Reading For New Times http://r4nt.com Exposing Intellect, People and Esthetics. Sun, 10 Oct 2010 22:05:11 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 34499726 noExposing Intellect, People and Esthetics. Black Cloud Altostratus http://r4nt.com/quick-review/black-cloud-altostratus/ http://r4nt.com/quick-review/black-cloud-altostratus/#respond Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:38:24 +0000 http://r4nt.com/?p=4090

Black Cloud Altostratus

Vintage: 2008

Region: Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, Canada

Varietals: Pinot Noir

Alcohol: 13.2%

Price: $27.99

We have been in contact with the winemaker from Black Cloud Bradley Cooper for a long time. We were impressed with his wine making skills from his efforts at Township 7, so naturally when we heard he had a label of his own, we were excited about giving this wine a try. Needless to say when we heard that Mr. Cooper and his wife Audralee were going to be touring through Alberta and supplying samples, Reading for New Times wanted to be first in line.

The story of Black Cloud is rather interesting, as the first vintage of Black Cloud was actually a wine Mr. Cooper had made for a client who couldn’t afford to pay him for his services. When the client dropped off 80 cases of the wine as payment for his services, Mr. Coopers wife Audralee stated that the situation was like a ‘Black Cloud’ hanging over their heads. Sensing an opportunity, the duo decided to buy back the remaining inventory of the wine and brand it themselves. With that, Black Cloud was born.

Being a young Pinot Noir, we chilled it down to about 17 degrees Celsius before pouring and did not decant it. In the glass, the wine exhibits a wonderful, vibrant purple hue that displays its youth well with its light to medium body. On the nose, notes of ripe and sour cherries, raspberry and plum are the primary fruit components. There are also notes of cinnamon and cedar which add nice depth to the aroma. Initially, the nose on this wine is less Pinot Noir and more indicative of Merlot, but this will undoubtedly change with time. On the palate, the attack is dark and elegant, with chaulky, tart cherry and black plum leading with a precise transition to a high acid, green herbal-ness over the mid-palate. The finish goes dry but is lengthy and mouthwatering. The balance and tannins on this wine are deftly executed and it is easy to see the high level of quality it exhibits. It has fleeting moments of angularity but I see these disappearing with some additional bottle aging.

Our verdict: This is a tremendous Pinot Noir from BC that over delivers in a massive fashion, despite its obvious youth. If and when, and we sincerely hope it does make it to the Alberta market, we’d recommend buying at least three of these bottles and sampling them over the next 3 to 5 years to get a true sense of the character of this wine. It has all the right tools to be special, and if you give it the time it needs, we doubt you’ll be disappointed.

91 points

]]> http://r4nt.com/quick-review/black-cloud-altostratus/feed/ 0 4090 Sónar 2010 – Barcelona, Spain http://r4nt.com/article/sonar-2010-barcelona-spain/ http://r4nt.com/article/sonar-2010-barcelona-spain/#respond Fri, 09 Jul 2010 21:49:12 +0000 http://r4nt.com/?p=4045 Sónar is an electronic music festival of immense proportions. It is exhausting, but certainly worth the physical strain. One of the reasons that makes it so great is that it is split into two festivals. Sónar by Day offers relaxed vibes and experimentalism in beautiful city centre environs, set between two contemporary art centres. Sónar by Night is a full on clubbing extravaganza in a cavernous aircraft hangar on the outskirts of the city. Musically, Sónar works because of its mix of established and upcoming names. There are flavour of the month acts such as Roska alongside acts like 2020 Soundsystem, who’ve followed their own vision for years. Sónar also features a good mix of national and international talent. The hook up with the Red Bull Music Academy, who ran a stage during Sónar by Day 2010, brought a range of boundary pushing acts to the table.

atmosphereChillaxin’ at Sonar by Day

What cannot be underestimated is the importance of the location of the festival. Barcelona is an exciting city and still undeniably rough around the edges, despite the Olympics driven gentrification of the 90s. In terms of people, Sónar appeals mostly to those in their 20s, 30s and 40s of European extraction. The festival attracts a lot of outsiders, but the Mediterranean, Spanish and more specifically Catalan nature of the people makes the festival what it is. Catalan people are passionate and this passion is infectious. The atmosphere is electric in Barcelona as a city and heightened by music and intoxicants at Sónar. Seeing people crying tears of joy was not a strange occurrence at Sónar by Night.

An indication of how Sónar has grown during its seventeen years of existence is the rise of ‘Off Sónar’ parties. Now arguably able to rival ‘On Sónar’, the city’s clubs, beach bars, party boats and hotel terraces are booked up during the same period. Sónar 2010 saw label showcases from Bpitch Control, Ovum and 2020 Vision and parties with the likes of Robert Hood. The music focus away from the official festival was firmly on technoid grooves, with a smattering of dubstep and housier events. It proved impossible to do anything more than dip my toe into ‘Off Sónar’, whilst attending the official festival.

