Subset 1, The I 5 Diaries:
Day 1, Thursday, December 16th:
Up at 4:40am to start packing! As a preamble, Dear Reader, you should know that we had had a very busy previous week with our Christmas Open House on Saturday, December 11th and then all sorts of meetings for Cora Lee on the few week days before we were to leave, as well as having Mom and Dodie for dinner on Monday evening, the only time we could have them for a meal before we departed. On Wednesday, Flamin’ and Sarge had us down for a fabulous farewell meal, (bbq’d steak, roast potatoes, squash with a pecan/brown sugar crust topping, fried cherry tomatoes and a divine cheesecake for dessert), with plenty of wonderful hootch that had everyone pretty mellow by time we thanked them and repaired upstairs to attempt to pack/finish packing at 9:00pm! Cora Lee had very wisely started her packing almost two weeks earlier so she was in great shape but I had only thought about what I was planning to take so decided I would be far, far better off, going straight to bed and rising early to pack when I wasn’t so tired and could barely think.
So that is just what I did and slept quite soundly, awaking almost an hour before my alarm was set to ring. Crept out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind me, (Cora Lee had threatened dire consequences if I woke her up before 8:00am!), and Maggie kept me company, hoping for an extra early feeding, while I gathered my cycling gear together. Once I had everything nicely packed, I loaded that luggage and a number of other bags and boxes, (mainly painting items), which we were transporting to Mexico for Clara and Dusty, into Titanium Green, having already put the back seats down, ready to handle the incoming cargo!
Close to 6:00am I was back in kitchen and spent a few minutes packing a lunch, food which we could snack on while driving, over the next two days. I peeled carrots and put the chopped sticks into plastic bags, wrapped a few boiled eggs in foil and assembled the cheese/dips we were planning to mule south, ready to be stowed in the cooler just before leaving. By this time, Maggie was simply beside herself so I fed the starving creature but not before I had my second cup of java! Her yowling woke up Chloe and she appeared shortly thereafter, having planned to be up early anyway to go to the gym before going to work. We chatted about some of the things that we’d need her to attend to while we would be away and then she left to pump iron while I enjoyed a bowl of Clarisse’s latest, mouth-watering, ham/lentil soup.
By the time I was finished, it was just past 7:00am so I risked returning to the bedroom to collect a number of boxes, already packed and destined for TG’s cargo bay. Maggie’s frenzied cries had also woken Cora Lee so she grudgingly climbed out of bed and I brought in a cup of tea to try and mollify her. I was now poised to actually start packing my clothes so I set about this and by 8:45am I had two, bulging sports bags ready to go. I then did the first set of my physio prescribed shoulder exercises, using the two handled, overhead pulley system which allows me to stretch my right arm above my head and generate about 50KW of juice at the same time. If my shoulder doesn’t improve in the next year or so, I believe the Island Inn will be permanently off the grid!
Shortly after 9:00am I left to drive to Oak and 49th to collect my 2011 car insurance. My annual coverage expires on February 8th so I had arranged with my agent, Arun, to prepay for 2011. I was pleased to learn that ICBC will provide me with a rebate for the time we are in Mexico, (after we submit appropriate documentation: proof of purchase of other insurance and border crossing verification), as we need to purchase separate coverage, at the US border, for the duration of our stay, since ICBC insurance coverage does not extend to Mexico.
Lighter of pocket by $1427, I returned to The Island Inn and continued where I had left off. Much of CL’s baggage was ready by time I was back, just after 10:00am, so I loaded her cases and then started to assemble all of the computer hardware and related devices, (iPod, Garmin Goil, etc.), that we would need for trip and stay. After all the peripherals were ready, I then focused on reading material, passport, address book and the like. By 12:30pm I had finished most everything and famished, I enjoyed the last of Rosita’s soup before jumping into the shower. Packed up all the toiletries I was planning to take and avoiding Coriandre’s withering looks, I loaded last bits and pieces. Collapsible cooler was last to be packed and once it was ready, we said our last goodbyes to Maggie, (She had buried herself under Chloe’s duvet, melancholic that she would be without Corinne’s tummy to sleep on for next three months), turned out lights, locked the door and made for parkade. At precisely 1:20pm, much to Cora Lee’s upset, we turned on to Lamey’s Mill Road and made for Oak Street.
