A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi

A library of wine tasting notes of a decidedly unconventional nature, by artist Sal McIntyre, to be taken very seriously. www.cargocollective.com/artofsal

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Mystery Pinot Noir from New Zealand

First snowfall on rocky mountain sides, a light sweeping, more a resting just so, a fine layer offsetting the dark rich craggy surface, contouring delicate frozen mosses and possible mink dens – unabashed confident presence but silent, but unforceful, like Cleopatra who simply knows she’s at the top – the Godfather, an unquestioned dominant peace – and, somehow after this undeniable quiet roaring, a destinct sensation that the ocean is not far away — the twin sister, anything but silent …… Album pairing : Miles Davis - Ascenseur Pour L' Echafaud

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Paringa Shiraz 2013

Paringa Shiraz Hickinbotham's Vineyards South Australia 2013 Smoky dreams, heavy deep plunge in depths of dark body of water, dead of the night -- the witching hour -- like 4 in the morning when only the crows are awake ...... Speaking without speaking ........ Fully alert, calm open eyes, glistening in darkness ...... A nocturn melody, thick and slow, lulling you through the dark -- a hand guiding you, a smooth and strong force, steering for you ........ A voice, low and soft and sweet, your company .......... Effortless joy -- COO, CAW, SLIP UNDER Album pairing : Serge Gainsbourg - Histoire de Melody Nelson

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Bordeneuve Bordeaux 2014

Chateau Bordeneuve Bordeaux France 2014 Late summer Crisp dry grass, golden yellow bleached sunlight infused field Warm afternoon, clean clear perfect air, grasses matted down after a summer's worth of carrying running children and sleeping rolling romping delirium of daydreams Baked in the heat, fat with happiness Light full heart, last whistle before the sun sets, before the dusk invades, last kiss of daylight, last sigh of contented full-bellied satisfaction, feeling of home in the wilds, last whisper of yes to carry us into the night of starry projections, desire for the future ........... A lazy hawk trolling the skies, riding the warm lifts, finished hunting, all-seeing eyes in full aware, no hot rock left unturned ........ MMMMM, OOOOOHHHH, EASE, BASK Album pairing : Gulag Orkestar by Beirut

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La Fleur Amour Merlot 2013

La Fleur Amour Merlot Reserve 2013 Pays d'Oc France A sultry 2 AM music bar, dirt road outside, hot breeze, open windows -- the smell of the sea not far away -- a lady sings mellow jazz, notes lingering in the air, in your chest, in your mouth -- she wears a dark silk dress, long and deep, her eyes shine and her smile is light and carefree, but her voice is full of soul -- she makes you feel restful, and your belly is content from raw oysters and olives -- and you are absolutely free from time in this rich night . . . . . . SING, BASK, DOZE Album pairing : Billie Holiday, The Lady Sings

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Los Ailos Syrah Malbec 2013

Los Ailos Syrah Malbec Valle de Tulum San Juan Argentina 2013 Hot hot humid heat, diving off a high rugged cliff into the water below -- everything too bright to see -- warm green trees surrounding, distant children's laughter -- a slight breeze brings relief into the leaves above -- expansive space of swimming hole in jungle forest, your voices carry up up and gone into the bright afternoon -- barefoot on rocks and soil and sand, off-balance rambling, joyous scrabbling, happy light heart, care-free -- maybe just letting the earth and the trees own you, direct your steps, in a dreamlike trance . . . Where you must allow the agenda of nature, the wild alive electric current of life to take you -- to guide you -- to have you . . . And no choice but to sit back and watch the magic -- a passenger in your own soft quiet mad jungle -- sparkling wooing entrancing -- soft and sweet, a magical songbird voice lifting you from sleep in midafternoon -- and maybe you become aware of ancient moments held in the same place, living the same you, an eternity ago -- amnesia -- play it, Sam. AHHH, SLEEP, PLUNGE, FLOAT, DRIFT Album pairing : Ceu, Self Titled

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Terra de Lobos Red

Terra de Lobos Red Casal Branco 2013 Portugal Charcoal embers dying slowly, flock of sheep scowling in the dark in one great form -- smoldering, sharp cold air, crisp sky, a million stars -- wool blanket around the shoulders, full belly, sharp soft humor, clever silence, quiet laughter, rosy cheeks ......... a deep dark sleepiness, wild bare trees, foggy memory, pleasant vertigo .