CaribouCaribou – YouTube

My Sónar experience started on the Thursday afternoon, where the vibe was chilled, the Estrella Damn beer was starting to flow and there was a faint smell of hash in the air. The surroundings were picturesque and the weather was beautiful. By early evening, there were queues for drinks, toilets and a people traffic jam when attempting to get into the Sónar Dôme tent to see Caribou. This Canadian act provided the highlight of Thursday’s Sónar by Day, with their cool mix of guitars and keys. The bassy Odessa sounded particularly impressive and the atmosphere in the tent was infectious. There was plenty of time to sample Off Sónar on Thursday. My first stop was the breezy RA by Day party at Hotel Diagonal, where technoid grooves, northern European accents and sunglasses ruled. Thursday night involved a visit to the atmospheric Razzmatazz. Here, Tiga and Boys Noize provided synthilating grooves and local spinner Vicknoise played an excellent set.

DeloreanDelorean – YouTube

Friday’s Sónar by Day was altogether busier than Thursday, with crowds stretching back from the main stage. Here, Sheffield’s Shake Aletti provided funny cosmic pop and tie dye clothing. New Young Pony Club (YouTube) proved their worth as a synth guitar band with the dynamic Chaos, but also showed they are a one trick pony. Delorean did their bit for Spain with ethereal melodies and intense synth laden grooves. Elsewhere, I enjoyed wandering through a courtyard that offered various treats and a quick peruse of the technology driven Sónar Pro area.

AirAir – YouTube

Sónar by Night provided an altogether different experience. Musically, it retained the wonderful diversity of its daytime counterpart, but provided a darker musical palate. Considering the huge size of the venue, it is surprising that the atmosphere was intense throughout. The music kicked off at 10pm, but as with most Spanish places, it didn’t get going until 1 or 2am. Friday’s Sónar by Night proved to be the best of the two after dark experiences, with a range of acts thrilling the huge crowds. French band Air kicked off the main room with their trademark expansive sounds and a mind boggling visual show. Hot Chip had clubbers crammed into the SonarPub arena and it was worth the crushed limbs and nearly lost companions to hear an epic version of One Life Stand. As expected, LCD Soundsystem rocked the main stage. The essence of their appeal is an ability to combine fragile beauty with gutsy rocky-electronics and they achieved this with winners such as a bongo heavy version of Pow Wow.

LCD SoundsystemLCD Soundsystem – YouTube

At 3am, the Sugarhill Gang brought their old school hip hop showmanship and good times to the SonarLab stage. This provided an excellent respite from electronic heaviness, with teasing versions of familiar fair. Highs included Michael Jackson‘s Billie Jean and their theme song, Rapper’s Delight. Germany’s Booka Shade showed how much you can do with a drumkit and keys in SonarPub, as they let rip with a magical set of techy yet emotive tunes. As expected, a crazy drum version of Body Language got the best reaction from the crowd.

Hot ChipHot Chip – YouTube

Closing the proceedings were Mehdi of French label Ed Banger and Riton as Carte Blanche. Knowing exactly what their audience demanded at 6am, they provided a truly life affirming experience as the sun came up. They dished out electroid, acidy and techy house grooves, where highlights included Crystal Waters’ gorgeous Gypsy Woman and Hardrive’s powerful Deep Inside. A squashed train ride back to central Barcelona put a slight dampener on spirits, but it was worth the suffering.

UffieUffie

The fatigue had set in by Saturday, but I managed to rouse myself for Sónar by Day. Uffie’s performance on the main stage was a little underwhelming, proving that charisma on record does not always translate on stage. The messy electro-discoid-hop of MCs Can Kiss was easily the best moment of her set. Over at Sónar Dôme, Scottish DJ Jackmaster provided the high point with a varied set. Winning tracks included Model 500’s scary No UFO’s, and Thomas Bangalter’s tough What To Do. Festival goers streamed into the tent during this excellent display from Jackmaster, which was one of the most clubby experiences of Sónar by Day.

Matthew Herbert (left) - DJ Hell (right)Matthew Herbert (left) – DJ Hell (right)

Saturday’s Sónar by Night was the turn of the big hitters. Musically less thrilling, there were still some impressive performances. It was worth catching Roxy Music to hear an awesome version of Love Is The Drug. Matthew Herbert’s One Club was an unnecessary venture into self-involved electronica, where complicated sound patterns and crazy shrieks ruled (YouTube). The Chemical Brothers drew a huge crowd, filling the colossal mainroom with their trademark epic synth laden sound. Personally, I found their performance a little soulless, but it is difficult to deny the intensity of Hey Girl, Hey Boy in such surroundings. German stalwart DJ Hell provided my favourite moments of the night, spinning a set of the typical house and techno beloved of his Gigolo imprint. His 6am set satiated the crowd disappointed at how close we were to the end of the festivities. The high point of his set was a version of the spacey House Nation. This was a fitting end to an amazing Sónar festival.