Day was dull and overcast but no rain so we zipped along until about 57th when we came to a virtual standstill. Took us half an hour to reach the bridge as there were only two lanes, one each, north/south, due to a microscopic repaving job that literally clogged traffic so that it was backed up all the way to the south side of the bridge. Once through this Vancouver Engineering Department, (What is the best possible time to initiate roadwork in order to maximize traffic delay and disruption? Here is our special Christmas present to the drivers of the Lower Mainland. Ho Ho Ho!), induced bottleneck, it didn’t take us long to reach the border. While Coriandre had a power nap, I went into the Duty Free and bought two bottles of malt, Glendronach, 15 year old, 46%, matured in the finest Oloroso sherry casks and a Tullibardine, Highland, 14 year old, Moscatel Wood Finish, 46%, and a giant pack of Mentos for the road. Back in TG, CL opened her eyes and we hit the border, only waiting about five minutes before we were waved through after but a few questions.
Drive to Seattle was reasonably uneventful, particularly for me, as I handed over driving to CL after we filled gas tank in Blaine. I snoozed blissfully until Everett and then suggested to CL that she pull over and we would switch seats. She was happy not to have to drive through Seattle at almost the peak of rush hour so she turned off the freeway and no sooner had she done so, we found ourselves making for Snohomish! Fortunately, we could exit before we had gone too, too far out of our way and under and overpass we changed places and were soon back on I 5. Of course, traffic moved slowly as it was just after 4:0pm but we made reasonable progress and were finally out of the city by 5:00pm. Unfortunately, heavy rush hour traffic didn’t dissipate until we had left Olympia, (almost 6:00pm), and we were plagued by fairly heavy, steady rain by then, all the way into Oregon. Through Vancouver, Washington to cross the mighty Columbia just after 8:00pm and saw the lights of Portland shortly thereafter. Still had about half an hour to Cornelius Pass on 26 West and Marilyn’s/Mike’s place. Unfortunately, I misremembered correct exit off I 5, (still suffering effects of lack of sleep), and ended up on Terwilliger Blvd after we had made our way, more by luck than good management, through downtown. Stopping at a gas station, we needed to fuel up anyway, pump attendant put us right, traffic was light and we were knocking on the Oliver’s door at 8:40pm!
As we came down the driveway, no lights showed and we wondered if our hosts had gone out for the evening, frustrated by our non-arrival. We took our overnight kit out of TG and made our way to front door. After a number of bell ringings, with no response, we thought we would have to find a motel, and then the door burst open and M/M were there, welcoming us into their inviting home, saying over and over and over again, as they hugged us and embraced us and kissed us: “We are so glad you are not dead!” “We are really happy that you are still alive!” We are more than relieved that you didn’t have a fatal accident!” Assuming that we would have arrived, under normal circumstances, at 5:00-6:00pm, they construed our non-arrival to mean that we were already DOA at some small Washington or Oregon I5 community hospital!
Reassuring them that we were not zombies and seconding their joy that we were still alive and kicking, we carted our gear downstairs to the newly painted and furnished guest bedroom, admiring the sparkling digs. While CL visited, I made one more trip to TG and then selected a few bottles of wine from stash and we sat in living room, catching up. Marilyn had prepared an unbelievable Greek dinner. They had waited until 7:00pm to eat and then decided that we weren’t ever coming so had eaten alone, wondering when memorial service would be held!. Apologizing for our inexcusably late arrival, we helped ourselves to delicious green olives and home-made houmous, sipping a 2005 Amphora Petite Sirah, (Very, very meaty and inky, with blackberry and blueberry fruit. However, I found almost no tannins and a disappointing lack of finish so I was not particularly happy with bottle, having been overwhelmed by its concentrated fruit when we first tasted it two years ago. Obviously, it had not aged well and would have been better drunk much earlier.), catching up on all that happened since we’d last visited. We sat in the comfortable living room, their lovely tree a backdrop, and Marilyn served us plates of her Mousaka and Spanokopita, wonderful in the extreme. I opened another Petite, this time a 2007 Coffaro, 15%, Coffaro, and was delighted with it. Being two years younger than the Amphora it was far more muscular, showing black raspberry on the nose and a chocolate earthiness, the sort of tough texture in the mouth and finish that I adore.
We continued talking, fleshing out plans for Mike’s visit in January when he would play in the Pacific Coast Doubles and for Marilyn’s visit in May when she would drive her Mother to Vancouver to catch a crusie to Alaska. Although we wouldn’t be there in January, we were looking forward to seeing Marilyn at the Island Inn as she had not visited since the early 2000’s. Mike opened the Glendronach, finding it much to his liking, and we toasted the coming holidays and the visits in 2011. The Goils had declined malt so I opened a 2006 Coffaro Aca Modet, 14.7%, (60% Cabernet, 22% Cab Franc, 18% Merlot, loads of dark, ripe fruit and a great deal of luscious complexity), for them and everyone was more than happy!
