blow shit up

Just finished Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising. Fun RTS, good story by Warren Ellis. Good bargain bin game.

blow shit up

Just finished Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising. Fun RTS, good story by Warren Ellis. Good bargain bin game.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (scroll down to "Credited Cast")

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (scroll down to "Credited Cast")

trip report, paso robles, may 23-25

We drove down to San Luis Obispo and checked into the hotel there; then, after a short break, we headed to Villa Creek for dinner.  I started with a sumptuous cumin-dusted scallop appetizer, then had some rack-o'-lamb with a mint-pesto risotto, along with a Domaine Weinbach 2000 Gewürztraminer Réserve Personnelle, which i purchased at Weimax (second wine down). This wine was worth every penny i paid... intense and rich. It did not pair well with the lamb, unfortunately, but it was perfect for 2wanda's meal (she had a goat cheese salad, a highly spiced chicken entrée, and lemon crème brûlée), and since it was my gift to her, then that was OK. For dessert, a chocolate soufflé which i found not chocolaty enough. Ah well.

The next morning, we showed up bright and early at Bonny Doon as soon as they opened. We left with a bottle each of 2000 Muscat Vin de Glacière (which was better than the last time i tried it) and 2000 Syrah Bien Nacido (which is about a quarter Viognier [!]). Next up was Linne Calodo... good wines, but their Web site is ass, so follow the link if you dare. The vintner gave us some tastes out of the barrel, and we left with a bottle of 2001 Problem Child (78% Zin, 22% Mourvèdre) and 1999 Sweet Leona (an absolutely incredible dessert Zin). Then, on to the main impetus for trip, Justin Vineyards. However, they were out of the 2000 Justification (a cabernet franc-merlot blend). Nonetheless, we bought a 2000 Paso Robles Syrah and, on a lark, a 2000 Petit Verdot. Then we had lunch at their bistro; Kim had a salad while i had the prawns, and we both had the ahu (Australian sea bass), which was excellent. I asked the maître d' if they might possibly have a bottle of Justification in the kitchen... et voilà, they did. Oh yeah! And then, the chocolate cake dessert, which was so good, we ordered another. After that great meal, we finished the day at Wild Horse Winery; they had quite a selection of unusual grapes (both white and red), and i did my best to try them all. We left with a bottle of 2001 Gewürztraminer and 1998 Négrette. To offset all this wine, we had a cheap dinner.

The next day, we visited Turley Wine Cellars, who had purchased Pesenti Winery three years ago, so they were also offering Pesenti wines at an extremely reduced price next to theirs (which were already overpriced, so sitting next to those inexpensive wines did not help). We bought a Pesenti Red Velvet and 1998 Zinfandel, as well as a Turley 2001 Zinfandel and 2001 Charbono. Then, we headed to our final stop, York Mountain Winery, where i wanted to try their Black Muscat. To my surprise, it turned out to be fortified, and oh man is it good. We left with a bottle of the 1999 Black Muscat (and a bag of seasoned pretzels) to round out our baker's dozen, and we then headed home. Crap... now where am i gonna put all this damn wine?

trip report, paso robles, may 23-25

We drove down to San Luis Obispo and checked into the hotel there; then, after a short break, we headed to Villa Creek for dinner.  I started with a sumptuous cumin-dusted scallop appetizer, then had some rack-o'-lamb with a mint-pesto risotto, along with a Domaine Weinbach 2000 Gewürztraminer Réserve Personnelle, which i purchased at Weimax (second wine down). This wine was worth every penny i paid... intense and rich. It did not pair well with the lamb, unfortunately, but it was perfect for 2wanda's meal (she had a goat cheese salad, a highly spiced chicken entrée, and lemon crème brûlée), and since it was my gift to her, then that was OK. For dessert, a chocolate soufflé which i found not chocolaty enough. Ah well.

The next morning, we showed up bright and early at Bonny Doon as soon as they opened. We left with a bottle each of 2000 Muscat Vin de Glacière (which was better than the last time i tried it) and 2000 Syrah Bien Nacido (which is about a quarter Viognier [!]). Next up was Linne Calodo... good wines, but their Web site is ass, so follow the link if you dare. The vintner gave us some tastes out of the barrel, and we left with a bottle of 2001 Problem Child (78% Zin, 22% Mourvèdre) and 1999 Sweet Leona (an absolutely incredible dessert Zin). Then, on to the main impetus for trip, Justin Vineyards. However, they were out of the 2000 Justification (a cabernet franc-merlot blend). Nonetheless, we bought a 2000 Paso Robles Syrah and, on a lark, a 2000 Petit Verdot. Then we had lunch at their bistro; Kim had a salad while i had the prawns, and we both had the ahu (Australian sea bass), which was excellent. I asked the maître d' if they might possibly have a bottle of Justification in the kitchen... et voilà, they did. Oh yeah! And then, the chocolate cake dessert, which was so good, we ordered another. After that great meal, we finished the day at Wild Horse Winery; they had quite a selection of unusual grapes (both white and red), and i did my best to try them all. We left with a bottle of 2001 Gewürztraminer and 1998 Négrette. To offset all this wine, we had a cheap dinner.

The next day, we visited Turley Wine Cellars, who had purchased Pesenti Winery three years ago, so they were also offering Pesenti wines at an extremely reduced price next to theirs (which were already overpriced, so sitting next to those inexpensive wines did not help). We bought a Pesenti Red Velvet and 1998 Zinfandel, as well as a Turley 2001 Zinfandel and 2001 Charbono. Then, we headed to our final stop, York Mountain Winery, where i wanted to try their Black Muscat. To my surprise, it turned out to be fortified, and oh man is it good. We left with a bottle of the 1999 Black Muscat (and a bag of seasoned pretzels) to round out our baker's dozen, and we then headed home. Crap... now where am i gonna put all this damn wine?