2006 C5 Stefani Vineyard Dry Creek Valley - Zinfandel
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Interesting back story here, the winemaker who has been in the business for 25 years ventures out on his own and to raise capital sells his prized C5 Corvette. He names his vineyard after the car and specializes in Zinfandel.
This wine is deep plum in color with long legs and a pleasant aroma. The first couple tastes were very jammy with lots of fruit up front and little oak or spice. About 45 minutes later the wine opened and impressed me with great body and a long and lingering finish. The plump and juicy flavors are still here but have merged with the rustic flavors of the barrel and the heat of the alcohol. Its another great zin and one that every zin lover should try. It's not an entry level wine and one that should be enjoyed drink by drink. According to the website it retails for $30 a bottle but I picked it up for $23 over at Cloverleaf in Royal Oak.
http://sidejobcellars.com/index.html
Posted by mardenhill 7/30/2008 10:32:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Primal Scream - Beautiful Future (2008)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
This is a cd I had been waiting for and had no idea what to expect. The first listen was a bit disappointing but after a few more it really started to grow on me. If you were expecting loud and angry electro-rock well its not here. Same goes for stripped down Stones rock and roll. No Acid House party music or dub style chill out either. Its new territory for Primal Scream and one that is refreshing.
The first song "Beautiful Future" is upbeat with church bells and a toe tapping beat. Track 2 "Can't Go Back" sounds more like PS and pulls from XTRMNTR era with its heavy beats and thick texture. What differs tho is the lightness of the music. Track 3 "Uptown" is a bit weak with the electro-funk but does showcase Mani's amazing bass skills. There are no lyrics just Bobby Gillespie repeating Uptown over and over at certain points of the song. Track 4 "The Glory Of Love" has a subtle Asian feel reminiscent of early Cure. Track 5 "Suicide Bomb" features lots of reverb and fuzzed out guitar but tends to be too repetitive. At almost 6 minutes it's a pretty long instrumental that tends to drag on. Track 6 "Zombie Man" harks back to the Screamadelica era and is full of stupid lyrics and house party dance beats. If the lyrics were not so bad the song would be much better. Track 7 "Beautiful Summer" is downright amazing. You may think its Depeche Mode upon first listen but the tone and atmosphere created here is perfect. The next few songs tend to blend together but also sound the most Primal Scream. The cd closes with track 10 "Necro Hex Blues" an upbeat, rock and roll song covered in a thin layer of electronic sheen. This is Primal Scream's Pop record and a direction the band has never really ventured down. It's not their best nor is it bland and boring. The band are mixing it up but at the same time providing a clear and concise direction. Depending on my mood dictates what PS cd I like most. Each one has brilliant tracks followed by weak ones. If I had to pick one cd it would probably be Vanishing Point followed by Evil Heat.
Posted by mardenhill 7/29/2008 09:07:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
2006 Francois Pinon - Vouvray Cuvee Tradition
One of my favorite white grapes is the Chenin Blanc and the best place to find this wine is France. The Chenin Blanc known as Vouvray (region in France) is full of sweet flavors, creamy texture and a hint of oak. This wine has a golden hue with a light and floral nose. If you are looking for a wine to pair with spicy food, this is one since the sweetness can calm the heat. This is not a dessert wine nor a simple and cheap white, it's complex with tropical flavors and a lingering finish.
You can find this bottle at Cloverleaf Fine Wines in Royal Oak. If you havn't been to the new location you need to check it out. The layout is very cool and the selection is one of the best for the price.
http://www.cloverleafwine.com/
Posted by mardenhill 7/29/2008 08:34:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Some Mac Rumors
Monday, July 28, 2008
According to Weintraub's sources, the new MacBooks will be thinner than the current MacBook and MacBook Pro designs while slightly more rounded. The case is said to be made of one piece of aluminum and bears some similarities to the MacBook Air. The trackpad on the new notebook is to be made of glass and support multi-touch and the use of gestures, but the notebook will not incorporate a multi-touch screen.
Finally, Weintraub expects the new MacBook to be released at the end of September.
