A Zombies Guide To Wine

Zombie Wine Scoring Guide 5 Wooden Stakes = Vamps beware, this one wine will send you to the other side, in a good way 4 Pitchforks = a great wine to rally up all the villagers for 3 Coffins = wine is good but may be forgotten 2 Torches = a wine that should be set fire to 1 Stiff = Showing little to no life

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Yep I knew it #hansolo is still out there ! #starwars

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Somedays you'll find people are just so smart #yoda #starwars #ww #wookiewednesday (at Dagobah System )

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My mind and palate now only geeked out but utterly exploded with how incredible these 3 vintages of Trinitas Napa Valley Sauvignon Blancs are tasting side by side #popevalley #napa #hungarianoak this trio is uber limited 1000 cs of each produced #thirstythursday #meltyourfaceoff @trinitascellars @meritageresort (at Engel Hobbit hole)

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09 Whitehall Lane Merlot - Zombie scores: 3 Coffins

Wine: Merlot (80% Merlot, 15% Syrah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon)

Region: Rutherford, Bommarito vineyard

Alcohol: 14.2% 

Price: 28 bones 

Zombie Score: 3 Coffins

Tasting Notes from the Catacombs: Ripe Cherries explode in the mouth like those fuzzy sugar candies I used to steal from 7-11. You know the ones that were velvety on the outside and when you bite into them they erupt a juicy cherry liqueur center. Yes - those ones. This wine does that. It begins with an unassuming start then opens up nicely. Healthy grip on the palate showing all of those Merlot haters out there that it can hang with out and socialize with the cabernet crowd. 

I pick up a little spice cake like the ones grandma would make but it isn't as prominent in the finish. Well balanced - I desire just a hint more of acid than this one offers - but that is just me as I am really hard on Merlot. The syrah helps it but it could use a little carignane - did I say that ...why yes I did.Nonetheless, this wine is a win win and would do well for everyday drinking especially for watching reruns of Airwolf or McGyver. 

Memory Rapture:

Vineyard Compendium: Bommarito Vineyard

The Bommarito Vineyard is located on Galleron Road in the Rutherford Appellation of the Napa Valley. The vineyard is approximately 25 acres with soils that are very similar to those in the Whitehall Lane Winery Estate Vineyard. It has produced outstanding grapes since the early 1920's when Dominic Bommarito purchased the Rutherford property to plant a vineyard and build a summer home.

The Vineyard is planted to four different grape varieties. The rootstocks in this vineyard were matched to the various soil types, two different trellis systems were implemented and grape clones were selected to yield ultimate fruit flavors. The largest planting is Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller plantings of Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc. There are two acres planted to Semillon.

Bommarito was born in Sicily in 1889 and immigrated to the United States in 1903. In the early 1920's he began construction on his summer home and moved to this Rutherford estate permanently in 1929 with his wife, four children and mother. He built five additional homes on the property between 1941 and 1953. Many of the furnishings in the houses were acquired from surplus at Mare Island Naval Ship Yard, including sinks and plumming. Dominic Bommarito was a founding member of the Napa Valley Co-Op and farmed his vineyard until his death in 1963. His wife, Carmen Bommarito, tended to the vineyard until her death in December, 1994. Working by her side was son Salvatore "Toots" Bommarito. Toots spent his entire life on the property, working in the vineyard and tending to the properties. He retired in 1994.

Whitehall Lane Winery continues to call the property the Bommarito Vineyard, recognizing the wonderful history of the Napa Valley, its pioneers and its characters.

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2008 Ehlers Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 5 Wooden Stakes

Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon (83% Cab Sauv, 12% Cab Franc, 4% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot)

Region:  St.Helena, Napa Valley

Alcohol: 14.5% 

Oak: 100% French Oak / 70% New 

Price: 95 bones

Zombie Score:  5 Wooden Stakes

Tasting Notes from the Catacombs: I cracked this bottle and upon opening it, began my religious experience. Aromas permeated the air with German Chocolate Cake, cinnamon and cardamom spices like incense in the temple. While all of the oxygen was choked out of the room, I baptized myself into the bowl of the glass to take safety inside the silkiness of this wine. Brimming with life came flavors of cherry, sweet licorice, and elements of juicy white plums & pomegranate. Anointing the nose were hints of caramel, toffee and tobacco on lingering on the finish, the transfiguration of the flavor finale had me  tapping the bottom of the bottle to see if there was any tasty morsels left. That is when I realized I lost time and drank the entire bottle alone. How dangerous! To realize that time and space folded only to leave you with an empty bottle. Oh to be resurrected with a bottle of elixir. This was a religious experience.....Not unlike....