Chemical BrothersChemical Brothers – YouTube

From the beautifully chilled vibes of afternoons at Sónar by Day, to the intense clubbing experience at Sónar by night, this festival offers so much. I found it impossible to attend everything I wished to, but still had a very enjoyable time. I had to nearly become nocturnal in order to cope with the night time intensity. I would not hesitate to visit Sónar again in the future, if given the opportunity.

*You can find more of Jon’s own photos of Thursday, Friday, Saturday and a few more on flickr.

]]> http://r4nt.com/article/sonar-2010-barcelona-spain/feed/ 0 4045 Summer Party Naval Styles at Seven RestoLounge http://r4nt.com/article/summer-party-naval-styles-at-seven-restolounge/ http://r4nt.com/article/summer-party-naval-styles-at-seven-restolounge/#respond Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:40:51 +0000 http://r4nt.com/?p=4002 I must admit that I found the addition of Seven RestoLounge to the downtown Calgary scene a bit of a mystery. Here was another high end lounge / restaurant offering in a city already awash in premium dining options. Timing for its opening couldn’t have been worse with Calgary not being spared by the global economic meltdown. Fast forward to 2010, Seven Restolounge has weathered the storm and is alive and seemingly well. We were invited to join them for their naval themed summer patio party. How could we say no to that?

While the party, sights and company were great, the highlights far and away were the seafood offerings. Seven along with their executive chef Garrett “Rusty” Thienes created a Crab and Chardonnay Shack that greeted party goers with mountains of oysters, spot prawns, shrimp and scallops. I must admit that I am a sucker for oysters and when I see them being shucked right in front of me, I tend to sort of well, lose restraint. The examples being served were from the west coast on Vancouver Island, more specifically Miyagi’s from Denman Island and Nootka Sound. Oysters, like wine are affected by terroir and these Miyagi’s flavour profiles ranged with one showing a cleaner, almost tropical profile and the other being more salty, marine driven. As I was devouring the endless plates put in front of us, I sipped on a glass of fine sauvignon blanc. Honestly though, what I really dreamed about was a glass of premier cru Chablis from William Fevre.

William Fevre Chablis Premier Cru ‘Fourchaume’

Vintage: 2007

Region: Chablis, France

Varietals: Chardonnay

Alcohol: 13%

Price: $37.00

Eyes: Gorgeous clear greenish yellow hue with medium viscosity.
Nose: Bright green apple yielding peach with an undercurrent of mineral, marine air.
Mouth: Lemony citrus up front gliding effortlessly to a lengthy mineral, citrus rind finish. A well balanced wine whose acidity would pair perfectly with fresh seafood.

Along with the oysters, we were presented with a seafood sampler that was out of this world. Envision two inch thick scallops seared to medium rare that were so delicious, I could have eaten the entire platters worth. The spot prawns had an interesting sweet taste but being familiar with shrimps normal consistency and texture, they were a challenge to really enjoy. The snow crab was fantastic with its delicate meat showcasing a sweetness that for a crab lover is irresistible. Another chef Thienes creation on the platter was a Sambuca shrimp, that was rich, creamy and delectable all at once. If you are at all concerned about your cholesterol, you’ll want to avoid it but as a one time splurge, it delivers.

Seven RestoLounge is going through a bit of a renaissance, with the promised delivery of a long overdue website and re-invigorated management team. Our group left the party with a positive impression of the food, service and the experience in general. Our experience dictated that Seven is more than just another similar face in a crowd and to us, it warrants giving it another chance if you weren’t impressed the first time. If the seafood is any indication, it might just surprise you.

]]> http://r4nt.com/article/summer-party-naval-styles-at-seven-restolounge/feed/ 0 4002 Château Fonbadet http://r4nt.com/quick-review/chateau-fonbadet/ http://r4nt.com/quick-review/chateau-fonbadet/#respond Thu, 06 May 2010 00:18:30 +0000 http://r4nt.com/?p=3975

Château Fonbadet

Vintage: 2003

Region: Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price: $43.00

We’ll look at an example from Château Fonbadet, whose vineyards are located in near the esteemed estates of Pichon Baron de Longueville, Latour and Lynch Bages to name a few. This wine is a true Bordeaux blend consisting of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Malbec. From a vintage perspective, 2003 was a great yet challenging in Bordeaux with intense heat arriving in August. Take 40 + degree Celsius temperatures and combine with a lack of cooling rain and one of the potential outcomes is roasted, thick skinned grapes leading to flabby, jammy wines. Lets see how this example is holding up.

