Wine Trails of Paso Robles. The Project. And Beyond.
Unfortunately, not all of the wine trails are listed in one, easy-to-search place. Until now.
Of course, there are some wines that are made to be horrific on purpose, and I don’t mind slamming them. With enthusiasm.
As I noted earlier, I didn’t need something from the I-Can’t-Believe-I-Spent-That-Much-For-A-Bottle-Of-Wine cooler. So the Hahn Pinot fit the bill perfectly.
They have come together to show that Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon is now a force in the wine world, and they are going to be its evangelists.
Okay, you got a chance to read my previous rant about Chopped. While I still have issues with it, it has embarrassingly become one of my guilty pleasures.
Am I the only one in the world who feels that this program is, well, a little silly?
While I did not rant (you would have been soooo proud of me!), I did point out that this minuscule bottle of White Zin is not the same thing as a Rosé from the Loire, even if they are the same color.
Assuming that these questions come from a place of really wanting to know – as opposed to trying to get me to stop – I can think of only one answer: Passion.
When we last went to the Zin Fest in 2010 (has it been that long?!?) we never expected to be interviewed by the local paper!
People, like grapes, come in all colors. And like grapes, can sometimes be surprising with their personalities, characteristics, and the way that other people perceive them.
In between there will be roaming the California coast from Santa Barbara to Solvang, Paso Robles to Monterey. My cameras and notepads are at the ready, and I’m jonesing for adventure.
If they make it rich, then kudos. If they don’t, I can imagine that they would continue to make wine until the very end.
Okay, since driving wasn’t involved, it was actually wine drinking. Staggering home is not illegal. At least as far as I know.
The finish was pleasantly bitter, hinting of Meyer lemon and coffee. Delicious. And did a fairly good job of slapping my palate around a bit.
Someone had said that they had really good food and were a “microbrewery” with “hand-crafted beers.” Whatever that was.
However, don’t be shy to venture away from the Strip and try some local wine bars and restaurants, as they can often be a pleasant surprise and much better for Vegas on a budget.
Well, when I went to get the “sponge” to start mixing the other ingredients, I was greeted by the dough equivalent of Godzilla.
The first thing I want to do is to explain why I’m on a soup roll. It began with the chili cookoff at Don & Mark’s in October, and has continued till now. Whether I’m attempting French Onion Soup, Chili, Menudo, Chicken, or whatever, I believe (and have always believed) that a good bowl of [...]
The recipe for basic chili is pretty simple: Meat, beans, celery, onions, peppers, garlic, tomato of some sort, seasonings such as cumin and chili powder, and salt and pepper. That’s a good, easy-to-make chili, but it’s not “Challenge” chili. It’s sitting in front of the TV with a beer chili.
I used an olive oil/canola blend that I purchased at Smart N Final instead of the original lard. “Health,” you know.
Two of the salsas are fruit salsas, which on the surface seems like a contradiction. Hot and sweet, the way I used to be.
It was incredibly delicious – I had guests who were eating wings over the sink (“I don’t need no steeking plate!”) – and were raving over the flavor.
As I noted earlier, I didn’t need something from the I-Can’t-Believe-I-Spent-That-Much-For-A-Bottle-Of-Wine cooler. So the Hahn Pinot fit the bill perfectly.
The finish was exquisite, lengthy, and sensual, which gave me a “moment” which the men around me immediately noticed.
If you come into this bar to cheer for the other team, you do so at your own peril.
Before I go into my rant – which newbies may see as shallow, opinionated, narrow-minded, and snobbish, and I’m good with that – I just want to make a couple of things perfectly clear.
Most people – including me – are pretty willing to suspend reality in order to be educated and entertained.
Armed government agents burst through a door, weapons drawn. Commands are barked to the individuals there to get on the floor. The agents keep their firearms leveled at the perpetrators while they search for contraband. The booty is confiscated and eventually destroyed. The perps are arrested and face substantial jail time.
Drugs? Human Trafficking? Sex Slaves? Illegal abortions? Meth lab? Terrorist cell?
Nope.
If you come into this bar to cheer for the other team, you do so at your own peril.
It’s a stick of butter disguised as a cake. It’s so good. So rich. I felt my thighs fluff and my arteries harden from just one bite.
My friend John Curtas of Eating Las Vegas fame told me in my early Vegas Wineaux blogging career, “don’t review a restaurant after only one visit.” Well, he’s a genuine restaurant critic with years of experience, and except for the occasional stellar or stinky incident, I have taken his advice to heart.
Unfortunately, not all of the wine trails are listed in one, easy-to-search place. Until now.
There were no smiles, just puzzled, furrowed brows. Except for mine, of course. I had a barely-contained evil grin.
So the overall review of the beers is a positive one. The lagers were novice-friendly, the ales, porters, and stouts (what few there were) were complex and mouthfilling. The IPAs ranged from gently hoppy to “Dude, where’s my tongue?”
According to the reviews a là Groupon, this is an outstanding restaurant – “The Best Restaurant in Summerlin” it said.
Okay. I’ll bite.
I will write more on box wines after the Vegas Wineaux Wine Club box wine tasting next month. (insert evil gleeful cackle here)
As one person told me, “I’ve always wanted to learn about wines, and thought this was a good place to start.” Indeed.
There are scads more “wine trails” in the Paso Robles/Central Coast area than I thought was humanly possible.
I must be nuts.
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