Memory Rapture:

It was 1986 when I got my first skateboard. In the Great White North, in Saskatchewan, it was difficult to get your hands on quality boards. Let me tell you, all i really wanted was a piece of wood on some wheels. I would witness a friend of the family, Jan Holmgren, ride in his basement on an old banana board. He had thrown a piece of plywood onto an old couch and would ride up the house made ramp and up the wall then down. I was hungry to learn that. I wanted to do a 'wallie' like that. I soon found out that that move was invented and perfected by Natas Kaupas from Santa Monica. I wanted to meet him as I would buy every Thrasher magazine he was in back then. It was that year that I got exactly what I wanted from a misunderstood kid in my home town named Dean who owned a half-pipe in his backyard. He owned a few pro decks and gave me one. It was a Natas. He whispered in my ear 'look at the deck in the mirror, but dont' tell your parents.' 

                                                                                                                                                                           I was so confused until I realized that Natas' name backwards was Satan and my parents may have objected. Thankfully it had nothing to do with Satan himself. 

I woodshedded for years to learn how to do as many street tricks as possible including Wallies of which when I landed my first...was such a religious experience. 

So here is a toast to all first time religious experiences! 

I thought this was a great Memory Rapture as 100 years ago (from 1886) Ehlers Estate original property and wine making was founded. Perfect!  

Please enjoy and buy this wine! It will Change your life.

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2010 Spellbound Chardonnay - 4 Pitchforks

Wine: Chardonnay

Region: California 

Alcohol: 13.5%

Oak: American and French Oak Barrel & Stainless Steel 

Price: 18 bones

Zombie Score:  4 Pitchforks

Tasting Notes from the Catacombs:

Upon pouring this wine, right out of the gate, I was immediately overwhelmed by the aromas of fresh cut pineapples & Pina Colada. Still brimming with papaya & kiwi, this wine takes off and does not stop.  The flavors scream   tropics and land elegantly with a caramel vanilla creme brulee topping.

I think this is one to watch out for.

What I mean by that is that this wine will turn on you like a dirty little werewolf. You sip on one glass and you may find yourself saying . . .

'oh how cute, what a fresh little Chardonnay'. Then, before you know it.... the lil guy turns on ya and the wine becomes more like. . .

 'Easy Tiger, now just take it easy... slow down..' 

Soon you'll find Taylor Lautner in your house imprinting on you and 3 bottles are long gone.This wine is too easy to drink, one must be careful not to wake the beast in the night.

Memory Rapture:

I will never forget the first time I heard Ozzy Osbourne. It was 1986, I was riding my skateboard listening to my walkman. (I am pretty sure I was listening to was the Christian Glam Rock band Stryper at the time).

Rolling down the sidewalk I found a box at the edge of a driveway labeled ' Free Stuff '.  I rummaged through it like any punk kid would and thumbed through all of the tapes. 

Abba, Steely Dan, Michael Jackson (I pocketed that one for later), and then came across Ozzy's -Blizzard of Oz Album...song 'Shot in the Dark'

I popped in the cassette and hit play. My life immediately changed upon hearing Ozzy's voice. I played that album over and over again. The hypnotic tones and frequencies led me to the local 7-11 where they were celebrating a new flavor of slurpee 'Pina Colada'. 

Being a Coke flavor Slurpee lover myself, I was skeptical. Really how could this be any good. But for some reason my new found love for Ozzy had me believe that anything could happen. I got the small - you guessed it. I loved it!

Fast forward 20 odd years and this became a summer tradition every year since. Listening to Ozzy, sipping on a Pina Colada Slurpee. 

This wine brought me back to that first memory. 

Random Slurpee Fact

Canadians purchase an average of 30 million drinks per year. Despite its status as a very cold city and with a population of only 700,000,[4] Winnipeg, Manitoba was crowned the Slurpee Capital of the World for the twelfth time in a row in 2011. 7-Eleven stores across Winnipeg sell an average of 188,833 Slurpee drinks per month. The rest of Canada sells an average of 179,700 per month, which makes Winnipeggers the world leader of Slurpee sales. Unlike their counterparts in America, Canadian Slurpees are not injected with air.

