Tue Apr 28, 2009
Where Does it Come From? 0 comments (260 views) | Posted by: putnam | Apr 28, 09 | 2:20 pm
Kids 1 comments (274 views) | Posted by: putnam | Apr 28, 09 | 2:19 pm
After the Rain, After Noon 2 comments (281 views) | Posted by: putnam | Apr 28, 09 | 1:46 pm
Falling or Flying?
For reasons that are mysterious to me, I felt compelled to get away from numerous closest people all at once. I still do.
And because I'm a coward, I avoid telling them directly. I do not want to own the action, so I obtain a reaction, by way of insults usually. Success. And now shame.
Gut level terror drives this. I'm going to confront that fear, and beat it somehow.
thanks for holding me, and for so long too, especially Anne.
As for the rest of you, keep reading this blog and posting fascinating comments. You might find a terrific wine you've never heard of before!
Mon Apr 27, 2009
Jerry Hitch
I finally let Peanut and Buddy loose in Sienna's yard today - I was tired of the longing dog faces. I was rewarded with turned lip smiles from Peanut and Sienna and a visit from Jerry Hitch, 20 year retired Detroit police department. He said his dream was to get the city for 25 years.
He's travelled a lot. He pointed to all the houses he lived in since 1952. One belonged to the principle of Western High School, before he sold it to Jerry's parents. It was next to the house Hank Greenberg is supposed to have owned, on the corner of Hidden Lane and Vinewood.
Jerry grew wine grapes here, but the vines have all gone to seed. I told him I had an interest in wine.
More...
please
I work. I come home. I punch a clock. Please don't come to my home and complain about your burger or your glassware. I am interested in your ideas, but I'm not interested in your self righteousness, at least not while I'm trying to relax.
1 comments (272 views) | Posted by: putnam | Apr 27, 09 | 12:26 amFri Apr 24, 2009
Letter to Slows
I thought it might be handy if I shared my latest thoughts on 'natural wine' and what it means to me. Please forward to anyone who you think might benefit. And please test me on this stuff. Show it to your sommelier, wholesaler or consumer friends. Invite them to email me.
I have to start with the words found on the Louis/Dressner site, which have appeared there unchanged, for at least a decade. It's polemic, but it has endured remarkably well:
http://louisdressner.com/real_wine/
Now that is all fairly technical, and even if every server at Slows knew it backward and forward, the pace of our restaurant doesn't allow us many opportunities to communicate on that subject. It's a question of increasing our understanding, but also of including our understanding in the daily performance art that is Slows' customer service.
More...
Mon Apr 20, 2009
First Harvest!
My neighbor Jon's:
"Harvested yesterday: 1 1/2 lbs. sweet parsnips! Planted last year about this time. Tonight: curried parsnips with lentils... but I didn't grow the lentils or the curry! But the parsnips were lovely! Need more... and a recipe for parsnip wine!
"Peace,
"Jon"
Fri Apr 17, 2009
Hot Climates
Excluding a few special vineyards, Hot Climates are primarily good for producing large volumes of decent wine, a lot of it white, and some terrific sweet and fortified wines. Vine metabolism dictates this. Distributors and Marketers have been very busy in the past decades cleaning up Hot Climate wine while forcing it to be dry, strong, acidified, and red (sanitation has improved) - this while dolling it up with treatments and flavorings in order to sell it to an eager and expanding consumer market. It's a bit like a bubble. the market will evenually correct itself - the process is already happening. I think a wine like Sexto would taste beer if it was a bit more dilute and cheaper. Like Dragani Montepulciano. But there are always people who think so well of themselves and their taste that they fall easy prey to price graduation and personality marketing ...
3 comments (244 views) | Posted by: putnam | Apr 17, 09 | 1:07 amTue Apr 14, 2009
Kevin Zraly Tweets
I've been reading too much Language Log.
This is a fairly typical tweet from a famous sommelier and mainstream wine book author:
"The most important factors in winemaking are location, soil, weather, grapes, & vinification."
Help. I don't know what that means.
More...
Sun Apr 12, 2009
Happy Easter
this was a particularly good pizza:
It was a bit complicated to make though ...
More...
Fri Apr 10, 2009
Metaphor? How so?
0 comments (208 views) | Posted by: putnam | Apr 10, 09 | 11:57 am
Yesterday
Yesterday I was offered a job that I could not accept. To celebrate ...
More...
Rib Eye
We don't drink this sort of wine very often at my house. We don't eat much meat either; but every once in a while ...
More...
Wed Apr 08, 2009
Playing Around With Photoshop
Rodrigo drinking 2005 l'Effraie from Domaine de Belliviere
Tue Apr 07, 2009
Some Combination
Cointreau, Heretiques, salt, lime, ice, heart shapes, innocence, misdirected contempt, etc.
Sun Apr 05, 2009
What are You Eating and Drinking?
Marc Ollivier and Elie Boudt
It's Sunday. I had pot roasted beef with skirsch and family. We began by drinking Marc Olliver's 2007 Muscadet. It was like a desperately needed pipeline to sanity in these times. Thanks.
More...
Sat Apr 04, 2009
Wines for Wholesale in Detroit - Part II
Roasted Heritage Farms Turkey. If you have the money: Recommended
More...
Fri Apr 03, 2009
Wines for Wholesale in Detroit 8 comments (509 views) | Posted by: putnam | Apr 03, 09 | 1:39 pm
Between Destinations
Wed Apr 01, 2009
Todd Wickstrom's Heritage Farms Turkey Liver