I needed this vacation – sooo relaxing.
Report from Ithaca, NY:
Wine Report
2005 wines are hit and miss. Most are overpriced because of bad 2003 and 2004 winters lowering volumes. Not many are worth the price. We’re coming back with a few select ones that were outstanding, and the rest are NV bottlings, mostly off-dry blends or blends of native american grapes. Tasted some good reds this year which is promising in an area known only for its whites. Tasted alot of wines that showed signs of late season rains (watered down taste, no particular flavors, everything seems muted), and alot of wines with a chemical aftertaste.
Other than the 2005 season, some of the 2001-2002 wines are doing well. Some wineries even choose to release 2002 vintage this year, a very risky move for a region that typically does not suggest aging its wines (except dessert wines, of course). But it was for the better the 2001-2 cab francs were great.
I also got the chance to taste a few bottles that are in my cellar now, and have been aging for a few years since I bought them out here. Really cool to do – and now I know there is a bottle or two I can open and enjoy in the coming year – and a few others that I should stick in back for a while.
Golf Report
I played Bristol Harbor on Monday afternoon/evening with a child pyschologist from Chicago and a stock broker from Rochester – both very nice guys, we had alot of fun, although they were completing their 54th hole of the day and were giving up near the end. It made me look like a good golfer though. I shot a 58 on the front and a 46 on the back. I guess when I tee’d off I wasn’t completely sobered up from the days wine tours.
Crazy Ithaca Report:
There were people protesting the proliferation of nukes on the commons today. It was hilarious. Ithaca is 10 square miles of crazy, surrounded by reality. Everyone here is a hippy, vegan, democrat, hemp wearing, hair growing (applies to both sexes BTW), granola crunching, crazy person. And I love it.
Food Report:
Ate at two very good places this week:
Pangea: This guy trained under Todd English and it shows. Started out with marscapone stuffed artichokes and a cold honeydew soup. the soup was fiendishly good, swimming with cilantro and peach sorbet in the middle. A couple perfectly dressed salads later and Amanda and I both chose fish for the entree. She had the salmon, perfectly cooked with a crispy peppercorn crust, yellow pepper suace, grapefruit colee. I had the tuna, again perfectly cooked, with some greens and jicama slaw. Very tasty. The dessert was unbeleiveable. Amanda had a cardamon creme brulee. It was good, tasted alot like the indian dessert kulfi. I had the chocolate chili cake with chocolate gelato. This was jaw dropping. On my first taste I almost blurted out “it tastes just like a brownie…….” but then I fell silent as my mouth was coated with a soothing heat. It was an experience. the gelato cooled things down, and repeat. What a great meal.
Moosewood: Your mom probably has their cookbooks. They serve seasonal meals with complete menu changes everyday. Although they cater to the Ithacan crowd with many healthy/vegan options, there are always a good dish or two on the menu that includes meat or other tasty ingredients. I’ve heard their desserts are the best, but alas we only stopped in for a quick lunch. Asparagus fritatta for me, Tunisian stew for Amanda, both were excellent.
That’s all for now. More wineries tomorrow and then heading back on thursday.
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