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Well here are the latest rumors on the updated Macbook Pro front. Seems like they will be dropping sometime this september. Interesting seeing how back to school is next month. I guess Apple will try to pawn off the old laptops before the refresh hits. This may all change so just take these rumors with a grain of salt. I am still holding off for the new design even if it means forgoing a free iPod Touch.
Posted by mardenhill 7/28/2008 08:05:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
New Refrigerator
Friday, July 25, 2008
We bought a new fridge last weekend and today they are delivering it. We decided on a Maytag Stainless Steel French Doors/Freezer on the bottom model. There is filtered water but it is on the inside vs on the front of the door. That way we don't lose space and we also conserve more energy. I checked multiple fridges and the ones with the mount on the front used up more energy even if it was rated energy star.
Anyways, delivery should be interesting. Right now the main street 11 mile which is a block south of us is under construction and all torn up. There are trucks parked on the side of our house and just yesterday the city came back to tear up the section of new road between my neighbors house and mine that was just laid 2 years ago. The losers who did it were in a hurry since it was a Friday afternoon and it looked like rain. The road was wavy and since then water would pool after each rain and freeze in the winter. We complained for 2 years and finally after my neighbor sending an Anniversary card with a screw in it to the city, they decided to do something about it. So now I have half the street torn up in front of my house, construction a block south of me blocking that road and trucks on the side. I just hope the delivery truck doesn't turn around and head back home.
Update: I forgot to say we bought it from ABC Warehouse my favorite store for buying things since I get to haggle on price. Unfortunately there isn't a lot of room to move around on fridges but I was still able to counter and get him to lower his price. The key is to shop everywhere else and go into ABC last since you may need to be prepared to buy the item that day.
Posted by mardenhill 7/25/2008 08:29:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Misc
Garden - 2 Months Later
Sunday, July 20, 2008
The view coming up from the driveway. 
Our peppers, you can see some are coming in but still have some time before harvest.
Our herb garden, lots of delicious and flavorful herbs at your fingertips. 
Our tomatos, we have 8 plants and I could not get them all in one shot.
Our beans, yes there are some green beans under the canapy of leaves. We will pick some tonight for dinner.
Our out of control raspberry bush. We have already picked a ton of berries which Erika made into Raspberry jam and the bush is ready for another harvest. I definitely need to trim back at the end of the season, there are a few shoots that are taller than me. 
At this point, most of the color is gone from the yard except for a few late summer perennials and our annuals. In the back I have a section full of wild flowers and tall grass. Here is a shot of some the cone flowers, hostas and daisies. 
Our phlox which is 4 years old now and standing about 4.5 ft tall. It just started blooming and will fill out over the next week. This one also blooms twice which is really cool.
Posted by mardenhill 7/20/2008 04:59:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Garden
2005 Midnight Cellars - Estate Zinfandel
Friday, July 18, 2008
A few weeks ago I was at the Merchant's Wearhouse were I stumbled across this bottle of wine. I asked the guy how the bottle was but he didn't know since it was a customer's request who never came to pick up the wine. The customer's loss was my fortune since the wine originally sells for $29 a bottle. The store had it marked for $18.99 which wasn't bad and I decided to take a gamble.
The chance paid off since this is a great Zin, excellent flavor, body and finish. The nose is sweet but spicy upon taste. The body is full with a great balance of fruit and oak. The finish lingers on for days with the heat following all the way down your throat. At 15.9% this is a high alcohol Zin but well worth the taste. There are no candy flavors here and after breathing for about an hour this wine really opens up.
Unless I head back to the Merchant's Wearhouse I will probably never see this bottle again unless I special order it. The production is limited and none of my regulars carry this wine.
http://www.midnightcellars.com/index.html
Posted by mardenhill 7/18/2008 11:02:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
2007 Elk Cove - Pinot Noir Rose
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
For years I was afraid of Rose's, I equated them with White Zinfandel. Well a few years ago I was forced to drink one and really enjoyed it. Made correctly these wines are crisp, clean and not too sweet. Just a hint of strawberry with a tart finish that is fermented in steel rather than oak. These wines are great during the summer and go well with appetizers or just by themselves. France makes the best Rose's but you can find some outstanding bottles from Oregon and California. This one happens to be from one of my favorite Oregon vineyards, Elk Cove. Next time you are at the store, grab a bottle and give it a shot, its worth trying just once.