By close to 11:00pm our hosts were ready for bed and so were we, weary travelers that we were. Michaelo and Cora Lee departed foist while Marilyn and I chatted about this and that, our children/grandchildren, elderly parents and the like. Most of our late night conversation focused on a number of our single women friends who seemed to share similar lives of loneliness and frustration now that they have reached their early 60’s. Although it may seem rather obvious, we were both of the same opinion that simply not having a partner “to “bounce things off” made if far more difficult for our respective friends to make informed decisions regarding important life choices, whether to do with housing or work, for example. Curiously, we characterized both friends as inordinately anxious types who worried about everything, seemingly unable to put events and occurrences and situations into any sort of reasonable perspective. Sadly, neither exhibited much, if any, satisfaction or contentment or joy or happiness at this stage of their lives, though extremely respected and prodigiously productive individuals within their individual careers. Thankful that we each had our own difficult but loving spouses to keep us grounded, we kissed goodnight and made our way to our already snoring partners!!!
If there is a sin against life, it consists perhaps not so much in despairing of life as in hoping for another life and in eluding the implacable grandeur of this life. -Albert Camus, writer, philosopher, Nobel laureate (1913-1960)
Day 2, Friday, December 17th:
I had set the alarm for 7:30am and would have gladly ignored it when it went off, happily sleeping for another hour or so, were it not for the fact that I knew we had a reasonably long drive ahead. While Cora Lee had her shower, I did my shoulder exercises and then carried the first case of wine I was planning to take upstairs and out to TG. Before I went to bed last night, I had rearranged the baggage to accommodate three cases so it didn’t take long to stow the hootch. Back downstairs for a quick shower and then joined rest of crew at breakfast table. We both enjoyed delicious helpings of overlefts while we chatted. After meal, I packed up cooler while Marilyn poured boiling water into my thermos, readying it for java which would sustain me on I5. Last bits and pieces stowed, bathrooms visited, I snapped a few pictures outside the garage and then we embraced, thanking our wonderful friends for both their patience and their hospitality. Waving and honking, we bade farewell at 9:35am.
Traffic was relatively heavy on 26 East but moved well so we made the 217 turnoff without any delays. Almost as soon as we connected with I5 South, we encountered fairly thick fog and this condition persisted for the next few hours, not really lifting or dissipating until we passed Albany, glimpses of the disc of a barely visible sun from time to time. Towards Eugene sky cleared and we were treated to a fair bit of blue with scudding clouds. We listened to various NPR stations as reception changed along the way. One of most interesting programmes was an interview with both the author of Winter’s Bone, Daniel Woodrell, and Debra Granik, the writer and director of the film adapted from his novel. According to Wikipedia the novel explores the interrelated themes of close and distant family ties, the power and speed of gossip, patriarchy, self-sufficiency and rural poverty in the Ozarks as they collide with the pervasive underworld of illegal methamphetamine labs. Neither of us had heard of either novelist or film before so were more than pleased to be alerted to such a slice of contemporary, rural American life.
Stopped for gas and bathroom visit at Sutherlin, eating two boiled eggs, in vacant lot adjacent to gas station, before returning to I5. Smooth, if relatively boring sailing, through Roseburg and Myrtle Creek, Grants Pass and Medford, to Ashland, remembering how we had had to buy chains in 2008 when freeway was closed over Mt. Ashland and we had to spend night there. This time, just a bit of snow off the shoulders and we were soon in California, past Yreka and making for Weed. Mount Shasta was shrouded in heavy cloud but looked like it had a heavy mantle of snow, much, much more than we had observed in past few years. On to skirt Shasta Lake which, again, had higher water levels, based on amount of otherwise attractive rust-red bank left exposed. As we descended into Redding, just after 4:00pm, light rain started to fall. Cora Lee wanted to stay at the Budget Lodge Motel for fun, (We had first stayed at the BLM many years ago, when we first started making our annual wine tasting trips in early to mid-80’s), and go to Jack’s for dinner. The 16oz filet mignon there is probably best we’ve ever enjoyed, anywhere! Unfortunately, staying would have made it a much longer driving day on the morrow so I opined that we push on to Williams, another two hours away.
