will not be my last.

The Review
My Rating is 90 out of 100

I was really excited to try a Syrah from New Zealand after all the Sauvignon Blanc I had tasted. In the glass, this wine was dark purple and had nice legs. The nose was rich with a touch of alcohol. This Syrah was smooth, with light tannins, a bit more reminiscent of an old world Syrah. I enjoyed tastes of ripe berries and just the right amount of oak. Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah Hawke’s Bay 2007 is a young wine that will age really well over the next few years. Next time you think of a Syrah, think of a New Zealand Syrah.

Judged the best Syrah at New Zealand’s Royal Easter Show Wine.

Music review to follow…

Fun Music - Friendly Fires debut album - Pair with 2007 Beringer Founder's Estate Chardonnay

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:05:00 +0000

My Music Rating is 3.9 out of 5

You may have noticed that I like music that is fun. Now to continue with that theme, I would like to introduce you to Friendly Fires.

The Friendly Fires self-titled debut album is a lot of fun. The sound is UK in nature and has a lot of 80's influence, with a bit of electronic and rock music. This album is upbeat which makes it flow really well. I wouldn't say that the album is innovative, but their ability to write a catchy chorus on most songs is astounding.

A good sampling and my favorite tunes of Friendly Fires, begins with the first track on the album, Jump In The Pool (click song to listen). That song should make you want to listen more, so take a listen to Paris. One final sample from Friendly Fires is Lovesick. This track is a bit different but still has a very catchy chorus that you will be singing for hours on end. Enjoy Friendly Fires with a cold glass of 2007 Beringer Founder’s Estate Chardonnay.

The First Summer Time Wine - Beringer Founder's Estate Chardonnay 2007

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Sat, 30 May 2009 17:57:00 +0000

As the season changes, so does my drinking. As the weather gets warmer, I introduce more white wine into my diet. On my last visit to New York City, I was lured into Trader Joes Wine Store by a sign advertising Beringer Founders’Estate 2007 Chardonnay for $8.99. How could I resist? (LCBO price is $18.90 - LCBO # 534230).

The Review
My Rating is 87 out of 100

This was a really nice wine, smooth, easy drinking and perfect for summer. I am not the biggest Chardonnay consumer, but I was very impressed with this bottle. In the glass, the colour was a clear pale yellow with a classic Chardonnay nose of sweet fruit and oak. In my mouth there was a silky smooth feeling. Light, yet full of flavor, dry with a hint of sweetness. Vanilla and lush green apples were the most prominent flavors, with a hint of pear and tropical fruit. This is a very well balanced wine that was not over oaked as Chardonnays can be.

It may sound like I wrote what was on the back of the bottle, but my tastes were very similar to Beringer’s notes. Both my brother and I agree, this is a wonderful wine to sit back and enjoy summer with.

Thanks for sharing this bottle with me Dave R.

Music review to follow…..

Passion Pit - Just Released - Be On The Cutting Edge

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:44:00 +0000

My Music Rating is 3.9 out of 5

I paired Château Pesquié Côtes du Ventoux Terrasses with Passion Pit – Manners because this wine deserves some FUN. Together, they were a perfect match.

Passion Pit is a new band to hit the scene hailing from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Their first single was released last year and Manners (their first EP) was just released in May of 2009.

After listening to the entire album a few times, the same word kept popping up in my head. FUN. This album has a lot of influences. I hear a bit of Cut Copy, MGMT and Hot Chip. If you are familiar with those bands you will know what I mean.

The first track is Make Light and that it does. Full of energy and a great beat, this debut track is perfect to begin the album. There is almost a melodic bell waking you up and getting you ready for what is to come. The next track Little Secrets flows seamlessly with the same amount of energy and bit more electro-synth. Now at this point I have to warn you, you with either love or hate Michael Angelakos’ lead vocals. They can get a bit whiny but that is just his style. Go with it, grow with it.

Sleepyhead was Passion Pit’s single release in 2008. To many it was said to be in the top 5 indie songs of the year. I have to disagree, which is why I did not begin this review with that track. Listen and make the call for yourself. The rest of the album is much stronger.

