2 AM - a New Orleans hole in the wall - in a neighborhood - certifiable - in the middle of no where - Kermit Ruffin et al - blasting away on their horns - the room is packed - the wife has fled for the relative quiet of the outdoors - they pause during the set - I turn to check in on family -
Boom !!!
The corporate communications director of a major wine company - aka Carmen Castorina - stares me in the eye - I stare back - holy $%^& !!! - is it really you - we both exclaim - simultaneously -
Its a small world - a very small -
I am in for a house warming - he is in for the New Orleans Food & Wine Experience -
Are you attending the show ?? - Knew about it - hadn't planned - any extra tickets ???
I had sworn off wine for the weekend - but this was too good to miss - what did they drink in the south -
Same as the north - !!!
Stopped by the show - the next night - good attendance - lots of wine - lots of food to sample - would I find anything new ?? - of course !!!
MacMurray Ranch - Katie was there - she's worth a separate article - great pinots -
L'Aventure - lush high ends - I'm a sucker for the right blens - and these were wonderful -
- Estate Cuvee 2003 - 66 % cab - 28 % Syrah - 6 % Petite Verdot -
- Optimus - 2002 - 50% Syrah - 46 % Cab - 4 % Zin
Niebaum~Coppola - a couple of Diamond selections - nice - I was more interested in Sofia Mini Blanc de Blancs - 187 ml "cans" of sparkling wine - pink - party - adult soda pop - a 2005 take on Bartle & James - with a dash of sophistication - taste was pretty good - what I expected - just flashed on ZIMA - who's product manager told me - make sure you chill it BELOW 45 degrees -
Miner Family Vineyards - couldn't resist a hit of their cab - love this stuff - they "twisted my arm" to try Oracle - nice - did not knock me out of my socks - not that I ever wear socks - made of point of detailing the origin of the name - yes - I did know that "Dad" was Larry Elison's partner in starting Oracle - the software giant - Larry bought a boat - "Dad" bought a vineyard
Champagne Duval Leroy - quick sip of the Rose - I love it -
Vision Cellars - two pinots - a generic - simple somoma variant - nice - pleasant - been there - done that - $28 - a second pinot - Gary's Vineyard - punch - complex - depth - a wake up to what pinot can be - $48 - my on-site comment was - I can taste the $20 difference - worth seeking out - although their website says "sold out" -
As good as the wine - or perhaps better - Mac McDonald - winemaker - chief cook and bottle washer - perpetually dressed in coveralls - a pleasure speaking about his product - the overall wine business - what the future holds - he's due up in NY in the fall - look forward to continuing our conversation - have to get him to the RED IS LIFE Tasting - Episode Two -
Royal Bitch - Merlot from Chile - I didn't taste the wine - but the label was a show stopper - as was their play on "bitchology" - turns to have been reviewed on lenndevours.com - you can sell anything - once - good luck !!!
Sauted Scallops in a red pepper creole reduction - Wolfe's of New Orleans - I knew it was going to be something special when another Chef cam by with barter - for just one of the last eight servings -
The barter - from a restaurant that I failed to notate - was - Grilled Brie and Crawfish -
Un - Be - Liev - Able -
They were starting to kill the lights and chase everyone out of the Convention Center - PLUS - I was headed for a Three Star meal with my wife at Brigtsen's - pity !! - I am going to attempt a deconstruct/reconstruction of this beauty of a sandwich - unbelievable
Un - Be - Liev - Able -
Other familar faces at the event -
Eberle - Alexander Valley - Davis Bynum - Justin - Keenan Winery - Martin Ray - Banfi - Chalone - Etude - Gallo - Iron Horse - Louis M. Martini - Murphy-Goode - Rodney Strong - Cambria/Matanzas Creek - Foley Estate/Lincourt - J - Kendall-Jackson - Ravenswood - Dutton-Goldfield - Germain-Robin - Wyndham Estates/Jacob's Creek - Chalk Hill - Toad Hollow - Rutherford - Bonny Doon - Dry Creek Vineyard - J Lohr - Stags' Leap
A long - long - time ago - a wonderful copywriter - Frankie Caldwell - as interview on the David Suskind Show - and talked out working 168 hours a week -
My regret with this trip to New Orleans - was that it was only to be 108 hours -
When the New Orleans Food and Wine Experience was to continue the next night .... maybe next year -
Enjoy -
HBH
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