All Consuming : stagger

A review of "Dungeons & Dragons (New Line Platinum Series)" (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 18:29:18 GMT

Dungeons & Dragons (New Line Platinum Series)

While I was watching this movie, I was thinking that it was pretty bad, but then I remembered how not-so-good Bloodrayne was. So, by that standard, it was alright.

A review of "Pinot Blanc Vin Glace Wine 2005" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 02:50:39 GMT

Pinot Blanc Vin Glace Wine 2005

by Cooper Mountain Vineyards

“Made with organically grown grapes and Biodynamic™ grapes, this traditional style Vin Glace offers sweet peaches, crisp pear and fresh honey flavors with being syrupy on the tongue.”

I only had half-a-glass of this being the good host I am. It was quite good. The guests slurped up the rest.

A review of "Blue Fin California Chardonnay 2005" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 02:45:01 GMT

Blue Fin California Chardonnay 2005

by Paradise Cellars

Probably more like 3.5 stars. The swordfish are a little far away from the winery, though.

A review of "Pinot Grigio 2005" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 02:39:35 GMT

Pinot Grigio 2005

by Gaetano D'Aquino

“Light gold in color with a full, dry flavor and pleasingly bitter aftertaste. This wine is a perfect complement for hours d’oeuvres and fish dishes and forms an excellent accompaniment for soups and white meats.

Serve chilled, opening the bottle just before serving.”

Translation: a nondescript but drinkable wine.

A review of "Pinot Noir 2005" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 03:19:09 GMT

Pinot Noir 2005

by Talus Collection

It tasted like a $5 pinot, which it was. On one hand, it was alright considering, but it wasn’t nearly good enough for me to abandon my neverending quest for a divinely sublime pinot that just happens to be really really freakin cheap.

A review of "Redino Ruby Porto" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 03:10:13 GMT

Redino Ruby Porto

by Manoel D. Poças Junior

Tastes a little chaulky and indistinct, but it was drinkable till the end of the bottle.

A review of "Howard Zinn - You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 17:09:44 GMT

Howard Zinn - You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train

by Deb Ellis

While this documentary/lite-bio had some interesting points, I did not feel it had a coherent theme. Except for the fact one should fight the power. Not a bad thought, but I had hoped it would be more meaty and less ra-ra-ra.

A review of "Redwood Creek Pinot Noir 2005" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 02:21:42 GMT

Redwood Creek Pinot Noir 2005

by Frei Brothers Vineyards

A Vin de Pays made by a california winemaker in France. It’s drinkable, but tastes flat and not all that remarkable. Cheap ($5), but not good enough to get again.

A review of "Fleur de Rosé 2005" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Mon, 08 Jan 2007 00:51:11 GMT

Fleur de Rosé 2005

by Torii Mor

A nice dry pinot noir rosé. It had a strong aroma and taste of crushed strawberries when I had it at the winery a few months ago, and it changed quite a bit in the glass… but last night not so much. I probably had it at a non-optimal temperature (i.e. too cold). Hey, they said drink it chilled. Drinking it out of little tumblers instead of Riedel glasses may have had some affect as well. I enjoyed it anyway.

A review of "Cabernet Merlot Columbia Valley 2003" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 04:33:30 GMT

Cabernet Merlot Columbia Valley 2003

by Hogue

Dry amd quite tannic. Almost a little too astringent and bitter to drink, but it got better after I decanted it. This wine had quite a lot of sediment, so I would decant even though it is a sub $10 bottle. Drinkable, bit I would not get again.

A review of "Porto Kopke 10 Years Old Port" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 03:42:19 GMT

Porto Kopke 10 Years Old Port

by C. N. Kopke

4 stars (entered here because there needs to be an entry body and I don’t remember specific tasting stuff)

A review of "The Ninth Gate"

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Sat, 21 Oct 2006 19:46:51 GMT

The Ninth Gate

by Roman Polanski

I saw this movie again recently, and it was not as entertaining as I remembered. Most of the acting was rather mediocre (except for Depp, who fortunately is in practically all the scenes), and I found the music in particular to be either really bad or very inappropriate. The book that the movie is based on is better (although not awesomely great literature itself).

Regardless, it was entertaining enough.

A review of "Santa Digna Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2005"

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 04:29:26 GMT

Santa Digna Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2005

by Miguel Torres

I like maybe 5% of all the sauvignon blancs that I try, and this one was one of the few that I enjoyed. Pale gold, crisp, and more fruity than grassy (as I find most sauvignon blancs). Quite tasty, really, it surprised me as I find most wines of this varietal disgusting. And it comes with a screw top. I always like that.

