Sweet 'n Sassy...

Welcome, wine lovers, to another segment of The Witte's Wine Reviews. Since I have been doing a lot of reds, I decided to switch gears and go for whites in April. The following two wines are solid standbys that didn't push any boundaries but also were a delight to drink. Let's get to it...

First up: a 2008 Gewurztraminer from Chateau Ste Michelle in Washington state's Columbia Valley. It has been said the Gewurz grape makes wine to compliment the spiciest of foods and this one is no exception. A delightful nose of fruits leads into flavors mimicking the nose, with floral notes, citrus and pleasant spices. The finish was cool and crisp, blending well with the fajitas we had that evening. This particular wine is semi-dry, giving only a hint of sweetness, adding to the whole experience rather than overpowering it as in some wines. I would say, after finishing this bottle, that I will compare other Gewurztraminer wines to this one until I find its equal. I haven't had many of this variety, but this makes me hopeful for the future. Ste Michelle is a solid winery to choose from and I would recommend it to any wine lover...

And now, from the Columbia Crest Grand Estates is a 2007 Riesling, also from Washington's Columbia Valley. I am starting to get the impression that this is an excellent area for wine selection. Everybody knows that I dig the Rieslings (as do many in my circles...) so it is no surprise I enjoy this one too. I would categorize this as a sipping wine, a wine to be enjoyed when the mood strikes you, and a compliment to most meals. Like the Gewurz prior, it is cool and crisp and tastes of subtle fruits and tang. It finishes with body, but no overpoweringly so, allowing a satisfyingly slow consumption. The nose, like most Rieslings, it bright and vibrant, which leads into the tasting. As with all solid Rieslings, get this one and share it. You won't be sorry (by the by, I couldn't find a picture for the 2007 variety so you are stuck with the 2005...)...

There was a third wine this month, purchased on a whim based on price, age, and difference to what I would normally pick. The vineyard was Talus(?) and it was a 2003 Chardonnay. Apparently, chardonnay only last 2-6 years in the bottle. It tasted like carmelized green beans. Blech. For the month of May, Tara brought me a Muscat and a Merlot directly from California. Can't wait to try them, and as always, it's always a fine time for wine...

The Ever Evolving Playlist vol. 2...

Here's we go again. I can't say I've gotten all that I wanted off my vol. 1 list, but I did find enough since then to warrant a second list. Thankfully, they will come at such a pace to not overdo the gimmick. A special thanks to the Pandora radio station, without which there would be no list for this post...

1. Peter Gabriel - The Book of Love
2. The Darkness - Out of My Hands
3. Soundgarden - Spoonman
4. Hyper - Cascade
5. Them Crooked Vultures - New Fang
6. John Mayer - Who Says
7. Owl City - Fireflies
8. Chable & Bonicci - Ride
9. Cursor Miner - Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
10. Whitesnake - Is This Love?
11. The Crystal Method - Smile?
12. Stevie Nicks - Rooms on Fire
13. The Who - Baba O'Reily
14. Jim Croche - I Got A Name
15. Kaskade - Steppin' Out
16. Mumford & Sons - Little Lion Man
17. Yes - Our Song
18. Crosby, Stills & Nash - You Don't Have to Cry
19. Zircon - Ladder to the Sky
20. Hanson - Thinkin' Bout Something

As with the first list, here are some recommended tracks for your enjoyment...

1. Moonbabies - War on Sound
2. Van Halen - Dance the Night Away
3. Aerosmith - Come Together
4. Metallica - I Disappear
5. Gypsy Kings - Trista Pena
6. Foo Fighters - Wheels
7. Bruce Springsteen - Held Up Without a Gun (live)
8. ZZ Top - Planet of Women
9. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Runnin' Down a Dream
10. Steely Dan - Reelin' in the Years
11. No More Kings - Sweep the Leg
12. Fleetwood Mac - You Make Lovin' Fun
13. The Alan Parsons Project - Where's the Walrus?
14. MC Lars - Space Game
15. Sufjan Stevens - Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois
16. George Michael - Freeek!
17. Modest Mouse - Dashboard
18. Temple of the Dog - Hunger Strike
19. Gin Blossoms - Follow You Down
20. The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

As always, enjoy...