By the time we reached Anderson, rain was pelting down, traffic was heavy with huge, two and three trailer semis, not to mention steady stream of passenger vehicles and ubiquitous pickup trucks, so going was slow and tiring as I could’t use cruise control. Nevertheless, found some decent jazz on the radio and while CL had her head buried in her Aluratek Libre eBook Reader PRO, we made our way past Red Bluff and Corning, Orland and Willows, Delevan and Maxwell, names etched into our memory banks, until exit for Williams appeared. We pulled into the Shell station to gas up, ready for a quick start next morning, and then drove around the corner to park in front of entrance to Granzella’s Inn Motel. Although we discovered Granzella’s Deli in 1983, on our very first trip to California with close friends, Jean and John Anderson, we had never stayed at the motel since it had been built, sometime in the early 2000’s, I believe. Since it was just across the parking lot from Deli, we wanted to stay there as we wanted to eat at the restaurant. Only room left was the Presidential Suite but we thought it would be fun to splurge so invoking our Senior’s status, (over 60 in California!), we paid $107 and carried our bags up to second floor. Consisting of two very large comfy rooms, (one a separate bedroom with king bed and drive-in movie sized TV screen!), we almost needed megaphones to converse. Cora Lee unpacked cooler into bar fridge and I made a second trip to TG to retrieve wine and a top for dinner. Back in room I proceeded to do my shoulder exercises while Cora Lee read and watched TV on the same sort of gigantic screen as we had in bedroom. Couch was a very comfortable pull-out so suite would be great for two couples. Wine was quite cool so I wanted Cora Lee to wait until I had finished my exercises and had my shower. Claiming she was freezing to death, (Heater in lounge area never ever pumped out warm, let alone hot, air but one in bedroom worked well. I set it on high and it eventually made place quite toasty.), she popped cork on the 2006 Bella Syrah,14.5%, and started pounding with a vengeance!
I took a sip but thought that it was still too cool to enjoy, the flavours still suppressed. Once I had finished my workout and showered, I warmed my glass with my hands, marveling at the lovely, deep purple colour and savouring the wonderful spice, black pepper and vanilla. Full-bodied, yet supple and soft, it was a mouth-watering mouthful indeed. We toasted ourselves and after polishing off bottle made our way to Sports Bar across the way. Place was not particularly busy so we were able to find a table for two quite close to the cosy fireplace. Once our waitress arrived, I was simply delighted to learn that they offered corkage, a mere $8. I immediately returned to TG to fetch a Young’s, Shenandoah Valley, 2006 Petite Sirah, 14.8%, and placed it on the ledge in front of the fireplace, for a few minutes, much to the amusement of the diners at the adjacent table, informing them, as I did so, that I wanted to take off the chill. We were certainly well rewarded when the bottle was opened after our delicious, though chewy, calamari appetizer arrived. The wine was an unbelievably dark, rich, inky color with legs as long as those possessed by Legs Levine! Earthy aromas and full-bodied flavors of blackberry brambles and red currants caressed and seduced our palettes and we were in Petite Sirah Heaven indeed! We shared a mixed green salad and a main of Cajun Talapia, the latter pairing poifectly with the Petite. More than well pleased with the food and wine, we toddled back to our room. Cora Lee changed into her jams while I uncorked the Tullibardine malt and we slouched on the sofa, sipping it while we watched Pirate Radio, Cora Lee almost spilling our drinks as she grooved to the ‘60’s songs that were played as part of the sound track and DJ offerings. Shortly before the film ended, she fell asleep against my shoulder and I was just about to rouse her when a documentary of sorts, about a porn star Katie Morgan, followed. Since I didn’t want to disturb the Sleeping Beauty, I was forced to endure Katie’s enthusiastic, acrobatic erotic adventures. While I found her full frontal nudity mildly titillating, overall, the effect of all of the vigorous coupling and moaning was so plastic that it was far more comedic than erotic. Still, I was pleased to have seen such a flick, in spite of not really being an avid porn devotee. One of the unexpected benefits of staying in the Presidential Suite, I suppose!
After Katie waved goodbye with her enormous breasts, (implants, of course), I nudged CL awake and by time I had brushed and flossed, she was sound asleep. Didn’t even bother to set alarm as I knew we could sleep in and still have plenty of time for what we had planned for next day. Turned out light at 1:30am, too, too sleepy to read a single word of Linda Barnes’ Lie Down With The Devil, a Carlotta Carlyle novel, the book I’d not finished before we left Vancouver this past June, at the start of our four month odyssey. I had intended to take it along but somehow forgot to do so. Now I am faced with having to re-read parts as I’ve forgotten some of the important character and plot details! At any rate, no headway tonight!
