MetaBatty

Some good wines

On the off chance anyone is reading this, wanted to share some good wines I have recently tried, all under $20, most under $15...

(all reds)

Beringer Knight's Valley 2002 Cabernet - Beringer's KV is always a favorite, and the $19/bottle 2002 vintage is not a let down.

Erik's the Red/Toad Hollow Paseo Robles Proprietary Red Wine - incredible blend.  Get it now and open it equally as fast.

Cambria Pinot Noir 2004 - better than all the hype you heard about Pinots in Sideways. Which is and still remains one of the best movies of 2004.  Here is the other.

Collage Cabernet/Shiraz blend 2002 - has all the upfront qualities of a well rounded cab, with a shimmering shiraz finish (clean and clear). Yes, I said 'shimmering.'

Artestia Pinot Noir 2003 - another great Pinot that has nothing to do with the movie.  Bolder and longer lasting than the usual PN.

Beringer Knight's Valley Alluvium Red 2001 - Another winner from Beringer, this one is a blend of 76% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc. A deep ruby/purple color and fragrant aromatics are followed by notions of red and black currants, flowers, tobacco, and licorice. This tasty, elegant, complex red should drink well for a decade. Score: 89 (OK, I swiped that description from thewineclub.com, but I loved it at a recent dinner with my family at Ruths Chris Steakhouse in Bethesda MD, and wanted an accurate description).

So, I swear I am not a wine snob. If anything, I am documenting this here solely because I left my Palm Pilot on the plane after a recent flight back from the Bay Area (one of many), and need to record this for future posterity SOMEWHERE.  If you happen to try these, I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Cheers.

One more, for the Queen

On Monday, a new law will go into effect in England and Wales that will allow pubs to apply for licenses that allow them to stay open for up to 24-hours a day.  This will put an end to the notorious 11 PM closing time that has been in effect there for years - and will result in fewer instances of Brits having to hear the dreaded two words that come just before this hour: last orders!

Proponents say the new law will eliminate the problems of patrons chugging 2-3 beers at last call before being shown the door, as well as reduce the unruliness that inevitably occurs when you throw thousands of drunks into the street involuntarily, all at the same time.  It is not, they say, to promote 24-hour drinking, as detractors of the law argue.  Although I'm sure there are some who will try.

I'm a huge fan of English pubs, having been to more than a handful of them, and it really is depressing when they close so early (yes, I still consider 11 PM somewhat early if I am out with friends).  However, their closing at 11 doesn't mean your night on the town is finished.  You just head out to a bar or nightclub (as opposed to a pub), most of which are not governed by the current laws that force pubs to close at 11.  So that benefit seems kind of anemic to me.

A real beneift proponents of the bill should be promoting is the business angle - the opportunity this gives pub owners to increase business by having the option to stay open later and continue ringing up orders.

Of course, some of that new revenue will have to face additional taxes, as the government will have to increase funding for substance abuse treatment facilities and marriage counselors.