This EP is just chock full of high energy tunes that just make you smile. The more mellow tracks are melodic works of art a la keyboard. If you want to be on the cutting edge of music, check these guys out.

Wine Review - A Southern Rhône - For Under 17 Dollars

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:15:00 +0000

2006 Château Pesquié Côtes du Ventoux Terrasses

In my search for really good wines that will not break the bank, I came across this one. Château Pesquié Côtes du Ventoux Terrasses 2006 is a French wine from the Southern Rhône region, more specifically Côtes du Ventoux.

When I did my research I found that this is a family endeavor. Three generations are hard at work to bring us a really nice wine. This region of France is characterized by a gravel soil mixture composed of limestone and clay. Côtes du Ventoux is said to be at the cross roads of the Mediterranean and Alpine region creating a perfect micro-climate to grow grapes.

Château Pesquié Côtes du Ventoux Terrasses 2006 is a blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah. An interesting note is that only 35% of this vintage was aged in oak barrels that were 2-3 years old.

The Review
My Rating is 90 out of 100

The first step of trying a new wine begins with the colour, in this case a dark purple. Then the nose becomes apparent. In this wine, I would say the nose was inviting, just asking me to take a sip and see what was in the glass. My first mouthful was delicious. This full bodied red had no bite and mellow tannins. It was very well balanced and slightly fruit forward. Cherry, oak and smoke were the main flavors that popped. The one downfall to this great wine was the finish. It was missing something. I wanted a bit more, but I know to a lot of wine lovers, a strong finish is not desirable.

All in all, this was a great wine and once again, I highly recommend you give this lesser know winery a chance. Take a peak at their website and you will get a feeling for the dedication that goes into every bottle. My next trip to France will surely include a stop at Château Pesquié.

Music pairing coming soon…Stay tuned…

REVIEW - Longwave - Secrets Are Sinister - Paired with Henry of Pelham Baco Noir 2007 VQA

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Thu, 07 May 2009 02:33:00 +0000

My Rating is 3.5 out of 5

I paired Longwave – Secrets Are Sinister with Henry of Pelham Baco Noir for 2 reasons. First, this wine needed some good old fashioned Rock and Roll. Second, both are not as mainstream as they should be.

Believe it or not, this is Longwave’s 4th album and in my opinion their best yet. After a three year hiatus Longwave is back and ready to prove something to the world. Hailing from Brooklyn, New York and armed with a new bass player, Longwave will surely get you playing air guitar. You will notice a huge influence from U2. Listen to what I mean in No Direction, the single I would have chosen to release first.

While sipping your Baco Noir, skip ahead to Life is Wrong. This track has an epic feel to it, powerful, from beginning to end, with all the elements of a great rock song.

The title track Secrets Are Sinister finishes off the album perfectly with a catchy drum beat, melodic guitar and comforting vocals. Listen for more U2 influence in this one.

Like I said about the Baco Noir, try something new. Longwave is sure to impress.

Wine Review - Try Something New - Baco Noir

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Mon, 04 May 2009 15:55:00 +0000

Henry of Pelham Family Estates Baco Noir 2007 ($13.95)

For this review I decided to stay local. When I say local, I am talking about the Niagara Region of Ontario. If you live outside of Canada then you are probably not familiar with the high quality wine that is now being produced in Ontario.

I would like to introduce you all to a little secret. Ontario is producing
world class wine and on top of it all the 2007 vintage is supposed to be one of the best in history.

The Review
My Rating: 89 points out of 100 (probably will increase as the bottle ages)

I have always been a big fan of Henry of Pelham Family Estates wines. This winery consistently puts out top quality products and this 2007 Baco Noir is no exception.

As soon as I got this wine, I was excited to try it. Upon pouring the wine into a nice big glass, all I could do was stare at the beautiful dark purple colour. The nose was very rich and full with a small tinge of alcohol being released. This wine had a smooth almost creamy taste/texture. It was dry and medium to full bodied. The tastes that appeared were dark ripe berries and a hint of vanilla.

If you have never tried a Baco Noir, this should be the one you try first. Henry of Pelham Baco Noir 2007 is a very well crafted wine from a very special local winery.