Experience is not what happens to a man; it is what a man does with what happens to him. -Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963)
Day 3, Saturday, December 18th:
Cora Lee was up before me to have a shower, just after 8:00am. I clambered out of bed to put on a pot of coffee, (using both packs, decaffeinated and regulare), before starting my exercises. Once I’d finished routine, I showered and changed and then we took some of our luggage to car on way to restaurant. Enjoyed another terrific Granzella’s breakfast, (sausage patties and home fries for CL, Spanish omelette, hash browns and biscuit for me), and then I returned to room to finish packing up while Power Shopper went across the Street to Granzella’s Gift Store. I had most everything loaded by time she returned and so we handed in our key and checked out just after 10:00am. Made our way out of town and on to 28 towards Clearlake. Rain had let up but it was overcast and rather dull. Little traffic so we were soon on 53 out of Clearlake, making for Lower Lake. After Middletown, highway became 29 and we drove through intermittent rain squalls, some quite heavy at times, all the way to Calistoga. Taking 128 north out of Calistoga, we climbed a bit to leave Napa County behind, coming into Sonoma County and then Knight’s Valley. Few more twisty turns and small hills and we were at the bottom of the Alexander Valley, Field Stone, the first winery, on the left, followed by Hanna, next, on the right. No time or room to stop and taste at the many wineries along the way, (Sausal, Robert Young and Soda Rock to name but a few), so pushed on to Geyserville where we took Canyon Road to Dry Creek Road and pulled into Coffaro parking lot at just before 1:00pm.
Still raining quite steadily so we walked quickly to tasting room and found Matt and Cindy, hired help, there. We’d met Matt a number of years ago but Cindy was new to us. After a brief chat with both of them, Matt went to fetch Pat as I had said, via email, that we would be by in the afternoon to collect our wine, a special offering of their 2007 Escuro that I had taken advantage of when we were still in Europe! As it turned out, David was first to arrive and he kidded me about not wearing any socks, (He himself wears little else other than knock-off Birkenstocks, mostly without socks except in coldest of winter times!), and we had a most pleasant visit. Pat joined us a few minutes later and we caught up on things, pleased to learn that they plan to visit Seattle, (their youngest daughter, Susie, is there), at the end of May, as well as making a foray to Vancouver and Victoria. We invited them to stay with us and it looks like they may well do so. Pat returned to the office to gather the paperwork for the Escuro and when she returned, she presented me with a bottle of their 2006 Terre Melange, (a blend of Peloursin, (33%), Carignan, (25%), Syrah, (25%) and Mourvedre, (10%), 13.9%, in a lovely sleeve, a belated birthday present! Thanking them both for the lovely gift, we wished each other well for the holidays and confirmed we would be in touch regarding their planned visit.
After they returned to work in the office, Matt treated us to two barrel samplings, his 2009 Matt’s Select, 100% Petite Sirah and the 2009 Ultimate Cuvee, a blend of blends as well as Petite Sirah. I was taken with Matt’s approach to the Petite he was leaving on oak for a year longer than David has traditionally done, so ordered six bottles to the order that will be ready next summer. After paying for the wine, we said goodbye to Cindy and made our way to car. While Matt fetched the case of Escuro, I made room for it and managed to squeeze it in when he carted it from storage. We wished him luck with his Petite Sirah and said goodbye, making for Mounts, across valley over Yoakim Bridge to Wine Creek Road. Matt had told us about this tiny winery two years ago and we had fallen in love with its wine when we first tasted them. Unfortunately, winery was closed last time we were in Sonoma so were delighted to learnt that today was the last day they would be open until 2011. Fifteen minutes later, after driving slowly along quite narrow, twisting West Dry Creek Road, we were at Mounts and had just started sipping our first pour, a Zin, when who should appear but Matt! He had mentioned, when we asked him earlier, if Mounts happened to be open, that he had to pick up some wine there. As business was very slow at Coffaro, he arranged to leave Cindy in charge of the tasting room and he stopped by on the way home to collect his wine.
