There is nothing like a classic Claret

We celebrated my dad's 75th birthday (albeit belatedly) on the Sunday before Christmas. He actually turned 75 on November 2, but we did not have a chance to get together for a "Birthday Meal" until the 18th.After a delicious dinner, we turned to a nice selection of cheeses and a wonderful bottle of wine. I managed to secure 6 bottles of 1986 Chateau Leoville Las Cases late last year and this was an opportunity to finally taste this classic Claret. It was originally scored 98/100 by Parker (shortly after release) but within a couple of years he had revised his score to 100/100 and if what we tasted that evening was any indicator, not a moment too soon.

This was really one of the greatest red wines that I have tasted in many years.

The great thing about classic Bordeaux, such as this Leoville Las Cases, is the pinpoint clarity, amazing structure, intense but elegant fruit, amazing integration of tannins and other acids and the overall feeling of pure, unadulterated luxury that they leave in one's mouth and brain.

Is it worth the $800.00 or $1,000.00 that it would likely take to secure in today's market? That is certainly a question I cannot answer for anyone else. My dad is worth it and 75th birthdays don't come along every day so, in a nutshell, for this occasion, it was definitely worth it. To be able to share such a magnificent work of art with my Mom and Dad, with my wife and kids and to have created a memory of immense proportions made this pretty good value. In today's world, a fine evening out for 6 people (without a wine of this fantastic quality) would surely have cost as much.

A few days later, my 20 year old daughter shared with me that fact that she "really liked that red wine we had at Grampa's birthday dinner" Yeah..... sure...... maybe once she is finished school and earning her own salary, she will be able to enjoy a few more just like it. I hope she remembers to invite her old man to share in them, though!

More Popcorn and Beer - I can hardly wait!

Wow!

Do I live in a country full of morons, or what?

As a noted Liberal Cabinet Minister (and one-time NHL goaltender) alluded to some months ago, the Liberals should be raising our children as they are far more equipped to do it! As I recall, he admitted that parents could continue to provide a baby sitting service, where necessary but as far as rasing the little buggers, he and his cronies were the only choice. And, apparently, the lion's share of parents out there, seem to agree with him.

(Or, maybe it is not the parents that agree but the unnerving number of non-parents who seem hell bent on making what was once recognized as counter-culture into the mainstream of our society. Wow - when I sit back and visualize what things might look like in 20 years -hmmm - I think I might retire to some other place...... soon.......HELP!)

Nice - so I guess if nothing else, your sweet little Johnnie or Mary will, at least, get a solid grounding in theft, fraud and embezzlement. May I suggest that if your ankle-biter actually qualifies (remember the ever present Liberal income test) and somehow skips the queue (otherwise he/she might be 10 before finally being rewarded with one of those rare openings) that you lock up the purse - hide the cheque book and guard the PIN numbers with your life.

Otherwise, with a good Liberal upbringing and a year or two of training in one of their little Liberal-maker centres, you can be assured that they will come out a master/mistress of misappropriation.

How much better would it be to have all of the Tory promised $1200.00 to spend on popcorn and beer? Seeing that 90% of the cost of beer is tax, this could be seen as a superbly clever form of redistribution. I mean, c'mon - all of those good Liberals in Ontario would never be tempted to waste away their lives and resources quite the same way as the intellectually challenged, low-class, beer swilling tugs out on the Prairies or in the Maritimes.

This way, perhaps the offspring of the chosen people in Ontario and English-speaking Quebec (you know them, they are the Trudeauistes of old, the ruling class, the Liberal emperors) will have an unchallenged march straight to the riches of Parliament Hill and to the comfort of Ottawa (the Liberal new Jerusalem) the city of Gold!!

Of course, the rest of us will wallow in our misery, stumbling from bottle to bowl, from beer to kernel, from uninformed opine to purely careless deliberation.

How lucky we are that the informed and thinking citizens of this once great and noble country will once again save us scallywags from such a horrid fate!

Just a closer Blog with thee

I hope that this will become a place for some to come and find opinions, ideas, thoughts, complaints, accolades, advice - anything that, in one way or another, makes sense or provides support to their opinions and or views.

For those that know me, they will not be surprised that wine may find it's way into many of my posts as well. I like to get away from it at times, to express myself and my opinions on other important issues, debates and matters of the day but.....when all is said and done, it always seems to come back to the fruit of the vine anyways. So, be prepared for loads of stuff about wine and food and related topics.