Spread 365
Now this is dinner. Shot at the DeCaro's in Fullerton, CA. After stopping by the Italian deli we could do nothing but set up a swank spread for dinner. Wines were nice, one Valpolicella and one Ripasso. Shot with my 35mm f/1.4 prime.
Wine
So as the world turns, and it's fatal aspects of fate play out, it just so happens that all my years of studying wine have finally paid off. All the bottles, all the tasting notes, all the vine yard maps and wine labels - and it has all paid off.
The Senior Partner of my law firm found out through the grapevine (pun intended) that I am a publicly professed wine connoisseur, as is he. Admittedly I am a young wine connoisseur, but I am on the pathway to oenophile attainment, and knowing that a millionaire partner with a millionaire wine cellar is interested in knowing what I have to say about wine is a very good thing.
I was called into his office. His door was shut. And he proceeded with a two question "Wine Quiz."
First Question - Name the five first growth, or Premier Grand Cru, wines from France.
I went four outta' five. Not bad. That's like batting .800
The answers by the way are Chateau Marguax, Chateau Haut-Brion, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, Chateau Mouton-Rothschild, and Chateau Latour.
Second Question - Name the senior partners favorite Washington State wine. Hint - It's a red.
This one took me a second, and I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a lucky guess, but I nailed it! Somehow the words just came out. They started deep in my chest, and then they rushed to the surface of my lips and I spouted out "Leonetti's. A Leonetti's cab!"
And I was right! Unbelievable. I received a bottle of his wine and was sent off to study some more.
And this is the point in the story where I went over board. Way over board. Not only did he stroke my wine-oriented ego, but soon thereafter I was confident enough to take him up on a second wine quiz. This time, however, I need to know all of the wineries and their classifications as set down in 1855 in preparation for the Paris expo. For those of you concerned ; I need to have the following list memorized by this coming friday, June 8th. Shit!
FIRST GROWTHS
(PREMIERS CRU)Château Lafite-Rothschild Pauillac
Château Margaux Margaux
Château Latour Pauillac
Château Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan
Château Mouton-Rothschild Pauillac
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SECOND GROWTHS
(DEUXIÈMES CRUS)
Château Rausan-Ségla Margaux
Château Rauzan-Gassies Margaux
Château Léoville-Las Cases St.-Julien
Château Léoville-Poyferré St.-Julien
Château Léoville-Barton St.-Julien
Château Durfort-Vivens Margaux
Château Gruaud-Larose St.-Julien
Château Lascombes Margaux
Château Brane-Cantenac Cantenac
Château Pichon-Longueville Baron Pauillac
Château Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse-
de-Lalande Pauillac
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou St.-Julien
Château Cos-d'Estournel St.-Estèphe
Château Montrose St.-Estèphe
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THIRD GROWTHS
(TROISIÈMES CRUS)
Château Kirwan Cantenac
Château d'Issan Cantenac
Château Lagrange St.-Julien
Château Langoa Barton St.-Julien
Château Giscours Labarde
Château Malescot-St.-Exupéry Margaux
Château Cantenac-Brown Cantenac
Château Boyd-Cantenac Cantenac
Château Palmer Cantenac
Château La Lagune Ludon
Château Desmirail Margaux
Château Calon-Ségur St.-Estèphe
Château Ferrière Margaux
Château Marquis d'Alesme-Becker Margaux
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FOURTH GROWTHS
(QUATRIÈMES CRUS)
Château St.-Pièrre St.-Julien
Château Talbot St.-Julien
Château Branaire-Ducru St.-Julien
Château Duhart-Milon Pauillac
Château Pouget Cantenac
Château La Tour-Carnet St.-Laurent
Château Lafon Rochet St.-Estèphe
Château Beychevelle St.-Julien
Château Prieuré-Lichine Cantenac
Château Marquis-de-Terme Margaux
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FIFTH GROWTHS
(CINQUIÈMES CRUS)
Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac
Château Batailley Pauillac
Château Haut-Batailley Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac
Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse Pauillac
Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac
Château Lynch-Moussas Pauillac
Château Dauzac Labarde
Château d'Armailhacq, Pauillac
(previously Château Mouton-Baron-
Philippe from 1956 to 1988
Château du Tertre Arsac
Château Haut-Bages-Libéral Pauillac
Château Pédesclaux Pauillac
Château Belgrave St.-Laurent
Château de Camensac St.-Laurent
Château Cos-Labory St.-Estèphe
Château Clerc-Milon Pauillac
Château Croizet-Bages Pauillac
Château Cantemerle Macau
Robot Syndrome
I truly believe that life is constantly testing us for our level of commitment, and subsequently life's greatest rewards are reserved for those who demonstrate a never ending commitment to act until they achieve.
