Giants win Superbowl; Almost Valentine's Day and winter wine

Wines of the Week

Seghesio Barolo 2007 $25 Italy - Barolos are my new favorite wine especially 07. This wine needs more time and was somewhat disappointing. The fruit was masked by tannin.
Gruet Blanc Di Noir, New Mexico $12 -- Nice sparkling wine with strong bubbles when poured but quickly disappated. Flavor was good but I am not a fan of this wine. Wine Spectator loved it.
Summers Knights Valley Andrienna's Cuvee cabernet sauvignon 2007 $16 -- Nice cabernet bouquet, no depth, decent fruit but I found it oddly sour on the finish; We did not finish the bottle; Highly rated by the Wine Advocate.
Roccalini Barbaresco 2007 $29-- This was a Cindy deal. Loved this wine. Perfumed bouquet, great balance of fruit and tannin, just a great wine; it will develop even better over time.
Nicolas Potel Chambolle-Musigny 1 er Cru les Hauts- Doix 2006  Burgundy $20 I found this wine light, some bouquet, tannic and not impressive; Maybe I had to be more patient with it. It had terroir.
Condado Da Haza Ribuero Del Duero Spain 2006  Drank at a restaurant and really enjoyed it. It had good flavor, depth and nice mouth feel. We had 2 riojas before it and this wine impressed.
Crios Torrontes 2011 Argentina ; Susan Balbo winemaker; $11  White wine that was fruity, floral, not heavy but not watery, really enjoyed with fried fluke fresh from NJ. BTW since Argentina is in the Southern Hemisphere the 2011 harvest is being sold.
Charles Smith 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington, Drank at restaurant, usually enjoy this wine but this bottle tasted flat, it had a chocolate taste which is something I don't usually say about a wine. it was OK.

Loved the Giants win over the Patriots. We had chicken wings, nachos and some interesting beers from all over.

Try to find some good chocolates for Valentine's Day. No Russell Stover, Godiva etc. If you can't find anything locally made, bake some brownies. Do you feel co-opted into doing something "romantic" on Valentine's Day. Do you feel that you must buy or receive overpriced roses? Just curious. My wife would be upset with me if I bought roses for Valentine's Day. I love flowers and buy them all of the time but I don't like being manipulated by the stores and the media.

We went to one of my favorite food places yesterday -- Delicious Orchards in Colts's Neck, NJ. deliciousorchardsnj.com We bought apple pie, brownies and apple crumb cake. Hit the Yum factor.

What are you doing for food on a plane? Are you buying the food that they sell or  are you bringing food on the plane. I try to bring a sandwich, some fruit and dessert. I don't drink when flying but there is usually nothing that I would want to drink, even on domestic first class. International first class is another story but I have only been on that once. (the Italy trip).

Went to the Metropolitan Museum in NYC last week. While they suggest paying them $25 to get in; the price is really whatever you want. Two for $4 works. They have redone the American Wing and the Middle Eastern/Islamic galleries and they are wonderful. Tiffany, Washington Crossing the Delaware and Frank Lloyd Wright.

We then went off to Chinatown and tried 456 on Mott Street. Shanghai style. Very good. We had soup dumplings with the soup inside the dumpling and fried thin noodles with veggies, pork, chicken and shrimp. Total bill $17 and enjoyed it. Of course we went to Ferrara's for dessert. We also stopped at DiPalo's and spoke with the owner. This time we had a  good conversation about Monforte d' Alba in Piemonte.

Ciao!