Anne McCaffrey would be proud...

Tara and I went to see 'How to Train Your Dragon' last night as a date movie (She does love some cute critters...) and it was pretty good. Not so cute to turn most adults off but still pretty appropriate for the kiddies. I will say DreamWorks is getting better and better about their animation of people. The skin tones were nigh spot on (even if they still have kept the goofy faces...), the big dragon looked good enough to be used in Clash of the Titans (also not a too terrible movie...) and water effects are still incredible. The voice acting was decent, using Gerard Butler as the stock 'I'm the gruff talking leader' of the vikings and well as using Jay Baruchel (that skinny guy who plays awkward well...) as our hero. If you want a light movie to see, this wouldn't be bad to choose...


I must make a note of a feature I wasn't completely sold on: the 3-D experience. Normally, Tara gets a bit ill if she sees a 3D picture, but this was all that was available for us to see. So, she sucked it up and went for it and didn't get sick at all. But (and I think Tara agrees with me..), the 3D actually detracted from the total movie watching experience. Now, I know some people SUPER support the 3D movement these days, but there wasn't enough going on in 'Dragon' (i.e. crap coming at you...) to really warrant providing it in 3D. The glasses tend to wash out some of the colors, making it appear to be projected on parchment paper. I checked the colors to see if I was right a few times during the movie and Tara agreed that we should have seen it in 2D...

My other beef with 'Dragon': the ending. I won't spoil it completely, but I do get tired of the 'subjugated people can't stop the tyrant, but with a LITTLE extra effort (as well as a pseudo-life lesson...), they can destroy adversity'. 'Dragon' isn't alone in this; I've seen this in several movies over the last several years. Beowulf did this (despite that I couldn't reach it with a weapon, I can reach it without if I force myself...) and it was ridiculous. FF: Rise of the Silver Surfer did this (now that I've seen true sacrifice[?], I will stop my master...) and I was super pissed. Granted, my anger stemmed from my geek side (Galactus wouldn't be dumb enough to give the Surfer that much power, nor do I believe that after countless planets being destroyed, seeing Sue Storm's sacrifice would turn himself around [see?]...). Either way, it brings us to my point: from a story's standpoint, given countless implied opportunities to topple adversity but never have without token motivation, the way the characters win/destroy the big baddies/etc. seems ludicrous to me. At the very least, give me an existing rebel faction where getting sufficiently motivated fits. Otherwise, rewrite that sucker...

Despite that extremely long rant on the ending, I do recommend 'Dragon' for a fun movie to see in 2D, especially if you want to see something you don't have to get too involved in. This isn't bad; not every movie needs to be a noggin' scratcher. We need these simple fun movies to balance out the others. See it or definitely see it on dvd asap. You won't be sorry...

Your heart will thank you...

Hello, wine lovers! It's time yet again for a monthly review of two newly tasted wines. For March, I decided to go with a highly recommended red Italian wine as well as a red from Ithaca, which we procured on our last trip north (God, I love Ithaca wine...). Unlike last month, however, these two wines were a treat to drink...


First up, a fine 2007 Chianti from the Da Vinci vintners in Italy. Normally, I am not a fan of dry red, but this one was special. I was immediately taken in with an intense nose, combining berries and oak. Upon tasting, the oakiness combined well with the dryness, but left a very busy feeling within my mouth. The dryness pleasantly left after swallowing and finished well, only leaving a hint of flavor behind. It has been said that dry reds often pair well with pasta dishes, and this one was no exception. I would also have enjoyed this for sipping with a group of friends. Further, the Da Vinci vintners (from the town of Vinci no less...) have designed a very pleasing label, perfect for display. While this wine has been the most expensive so far (not that expensive in the grand scheme, really...), it now ranks highly on my lists of reds to purchase...


