oenophile

I use gmail and love it. I'm not sure why you are having trouble with it loading. I just googled and I did not get the "this site is no longer secure" message.

According to Galen: As a someone with a degree in history, I understand the importance of documentation otherwise history is as Voltaire so elegantly stated, "...is a pack of tricks that we play upon the dead." No doubt, you will be able to provide us source material for your historical conclusion that the Ottoman Empire lacked engineering expertise. Won't you? and Yangie adds: What does your philosophy teacher have to say about that our modern number system and Algebra, without which there could have never been a renaissance in Europe nor an Age of Enlightenment, were gifts from the Islamic world where they flourished during Europe's dark ages. It has been argued that western philosophy has been a rehash of Cartesian Dualism. Descartes was a mathematician and relied heavily upon mathematics (including Algebra) as the basis of his philosophical conclusions. Source: [/i]Wikipedia So, might it not be put forward the Age of Enlightenment was at least in part if not wholly a product of Islamic culture? There are ideas and positions that seem reasonable enough until they are tested empirically. That is the province of philosophy.

Both Merlot and Zinfindel are red grapes. What gives red wines their color are the coloring of the skins. In order to make a white wine from red grapes usually with a blush, the wine must be short vatted with minimum contact with the skins during fermentation. The skins do have some tannin as well but since the wine is pumped off the skins early it doesn't pick up much. So the finished product is a soft, uncomplicated and generally pleasing to the tastes the majority of wine drinkers.

i was at a food and wine show the other day and at the wine tasting they had a white burghdundy it was great and i never knew there was a white one any one else?? drink.gif

Good question Belle. There is a small winery in Northern Michigan that puts out some astounding sparkling wine aka "champagne", L. Mawby Vineyards. Crisp, prickly with a hint of yeast. Doojable...Nah. One of the world's most wine estates is right smack dab in the city with all kinds of traffic whizzing by. Chateau Haut Brion in Bordeaux. However, vibration from noise or other means does have a negative effect on wine. Try taking a bottle of red wine on a several hour ride in a car and open it immediately when you arrive. Yech! That's the truth. Burgundy is tres cher. However, look for some more moderately price burgundy from the village of Rully. Also the village or regional burgundies will be more moderately priced than vineyard specific classified burgundy and sometimes better...especially if the producer is better at his craft.

I give up. I'm moving to France.

Good. More of it will be around for the rest of us who enjoy wines across national borders. Nothing brings people together like good food and good wine. Perhaps few less wars would be waged if people would just get to know what their neighbors in the world brought to the table. Perhaps. There is nothing wrong with making your own wine or getting out to visit your local winery. (Please do because my living in part depends on it. ) There are wineries in every state and some very good wines are coming from places other than the West Coast. But let's not become xenophobes and thumb our noses at what other cultures can contribute.

WB, Please tell your students that there are some intense scenes in the movie. But there is no gratuitous violence.

I must preface my remarks by stating for the record that any suggestions that I am about to make regarding wine are the products of what I have found pleasurable. You may or may not agree with me and that is just fine. I do not consider myself to be an expert (but I appreciate the kind remark that Belle made) on the subject but simply someone who finds great pleasure from learning about wine, discovering wines that I like and helping others have the same experience. There is no better wine expert your tastebuds, eyes and olfactory. There is no need to be nervous or ashamed for whatever style of wine that either pleases or displeases you around anyone. With that disclaimer out of the way, here are my Cliff Notes on enjoying wine. Wine offers pleasure to more than just our tastebuds. I find it rewarding to take the time to savor it fully. The time you take to appreciate it's color like the deep garnet of a cabernet, the delicate ruby color of a pinot noir or the opaque inky purple of a syrah (or shiraz, it's the same grape by the way). Savor the aroma, wines will often present aromas that are different from the way it tastes. Take your time. Good wine is like good sex, why on earth would you want to rush it? When you sip think the wine, notice how it feels on your palate (body). Notice the flavors present (fruit). There will usually be one or maybe two dominant notes but pay attention to the more subtle ones. The more flavors a wine presents, the more complex is said to be. Finally, and this is really the climax (finish), when you swallow the wine, notice how the flavors play. Are they different from when the wine was in your mouth? Are they more intense? How long does that sensation last? The longer the better. Do you notice flavors changing from one moment to the next. Now maybe you can appreciate what all the fuss is about. Where I look for good wine at a bargain price (circa $10)? Reds Jaboulet Paralell 45 Cotes du Rhone. Notice the blackberry flavor followed by an earthy black pepper finish. This is absolutely the perfect steak wine. Cotes du Rhones are typically a blend of Grenache, Syrah (Shiraz), Cinsault varietals. I find that this wine puts a lot of it's pricier Chateauneuf du Pape neighbors to shame. Expect to pay $9.99 to $12.99. You should be able to find it in supermarkets with a larger wine inventory or most certainly in your local wine store. Antinori Santa Cristina. This Italian red is from Tuscany and is made 100% of Sangiovese grapes, which is the varietal of Chianti Classico. ($8.99 to $11.99) Goats do Roam. Notice the wordplay with Cotes du Rhone. This is a South African wine. I would highly recommend trying a few other reds from South African before the rest of the world finds out how good they are. Goats do Roam like all good South African reds exhibit very ripe fruit because of the hot days and the cool nights. Around $8.99 usually. If you want to splurge a bit for a knock them dead South African Red, look for Rozendal Farm. ($29-$35) This wine impressed Napoleon enough that he took it with him in exile on St. Helena. It is fabulous. Better than many wines that I have had the privilege of tasting over $100. Argentine Malbecs. Especially Alamos. Malbec is one of the five red varietals of Bordeaux, where it is used to add more structure to Cabernet Sauvignon. Argentina is the only place that I have found that Malbec can stand on its own and there does it ever! ($10-$13) Crane Creek Cabernet Sauvignon This California cab delivers a powerful punch for your tastebuds for way under $10. I find it here in Michigan for...get this...3 bottles for $10. Not really that complex...but hey, look at the price. Huia New Zealand Pinot Noir Nice cherry, blackberry flavor. $13-$16 Whites Monkey Bay New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc I love NZ Sauvignon Blanc. It has a wonderful gooseberry like flavor with ripe melon notes. NZ Sauvignons are a steal (for now). Stock up for the summer. The perfect patio wine. ($8.99 to $10.99). White wines from the Loire Valley. Styles to look for Vouvray (Chenin Blanc varietal), Pouilly Fume (Sauvignon Blanc), Muscadet Sur Lie (Melon du Bourgogne). This is an excellent seafood wine. Lindeman's Bin 65 Chardonnay. Because of the warmer climate in Australia, this wine has butterscotch, vanilla and apricot flavors. ($10-12) White Burgundies from the Macon area. This may be a surprise to many but there are actually white burgundies. White burgundies are 100% Chardonnay by French law. You will find these wines to be perhaps more minerally and not as glowingly fruity as Aussie or California Chards for that matter. Look for quality producers like Jadot or Louis Latour. ($10-$13). A votre sante...to your health

