Wine-ers!

Justin had informed me that he was bringing a roast duck as his food offering for our football gathering.  The symbolism of this food offering didn’t dawn on me for some time because I love duck and I was just excited he was bringing it — while find it an exceedingly random choice on his part.

Then he said “you are what you eat,” and I realized we were, of course, playing the Oregon Ducks, and this was his way of symbolically devouring the flesh of his enemy prior to battle.

Amazing! 

Justin also made tacos in which to wrap the duck. It was brilliant.

Like me, Gretchen had been thrilled to hear that we’d be devouring duck this evening, so she went against the grain and brought a bottle of red wine to the gathering — Francis Coppola’s “Diamond Collection” “Ivory Label” 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon.  It was, predictably, quite tasty.

Quotes of the moment: 

“Can you pass me that bottle of wine? I want to read it,” — Tasha

Discussing the ESPN Magazine’s Boston cover: 

“It’s called hubris” —Tasha

“I hubris’d your mom” — Jessica, proud Bostonite

There were a couple reds enjoyed after this, but I was encouraged to stop typing so much and talk to my friends, so sadly the tasting results were lost to posterity.

Also, USC won. And it was glorious.

Thiel Chardonnay 2009 North Coast California

Gretchen and I re-energized a long standing squabble about our high school biology teacher, Mr. Thiel, with this chardonnay. He was one of my favorite teachers, but Gretchen had a rougher time in his class.

Notes on the bottle from the crowd: 

“These are just the whites, we have to get to the reds” – Jessica

 “Oh my god, we do don’t we. Holy shit.” — Gretchen

 “Crisp” -– Catherine

One more bottle of white until we can take a break for half-time before moving on to reds!

Gretchen brought a bottle of Wente’s Riva Ranch Chardonnay, which she and I have been happily guzzling since we turned 21. She felt it was time we featured it on wine-ers, and as usual, was correct.

Wente is a Livermore winery, a home-town hero of sorts, little guy made big. 

Wente Riva Ranch Reserve Chardonnay 2010

The reaction: 

Jessica: “I’m not a white’s fan. I’m not an acidic type. There’s a little acidity, but it’s not bad.” 

Catherine: “It’s creamy” 

Gretchen: “As I always do, it’s amazing. Not as crappy as 2007. “ This is an insider’s reference to 2007, which was a ghost town for decent California chardonnays and a sad sad year for me and the G.

Catherine: “It’s buttery.” 

Gretchen: “It is buttery, which I tend to stray towards.” 

Catherine: “It’s not oaky.” 

Gretchen: “It’s a little oaky.” 

Justin: “This wine tastes a lot better with a USC touchdown.”

[USC Touchdown]

Justin: “It’s actually a pretty good chardonnay!!”