Our next wine, I have to admit something. I cheated on this one. I've tried this wine before. I'm a fraud (boo hoo, wah wah...). It counts, though, because I've never bought and drank a whole bottle of this wine. Anyways, on to the review. This is an Estate Red from the Hosmer Winery in Ithaca, NY. There is no date with this one, but Tara mentioned that blends (like many 'Estate' blends at other wineries...) often DON'T include the date, as they use grapes from multiple years. This red holds many superficial similarities with the previous Chianti (actually, with it being a blend, it probably has similarities to most reds...), but holds its own with unique qualities. The nose on this was more fruity than woody, which in turn carried over into the tasting part. This was a much more plummy wine than the previous, but still carried a nice body with some dryness. Interestingly enough, this wine dried in the mouth in a different area than the Chianti (lips vs sides of the mouth...). Drinking this wine goes well with meat dinners, but I don't know if I'd drink this alone were I in the mood for wine. I will take a point away from Hosmer as the label was a bit boring and uninformative. Doesn't make this a bad wine, though. Bottom line, this is a solid red if you like reds...

April is half done by the time you read this post. This month has a delightful Riesling (kind of a cheat; Rieslings are a go-to wine...) coming, but I just can't decide where to go with the other half of the month (less than half actually...). Any suggestions?

Would you like some cheese with that...

As promised, per my New Years Resolution, here comes two more wine reviews for your reading pleasure. Unfortunately for me, the wines were less than a pleasure to drink. These two definitely weren't awful (and I've had some awful wine...), but they were more...well, let's allow my review of them speak more of my mind...


First up, a 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon from the Turning Leaf winery in California. It has a very rich red color and a very dry nose (not always a good sign for me...) and it's flavor matched it. While in most cases this would be a plus, in this Cab Sauv, not so much. The dryness and oakiness overtook the fruit flavors that lie beneath it, leaving it tasting like a generic dry red wine than an individual. However, after a few days uncorked and breathing, it developed a much richer flavor, balancing out the dryness and making the drinking much more pleasurable. Turning Leaf gets points for presentation (nice label and all...) and having a wine that improves with some time, but this will not be a wine I will be revisiting often. Not a fan of many dry reds, anyways...


Next, a 2008 Pinot Grigio from the Lumina winery in Italy (my second European wine...). Like many Pinot Gris I've tried, this has a fresh and fruity nose. However, like the Cab Sauv I just mentioned, it's flavor fell into the realm of the generic. Nothing really stood out other than tasting like 'wine'. In its defense (also like the Cab Sauv...), a day or two open and a more unique flavor came forward. An interesting note: this Pinot Gri has a screw on top rather than a cork. I wonder if this (as with some others I've tried...) affects the taste and longevity of the wine or if it's all in my head. Either way, this particular wine will take a back seat to my preferred ones. Nice try, Lumina...

Now, despite my earlier mentioning of not enjoying dry reds too often, the next review contains at least one if not both wines being red and dry (I haven't broken into wine #2 yet...). Reason: these wines, more than any other, are ones that I need to slog my way through to find the gems. Thankfully, the first is a keeper, so that's something. Till then, it's always a fine time for wine...

What time is it...

ADVENTURE TIME!!!


A smattering of years ago, a short toon made itself aware to me via Youtube. The toon in question: Adventure Time. It. Was. Hilarious. Surprisingly, enough it has remained funny even if it has waned in the eyes of some. It's a sort of random assortment of cartoon moments and cliches and still manages to be fresh. I look at it as a parody of the more ridiculous elements of modern cartoons, but not in such away that it smacks of meanness, spite, or ridicule. Not only is it geared toward the young, it is also a sort of love note to us adults who enjoy an absurd yet harmless show...