Coming out of the decanter, the body of this wine is medium and it remains vibrant purple moving ever so slightly brickish orange to its edges. Color is a great indicator of age and potential longevity and this wine is still quite youthful with many good years ahead of it. On the nose, there is a intoxicating spiced vanilla mixed with cedar. In terms of fruit, there is a captivating blackberry play with cassis and cherry adding to the fragrance. This wine still has a delicate youthful freshness on the nose, yet another indicator of the many years this wine will live for. In the mouth, this wine has a finesse and lightness that is reminiscent of a Burgundy. Up front, there are aspects of tobacco, leather with a undercurrent of red berry fruit. At 12.5% alcohol, this is a classically styled old world claret with tremendous balance and impeccable levels of acidity. In hot vintages like 2003, acidity can be the first thing to go and fortunately, that hasn’t happened with this wine. Its tannins are soft and elegant and it finishes with good length.

All wine drinkers, given enough time will come back to Bordeaux and Burgundy for their wine selections. At $43.00 this wine is probably too expensive to be an everyday drinker but is a worthy splurge and will reward those who decide to cellar it for the next 5 to 8 years. It is a classic example of what Bordeaux wine should be and I highly recommend seeking it or another aged Bordeaux out at your next market visit.

90 points

]]> http://r4nt.com/quick-review/chateau-fonbadet/feed/ 0 3975 Terre da vino Barolo Poderi Scaronne D.O.C.G. http://r4nt.com/quick-review/terre-da-vino-barolo-poderi-scaronne-d-o-c-g/ http://r4nt.com/quick-review/terre-da-vino-barolo-poderi-scaronne-d-o-c-g/#respond Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:48:17 +0000 http://r4nt.com/?p=3959

Terre da vino Poderi Scaronne

Vintage: 1998

Region: Piemonte, Italy

Varietals: Nebbiolo

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $34.99

Around holidays, the need to travel to get together with family exists and we often find ourselves on the road. It is during these visits upon stops at wine markets that I have found, missed out on and taken advantage of amazing deals that aren’t often seen in Calgary. For example, I recently spotted a lonely bottle of 2005 Amon-Ra for a bargain basement price that I left on the shelf. When I went back to buy it, it was gone and I swore that I would never leave another deal like that on the table. Such is the case with this 1998 Terre da vino Barolo Poderi Scaronne D.O.C.G. which lived a hard, uncellared existence as a display wine. When I found it and noted its condition and age, I asked the price and was told it was $34.99. The last 1998 Barolo I had seen in a Calgary liquor store was around $100 so I made the decision right then there to take it home and share it with my family.

The first thing to note about this example was that there was fairly significant seepage at the top of the bottle. Once I had gingerly pulled the cork, I noted the cork was completely saturated which is not an uncommon problem but can indicate spoilage and handling problems. Fortunately, this wine was not spoiled and as it was decanted its beautiful, medium brickish red body enveloped the inside of the decanter. We let it sit for 30 minutes and then poured my first taste. Its bouquet was delicate with herbal and earthy notes of rubber, tar, black pepper and licorice. The fruit sensations were secondary with hints of dried orange peel and prune. At this point, I was floored that it was still alive and I spent at least 15 minutes sniffing its wonderful fragrance before I tasted it. When I did, it showed wonderful soft prunes and raisin up front with those undeniable Barolo-eque notes of tar and peppered licorice. Over the mid-palate, the acidity remained evident and it transitioned to velvet soft yet remarkably fine grained tannins. Its length was epic with the finish lasting upwards of 30 seconds. What surprised me the most was that despite it not being optimally cared for, it remained fresh and was still very much alive even with all the challenges it had seen.

The verdict – there is something magical about drinking aged wines and this one was no exception. Since it was the only bottle, we were sad when it was all gone but I was glad I could share it with the people most special to me. This wine gets points for being a survivor, points for having tremendous QPR and points for being probably the last time we could experience it. Do yourself a favor at your next market visit and buy an old wine (aged at least 8 years). Its worth every penny and chances are, you’ll be glad you did!

92 points

]]> http://r4nt.com/quick-review/terre-da-vino-barolo-poderi-scaronne-d-o-c-g/feed/ 0 3959 R4NT Radio March 2010 http://r4nt.com/article/r4nt-radio-march-2010/ http://r4nt.com/article/r4nt-radio-march-2010/#respond Mon, 22 Mar 2010 01:25:51 +0000 http://r4nt.com/?p=3929 R4NT Radio March 2010 um wow it’s been far too long since the last edition edition, featuring: Hector Hernandez, The Infesticons, Blockhead, Gramatik, Emika, Thunderheist, Parov Stelar, Eddy Meets Yannah, Anti-Pop Consortium, The Slew, Lighterthief, Andreya Triana, Parasyte Woman, Mathon, Venetian Snares, and Funki Porcini.

