“Heck Ya” wine

Always on the lookout for a bargain wine, I pay attention when new products appear on the LCBO shelves that are from Spain and under $12

When I saw the name Hécula on the Spanish shelf I exclaimed “Heck ya”.   Hécula was one of my house wines that the LCBO didn’t sell enough of – so it went on the dreaded product discontinued list. The current version is considered a “step down” in price point for the producer , Bodega Castaño, but it doesn’t taste like it.  In fact it tastes like they just knocked $4 off the price of a great bottle of wine.

Hécula is from the region of Yecla – no I didn’t make that up. Made from the Monastrell grape it has a bit of tannin, lively fruit, and is very food friendly. Certainly one of the LCBO best buys.

As an aside – there have been several times that a wine I recommend has made it to the product discontinued list because the LCBO didn’t sell enough of it.  Maybe you should be reconsider listening to my recommendations – it appears that nobody else buys what I do.  It certainly reflects my scope of influence.

Pint of fruitcake please

“Excuse me waiter, what’s this fruitcake doing in my glass?”

It wasn’t the back stroke – it was my Moroccan Brown Ale.

Spearhead Brewery’s Moroccan Brown Ale is a cloudy, unfiltered pint of brown ale goodness. I’ve always been partial to the brown ale – Newcastle Brown, Mill St’s Tankhouse Ale.  However, a draught pint of Moroccan Brown Ale certainly caught my attention last week.  “What’s that flavour – it’s unusual” I said aloud in me best British voice.  The Moroccan flavours are figs, dates, raisons, and a hint of cinnamon – almost everything that goes into a Christmas pudding.

The Spearhead Brewery website describes this ale as having hints of plum, brown sugar, and dried fruit – so does me Mum’s fruitcake. And while I don’t exactly enjoy me Mum’s fruitcake (at all), this ale is worth hunting down. Click here to find out if it’s in your town. I find mine at the Baker Street Station.

Bon Appétit

If you don’t know something then its never been easier to ask an expert.  I was sitting at my computer  tweeting (aka reading other people’s mail) when I read that Adam Rapoport, editor-in-chief of Bon Appétit magazine was answering questions for the next hour. Perfect – I’m chatting with the freakin’ editor-in-chief of Bon Appétit!  Here’s how it went down.

I was ready to “Let’s do this” so I began the proceedings …

@rapo4 aka Adam Rapoport replied …I countered that …

and that …

Thanks Adam – it’s good to have somebody reaffirm my own taste in wine

Disclaimer – Adam Rapoport was not paid for this interview – in fact he has no idea who I am

Wine talking

This actually sounds like my wife talking to me.

Spam and Dear Abby

Did you know that bloggers face auto-spam comments almost  daily.  It’s not as common as junk mail – but it is far more amusing.  Sadly, they are probably the best comments I receive so I treat them like a Dear Abby call for help.

Dear PulltheCork  “I needed to thank you of this great understand!! I absolutely enjoying every bit of it May very well you bookmarked view new thing you place” Isabel.   

Not a problems Isabel – glad I’m could help.  If I even understood half of what you said then I would also “view new thing you place”.

Dear PulltheCork   “Awesome website you have over here! Just wanna say thanks for that and keep up the great work!” Viagra Kopen. 

Thanks a lot Ms Kopen.

Dear PulltheCork  “i thought so too” Lista.  

Lista, thanks for your understanding.

Dear PulltheCork  “The very next time I read a blog, I hope that it won’t fail me as much as this one. After all, I know it was my choice to read through, nonetheless I truly thought you would have something helpful to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about something that you can fix if you weren’t too busy seeking attention.” Orto  

Sorry Orto – Unfortunately I am far to busy seeking attention to fix my problem.  Perhaps I can put you in touch with Ms Kopen.