A quick bit of info: Adventure Time was created by Pendleton Ward and was nominated for an Annie Award. The toon detailed the exploits of Pen (changed to Finn) and his magic dog Jake. They battled the Ice King and rescued the Princess. That's where the normal parts ended. We are introduced to a Rainacorn, an Iceclops, a lost elemental, Abraham Lincoln in the past...on Mars, and then we see ninjas stealing an old mans diamonds. Cah-razy... Afterward, it developed a cult following due to its' aforementioned random absurdness and easy to use catch-phrases, such as 'Rhombus!' and 'Hey sloppy milkshake...'. Further, since being discovered on the interwebs, people have wanted to show turned into a series. And now, finally after 4 years, Cartoon Network is going to give us what we wanted. Awesome...



Now, I've seen some of the promos for the new show and I am pleased with the results. The animation style is slightly different, but not too much. They did change a few of the voice actors (which is moderately understandable, since it's been 4 freakin' years...), and here I do have a complaint. I have no feelings about the actors for Finn or the Princess, but they changed the Ice King's voice from Charles Adler to Tom Kenny. While I have nothing against Tom Kenny (his biggest claim to fame is Spongebob...), Charles Adler voiced The Cryptkeeper from Tales from the Crypt. And that's just cool on so many levels. I am glad John DiMaggio has returned to do Jake's voice, for he is also to voice of Bender on Futurama. Awesome...

Here's the link to see the original short. Also, check out the other, newer bits from the up and coming series and tell me what you think. If I missed something awesome, point it out to me...

It's fun to resolve...

I'm not much of one to make and/or keep new years resolutions. That's why I always quit smoking (FYI: I don't smoke anything...) every year for the past decade or so. Let me tell you, that's a joke that gets funnier with each and every year. So, outside of the usual hopes I have for this new year (weight loss, do more of the things I love, etc...), I decided I would actually make a keepable resolution. As an aside, here's my list for making a resolution you can guarantee to keep:

-Keep it simple (stupid)...
-Make sure it is something you enjoy or that is fun...
-Group participation helps motivation and adds a layer of fun to the task...

So, this year I have decided to try two different wines a month. After living in Ithaca for a year and a half, I have developed a taste for wine, especially good wine. However, living in Maryland (a state not known for good wine...)has cut down on the amount of good wine I drink. That being said, I decided I needed to be more adventurous and try wines, even kinds I am not known to enjoy. The guidelines for this challenge are that the two wines must be either A) a kind of wine I've never tried before (i.e. Riesling, blushes, Cab Sav, etc...) or B) from a winery I've not had a particular wine from (i.e. I can have Riesling from two different places...)and C) I have to review them in the month following. The purpose of this exercise is to not only broaden my wine horizons, but to also truly discover what I like and what I don't. It's the only way to be sure...

The first wine up for review is the 2007 Riesling from the Sun Garden winery in Germany. This wine was a delight, as Tara and I had a bottle on a date once and now it's become a wine of choice (especially when New York Riesling is unavailable to us...). Germany is the right climate for this kind of wine and Sun Garden doesn't disappoint. It has a wonderful floral nose that transfers well into the fruity tones within the mouth. Unlike some wines like this which finish poorly despite a promising start, the Riesling finishes very clean and refreshing. This wine would be paired well with a variety of foods, from fruits and cheese to light luncheon foods. Also, I have enjoyed this wine all on it's own...

The second wine of January has become a personal favorite (though it isn't true for others I know...). The wine in question is the 2008 Moscato from the Beringer winery in California. From the first glass of this wine, I was hooked. It bears many similarities to another favorite wine, the Pasa Tiempo from Six Mile in Ithaca, so it isn't surprising how I enjoy this. Like the Riesling prior, it has a bit of a floral nose, but the taste and texture is very sweet and reminiscent of honey. The Moscato also finishes very refreshing, not cloyingly sweet as some similar sweet wines. The muscat grape is known for producing very grape-y, very sweet wines, but this wine lacks the grape flavor and transforms into a very delightful experience. However, because of its inherent sweetness, this wine is best used as or during desert. Also because of it's sweetness, it is easy to overdo the amount you drink. Not that I've done this...