We talked for a few minutes and then the owner returned and we continued with the tasting line-up. Mounts specializes in Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Grenache, Malbec, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah but only had their Zin, PS, Cabbage and Malbec available for tasting. I was disappointed that the Syrah was not open as we found it to be one of best, anywhere in Sonoma, Napa and Calaveras, last time we had tasted in those regions. Nonetheless, all the wines we tasted were simply, utterly superb but, in particular, we were knocked over by the Cab and simply bowled over by the Malbec. That is not to say that the 2008 Cypress Zin, 16.2%, and 2007 Petite Sirah, 15.5%, were anaemic or unflavourful, far from it, but the other two were truly, truly remarkable. I am not really a fan of Cabbage, finding it everywhere and usually very expensive without delivering the goods at the prices charged. With respect to the Malbec, it is an unusual varietal to find as a single expression in California, as it is usually used for blending, much like in France, as opposed to Argentina. Their 2008 Malbec topped the Richter Scale at 15.8% and was one of the most exciting I’ve ever tasted, while the 2007 Cabbage, 14.8%, was wondrous, wondrous indeed! I selected three of each and weaseled another taste: “Would it be impolite for a tad more Malbec?”, before we paid for the wine and made our way back to TG.
While we were waiting for our case to be delivered, I shoved bags and packages around to make room for yet another case and in the process I discovered that one of the wine cases I had brought from The Island Inn, simply for packaging purpose, was, in fact, a wine box from Sotoyome, the winery we had patronized for a number of years in the mid-80’s, loving their Petite Sirah. Owners sold to Susan and John Mitchell who renamed winery, Christopher Creek, after their youngest son. They, in turn, sold the winery and now live in Mendocino, I believe. Personally, I’ve never really liked the PS offered since they left the winery. Still, all things being said, it is fascinating how things turn out, inasmuch, as Mounts is now producing a Petite Sirah which is, far and away, in my humble opinion, the most exciting example of this varietal available from all the wineries which preceded them along the bumpy trail of my unending quest for the quintessential expression of this oft maligned and underrated grape.
More than delighted that we had made the effort to stop in at Mounts, we hied ourselves to 101 South and were soon speeding along towards Santa Rosa. With Garmin Goil’s help we had little difficulty in zipping through traffic, in spite of inclement weather, and soon found ourselves past Rohnert Park and Petaluma, Novato and San Rafael, and then over the Richmond Bridge, waving to the cons in San Quentin, and then we were on 580 making for the University Avenue exit to Berkeley. Traffic had came to an almost complete standstill as we made our way to UA exit but once off freeway, we made easy progress to Shattuck and then to Ashby. Once on Ashby, we stopped to fuel TG just below the Claremnot Hotel and then made our way to Vicente Road, knocking on the door of #116 at 5:30pm, laden with gifts and our overnight kit. Rain was pelting down by this time so we were sopping by time door opened. After warm greetings and embraces from Donna Florida and Cactus, CL stayed inside to visit while I muled more bags and parcels up the steep slope to the house. Once sherpage had been accomplished, I joined the dry folk, lolling in the living room, to enjoy green olives and a creamy Brie, for hors d'oeuvres, sipping a most interesting white wine from the Czech Republic, a version of the Grüner Veltliner varietal, (one I'd first had in Ottawa, with friends, Maret and David, a few years ago), our hosts had brought back from their recent visit to the CR and which was absolutely delightful, fruity but still astringent.
White drained, we moved to the dining room table to partake of a glorious green salad followed by Brussell Sprouts, baked yams, Japanese sweet potatoes and zesty/zingy pork chops and four bottles of wine: the aforementioned 2006 Terre Melange from Pat and David, black raspberry with a subtle hint of anise on first taste, chocolate and black pepper on the terrific finish; two 2007 Zichichi Old Vine Estate Zins, 15.7%, deep, deep blackberry fruit and brambly spice tones; and one of their 2007 Petite Sirahs, 15.1%, velvet octopus ink with a hint of violet on the nose, succulent blueberry and blackberry on the roof of the mouth and a more than pleasing peppery finish. Just as we were to start dessert, close friend Janferie, and her amore, Daniello, arrived, and joined us for post-prandials, a hefty snort of Aberlour a'bunadh, 59.8%, and we visited, getting to know Daniello, whom we’d never met before and catching up with Janferei, who’d muled many of our cases of Coffaro from Healdsburg to Berkeley. Unfortunately, Janferei is under a fair bit of stress, at the moment, as she is commuting to London, Ontario, once a month or so, caring for an elderly, failing mother. Nonetheless, we had a wonderful time catching up and after they had to leave, close to midnight, we wished them both well, thanked Sherpa Davey and Donna Florida for remarkable evening and toddled off to bed. Cora Lee didn’t even bother to brush and floss but I managed to take care of my chompers before falling asleep on the most comfortable, new futon, milliseconds after my head touched the pillow!
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