Drink it now or hold onto it for a few years.

Trust me and try something new.

Music pairing coming soon…Stay tuned…

REVIEW - Depeche Mode – Sounds of the Universe - Paired with Mastroleo Salice Salentino Riserva

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:56:00 +0000

Depeche Mode – Sounds of the Universe Paired with Mastroleo Salice Salentino Riserva

My Rating is 4 out of 5

Yeah, that’s right Martin Gore and Dave Gahan are back at it with Depeche Mode’s 12th studio album Sounds of the Universe. You have to give these boys credit for sticking with it for over 30 years (Depeche Mode was around before the Compact Disc).

So the question is… can they still kick it after such a long career?
The short answer is YES.

I had to listen to this album a few times to really gain an appreciation for it. After the first pass, I knew there was potential, but something was missing. After a few more plays I really learned to relate to Sounds of the Universe. It needs to decant a bit, trust me!

This album is very similar to most of the work they have been doing over the last 30 years (actually better than some). The only difference is a small regression in the synth technology. You will know what I mean when you listen to a few tracks; it is vintage Depeche Mode.

The common theme to this album is spacey mood syths. You actually feel as if you are taking a tour of the universe through sound. They are retro yet modern Star Trek syths. A cosmic soundscape!

The first single released was Wrong. This track has a harsh and abrasive feel to it. Dave Gahan shouts Wrong in almost every line. CLICK SONGS TO LISTEN.

Hole to Feed is a wonderful tune that has great rhythm with a razor sharp edge to it.

One of my favorite tracks on this album is Corrupt. This tune is a full throw back to Violator.

All in all, this is a very solid effort from a band that has spanned over 3 decades. It is living proof that retro will never die. It just keeps getting a bit better with age.

My pairing of this album to Mastroleo Salice Salentino Riserva 2004 is due to the light and airy feel to both. Go on, give it a try and you will see what I mean.

Great Table Wine - Low Price - Check It Out

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 02:27:00 +0000

Mastroleo Salice Salentino Riserva 2004 (LCBO # 121632 $15.95) 88 pts

Sometimes you buy a wine because it is from a region you want to taste again. That was the case with this red wine Mastroleo Salice Salentino Riserva 2004. Its roots are Southern Italian, to be more specific the Puglia region.

Southern Italian wines are hot right now, so I had to jump on the bandwagon and try one. Mastroleo Salice Salentino Riserva 2004 is a mix of two local grapes, 80% Negroamaro and 20% Malvasia Nera aged for 9 months in oak barrels.

The Review
My rating:88 points out of 100

I opened this bottle with dinner and decided to taste it throughout the evening. Upon opening this wine there was very little nose. The colour was dark but the body was on the lighter side. It had a balanced fruit taste with hints of wild currants and a touch of chocolate. After being open for an hour, the oak flavors became apparent and the wine improved. After 2 hours being open, more of the chocolate taste came through with a bit more nose. As time went on, the wine lost a lot of its complexity.

This was a great everyday drinking table wine that is well matched with lighter foods. Mastroleo Salice Salentino Riserva 2004 is a good value wine that should be drank right now and finished on the same night.

Music pairing coming soon… Stay tuned...

U2 - No Line on the Horizon Review/Pair with Château Saint-Roch Côtes du Roussillon Chimères

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 02:41:00 +0000

My last post was sent out in haste, as I wanted to spread the news about Château Saint-Roch Côtes du Roussillon Chimères (LCBO # 119354). I also mentioned that I owed you a music review and pairing to this delicious wine. Here it goes…

Because this wine was so smooth, I had to go with U2’s new album, No Line on the Horizon.

Now before I begin, I have to divulge some important information. I am a very big U2 fan. So big, I even found a lot of good in Zooropa.

U2 – No Line on the Horizon
4.3 out of 5

U2, in their 12th studio album, have once again raised the bar of modern/classic rock symbiosis. As U2 gets older, their music adapts, but in No Line on the Horizon there is a lot of new sounds firmly anchored by classic melodies. I am talking about the Edge’s unique guitar, Adam’s airy bass, Larry’s mesmerizing drums and Bono’s cries.