http://www.elkcove.com/index.php
Posted by mardenhill 7/16/2008 09:42:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
Beck - Modern Guilt 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
This past week Beck released his latest album Modern Guilt with very little fan fare. It seemed to creep up on me and there wasn't the anticipation that someone like Coldplay had throughout the music world. Anyways, the cd takes a few listens but if you were a fan of Mutations (personally my favorite cd) you will enjoy this one. It clocks in at 34 minutes which is a nice change from the last cd The Information which seemed to go on and on and on. I really enjoyed parts of The Information but there was much filler that started to bore me. The subdued tones from before have carried over to this release but with the help of Danger Mouse at the production helm, those beats took on a new form. The tropical/surf sounds of Mutations mixed with some crazy break beats is what we have here. The layers are thick which has become a trademark of Beck the last few years and while no song has a super sing along chorus, you can tap your feet and nod your head.
It seems as if Beck has decided its time to settle down into one style and manipulate that vs genre jumping as he has done in the past. I am fine with this since I do like his current musical demeanor and lack of willingness to emulate the current fad or flavor of the month. This cd is a cerebral release and one that needs a few listens to sink in. This will definitely make my best of for the year but not sure yet at what number.
Posted by mardenhill 7/13/2008 09:44:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Music
iPhone 3G
Friday, July 11, 2008
Happy iPhone 3G day, the phone that everyone has been waiting for. The new version of the iPhone is 3G so faster data speeds and has corporate email support. The iPhone Application store also launched with hundreds of apps to download many free. Besides that the iPhone software version 2.0 is now available for 1st gen iPhones and iPod Touches. This will give the device corporate access and the ability to download and install additional applications.
Along with the launch is the new Mobile Me offering for those who need to be mac centric in every aspect of their life. This includes an email account that will utilize push technology instead of pop3 or imap which schedules email syncronization. This will also sync your calendar, contacts and give you online storage for photos and files. Pretty cool except that it is $100 a year, too steep for me.
The good news, now that the iPhone 3G launch has finally started, they can now start working on the updated MacBook Pro that is rumored to be out before September. This one I am interested in......
Posted by mardenhill 7/11/2008 01:09:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Damn Damn Damn.......
Sunday, July 06, 2008
It would seem "scheduling conflicts" have forced the Gutter Twins to postpone seven North American dates on their forthcoming tour. Every show from their July 24 gig in Baltimore through to their August 1 date in Detroit is now off, though the band has plans to reschedule as many of the dates as possible on a soon-to-be-announced tour set to follow a Voodoo Experience appearance in late October. All other dates are on as planned, and the updated roster is available below.
In other Gutter Twins news, Sub Pop will issue a 7" single for Saturnalia's "God's Children" with a truly frightening cover August 11.
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The Gutter Twins have postponed their Detroit show along with 5 others. This is really frustrating since the last time Mark Lanegan was supposed to play Detroit he was in a car accident and the tour was scrapped. There were no rescheduled dates and I have a feeling I am going to get screwed once again.....
Posted by mardenhill 7/06/2008 05:43:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
Holiday Weekend
Due to an exam on Thursday my holiday weekend was cut short but oh well, I still had a good time. I met Erika up at her parents on Friday where we hung out on the lake. On saturday we went up to Traverse City for the day and saw part of the Blue Angel's air show. Unfortunately the air show dragged on way to long and really not being too interested we took off early and hit the vineyards. We stopped into Blackstar Farms and L. Mawby for a few good bottles and samples. From there we met up with Erika's sister and her friends for dinner at a great restaurant in Sutton's Bay called Samuels. Now that we are back home its time to work in the yard and get to all the weeding and mowing I have neglected over the past couple weeks.
Posted by mardenhill 7/06/2008 02:08:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Travel
Good News For Michigan Distillers
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Currently there is a bill on Gov. Jennifer Granholm's desk allowing artisan distillers to purchase a license to sell and provide tastings of their product onsite instead of going to the state's liquor control. At this time distillers have to purchase a $1000 a year license and only sell their alcohol thru the state, this bill if signed will drop the price to $100 and give the option for tastings and local sales. This is great news for the state and Traverse City which has a few of the 11 artisan distillers. Little by little MI is turning Traverse City into its own "Napa Valley" and I hope this trend continues. I hope to get up to the vineyards next month and visit a few of the new ones that just opened this year.