Tracks featured:


  • Hector Hernandez
  • @ 0:00:15
  • Album: Clash of the Audio Mutants – VA
  • Track: Lounge Beat
  • Release date: March 2010
  • More Info

  • The Infesticons
  • @ 0:02:25
  • Album: Bedford Park
  • Track: Kick Anthem
  • Release date: May 18th, 2010
  • More Info

  • Blockhead
  • @ 0:04:48
  • Album: The Music Scene
  • Track: Attack The Doctor
  • Release date: November 2009
  • More Info

  • Gramatik
  • @ 0:09:44
  • Album: Street Bangerz Volume 2 – VA
  • Track: Smooth While Raw
  • Release date: December 2009
  • More Info

  • Emika
  • @ 0:13:18
  • Album: Drop The Other EP
  • Track: Drop The Other
  • Release date: January 2010
  • More Info

  • Thunderheist
  • @ 0:16:08
  • Album: LBG (Little Booty Girl)
  • Track: LBG – Lunice Remix
  • Release date: December 2009
  • More Info

  • Parov Stelar
  • @ 0:21:21
  • Album: Coco
  • Track: Catgroove
  • Release date: September 2009
  • More Info

  • Eddy Meets Yannah
  • @ 0:24:36
  • Album: Fiction Jar
  • Track: Z Town Experience
  • Release date: February 2010
  • More Info

  • Anti-Pop Consortium
  • @ 0:28:59
  • Album: Volcano EP
  • Track: Volcano – Four Tet Remix
  • Release date: September 2009
  • More Info

  • The Slew
  • @ 0:32:31
  • Album: 100%
  • Track: It’s All Over
  • Release date: November 2009
  • More Info

  • Lighterthief
  • @ 0:35:35
  • Album: Maximalism EP
  • Track: Lover
  • Release date: September 2009
  • More Info

  • Andreya Triana
  • @ 0:40:12
  • Album: Lost Where I Belong – Single
  • Track: Lost Where I Belong – Acoustic Version
  • Release date: April 20th, 2010
  • More Info

  • Parasyte Woman
  • @ 0:44:10
  • Album: Yummy! Yummy!
  • Track: Doop The Group (John Pussner Remix)
  • Release date: January 2010
  • More Info

  • Mathon
  • @ 0:46:50
  • Album: Via Mala – The Remixes
  • Track: Hohen Rätien (Emanuele Errante Remix)
  • Release date: December 2009
  • More Info

  • Venetian Snares
  • @ 0:50:06
  • Album: Rossz Csillag Alatt Született
  • Track: Felbomlasztott Mentokocsi
  • Release date: 2005
  • More Info

  • Funki Porcini
  • @ 0:52:59
  • Album: On
  • Track: The 3rd Man
  • Release date: June 2010
  • More Info

]]> http://r4nt.com/article/r4nt-radio-march-2010/feed/ 0 3929 noR4NT Radio March 2010 um wow it's been far too long since the last edition edition, featuring: Hector Hernandez, The Infesticons, Blockhead, Gramatik, Emika, Thunderheist, Parov Stelar, Eddy Meets Yannah, Anti-Pop Consortium, The Slew, Lighterthief, Andreya Triana, Parasyte Woman, Mathon, Venetian Snares, and Funki Porcini.R4NT Radio March 2010 um wow it's been far too long since the last edition edition, featuring: Hector Hernandez, The Infesticons, Blockhead, Gramatik, Emika, Thunderheist, Parov Stelar, Eddy Meets Yannah, Anti-Pop Consortium, The Slew, Lighterthief, Andreya Triana, Parasyte Woman, Mathon, Venetian Snares, and Funki Porcini.article, audiocast Le Volte http://r4nt.com/quick-review/le-volte/ http://r4nt.com/quick-review/le-volte/#respond Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:48:06 +0000 http://r4nt.com/?p=3852

Le Volte

Vintage: 2007

Region: Tuscany, Bolgheri, Italy

Varietals: Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $27.99

Italian wine was turned on its head in 1968 with the release of the ‘first’ Super Tuscan from Sassicaia. Fast forward 40 years, and there are several world class examples produced from Tuscany and its subregion, Bolgheri. We’ll take a look at one today from acclaimed house Tenuta Dell’Ornellaia in the form of the 2007 Le Volte. Le Volte is classified as the 3rd wine of Ornellaia and is a blend of primarily Sangiovese with percentages of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon rounding things out. The Sangiovese grapes for Le Volte are sourced from growers in the area while the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are sourced from Ornellaia own vineyards. Le Volte holds distinction as it is aged in the same oak barriques that housed previous vintages of their flagship Ornellaia and Masseto blends.

On to the wine, out of the bottle this wine has a vibrant, purplish black core with a medium to full body. On the nose, there are loads of dark berries with a wonderful cream like aspect from the oak treatment. Its bouquet is surprising soft and delicate for a wine of its stature. In the mouth, it is fresh, clean and juicy. It delivers loads of blackberry, sweet herbs and currant up front. It glides softly and without effort to dark tannins that caress the palate. The finish lingers beautifully and in general, this wine has great balance.