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2008 Kuleto Zinfandel - Zombie Score: 5 Wooden Stakes

Wine: Zinfandel

Region: Napa Valley

Alcohol: 14.9%

Oak: Hungarian & French / 10 months 

Price: 35 bones

Zombie Score:   5 Wooden Stakes

  Tasting Notes from the Catacombs:  

On smelling this wine right out of the gate, I came upon some beautiful red cherry blossoms and deep cherry liquor. The aromas whisked me into a library room of high leather back chairs and mahogany tables where a gentleman's liquor cabinet would have been found.  

The flavors were well balanced and and the acids were structured in a fairly integrated manor.  I immediately picked up on tinder box or spice box element that would suggest the hungarian oak is playing 1st fiddle here of which I loved. Great marriage of oak in my opinion. 

Cherry liquor, shaved dark chocolate along with hints of espresso lead this red into a mouthwatering marathon causing you tap the bottom of the bottle expecting more when it has been emptied. 

  Memory Rapture: 

In 1992 i saw my first UFO.  Yep, I said it. I was standing outside talking with friends at a winter camp (brrrrrr) in Moose jaw, Saskatchewan. I almost snapped my neck off when looking behind me caught 6 bright green lights in the sky making their way westward. My friends saw it as well but were so buzzed on Jolt soda that I am sure they just chopped it up as aircrafts from the nearby Canadian Air Force Base taking off and landing. Some would suggest Aurora Borealis of which I would see almost nightly being Canadian and accustomed to odd colors in the sky. This was different. The lights moved differently. 

Why do I bring this up?

Well, that day we had just celebrated a birthday party of one of our friends and had Black Forrest cake of which I was still tasting in my mouth when this event occurred. I was known to 'wood chip' chocolate cake then. Just Sayin'. 

This wine brings me back to that day.  A wine abduction without the messy alien implants. 

  Winemaker Notes: - 761-acre ranch is located in the rugged wilderness of eastern Napa Valley overlooking Lake Hennessey, Prichard Hill and the towns of Rutherford and St. Helena

- neighbors include Chappellet, Colgin, Bryant Family and David Arthur

- ranch is a patchwork of steeply wooded hillsides interspersed with tiny vineyards that have been divided into 100+ micro-blocks based upon topography and soil structure

- Each block is farmed and picked independently with harvest often lasting up to 50 days

- The three clones of Zinfandel at Kuleto Estate are planted between 1200 and 1400 feet in a small bowl containing the only deep red soil on the property

- The head-trained vines face to the northeast, avoiding the late afternoon sun and warm winds that can desiccate late ripening varieties such as Zinfandel

- The 2008 vintage featured severe frosts when the shoots were already 12-18 inches in length resulting in a 30% crop loss in a number of blocks - this means low yield

- Late Summer heat helped perfect the rest of the growing season to full ripeness

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Clif Family Climber Pouch - Zombie Scores: 4 Pitchforks

Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon (Non-Vintage)

Region: California

Alcohol: 14.1%

Price: 18 bones

Zombie Score: 4 Pitchforks

Tasting Notes from the Catacombs: This wine blew my expectations. Just saying. With huge aromas of campfire smores , espresso and American chocolate this little guy caught me off-guard.  On the palette I immediately picked up hints of forest floor and huge black cherry. Medium finish, medium acidity making this wine a perfect BBQ wine. This wine reminded me of how shocked one can be when encountering a memorable moment, not unlike the high kick David Lee Roth does in the video "Just Like Paradise".

Not to mention that if there was someone who would probably appreciate this All- Terrain Wine Transport more than anyone, it would be David Lee Roth because he is an avid cliff climber. 

Background: Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford are owners of Clif Family Winery & Farm based in St. Helena, CA and Clif Bar & Company based in Emeryville, CA. Both companies are named for Gary's father, Clifford, who spent many years hiking and skiing in California's Sierra Nevada Mountains with his son. Gary and Kit's love of food and wine began with cycling trips through Europe. A day of cycling would inevitably end with a long meal and a great bottle of wine. The purchase of their property in Napa County in 1998 fueled their passion for wine and food, and its connection back to the land. 

  Winemaker: Sarah Gott and Bruce Regalia

Ms. Gott it is my pleasure to introduce to you Mr. David Lee Roth

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2006 Conn Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - Zombie Scores: 5 Wooden Stakes

Wine: 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: Stagecoach Vineyard / Atlas Peak / Napa Valley

Alcohol: 14.7%

Price: 45 bones

Zombie Score: 5 Wooden Stakes

Tasting Notes from the Catacombs:  Massive minerality in the nose of flint, burnt incense & bloodstone. Upon palate entry, hints of black cherries like in black forest cake are present with some subtle smoke on the finish. This finish is super unique and speaks to a perfect marriage between terroir and barrel.  With essence of sweet fireworks aroma (gunpowder) in the aromatics - this wine is more than just nostalgic... of which only happens now and then. This wine is annual - it needs to be drank every Fourth of July!  