Posted by mardenhill 6/26/2008 09:33:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Liquor
Spiritualized
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Our favorite UK Space Rockers, Spiritualized will make an appearance in Detroit on Sept 7th. If you are not familiar with Spiritualized, the band formed from the ashes of Spaceman 3 and at this time only features Jason Pierce a.k.a. J Spaceman as an original member. Many people have come and gone (mostly kicked out per Jason) over various issues. The latest lineup features former Julian Cope musicians
The style of Spiritualized is a mix between shoegazer, garage rock, symphonic orchestra, blues, gospel, lots and lots of droning and wall of sound. While some songs are quite beautiful others can be hard on the ears with screeching guitar, fuzz, feedback, loops and other white noise. I don't think I have seen the band live unless it was at some festival years ago and I am debating about this show. It should be very good but I believe it might be an earplug night. I really haven't given the latest cd, Songs In A&E a fair listen and will try to this weekend. On the surface it has all the elements of the last few records and from other people, it's supposedly brilliant.
Posted by mardenhill 6/25/2008 10:48:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Music
Florida Everglades
In a landmark environmental decision yesterday, US Sugar sold their land (nearly 300 square miles) within the Everglades to the state of Florida for $1.75 Billion. This is great news for Florida and the rest of the country. The Everglades have been losing acres for decades and its about time restoration has won over development. This will not eliminate all sugar cane production, there are still 500 square miles still under farming but the US Sugar deal will help kickstart a larger restoration project. I applaud all parties who were involved in this decision and I hope this sets the stage for additional environmental projects throughout the country.
Posted by mardenhill 6/25/2008 08:39:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Environment
Garden 1 Month Later
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Here are some photos of the garden 1 month after planting. Overall everything is doing well, we lost a jalapeno pepper that we had to replace and a few of the green beans but that is expected. The basil has taken off and the tomatos are right on track. Some of the peppers are starting and we should have a couple to pick within another week or so.
Posted by mardenhill 6/22/2008 10:56:00 AM 0 comments
Labels: Garden
Up By 15
Friday, June 20, 2008
Granted its just one poll and Newsweek at that but its still good news. Obama up by 15 points this early in the general election is nice and something we haven't experiences in years. Another good stat from the survey is below:
Obama's current lead also reflects the large party-identification advantage the Democrats now enjoy—55 percent of all voters call themselves Democrats or say they lean toward the party while just 36 percent call themselves Republicans or lean that way.
This may change over the summer and into the fall or maybe it will stay and if so this is great news for other down ticket elections in November. The more people identify with the Dems the more apt they will be to vote for candidates they might not know on their ballot. So much for the Conservative Majority Karl Rove and the GOP tried to force down our throats back in 02 and 04. Just remember, its still a pendulum and in time it will swing back to the right. Before it does its important for the Dems to get as much done as possible to get this country back on track.
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While we are on the topic of Obama, just yesterday Obama announced that he is opting out of Federal dollars for the General Election. This means that Obama is forgoing $85 Million in free money and its up to him to pay for the election himself. Obama had a verbal pledge to take funds but never got an official agreement from McCain so he decided to pay for it himself. People are saying that Obama may have upwards of $300 million to spend against McCain which can go a long way in some red and swing states.
Am I upset about Obama breaking his pledge, yeah a bit but on the other hand he is using the millions of doners as the wave to the White House instead of large doners and the traditional groups. Obama has taken the Howard Dean grassroots approach and expanded on it tenfold. He has used the internet and his community organizing skills to build a new coalition outside of DC. I will admit I haven't donated yet and I am still on the fence but will probably give in by September. I figure if I am going to donate money, I will do so after the dog days of summer when no one is paying attention. The 527s are not active on the GOP but I expect the slanders to surface come August. The Dem's biggest 527 Moveon.org has delisted itself as a 537 and will function as a PAC which has limits on donations unlike a 527. They will still attack McCain but will do so in a way that doesn't go too far outside of Obama's message. Overall, its a risky strategy but one that may be worth taking.