The album begins with a great drumbeat and just the right amount of The Edge. Then comes Bono, a bit shaky at first then right back where he left off 10 years ago. No Line on the Horizon(click song to listen), the title track is a great start to what seems to be the U2 we all know and love.

The next track is called Magnificent(click song to listen), one of my favorite tracks on this album. It encompasses everything that I love about U2. Great vocals, amazing guitar, classic Adam bass and catchy drum rifts.

Skipping ahead, the album mellows out and we get a chance to listen to Bono’s tales. Unknown Caller(click song to listen) is another heavy hitter with great lyrics and some amazing guitar solos near the end. Take note if you are a fan of The Edge.

Get On Your Boots(click song to listen) was the first single to be released and does not really fit on No Line on the Horizon. To me, it was produced to replicate other U2 singles that would capture some of the unconverted. It was a bit of a let down and would not have been my pick for the first release.

The album once again shifts to more of a mellow mood with the final song being a bit of a play on the end of Zooropa. It reminded me of Johnny Cash singing The Wanderer. Cedars of Lebanon Listen
is very similar but in this track Bono is the lead vocals singing about war through the eyes of a reporter. It is a perfect ending to the album. Listen to the lyrics and you will see why.

After listening to this album a few times, it became apparent to me that U2 is a band made up of 4 members that are irreplaceable. All four members are required to make this recipe for success. Take one out of the mix and it will sound horrible. This is not the Bono show it used to be. This is U2. United, strong and in perfect sync. If you are a U2 fan, you will love this album. If you are not sold, listen to it a few times paying attention to the lyrics and Edge’s guitar. U2 has done it again.

Listen with a glass of Château Saint-Roch Côtes du Roussillon Chimères and you will slip away into a wonderful place.

HIGHLY recommended - Château Saint-Roch Côtes du Roussillon 2006

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 01:47:00 +0000

So, my intentions were to always write a music review with a wine review, but I found an amazing wine that I had to share ASAP. Lets just say I owe you a music review.

2006 Château Saint-Roch Côtes du Roussillon Chimères (LCBO # 119354)

To begin, this wine blew me away. What is even more impressive is the under $20 price point.

When I say run and get this wine, do it! Trust me. It will disappear very fast.

The Review
I rate this a 91 out of 100

This remarkable French wine is from the South of France from a vineyard located very close to the Mediterranean Sea. It is composed of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Carignan. From my research this vintage was aged for 8 -10 months in oak barrels and only 1200 cases were made. This wine can be enjoyed now or saved for a few years.

Tasting Notes

This wine is a smooth operator. Perfectly balanced and velvety in my mouth with no bite at all. A perfect wine for those beginning venturing into reds.

Before reading anything about this wine, I could taste some of the minerals from the soil. Then after reading the back of the bottle I knew it had something to do with the proximity to the sea. It is amazing when you can taste geography; it comes through in this wine. Other flavors that came to mind were dark fruit berries and a touch of nuts. The nose was a bit weak, but the taste and finish made up for it. I think this wine will taste even better after an hour or two decant, something I should have done.

I highly recommend Château Saint-Roch Côtes du Roussillon Chimères 2006. It is available, but not for long once word gets out.

Please give me your feedback, I would love to hear what you think of this wine and my blog.

Paul

Costa di Bussia Lange Barbera Arcapla’ 2004 and Cut Copy

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:30:00 +0000

First of all, I would like to welcome you to the inaugural review posting on Music and Wines. WOO HOO!!!
I will try and post at least one review every week with the hopes of doing more.
Bear in mind, I am a web rookie, but my passion for Music and Wine will keep you coming back!

Lets get started….

Wine:
Costa di Bussia lange Barbera Arcapla’ 2004
My rating is 89 out of 100

I found this hidden gem at my local wine shop (LCBO) by accident. It was the bottle and the region it came from that drew me to this wine.

To begin, Costa di Bussia lange Barbera Arcapla’ comes from the Piemonte region of Italy (more specifically Langhe). I have always enjoyed a bottle from the Langhe appellation, so I had to pick up this bottle.

After some research, I found that this wine was a true hidden gem. It has won a silver medal at the Mondus Vini competition in 2008 and was blend of two of my favorite grapes.