Vineyard Background: Owned by the Krupp Family, Stagecoach Vineyard (named after the horse-drawn coaches  that once travelled its hills) is located high above the valley floor in the easternVaca Mountains at elevations of 900' to 1,700'. Rocky, well-drained soils and cool morning fog that turns to long warm days combine to create wines of great complexity.

Winemaker: Mike McGrath

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2007 Clos Du Val Merlot - Zombie Scores: 1 Stiff

WIne: 2007 Merlot

Region: Napa Valley

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: 30 bones

Zombie Score: 1 Stiff

Tasting Notes From The Catacombs:  Huge plasticine & black olives gives away this wines old world approach right out of the gate. When sipping on this wine the mouth feel tells me that there must be more to this wine than just the silky Merlot. I detect a blend of Cab Sauv and possibly Cab Franc. So much of this wine needs food. Although there is some blue fruits present, I feel as thought the acid is not at all being supported by the alcohol which in turn gives this wine a disappointing finish. I have had a few other wines from Clos Du Val and do see a similar style trend going on.

Zombie-rant:  I am growing tired of vineyards being ran by accountants! It is obvious that what we are tasting in these wines are a direct outcome of vines being pushed to hard without a rest between yields. The outcome shows how the climate, nutrient depletion, dead soil, and lack of sustainability become locked inside a bottle.

If the winemaker & vineyard manager were able to have their druthers, I am sure they would agree that the pressure being placed on the fruit is not driven by their own artisan style of winemaking but rather the demand of producing vintage after vintage of less than stellar crop. 

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Happy July 4th Everyone! 

Luv the Engel Family & Obi Wan Kenobi! 

[curiositycounts]

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I had to reblog this Kevin! This is why we were created - I love it.

curiositycounts:

What Tau Sounds Like – the follow-up to the brilliant What Pi Sounds Like, in time for today’s tau day, 6.28

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2006 Retro Petite Sirah, Howell Mountain - Zombie Scores: 4 Pitchforks

Wine: 2006 Petite Sirah

Region: Howell Mountain / Napa Valley 

Alcohol: 14.5 %

Price:  38 bones 

Zombie Score:  4 Pitchforks

Tasting Notes From the Catacombs:  With a rich floral introduction in the nose, this Petite Sirah took me for a ride on a reality bus of deep rum raisin, Dr.Pepper, and sweet pipe tobacco. This is TRUE Howell Mountain earth & fruit being expressed with no fake barrel regiment masking the terroir. It is a bit h ard to believe that this is 100% Petite Sirah due to the huge yellow & red flowers brimming with life. Amazing briar fruit of Saskatoons and Chokecherries spills over the palate with supple tannins and gorgeous structure supporting aging possibilities up to 8 years. This wine is a must drink and must buy. Just saying - a good Howell Mountain Reality Check! 

Winemaker:  Mike Dunn

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2006 Cade Cabernet Sauvignon - Howell Mountain Zombie Scores: 3 Coffins

Wine: 2006 Cade Cabernet Sauvignon 

Region: Howell Mountain / Napa Valley 

Alcohol: 14.8 %

Price:  68 bones 

Zombie Score:  3 Coffins

Tasting Notes From the Catacombs:  I really enjoyed the entrance of the nose on this wine. Immediately was able to pick up the classic Howell Mountain aromas of cassis, forest floor, and olive tapenade.  With smooth beginnings on the palate heralding bright acids that scream deep cherry and Arabic mocha spice - this wine's coffin lid is busting through the earth with it's obvious Merlot undertones. I expected to be met with some massive gargantuan tannic resistance, but was pleasantly surprised by the elegance and balance with well integrated wood.  I usually welcome a good Howell Mountain Cab - expecting large and bossy - however this one seemed more like it was a sleeping giant rather than a fierce Liger. Still, this one was more memorable than it was forgettable.  This wine almost melted my face off. Almost. Good Wine tho.

