The flavor of love

Yesterday was Father's day and a great day it was.  All that was needed to complete it would have been this presence of my middle daughter, Serena and my wife, Eva.  Alas, had a terrific time with Michelle and Jamie.  Watching them talk and get on like... well, like very close sisters made me proud to be a dad.  Top that off with Michelle being of legal drinking age and we now have an outing that includes wine tasting... And picking blueberries.

There is a blueberry farm just south of Buellton on highway 101 where you park, get a bucket, and walk out to the massive rows of blueberry plants and fill your bucket with the freshest tastiest blueberries this side of South America.   look up www.santabarbarablueberries.com for more information.

But this was AFTER tasting some very good wines from the very talented and hospitable folks at Foxen winery.  
Make no mistake about it.  Foxen makes great wine.  Actually... They make great WINES!!!

Their Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and their Sangiovese blend (which one person who worked the called a great pizza and pasta wine -- we agree)... Are all very noteworthy and would pair well with such a variety of foods that one could conceivably run out of culinary ideas along the way.  At this point I would recommend just drinking the wine.  Food will eventually work its way into the scene as biology takes over.

No matter.

That's not my point.

Great wine.

Great blueberries.

Great times with daughters.

These experiences don't just show up and say hello.  If they do, you better fucking listen because it ain't happening again.

Because usually it involves an investment. 

Not of money, although that might be a footnote, it's not a requirement.

I am talking about time.  It means taking time to nurture and participate and listen and love.

Speaking of love.  Yesterday was filled with it.  It was evident in thwarting conversations between the three of us... Me and Michelle and Jamie.

It was evident is the wine.  Great wine, like great family ties, doesn't come without the joyous and ambitious and loving investment of time.

It was in the blueberries.  Fields of this delicious and exotic fruit beckoning one to taste and sample along the quest to fulfil a basic primal need to gather food.  Talk about a bucket list!

You can taste it.  You can touch it.  You can feel it.  You inhale it.

It fills your senses with joy.

Great music does this.

Great wine does this.

Great food does this.

But most of all,  a father experiencing all three with two reasons he loves being a Father in the first place, well... You can insert the tears of joy right here.

Serena we missed you.

Eva we missed you.

Love love love.

Cheers!

Wilfred Wong and the BevMo 5 cent wine "sale"

Do you ever wonder how BevMo is able to sell wines at a nickel?  Do you ever wonder why so many of these wines are rated in the high 80's and low 90's by Wilfred Wong?

Let's start with Wilfred.  He works for BevMo.  His job is to help them sell wines.  Occasionally, his ratings will appear next to comparable ratings from Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Advocate, or others.  However, very often, wines rated lowly or not at all on these reputable publications seem to be disproportionately rated high by Mr. Wong.  

For example, the 2009 Zynthesis is rated 91 points by WW.  Wine Spectator rates the same wine at 82 points with a release price of $11.  Normally, BevMo sells this wine for $10.99.  However, with the 5 cent sale, they have jacked the price up to $16.99, almost six bucks higher than the winery price!

Another is the 2010 Tapiz Malbec.  Again, WW rates this at 91 points.  Although I cannot find this vintage rated on the major publications, BevMo's regular price is $10.99 but the "Sale" price is $17.99 - a $7 increase.

Again, we have the 2009 Santa Rita Carmenere 120.  WW rates this 90 points but the same wine is rated 84 at Wine Spectator with a release price of $8.  I also know from experience that this wine can be bought at Trader Joe's for $5.99 on a regular basis, sometimes $4.99.  BevMo's sale price is $9.99.

Finally, check out the 2005 Bodegas Muriel Ciranza, normally $9.99 at BevMo, the price is jacked up for this 'sale' to a hefty $17.99.  While WW gives the wine a strong 90 point rating, the Wine Spectator rating was a dismal 68 points and compared the wine to shellac.  Yes, that's shellac - as in paint!!!!

Now, one can do the math and figure that, if two bottles are purchased - even if the first is at an inflated price, the overall deal per bottle is decent - but not so much that the price can't be beat elsewhere.  

My recommendation is: know your prices.  Check Costco, Trader Joe's, World Market, and even your local grocery chains that often discount wines for folks with their rewards cards in hand.  

It's also probably a good idea to just buy one bottle somewhere else and try it.  Wilfred Wong is in the business of selling wines.  He rarely if almost never rates anything under 80 points - a good wine by the standards of most publications.  This is very telling.  

Be smart... drink well... and cheers!