This wine is composed of 70% Barbera and 30% Nebbiolo. The name Arcapla’ means put on top in the local dialect. This refers to a method the wine maker used to add the later ripening Nebbiolo grapes on top of the already partially fermented Barbera. After 9 months of aging in French Oak barrels here is what came out:

This wine is a wonderful balance of fruit, tannin and acidity. The nose was a bit light, but the taste made up for it. It is a medium to full-bodied wine with a nice and long finish. I detected hints of berries (the dark kind), a bit of leather and a touch of espresso. It was a really smooth wine that would be enjoyed by new wine lovers getting used to red wine and old time aficionados who love a full-bodied experience.

This wine could be enjoyed alone, or with foods such as pasta, pizza, sausage and chicken. Please note, this wine may be impossible to find. Good luck, it is worth the internet hunt!

I personally enjoyed this wine with Cut Copy…

Music:
Cut Copy latest album In Ghost Colours
My rating is 4 out of 5

I am sure there’s a lot of you who have never heard of Cut Copy. I am about to change that as this band is a lot of fun and full of energy. Cut Copy comes from Melbourne, Australia and started up in 2001.
In this post, I am just going to focus on their latest album In Ghost Colours
(released in 2008 by Modular Interscope).

Cut Copy is a perfect example of 80’s music grown up to work now. I really like
this band, but they are not for all. You have to want to have fun with organic 80’s
electo/pop sounds. If you are into that, you will be bouncing at your desk or in
your car or wherever you feel like bouncing. When I listen to this album I hear a
bit of Depeche Mode, The Cure and New Order.

This is an album that will lift your spirits and start your mornings off right. Some
of the highlights are Hearts On Fire and Lights and Music. Both songs will
cause unexpected bouncing (as stated above). Feel The Love and Far Way will
cause you to sing along and Eternity One Night Only will finish the album
just right with a wide range of mellow and fun beats.

When I listen to In Ghost Colours, I listen to the entire album as it just flows and
goes by way too fast. There is no skipping through songs here and when it is
over I usually listen to it again.

If you want a really fun album to bring back old memories and create
some new ones, this is it. Pop lovers will go nuts, eighties fans will rejoice and
the new listener will find an amazing new band to follow.

Enjoy….

To get started here is some research.....

noreply@blogger.com (Music and Wines) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:14:00 +0000

Here is a very interesting article from the San Fransisco Chronicle written by W. Blake Gray.

It is PROOF that there is a link between WINE and MUSIC.

STAY TUNED because in the next few weeks we will begin an incredible journey of music and wine.

P.S. I just purchased my stock of 2005 Bordeaux. Supposedly the best vintage in a VERY long time!!!

Here is the article:

Which goes better with a fine Napa Valley Cabernet: Mozart or Metallica?

Until recently, I would have said "Mozart, of course." But I have since had a life-changing experience: I paid attention to the latest theory from wine industry provocateur Clark Smith. Now I may never taste wine and listen to music the same way again. Beware: If you read this article, the same thing may happen to you.

Music influences the way wine tastes. This seems obvious, and is the reason professional tastings are done in silence. If food, glassware, ambient temperature, perfume and the people sitting next to you all influence the taste of wine, why wouldn't music?

Smith, 56, isn't content without experimentation. His premise is that different music makes some wines taste better and others taste worse, and the great majority of tasters will agree with the "right" and "wrong" pairings regardless of their taste in wine or music. Moreover, it's not possible to record a generic "music to drink wine by" CD because a song that might make Pinot Noir taste great can make Cabernet Sauvignon taste awful. You have to pay attention to individual music and wine pairings.

He's only getting started, but he already has made some surprising, counterintuitive discoveries in an area of wine taste-testing that didn't even exist until he created it.

"Just about everybody who hears about what I'm doing is either completely baffled by what I have to say or they think it's so obvious that they don't see any point in talking about it," Smith says.

Smith - an MIT dropout who drifted to California to become R.H. Phillips' founding winemaker - is never satisfied to accept the status quo.

