reading?

I just finished The Hunger Games and the library has 382 holds on Catching Fire, so I had to get something else. Sam is starting The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest and I'll try and keep up with her progress in that too.

Chuck Klosterman has quickly become one of my favorite writers. I'd heard about him for years and many people whose opinions I respect seem to dig his work, but I'd just never gotten around to seeking it out. Then Bill Simmons started grantland, where Klosterman has been a semi-regular contributor. Needless to say, I love his writing style and decided to check out his latest novel.

listening to?

A nice tribute to Guided by Voices:

This will, no doubt, motivate me to listen to the real thing next:

building?

A Lego tower, of course.

listening to?

drinking?

Wine: Scott Harvey Old Vine Reserve Zinfandel
Year: 2009
Appellation: Amador County
Source: wine.woot.com
Price: $15.65/bottle
Companions: Consumed solo


General Notes: I love Scott Harvey's wines. I ordered a few bottles through invino.com in early 2011. Ever since, I've been a huge fan and rarely pass up the opportunity to purchase when it's discounted. The two words I'd use to describe his wines are "balanced" and "restrained." There's no one particular element that stands out. Fruit, acidity, tannins, minerality, and secondary flavors all work together and are well-integrated.


Treatment: Popped the cork, poured out a half-glass, and let the bottle sit for a couple of hours. No decanting or aerating.


Specific Notes: My immediate thought it "this is an incredibly smooth and well-balanced wine." That shouldn't come as a surprise if you read the general notes above. There are a lot of bright fruit flavors up front, which gradually fade into a classic zinfandel profile. The is 14.5% abv (which, really, isn't too high for zin) but there's no heat at all on the palate. I can definitely pick up some oak and tannins, but they're not overpowering. I'm also perceiving a fair bit of acidity but, again, it doesn't dominate the palate. This is a well-structured wine that should age well. I can't wait to revisit it in another year or two. On the whole, it's probably best to pair this with food, but it's still very enjoyable on its own.