That's all for now. February's wines have already been selected and are pending review. While I won't reveal what they are yet, I will say they are not as enjoyable as January's wines, but that's sort of the point. I actually hope I find as many wines as I don't like as those I do. That way I can actually go to restaurants and pick out a wine I like and can recommend to my friends...

The Following Is...

What you are about to read is a consolidated version of an actual interview that actually happened in December with actual real people, actually...

ME: Thanks for sitting down with me today, me.

ME2: No problem, me.

ME: So tell me, how did your writing challenge in November go?

ME2: Oh, it was great! I got all sorts of ideas down and basically had a brain dump on paper. I was so utterly pleased with myself...

ME: That's interesting, because if I look at my records, that really didn't happen. And since I am you (goo goo ga joob), why not give me the REAL story?

ME2: Damn ME!

ME: Go on...

ME2: Well, it turns out that the challenge was indeed more...challenging than I truly realized from the outset.

ME: In what way?

ME2: For starters, my initial apathy and lack of self-discipline pushed me into pushing back how much I would do in one day. That, when coupled with other distractions, such as work, chores, various planning events, and others too many to mention, meant I put each issue off and put it off and put it off and put it off...

ME: Ok, ok I get it. So what did you manage to accomplish in that month?

ME2: I did manage to stay true to basis of the challenge, so I did not work on any other projects at all during the month of November.

ME: That's...good?

ME2: Actually, this was harder than you might imagine. My mind tends to wander and begins to dream up ideas and potential projects at the drop of a hat. It took a bit of self-control to NOT do even a preliminary write up of the handful of ideas that sprung up in my mind.

ME: Ok, so far you've managed to do nothing in November, by both design and by lack of discipline or whatever. I want to know what you ACTUALLY did during NaNoWriMo.

ME2: I did get one issue done.

ME: So, Denim Avenger #3?

ME2: Not really.

ME: CosMick #3?

ME2: Not so much.

ME: Um...Centropolis #1 featuring Grey Harkin, Vampire Detective?

ME2: That would have been awesome.

ME:...

ME2: What? It would have.

ME: So...

ME2: The Sparrow #1

ME: What I am hearing is that your effort to catch up on some of your current comic ideas, instead you chose to write a single issue on a character who hasn't even been concept drawn yet?

ME2: Yep, that sound about right.

ME: Awesome.

ME2: That origin story had been rattling around in my mind for months and it was nice to finally drop it down to paper.

ME: The words escape me.

ME2: To be honest, the whole experience (if you want to call it that) was a bit of an eye opener, like when me and Jon finally realized we can't churn out an issue a month, even on something as simple as Denim Avenger. We are too busy and the process takes longer than we truly gave it credit for. While I am not proud of only completing one issue, I do appreciate what I gleaned from that month.

ME: Which was?

ME2: That I need to knuckle down to do what I want. That I can't let idea of the dream be dragged down by harsh reality. That I have to look at what I can do honestly and plan accordingly. That I shouldn't get down on myself for failing to do a task beyond what may not even humanly possible.

ME: That...that was actually kind of beautiful.

ME2: Yeah, I'm a little proud of it.

Happy Day of the Dead (with all due respect to George Romero)...

When I said tomorrow two days ago, I meant the tomorrow AFTER tomorrow, which is today. Cause everyone knows that two tomorrows are better than just one. Also, I had a puppy to watch, a party to attend, and a illness to which I am still fighting (let's give it up for all the H1N1s in the house [god, I hope not]...), so it wasn't a conductive day for blogging. Also, this will likely be my last post in the month of November, due to the writing challenge I gave myself (look it up...). That all being said, here's why Halloween is the most disappointing holiday...