Posted by mardenhill 6/20/2008 09:54:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Politics
Over 5 Billion
As of this week Apple has sold over 5 Billion songs from the iTunes music store, quite a feat if you ask me. They also announced "iTunes customers are now renting and purchasing over 50,000 movies every day, making iTunes the world’s most popular online movie store".
Gone are the days of the big announcements, free giveaways, now its just a press release. Anyways this is good news for the digital medium and the more Apple can compete and win against Walmart and Best Buy the better. I have been thinking about the Apple TV lately, I know I have discussed it before but it is actually pretty cool. I don't like the fact that it is only a 160 gig hard drive but the idea of renting HD movies is worth it. We have rented a few movies thru Wide Open West's On Demand service but their HD selection is quite thin. Apple's store has much more to choose from and would be worth it. Its still on the back burner since I need a laptop first and formost but maybe come Xmas. I don't forsee myself buying a Blu Ray player anytime soon so the Apple TV might be a good replacement.
Posted by mardenhill 6/20/2008 08:54:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Technology
Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
In one of the most anticipated releases of the year, Coldplay return with a very good cd entitled Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends. The cd starts off with a 2:30 second instrumental with a few whoa near the end that was no doubt lifted from The Police's Synchronicity. Track 2 "Cemeteries In London" plays it safe but starts to show off Brian Eno's brilliance. Track 3 "Lost" begins with a church organ and what sounds like hand claps or snare drum rim shots. Chris Martin's vocals blend beautifully with the organ and its not until after 2 minutes that the guitar appears to add another layer. Track 4 "43" is classic Coldplay with vocals, piano and lush accompaniment. Strings appear and the song begins to take a new direction. The strange march to war buildup and the lovely melody that finish off the song surprisingly work well together. Track 7 "Yes" is complicated as well, the orchestra beginning makes way into a twangy and folk song with subtle electronic undertones. The violins here are odd, first its a symphonic melody then it moves into a fiddle esque sound. If that wasn't wierd enough, with 3 minutes left the song starts a completely new track and direction. Mostly wall of sound with soft and high octave whispering vocals. Track 7 "Viva La Vida" uses the violins once again and establishes Coldplay as baby U2. The song is good, its perfect for an iPod commercial and is by far the most upbeat and radio friendly song on the cd. Track 8 "Violet Hill" would be the heaviest on the cd and yeah I said heavy and Coldplay in the same sentence. Its not death metal but the mood is dark and the music is tense at times. Track 10 "Death And All His Friends" features Chris barely singing, just mumbling some words over the piano, like a drunken Tom Waits. There is a crescendo that builds in the middle of the song but fades into a chillout electronic finish.
Coldplay have thrown down the gauntlet and want to drop the "best band to fall asleep to" title won last year. They have realized the last cd was boring and it was time to liven things up. Yes this cd is experimental, its not a Radiohead but it is a departure from their previous work. The wall of sound, experiments with orchestra, texture and electronics are well worth it and no doubt came from Brian Eno. I have listened to this cd a few times now and each time I actually like it more and more. I am not a huge Coldplay fan but will give them props for a great cd and another fine 2008 release.
Posted by mardenhill 6/17/2008 09:24:00 PM 1 comments
Labels: Music
Argyle 1999 Blanc de Blancs
Monday, June 16, 2008
Last year on one of our two trips to Oregon we hit a few vineyards and Argyle was one of them. Besides great chardonnay and pinot noir, Argyle makes some amazing sparklings. We picked up a bottle of their 1999 Blanc de Blancs and opened it the other nite. I forgot how good the wine was and it was great to drink it once again. Right away you had great tropical fruit flavors bursting thru followed by a rich and creamy body. The wine wasn't too sweet nor too bone dry. It was a perfect middle where people who prefer different styles could come together and agree. The yeast flavors were subtle and didn't overpower the fruit. At $40 a bottle its a bit on the pricey side but well worth it.
I would definitely drink again and will have to keep this on my short list when looking for sparklings.
http://argylewinery.com/store.php
Posted by mardenhill 6/16/2008 08:42:00 PM 0 comments
Labels: Wine