Winemaker: Anthony Biagi

Consulting Winemaker: Nils Venge

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2009 Terra Valentine Riesling - 4 Pitchforks

Wine: 2009 Terra Valentine Riesling

Region: Spring Mountain District

Alcohol: 13.5%

Varietal: Reisling

Cooperage: 5 Months sur lie in 50% stainless steel barrels, and 50% neutral French oak

Production:  213 Cases Produced

Price: 34 bones

Zombie Score: 4 Pitchforks

Notes from the Catacomb Cellar:  Huge citrus notes that border on lime zest & and Bitter Melon. Clove and petroleum keep this wine grounded in their aromas and moving forward with a lanolin (semi- oil based) mouthfeel.  Massive White tea & Papaya puree. Medium long finish.  Big Alsatian style wine!

Great Pairing with Wensleydale Cheese! 

Memory Rapture: Upon sipping this wine I felt as though I was instantly whisked back to my first Vepsa experience in Banff, Alberta - Canada.  The smell of the gas burning against the cool snow laden mountain air.  It also reminds me of some of the English band tunes I was listening to on that epic ride. The Cure, Echo & the Bunnymen, Joy Division, & the Psychedelic Furs.  My wife has a term that I have recently adopted for this type of music. . . 'British Nose Plugger Music'. No matter what they sing, they sound so much cooler than Americans. For example: 'Aie Nyeed yo tonaught!' Would simply be translated " I need you tonight!" and so on . . .

If I could Introduce Singer of the Psychedelic Furs, Mr. Richard Butler to Terra Valentine's WInemaker, Mr Sam Baxter - I think they should start a band together.

Mr. Richard Butler . . .meet. . . . Mr. Sam Baxter!

"Ghost In You"  - The Psychedelic Furs

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2009 Abstract - California Red Wine

Wine: 2009 Abstract 

Region: California (Mostly Sonoma)

Alcohol: 15.7%

Varietal(s): Grenache,  Petite Sirah, Syrah

Cooperage: French oak / 10 months

Price: 25 bones

Zombie Score: 90 Torches

Notes from the Catacomb Cellar:  Get ready to storm the cellars for this one! Grab it - open it and discover the explosion of exotic spice, blackberry & sweet cherry pie all rolled up in this elaborate wine trap. Gorgeous overtones of sweet pipe tobacco brimming in a weighty mid-palated texture that puffs up the chest. There is an inkiness about this wine that is both in sight and in the flavor that I totally resonate with leading it to the finish. The end of this wine is screaming to be longer - but perhaps the shortness was purposed & planned for you to keep sipping. Just for the record, I drooled this wine until it was gone...did I need the long finish? Harldy. An epic ambush of a wine!

Memory Rapture:  Tasting this wine screamed TATTOO INK & totally took me back to when I went to go get my first tattoo with my old friend Ted Larsen. We were both playing in punk rock bands in Canada at that time and knew that it was time to get some ink. Now I needed to get psyched up before just walking in to the tattoo parlour & Ted knew that the only thing that would get my blood pumping was listening to the band Grim Reaper. Metal shredding face melting guitar and wailings. 

Every time I taste this wine - I will think of getting my ink with no regrets! 

If I could introduce the Abstract Wine Maker David Phinney to Steve Grimmett of Grim Reaper I would...

Mr. Steve Grimmett please meet.... Mr. Dave Phinney

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2007 Goldeneye Pinot Noir - Anderson Valley

Wine: 2007 Goldeneye Pinot Noir 

Region: Anderson Valley

Alcohol: 14.5%

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir

Cooperage: 100% French oak / 16 months

Price: 61 bones

Zombie Score: 94 Torches 

Notes from the Catacomb Cellar: Don't let the clean sophisticated structure of this wine fool you. . . it will turn on you! Beware at first of ridiculously amazing & well put together aromas of dark mocha & star anise. The mouthfeel of this wine is silky smooth with well balanced acid showing no obstacles in the finish. The flavor holds beautiful offerings of mushroom, truffle, sweet cranberry, and intoxicating deep berry notes with an under current of absinthe like black licorice. 

Memory Rapture: This wine reminds me of the first time I heard Iron Maidens' Seventh Son of a Seventh Son record. I snuck downstairs into my brothers room while he was gone and played the cassette tape. The feeling of being let in on a beautiful secret that only some people were in on. The ole' wink wink from the metal heads when they realized I too had just discovered the amazing riffs and vocal wailings of the best metal record known to man.

 This wine is one of those hidden secret wink winks. Get in on it! 

I if I could introduce Goldeneye's winemaker to Mr. Bruce Dickenson of the Maiden, I would ..right now. 

Mr. BRUCE DICKENSON please meet . . . .Mr. ZACH RASMUSON