Here's the facts about Halloween DAY: It comes at the end of the month so all of October is gearing up for this one magical spooky day. However, once November 1 rolls around, that's it. No more Halloween for anybody. Tara and I even got heckled in Ithaca on our way to a party in the first part of November (Granted, we ARE talking about Ithaca...). If you look at any store, they shift almost immediately in Thanksgiving/Christmas mode, and it makes me sad...

I do love Halloween. I love the spirit of it, all of the atmosphere, everything. It's also no secret I love Halloween more than other 'major' holidays. Most other holidays don't have such build up for one day of festivities. Check it: Valentine's Day and St. Patty's Day fall in the middle of the month so less build up for (basically) inconsequential and misinterpreted events. Celebrating Christmas is drawn out over all of December and part of January, lumped in with New Years. Winter decorations stick around until companies decide to throw up Valentines Day decor. Easter is tricky to classify since it always jumps all over the calendar, but in the same vein as Halloween, it's all over after the ONE day. Then there's the 'US' holidays which are just reasons for most of the populace to pretend they are more patriotic than they typically are on a daily basis...

Here's what I want: companies, facilities, and whatnot need to extend their spookiness until mid-November. I still expect to see Thanksgiving decorations out November 1, but I still want to see ads for haunted houses. I want people to feel comfortable having Halloween costume parties after October 31. I mean, you paid/made that costume. Let's wear them out and party to the grave, baby. That is all...

Double Feature: Flying Objects Attacked and Tilted Carrion Eaters...

I love Dave Grohl. I think he's probably one of, if not the most, talented musician in modern rock today. He's also one of the busiest (check out his wikipedia page...), so we get plenty of Grohl munchies to satisfy our urges. The reason I bring Diamond Dave up is that he's got not one, but two musical updates coming out very soon and they both sound great. While they have different sounds, both releases show that Dave is not a rock musician or an alternative musician or any other label. He's just a musician who loves his craft and enjoys performing for us, the listener...


First up: The Foo Fighters are releasing a greatest hits album November 2 (holla if it's your birthday... [HOLLA!]) and thank goodness. I used to think that a musician or band had to die or disband to warrant a greatest hits album. At the very least, you ought to have an extensive library of songs to warrant a list that isn't just the radio played songs of your few albums (I'm looking at you, Creed...). That being said, I think that Foo Fighters deserve a greatest hits album for a handful of reasons...

As far as modern bands go (read: bands formed in my life time...), FF has stayed around and prosperous while some of there contemporaries have fallen by the wayside (pick your favorite, I have mine...). They've had hugely successful albums, still grab significant airplay, and win awards consistently for their efforts. While they've evolved (who hasn't...), the Foos have managed to derive a sound all of their own, and I'd like to think it's mostly thanks to Mr. Grohl. Not that the band lives or dies because of Dave, but I believe it's his talent that enhances the group's efforts and makes them the rock powerhouse they are today...

I said before that Dave keeps himself busy, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that he has formed yet another ensemble band (he's been in so many, he may have broken the term 'Super Group'...) called Them Crooked Vultures. They've got a QotSA member, Dave, and a Zep member (look 'em up...). Their debut album drops in November and they've released a single called New Fang and it is pretty damn good. Unlike the Foo Fighters, their sound is more like Eagles of Death Metal and their ilk (Tj calls it 'ball-to-the-walls' rock 'n roll...). Definitely not a bad thing at all, however, it does further show how broad Dave Grohl's taste in music reaches to. I'm looking forward to that album and what TCV gives us...

That is all for now. Tune in tomorrow where I shall a thought on Halloween and why I discovered, in my aging, that it is the most disappointing of all the 'government sanctioned' holidays. By the way, the Foo Fighters released a new song off their greatest hits album and it's called Wheels...