That's the main thesis, and first premise to my spirituality and life. This is what I live by. I don't buy into this whole mindless religious robot syndrome, blinding believe everything I'm told. I don't put faith in some standardized set of rules and regulations that tells me to pray on the third wednesday in April at three in the afternoon just after the bells ring as the sun is rising at an angle of 48 degrees. I don't gather together each sunday morning in some special place to compare clothing either. I do however believe that if I'm a good person; if I treat my fellow human beings, animals, and surroundings with respect; if I don't lie, don't cheat, don't steal; if I'm faithful to my wife and family; if I take care of my loved ones and give back to my community; if I try each day to help somebody out and allow them to breathe easier knowing I was responsible; if I remain a positive,upbeat person that is always willing to do the right thing; if I wasn't racist or sexist; if I took the time to know people instead of forming snap judgements on their appearance; if I adopted a child in need or brought flowers to someone who wasn't expecting it; if I put a smile on a strangers face; if I left the world just a tad better place because I had lived; if I did all of this, and remained consistent with my values and beliefs of who I am, then that should be enough and I wouldn't change a thing.
And if I die and go to the gates of heaven, and st. peter tells me "Well. You lived a great life my friend, but you just didn't believe in the right god. Sorry. I'm gonna' have to send you the other way."
You know what st peter. You're right. I don't belong in heaven. I don't want to be any part of a place where the people are that fucked up in the way they view, and ultimately judge other people. If living a good life to the extent that I saw fit isn't good enough for you - then send me the other way. Besides, I'd proabably fair pretty good in a place like hell - you don't drink red wine chilled any way.
Life’s Eternal Metaphor – Wisdom in Wine
As most of you know, I am heavily engossed in the art, consumption, and lifestyle of wine. That is, I am I wine enthusiast. That is, I like wine! Wine to me is life. The Color; The Bouquet; The Emotions; The pure and elemental qualities that make wine a part of me. And in a subtle sense, wine seems to emulate life. And it is with such a remark that I introduce to you my rant. Wine is life - there is no other.
"Uvas y queso, saben a beso"
Grapes with cheese, like a kiss are these.
"E habera vino ne Gloria? Colo, colo! Colase como xarbe! Meu compadre, o que ben sabe corre sin trigo nin broa.
And would there be wine in heaven? Drink, drink! What a beautiful thing! It's as smooth as syrup! Oh, how it slips down, my friend, with neither wheat nor corn bread.
"Quen bebe, vive"
He who drinks, lives.
"El agua hace mal, el vino cantar."
Water makes you sick, but wine makes you sing.
"Por la manana puro, por la tarde sin agua."
Take wine pure in the morning and uwatered in the afternoon."
"Antes de comer, dos vasos has de beber. En comiendo, otros vasos seguias bebiendo. Mas despues de haber comido, tampeco te sentaran mal mas vasos."
Two glasses before eating. Two more while you eat. And after you have eaten, a few more won't do you any harm.
"Comer sin vino, comer mosquino."
A meal winthout wine is a stingy one.
"Pan de antedia, vino de ano, y carne de ese dia."
Day-old bread, wine a year old, and fresh meat.
"Al buen amigo, tu pan y tu vino. Al malo, tu perro y tu palo."
For a good friend, your bread and you wine. For a false friend, your dog and a stick.
"El vino, para que sepa a vinom, bebelo con un amigo."
For wine to taste of wine, you must drink it with a friend.
"Vino y amigo que se torvieron, nunca a ser buena volvieron."
Wine or friendship gone sour will never be restored.
"Viejo que vino no bebe, cerca esta de la muerte."
And an old man drinks no wine is near death.
And my personal quote in plain english -
"Thee who does not find wine, does not find themself."