The Verdict: This is a great wine with some serious producer provenance to back it up. It might be a touch on the expensive side but it has the tools to allow it to stand on its own outside the shadow of its more expensive siblings. It is a cellar candidate with the ability to evolve over the next 5 years but is drinking beautifully now. Food wise, there is great versatility here with pairing suggestions from tapas to pasta or even grilled meats. If you are looking to treat yourself or your guests to a remarkable wine from a great Italian producer, then consider the 2007 Le Volte on your next market visit.

90 points

]]> http://r4nt.com/quick-review/le-volte/feed/ 0 3852 O Restaurant & Lounge revisited http://r4nt.com/article/o-restaurant-lounge-revisited/ http://r4nt.com/article/o-restaurant-lounge-revisited/#respond Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:48:29 +0000 http://r4nt.com/?p=3875 Calgary has a diverse set of urban communities, most of which have the ubiquitous strip mall watering hole. In the South West community of Marda Loop, a reinvention of this paradigm has been established. O Restaurant & Lounge has set the new measuring stick for community saloons and the bar has been fixed high. Forget about the tacky wood paneling and say goodbye to the barkeep with the dirty towel slung over his shoulder. When you walk into O, guest are greeted by high ceilings, an inset wall fireplace and an elegant glass walled wine cellar. To say that the interior design was consideration is a major understatement. The goal was to give O a modern yet seductive feel and they were without question successful.

Choosing between the bar and dining room is a tough decision. The bar is perfect for getting together after a tough day at the office or as a venue to take in the big game via 3 massive big screen televisions. The dining room ambiance is outstanding for getting into intimate conversation and enjoying a drink or bite with friends. The service staff are approachable and ready to talk you through the menu or help you decide on a libation. Additionally, there is an in house sommelier to assist in navigating the perfect wine selection. I must admit that after being taken through a flight of reds, the wines by the glass were incredibly diverse and had a real focus on over delivering on value. For example, a bottle of red offered at $60 drank like a bottle that might actually retail for $60. This is a welcome approach that I hope more establishments adopt as consumers are becoming acutely aware of overpriced, under performing wines. There are also free corkage nights if you have a special bottle that you want enjoy with dinner.

food presentationGreat food presentation

The menu at O has been recently subjected to a major overhaul by local chefs Michael Noble and Adam O’Brien. Instead of sticking with the usual ho hum approaches to lounge fare, they have switched gears in their gratuitous use of fresh, local ingredients for unique and exciting presentations. I hadn’t experienced the food at O before but everyone in our party agreed that this new menu was colossal improvement over its predecessor. Here were the highlights:

Moroccan Lamb Flatbread – A great take if eastern spice is your thing. I was impressed by the supple and nuanced flavors of the lamb and spice presented here. I’d recommend it paired up with a IPA or lager for good measure as the heat from the spice does ramp up a little bit. – $12.00

Boar Bacon Flatbread – This was a real hit with the party as it was pure, unapologetic pizza goodness. This flatbread is a serious splurge with copious amounts of cheese and bacon providing a unique and tasty approach on this perennial combination. Besides, how often do you get a chance to eat boar, right? – $12.00

Oysters Rockefeller – These were simply magnificent with the salty freshness of the oysters combined with melted cheese presented on a crispy wonton. A symphony of flavors coming together, which could be complimented wonderfully by a crisp Sauvignon Blanc or glass of something bubbly. I am still dreaming about how good these were. – $15.00

Moules & Frites – No word of a lie, these were the biggest, meatiest examples of mussels I have ever seen in a Calgary restaurant.These mussels have to be experienced to be fully understood preferably paired with a beer of Belgian descent. – $15.00

Beef Short Ribs – A revelation, the ribs were executed perfectly in a delicate sauce which allowed the intricacies of the beef to stand out. These short ribs came at the recommendation of the sommelier and were fork tender. I would suggest a pairing of these ribs to a Cabernet Sauvignon or Brunello. – $32.00

As we left O, I lamented that at my neighborhood lounge / eatery, we are stuck with the status quo of menus filled with items like deep fried mozzarella sticks and have 10 different kinds of domestic beer on tap. The people of Marda Loop have a treasure in their backyard and the word is getting out to the rest of the city that the upscale, O experience is one that will keep you coming back for more.