A review of "Torrontes 2005"

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 05:12:09 GMT

Torrontes 2005

by Amaicha

It was fine when cold. Dryish, but not Alsace dry. More floral than fruity. I do not think I have had this varietal before. It had a funky taste when it warmed up a little (though still cool) that I cannot describe; I think it can only be from the varietal itself and not the winemaking process. Funky in an is-this-good?-I-don’t-think-so way. Still, it was cheap.

A review of "Cabernet Sauvignon 2005" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 03:56:24 GMT

Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

by [ yellow tail ]

“leaps from the glass with a touch of mint over aromnas of blackberries, chocolate, and vanilla”—ok, I agree with the chocolate and vanilla, but it did not leap

“berry flavors, peppered with spice and vibrant acids”

“palate is tremendously long and well structured”—it was longish, i agree

“with toasted oak, soft fruit, and velvety tannins”

Anyways, like most of the [ yellow tail ] (what is with the square brackets anyway?) offerings, quite nice for $7.

A story about "Pinot Grigio 2005"

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 04:19:46 GMT

Pinot Grigio 2005

by Contadino

I don’t remember what this originally tasted like. I imagine it was not all that bad, even though I did not finish it when opened and stuffed it in the fridge. I imagine it was cheap. I did make a good wine sauce out of it for pasta for lunch today.

A review of "Castelli Romani 2004" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 04:14:42 GMT

Castelli Romani 2004

by San Tommaso

Dry, a bit watery, and otherwise not really notable… the kind of wine you hope you didn’t pay more than $3 for, and I don’t think I did. However, it was good for what it was: an inexpensive quaffable white.

A review of "Below"

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 06:29:29 GMT

Below

This movie is basically a ghost story on a submarine during WWII.

Good points: technically well made, good acting, mostly interesting to watch.

Main Bad Point: it is really not scary at all. Maybe if I had seen it in a theater instead of my living room, it would have been better. As it was, there were exciting and tense parts, but nothing I would call scary.

The DVD reveals some cool scenes that were cut because it made the film more action oriented than scary, but, IMO they should have put them back in because the scariness wasn’t really there. In some ways it did seem like a war movie with a lot of people freakin out instead of a horror movie.

Another Bad Point: I thought the story was a little lame, which may had contributed to its lack of scariness. The fact that it was all psychological (the above freakin out) rather than supernatural was kinda interesting, but not really done well. I also thought one major character was not written well (the only woman in the story).

Perhaps it is just too hard to make a really scary story on a submarine. After all, they are pretty cramped (though the one in the movie seemed too roomy to me), so action seems more appropriate.

A review of "Bourgogne Cuvée 2004" (rated 3 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 05:46:33 GMT

Bourgogne Cuvée 2004

by Blason De Bourgogne

I am always intrigued by the possibility of getting a good pinot noir for under $10. In fact, I had found one a while ago from NYS, but, alas it was discontinued after a few years. Due to my rather regular wine drinking habits, I tend drink a lot of inexpensive (read: really cheap) wine, but pinots tend to not get down to the 3-5 dollar level; this one was around $7.

Unfortunately, it is not all that good. I suppose I could get into tasting notes, but that is all one needs to know. Not that it is undrinkable (I did drink it after all), but there are far better choices to spent $7 on, say, the ubiquitous Yellow Tail or Rosemont Estates. Cheap pinots are just hard to find.

I’d drink it colder, too. It got nasty when it warmed up a little.

A review of "Bloodrayne (Unrated Director's Cut)(DVD ROM game is included)" (rated 2 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 00:02:48 GMT

Bloodrayne (Unrated Director's Cut)(DVD ROM game is included)

by Uwe Boll

So, yeah, the movie was pretty bad. It was very late 70s/early 80s to me, and not in a very good way. On the other hand, I did finish watching it, so it must have had some redeeming features.

I hear it is one of Uwe Boll’s best efforts. I dunno if I will run out and see any other of his movies.

A review of "Le Muscat 2004"

nobody@allconsuming.net (stagger) — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 07:08:00 GMT

Le Muscat 2004

by Château L'Ermitage

Not too pale yellow amberish color. Very floral and fruity nose, mostly peachy and grapefruit citrusy. Obviously sweet, but still acidic enough. I had hoped it would have a more syrupy body, but that was probably silly of me. Still good. More aperitif than dessert I think.