Rendereth thou thine heart unto God for thy sorry foot belongeth to me. Forever and ever, Amen.

it will have to wait until I get cable. Hopefully, next week.

Well happy birthday Hap, no matter what day it falls on.

Happy Birthday Onion Eater. RJ

Happy Birthday (belatedly) Chatty Kathy. Cheers! RJ

Jason Alexander a.k.a. George on Seinfeld. He strikes a plausible resemblance and is adept at portraying someone who is self absorbed and somewhat neurotic.

Update 03.15.06 The following schools have written Ryan a letter of acceptance for admission: Dartmouth NYU Cornell

Abi, You are an angel of pure light! L'chaim! Robin

I just received a call from the former Mrs. Oenophile who was so excited that she was beside herself because Harvard called our son's, Ryan, high school counselor that they would like to come to the school and interview him so that they may further evaluate his application for admission. An interview typically means that they are very seriously considering your application. He has already had an interview with Princeton. The interviewer said that he recommended him to the Admissions Board.

I use to love to imitate Chester beginning at age 4. In a high pitched nasaly kind of drawl I would yell "Marshall Dillon while walking dragging one leg. I remember when Gunsmoke would come on, Grandma would let me ride the arm of the sofa as my horse and Uncle Ernie (who always threatened to flush me down the commode just to hear me gurgle) would lend me his pipe for a gun. Whoa just dated myself.

Happy birthday Jean.

His portrayal of Barney Fife will always be a comic legend. Don Knott's clever depiction of Barney as a buffoon despite his presumptive cosmopolitan modernity was a exquisite compliment to Andy's unassuming downhome folksy wisdom which was classic North Carolina. The state motto is Esse Quam Videri or "to be rather than to seem." Since I grew up in North Carolina in the 50's, I could relate closely with the characters on The Andy Griffith Show. I could especially relate to Barney because like Barney I longed to escape the provincialism surrounding me for the big city, ahem...Raleigh. Now I long to recapture the humility and simple tastes that I was raised on. Sadly, Thomas Wolfe, another North Carolinian, was right when he wrote You Can't Go Home Again. We spend our lives trying to replace what we once gave away for free. The show depicted the good side of what it was like growing up in a sleepy southern town during that period. Our communal values, humility, hospitality and neighborliness, were brought to life in each episode. We southerners could almost smell the emanating aromas from Aunt Bea's kitchen and taste her her sweet potato pie. What it didn't show was the grinding poverty and peonage (de facto slavery) that many lower class whites and almost all black people lived in. But the country wasn't ready to face up to that in the 50's and in many ways, it still isn't. However, I must hasten to say significant progress in assisting poor people to lift themselves out of poverty has been made especially in the South I liked Barney especially when growing up because that was my Dad's name. I worshipped the ground my Dad walked on, stood in awe of his generosity, loved his warm lilting drawl and even the way he smelled when he came in after a hot summer day. Damn you, Thomas Wolfe. Robin

Waterbuffalo ( and other ladies with brittle nails), Please don't hate me. Because I am a male it is such a waste to have extra hard nails. My nails are so hard that I get white knuckles when I use the nail clippers to clip them. I would love to be give them to you or at least trade them for something I could use, like hair for instance. C'est la vie, n'est pas? Robin

I voted that they are all equally bad. Unfortnately, that forced me to fold Pope Benedict into the ignoble list. I will have to give him a pass (for now) because of his relatively nascent pontificate. If he should show some guts and openness in it's dealings with the victims of pedophilic priests, that would be evidence of good leadership IMHO. One can hope, can't he?

Obviously, even though Hubbie is an avowed rule keeper, he still hasn't learned the most basic rule in marital conflict resolution. The woman is ALWAYS right.

Happy Birthday, Kit! Robin