O Restaurant and Lounge
2018 33rd Ave SW
403.249.0605

]]> http://r4nt.com/article/o-restaurant-lounge-revisited/feed/ 0 3875 Predictions 2010.. and beyond! http://r4nt.com/article/predictions-2010-and-beyond/ http://r4nt.com/article/predictions-2010-and-beyond/#respond Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:52:16 +0000 http://r4nt.com/?p=3860 So 2010 eh? Almost but not quite (no year zero they say) another decade? It seems like just yesterday that the world was waiting for Y2K. R4NT started publishing in March 2001, so we’re not quite 10 years old yet, but in internet years we are already a senior citizen. One of the features of R4NT has been our yearly predictions which go back to 2003. We’ve had huge hits and some equally huge misses. We invite you to check out some of the old predictions (checkout the related articles). This year we are going to mix things up with predictions for 2010 and a few predictions for the next decade (till 2020!).

How did we fare in 2009?

MaxPower’s 2009 Predictions

Oil will break the $50 mark again. Take it to the bank. I took that prediction to the bank and got rich off my commodity forecasting skills! Actually no I didn’t, but if you did, you would have seen oil come into 2009 at sub US$40/bbl, it cracked the $50 mark by the end of March and is now threatening the $80 mark. Full marks and a double on your money if you invested in the commodity.

C$ will average around $0.85/USD. The C-buck averaged $0.877/USD in 2009, I think that is pretty damn close. Full marks.

Solid state hard drive alternatives will get cheaper. This one was a bit easy but, they sure did get cheaper. Recently there have been a number of announcements regarding new SSDs being available in laptops, with 128 GB models coming in under $1000. Full marks.

Netbooks gain traction at the < $300 price point. Like you needed to hear more about cheap laptops after all the Christmas ads, but sure enough there are many models to be had at under $300, with Asus selling some of their netbooks at $150 while Dell is more in the $230 area. Full marks.

Hybrid car sales decrease because gas is cheap again. – LA Times headline March 17, 2009 “Hybrid car sales go from 60 to 0 at breakneck speed” because “anxiety over gasoline prices evaporate”. Overall, hybrid sales dropped at about the same speed as the rest of the auto sales market, so perhaps there wasn’t as big of a decrease as I had anticipated. That leads me to believe people purchase hybrids only for the illusion they are contributing to the environment, and purchase decisions are not made by economics (of gas prices) at all. Part marks.

From an economic point of view the recession will probably be over in the second half of 2009 – Quote from this Vancouver Sun article on Dec 27, 2009 “The Canadian recession officially ended in 2009’s third quarter, when the economy grew at an annualized rate of 0.4 per cent.” Full marks, making me 3/3 on economic forecasts over 2009.

Back in 2006 I called for 2007 to have a “resurgence of all-things 80’s will continue lead by the upcoming Transformers movie”. Well going into 2009 I call, MORE 80’s resurgence. Did I say more ‘80s? Another Transformers movie, a GI Joe movie, 80’s fashion trends which were reinvented in 2009, how could you want more ‘80s? The real question is when will the ‘90’s come back? Plaid grunge rock for 2012? Full marks.

Total Score 6.5/7 – otherwise known as the best predictive year ever!

D4V’s 2009 Predictions

Year of the stem cell! Perhaps it wasn’t the year of the stem cell, but the fledgling US government did become more open to stem cell research. Perhaps there is a lag effect as all the science guys get more sciencey. Part marks.

Personal computers become less and less relevant. Web applications (cloud computing), and portable computing take a huge chunk out of the marketplace (I’d guess 10%). Talk about a specific prediction! Without doubt web apps, cloud computing and portable computing got more popular in 2009, but I don’t think they are at the 10% threshold yet and I can’t find any corroborating evidence. As for personal computer becoming less relevant? Well depends who you talk to, but there is undoubtedly a convergence around some portable devices (Smartphones) which reduce the need of an actual computer. Also keep your eyes on Google Chrome OS. Part marks (plus bonus marks for getting so specific).

Wireless power starts to hit consumers. It has not hit consumers yet, but big business is getting onside with wireless power. From Dec 5, 2009 “BlackBerry maker RIM will be contributing to developing a wireless charging standard called Qi as a part of the Wireless Power Consortium. The goal is to make Qi become to wireless charging what USB is to wired charging. RIM is not the first handset maker to join the quest. Nokia beat RIM to it in October and Samsung in May.” Full marks on calling the tech.

Facebook revolt! Droves of people leave, dubbing privacy concerns and a new hippie era! Did someone say privacy concerns and Facebook? Uh yes, that was all the rage in 2009, with Canada even forcing Facebook to alter its privacy rules and regs. Did people leave? Some I am sure, but more stayed. That coupled with insidious new apps like Blippy which tweets your latest credit card purchases just shows you that if the Government tried to put a video camera in your house to monitor your every move but marketed it as “social networking”, people would freely sign up. I, for one, welcome our new 1984-esque overlords. Full marks anyway.

An old school movie franchise comes back from the dead, perhaps Back To The Future 4, or Beverly Hills Cop 12. No Back to the Future IV yet, but perhaps THIS website from 1999 will convince you there is still hope! Oh wait, a new version of Karate Kid was made (which looks terrible), and coming out in a few months. OMG. Full marks!