As founder of Santa Rosa's one-stop wine consultancy company Vinovation, Smith has helped drive many of the technical advances like alcohol reduction and tannin removal that, depending on where you stand, have either improved California wine or stolen its soul. He's an unabashed technologist - he sells some of his wines in a "micro-oxygenation three-pack" - yet he talks about wines having melody, and he's a mysticist who still believes in the ancient Greek idea of separating thoughts and activities into Apollonian (logical) and Dionysian (intuitive).

Smith spent months with various tasting panels sampling 150 different wines with 250 different songs to find harmonies and discordances. He has worked up a set of some of the most convincing examples that he is beginning to present to industry groups.

He's not the first winemaker to think about the wine-music connection. Smith was exposed to the idea by Don Blackburn, a French-trained winemaker now at Emeritus Vineyards in Sebastopol, who made a brief presentation in 1998 at a symposium called "Focus on Chardonnay." Then the winemaker at Bernardus in Carmel Valley, Blackburn poured three different vintages of his Chardonnay and played 10 different pieces of classical music.

"I had 4 of the 10 pieces of music where all the groups - French and American tasters - agreed that it worked with one wine in particular," Blackburn says.

Blackburn was interested in synesthesia, in which people experience one type of sensation with a different sense. Famous synesthetes include composers like Duke Ellington and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, who experienced musical notes as colors.

But Smith felt something else going on. He wasn't experiencing music as flavor; he believed the music was changing the flavor of the wines.

Moreover, the more Smith worked with alcohol reduction - the technology for which he is most famous - the more he thought about wine and music.

The reason is his theory of "sweet spots." When reducing the alcohol level of a wine from the "natural" level produced by fermentation, it's possible to create a finished wine with any percentage of alcohol you choose: 14.2, 12.7, whatever. But Smith says (and demonstrates convincingly) that only a few specific alcohol percentages - "sweet spots" - actually taste good, and the only way to know which work is to make test reductions and taste them. He compares the sweet spots to musical chords - a particular percentage of alcohol tastes harmonious, while just 0.1 percent more or less alcohol tastes dissonant (like Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn's feedback riffs, for you punk synesthetes.)

As with his wine and music pairings, he uses science to answer a non-scientific question: "Which is more delicious?"

For his demonstration, Smith plays different music with three red wines - a Beaujolais, a Carneros Pinot Noir and WineSmith's Crucible Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. (For details of his presentation, see " 'Enter Sandman' with Cab? Road testing Smith's theories" at right.) Most tasters agree on the results: Pinot Noir is good with Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik," but Cab isn't. Smith postulates that Cabernet is best with what he calls Dionysian music, or music of darkness. Hence, Metallica is a good choice with that bottle of 1961 Bordeaux you've been saving.

He has even found a piece of music (the North Water Street Tavern Band's polka-like "Milorganite Blues") that made Sutter Home White Zinfandel taste better than any of the reds, including his own $100 Cab.

Smith has only a few guidelines so far for music and wine pairing.

"Never play polkas with anything," he says, unless you really like White Zinfandel.

"Red wines need either minor key or they need music that has negative emotion. They don't like happy music. With expensive reds, don't play music that makes you giggle. Pinots like sexy music. Cabernets like angry music. It's very hard to find a piece of music that's good for both Pinot and Cabernet."

Smith may be onto something here, but typically, pronouncements like "Cabernet tastes better by firelight, in a cave" aren't quite scientific enough for the academic community.

"I know how Clark usually does things," says Ann Noble, professor emeritus of sensory science at UC Davis, and inventor of the wine aroma wheel used in wine analysis. "He doesn't vary the order. The experiment (of changing the perception of wine's flavor by changing music) might not be replicable. But it's an extremely interesting experiment. The question is, is it a one-off phenomena?"

Noble says she'd like to see the experiment performed on subjects in the middle of an MRI, to see what's happening in the brain as they taste.

"But it's hard to get research grant money for MRIs, and wine tasting isn't a hot area for brain research," says Noble.

Smith's spiel for the wine-music interaction effect involves cutaway slides of the brain and explanations of what function different parts of it play in processing music. But he doesn't actually know, physiologically, why Cabernet tastes significantly better with the Doors' "People Are Strange" or the overture to Carmina Burana, than with Mozart or the Beach Boys.