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Les Verrieres Languedoc 2008

Les Verrieres Coteaux du Languedoc 2008 France dark purple smoky eyes, deep sun skin after long summer, unusually soft light air for so late in fall .... midnight city street wandering, charcoal hair, knit scarf ...... far off music somewhere, light behind searching eyes .... hesitation, indulgence, quick rabbit heart, weightless feet .... crescent moonlight, hidden stars CATCH, BLINK, WATCH album pairing: Another Side of Bob Dylan

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Barbera D'Asti Rocca dell'Olmo 2011

Barbera D'Asti Rocca dell'Olmo 2011 Italy Simple, and effective, kinda like Homer Simpson. Uncomplicated in a great way-- mildly abrasive, but only if you resist!! Once you give in, it all becomes very satisfying and peaceful. Sort of rounds out in the belly. Let it wash over you without too much thinking, and it will reveal to you a true heart, a mild and sincere demeanor, and an unidentifiable charm. UN-SELFCONSCIOUS

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Sainte-Croix La Bergerie Syrah-Merlot 2011

Sainte-Croix La Bergerie Syrah-Merlot 2011 Languedoc, France It's lambs' ears -- at the symphony ! Just -- lambs ! Sitting at the symphony ! With their ears -- all ... -- listening !! AHHH, MEOW, WHISPER Album pairing: Alpinisms by School of Seven Bells

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Borsao Rose 2012

Borsao Garnacha Rose 2012 Borja, Spain Sun slipping slowly lower, as the day, as the summer, drifts by. It's the sound of the end, but a sweet end. Summer love, light and easy, and terribly delicious— unheavy, if that could be a thing... where it's aware of the heaviness that love can sometimes embody— but it is nonetheless light — fun — easy. And the whole time, a darkness ... because you know at some point the time will come for it to be over. And so you relish in the moment, for now— and it sings so sweet, so pure and beautiful — how could it possibly exist? It is unreal — and still — it is here. And like a swan, or a melody, an ember above a fire, it floats effortlessly up and down, a statement of pure joy and rapture — maybe drunk with life... and unconcerned with its own imminent finale. SPRITE, HAPPY, LILY, THIS ONE's like the viola prelude at the opening of the last act of a TRAGIC BALLET Album pairing: Ethiopiques Vol. 21: Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou

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Fetzer Malbec

Fetzer Malbec forgot to write down vintage, probably 2012 Freeze pops Icecream truck, and the funny song it makes, heard from far away as it meanders the side-streets Bare feet on hot pavement Bright sun Dad's mowing the lawn, cut grass smell cooking in the heat Roller skates, skateboards Neighborhood kids, rowdy sound Short shorts, gangly legs, freckles, pigtail braids, first crush SMACK, RUSH, SQUINT

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Tuella Red 2011

Symington Family Tuella Red 2011 Douro Valley, Portugal An old purple velvet chair A four-poster canopy bed A decadent persian rug A Sargent hanging on the wall Somehow dripping of wealth— smooth, subtle, and rich, like royalty invited you to dinner and you can't quite figure out how you got in. And the hostess wraps herself around you like a fur: poised and perfect... and because it came from a once living thing... you cannot deny its beauty. And you are absolutely swallowed— by a twelve-course meal, complete with two desserts and an espresso en finale— LANGUID, OBVIOUSLY, DRAWL Album pairing: Nina Simone, I Put A Spell On You

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La Vieille Ferme Red 2012

La Vieille Ferme Red 2012 Rhone Valley, France Smooth and bored, like geese on a pond. Album pairing: Little Dragon, self-titled

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Quail Creek Pinot Noir 2012

Quail Creek Pinot Noir Napa, California 2012 Pebbles, of all different colors, speckled, many shades of grey, of brown, at the bottom of a river, crystal clear water, very cold, running quickly, smoothing the rocks over time... all of them worn soft, not quite shiny smooth, but almost silky to the touch. They have been there through generations of fish swimming over them, around them. Ancient slow-growth forest above, smells fresh with spring and musky with time, all at once. Filtered sunlight into the shallows, floating. You are being led blindfolded across enormous exposed treeroots. There is a story that you've been told, about where you are, and what you are doing ... but you can hear the whisper of a very different story, that feels truer— it is hard to vocalize, it is just out of your reach— but faint whiffs of it are haunting your consciousness— read between the lines— it is there— no there— where? Ah, yes, there— that is it— that is what this is about. A deep stirring, a recognition, a deja vous from a life before you were born. FLUID, INK, DEEP, LULL, HUSH, COAX

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Casas Patronales Chucaro Cab 2012

Casas Patronales Chucaro Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Chile Maule Valley It's that moment in The Good, The Bad And The Ugly — you know the one I mean— the triangle of quick-draw. Incredibly simple, incredibly beautiful, and you're not quite aware of the majesty of the moment until you are fully submerged... And the one who is smiling is the one who will win. But for now, this moment hangs thick with anticipation, plodding slowly forward in time with perfect control, as if this story has been pre-written, and all parties are simply going through the motions. It is etched too deeply in the momentum of time, in the progress of the universe, for it to derail now— we'll see it through to the end, even though we can already feel how it unfolds. And it's so delicious that we may lose our minds a bit in the process of getting there. SQUINT, HUM, TINGLE, LULL Album pairing: Glassworks by Philip Glass

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