Hydrogen cars become trendy. Yep. California (to get 46 retail hydrogen stations by 2014) and the Honda FCX Clarity.

Life is discovered on another planet! I wish!

Total Score 5.5/7 (not too shabby)

MaxPower’s Predictions for 2010

  • C$ will average around $0.90/USD, the Canadian economy will expand slightly in 2010 and the TSX will be flat from current levels.
  • Hybrid car resale values start to fall as more consumers figure out that after a hybrid battery dies, the car is basically worthless.
  • There will be more sunspots in 2009 than in 2010! Sunspots!

D4V’s Predictions for 2010

  • Movie theatres are given a second chance, whilst upgrading their technology providing a real reason to head out and purchase overpriced popcorn again.
  • Due to over-crowding, and the emergence of the 4G mobile telecommunications standard, WiFi dies a slow painful death.
  • Online identity battle royal between Facebook, Google and um.. Microsoft (sure why not). Oh and OpenID is dead.

MaxPower’s Predictions for 2010 – 2020

  • There will be a cure for one disease during this decade. Cancer, AIDS, the common cold, lupus, something!
  • Consumers will have one portable device, styled like today’s smartphones but slightly larger and thinner which will be able to do everything a computer, phone, ipod, credit card, debit card, loyalty rewards card, car keys, house key, and medical records can do now. I will call it a multipass.
  • The world will not suffer catastrophic warming by 2020, cities will not be underwater, coast lines will not be altered by increasing sea levels and people will have moved on to another trendy activism platform.
  • An equivalent computer which costs $500 today will be available in 2020 for the price of a beer in a bar ($6).
  • The price of a low earth orbit spaceflight will be cheap enough so that people can consider it for a vacation. There will be at least 1 spaceport in every major developed country.

D4V’s Predictions for 2010 – 2020

  • Photography is dead, long live photography. Not entirely dead, just everyone will be shooting video then using software to pick out the key frames they want to turn into stills. Traditionalist are going to loose their minds.
  • The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (el’CRTC) is destroyed.
  • Retiring baby boomers tear social services a gigantic black hole (is that even a prediction? It’s gonna happen people)
  • War sadly is still rampant in the middle east.
  • Water becomes the new Gold, second only to Wood.
  • One upping MaxPower’s prediction of the “multipass”: I say everyone will have chips (or even nano bots) implanted which could provide not only methods of data storage, but methods of keeping tabs on your health at all times. Big brother FTW!
  • Saying FTW, FAIL, and funny cat pictures become old school; making way for even sillier things.
  • Beer will not cost $6 at the bar, but will be more like $25 (by 2020).
  • Puzzles become cool.

Happy new year, and see you in 2011.. erm.. 2020? Wait wait! We leave you with a prediction that is already coming true: Puzzles being cool!

]]> http://r4nt.com/article/predictions-2010-and-beyond/feed/ 0 3860 Adamas Pinot Noir http://r4nt.com/quick-review/adamas-pinot-noir/ http://r4nt.com/quick-review/adamas-pinot-noir/#respond Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:25:30 +0000 http://r4nt.com/?p=3822
Adamas Pinot Noir

Adamas Pinot Noir

Vintage: 2005

Region: Burgundy, France

Varietal: Pinot Noir

Alcohol: 13%

Price: $27.99

Burgundy, it is one of the words in the world of wine that offers a broad spectrum of interpretation. Often setting an oenophilles heart aflutter, its wines are esoteric, brilliant and more often than not, misunderstood. Sadly, most consumers fear and avoid them. Complicated labeling, designations and price are most certainly barriers to purchase. It’s a shame as it is widely considered the best place in world for Pinot Noir. Recently, I discovered one that I hope might change some peoples minds.

The selection I made was the 2005 Adamas Pinot Noir. The reason I chose it is that the label is entirely in English. Regardless of what the label states, what is most important is what actually is in the bottle. The body on this wine is clear with a wonderful light intensity, ruby-ish orange hue. The bouquet is offers notes of bright raspberry and vanilla spiced oak which is a touch simplistic but pleasant regardless. Upon the first sip, the sensation of sour rhubarb, cherry and pomegranate cleanse the palate with an acidic pang. Over the finish, the vanilla and oak aspects noted on the nose resurface. The tannins are evident however, they are soft but leave the palate with slightly bitter sensation. Even after 4 years in the bottle, the Adamas remains a touch angular. Its no wonder that WineSpectator called it ‘hard’ when they reviewed it in 2007.

The verdict: This wine shows good quality but for my palate was a touch on the thin side. I still suggest seeking out a Burgundy for those who currently pass them by. There are several reasonably priced options from producers like Jadot who provide quality product at reasonable prices. For those looking for food friendly reds with finesse and nuisance, wines from Burgundy provide excellent options.

84 points

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