Smith postulates that wine tasting requires the same logical processing areas of the brain as listening to music. A slice of brain research that particularly interests him is a study published by Anne J. Blood and Robert J. Zatorre of McGill University in Montreal in 2001. Blood and Zatorre showed that when subjects listen to music they enjoy (different from Smith's experiments because the subjects chose the music), they activate pleasure centers of the brain - the same areas of the brain that react to, their abstract states, "euphoria-inducing stimuli, such as food, sex and drugs of abuse." In other words, good music can make us feel the same as a good duck confit - and wine probably fits in there as one of those three euphoria-inducing stimuli, if not all three. (Blood and Zatorre did not respond to a request for comment on Smith's theories.)

Petr Janata, assistant professor of psychology at the Center for Mind and Brain at UC Davis, mentioned similar, more recent, research that says the areas of the medial prefrontal cortex responsible for identifying familiar music overlap with those for sensing odors - and aromas play a huge role in our perception of flavor. The medial prefrontal cortex is also activated when we make judgments about whether we like something or not.

Could the brain be crossing signals between wine and music? Maybe, Janata says - it's possible that the brain might have "difficulty identifying the source" of the familiar sensation.

Until Smith gets huge grant money and decides to give up winemaking for sensory research, all he has are a few interesting phenomena. Yet the idea is compelling, and the implications for restaurants are immense: What if the music playing makes the Pinot Noir taste sour? And how can a restaurateur choose between orderly music that makes the Riesling delightful and threatening music that makes the Cab profound? Is the world ready for the Steakhouse of Darkness?

Restaurateur Pat Kuleto has always considered music a crucial part of establishing the right mood for his establishments, including San Francisco's Boulevard and Farallon and St. Helena's Martini House. Kuleto carefully controls the overall sound level and gives the restaurants suggested CDs. But he's never taken it to the level Smith has, such as Smith's suggestion that sommeliers only taste wine while they're listening to music that will play in the restaurant during dinner.

"In a restaurant, you're really playing with people's psyche. Music is messing with your psyche," says Kuleto, who also owns an eponymous winery in St. Helena. "You're changing people's mood. What mood you're in changes your palate. I think there's absolute truth to what you're talking about, but it's part of a bigger picture."

Tasting rooms might also take an interest. How can wineries that make several different kinds of wine ever come up with a playlist?

"This is why Muzak is such a profitable company," says Dan Fredman, a wine industry consultant and music fanatic. "They establish the atmosphere in companies, and it changes throughout the days, from mellow in the morning to more lively in the afternoon, when people need a pick-me-up."

Fredman speculates that if Smith's preliminary research - like avoiding Mozart with Cabernet - gains attention, Muzak might develop music for wine tasting. Craig Root, president of St. Helena tasting-room consultancy Visitor Management Resources, already does that, but not based on flavor profiles.

"For me, choosing music for a tasting room is demographics," Root says. "I tend to lean toward jazz that's not frenetic and classical music, especially in the morning. In the afternoon, when younger people come in, maybe blues and classic rock."

Of course, no matter how convincing Smith's findings get in the future, just as plenty of diners order Cabernet with spicy seafood dishes no matter what the sommelier says, there will always be plenty of wine lovers who simply refuse to worry about finding the right tunes for their wine. "I don't want to think about it," says importer and blues singer Kermit Lynch. "I did a tasting once of different shaped glasses. But I stopped before we finished. That's how I feel about this - I didn't want to know about it. I don't want to have different glasses all over the house. I want to just use one glass."

And yet, even Lynch couldn't help speculating.

"Let's say you're going to listen to a Mozart piano, violin and cello trio," he says. "Do you choose a Muscadet, light and crisp? Or say you're going to listen to one of Beethoven's late quartets, among the most soulful of all music. Is that the time to pull out the 1929 Romanee-Conti?"

I don't know. Neither does Smith. But open that bottle, turn on the iPod and let's find out.

W. Blake Gray is a freelance writer in San Francisco

Click here for a copy of the article.

I am excited!!!

Stay tunes for the fun to begin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!