Peterson Winery bust, Tasting Room steps up

Something is clearly wrong with the whole case of samples from Peterson Winery.  Each one has been terrible.  The Sauvignon Blanc tasted like watery bitter beer, the Zinfandel had an 'old' flavor.  Not liked aged wine, but like moldy socks.  It is possible that the case was subjected to very high or low temperatures.  Maybe there was a problem with the bottling process that day.

It isn't even worth continuing to review them, because you can't accurately review a damaged product.

I contacted Tasting Room to let them know, in case other people were having similar issues with this batch.  They've offered to send out a new set of samples from a different source as a replacement.  I did not ask for a replacement, so this is extra nice of them.  They are sending this one: A Taste Adventure-Red Essentials

2005 Peterson AgRaria "Big Barn Red"

I have six tiny bottles of wine to sample from Peterson Winery in California.  Starting with:

AgRaria "Big Barn Red" 2005
Varietal:  78% Cabernet Franc, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon
Cost per bottle: $50 - $60

The Claim:

"Complex aromas and flavors of spicy cedar, violets, berry and dusty tannins reflect a classic Cabernet blend. The mountain terroir contributes an alluring minerality and robust acidity that wind around the palate, enhancing the flavors and complexity while making this wine an ideal match with food. The finish shows off the lovely combination of fruit, oak and tannins, and as the flavors dissipate you are ready to sip again, and again."

The Reality:

After 15 minutes of letting this wine breathe, the aroma is best described as 'flammable'.  There is no discernible fruit scent underneath the alcohol.  I didn't let that stop me, of course.  I've been to college.  I've had worse.

When it hit my tongue, the first impression was 'sour'.  Sour like biting into an unripe grapefruit through the rind.  I took several more tiny sips trying to detect any other flavors, but my tongue went numb.  No joke, I literally lost feeling for a few moments.  As sensation came back, the inside of my mouth was left feeling extremely dry.

The finish isn't so much a taste but a sensation of fumes coming out the nose.  In addition, my face began to sweat.

Further whining; there was sediment in the bottle, and the wine stained my teeth.

The Conclusion:

Maybe the name "Big Barn Red" comes from being made with fermenting silage in an actual barn full of cattle.

This wine was so remarkably bad that I wonder if there was something wrong with my sample bottle.  This is supposed to be one of Peterson's special blends and it has positive reviews from other tasters.  At this point, my advice is not to buy without trying it because the price is too steep to take the chance.

Sandy's Diary - 1959

I was in an antique store today and came across a '5 Year Diary' from The Standard Diary Company, a division of Wilson Jones, New York City.  Price: $3.50.  It is white with faded gold lettering and a lock.  There is no key, but the lock opens.  Each page has the day on top and there are 4 lines per day for each of the five years.  At first look, it appeared to be blank.  I can picture someone thumbing through the book and thinking it was unused.  Had they noticed the writing, I don't think they'd have sent it off to be sold.

The writing begins on September 30, 1959.  (That was a Wednesday.)  The owner of the diary did not write  for long; just Sept. 30 to Dec 2, and she skipped many days.  Based on the entries, I can piece together that her name or nickname is Sandy, she seems to be in high school and she was probably in central Wisconsin.

Her entries show that teenage angst hasn't changed much in 53 years.  On the slim chance that you know the author of this diary, send me a message.  I'd love to give it back to her, or to a relative.  I figure Sandy would be about 68-70 years old today.

I've transcribed it with spelling, punctuation and notations as written.  Some letters/words were unclear.  Little notations are in parenthesis approximate to where they were scribbled.

September 30

Today is my birthday, and I recieved this diary, a dog from my honey, pen, lamp, 2 purfume, bracelet from a surprise party the girls gave me.  He didn't come over tonight & I miss him.  No letter from Ole today.

October 1

Had band tonight & then went with Dave.  He's so good to me and he loves me too.

October 2
Got a letter from Ole.  He loves me too.  Am I in a mess.  Got A+ in my Eng. test.  Nita's mad as she gave me the test questions.  Dave came over to Akeys.  We are trying (+.b.q.) As it means to much to Mother.  We won our game 13-6

October 3

Babysat at Micheals, was a pig pen.  Dave came over.  He would make an excellent husband.

October 4
Mother and Dianne went to City Point.  Dave & I stayed home.  Spent all weekend writing a shitty sonnet.

October 5

Skipped school is morning.  Wrote a letter to Ole. - Dave was late picking me up for band.  I slept over at Muschis.

October 6

Gosh, I am falling in love with Dave.  It bothered me because I didn't think he was caming overtonight.

October 7

Was nominated to be a candidate for homecoming queen.  Hope I get it.  Judy Mier doesn't want me to get it though.

October 8

Didn't get the nomination but it was close.  Went up to Paul's place.

October 9

Got my period.  Went to Point with Dave & Diane.  Am I in agony.

October 10

Went to Madison with Hauke.  Saw the cutest boy.  O - la -la.  - Hauke is crazy  Babysat at Akeys.  Had a bal in the house.

October 11

Ate dinner & supper at Judy & Al's. - Went to the show with Maria Lanza in .  Louise asked me to live with her when I go to college.

October 12

Band tonight.  Ugh.  Juanita is quitting cheer leading. - ?  First snow fall. - Very pretty.

October 13

Nita didn't quit, was because of the cheating going around about her.  Dull day.

October 14
Am pretty ritzy had my hair done at the beauty shop.  Dave said, "Sandy, I want to marry you, etc. Don't ever leave me. - also.  I am confused.  Oh boy am I.

October 15

 Had picture taken today.  Hope they turn out

October 16
Went to the game with Geno & Butch Snay.  What a riot. - We won.  Dave went out and got drunk.

(5.00)
October 17
Nothing new. - Dave, Marge and I rode around.  He stayed all night (ou16) drinking with Lucille Bridle and Dorothy Gilbert. - I am furious.

October 18

Studied this afternoon.  Dave worked.

October 19

Band, studies for chem-isty at Judy's.  Opa Shir. said Henery Kmjs. better watch out as my boyfriend is bigger than him.  ha

October 20
Got only 1 wrong in chemistry am dumbfounded.  So is everyone.  The little grade school kids have been falling all over me.  Must be sick.

October 21

Skipped instructions as I am in Homecoming skit

October 22
Worked on the float & pep skit.

October 23

Karbauski is queen.  Ugh. - Went to the dance with Dave - nice; met 3 cute guys all in one night.  2 from Nekoosa but go to La Crosse State & 1 from Hungary.  Rained cats & dogs for our game talked all thorough & am soaked.  Won 6-0

October 24 (3.50 1.00)
Babysat at Akeys. Dave came over and he gave me a ride home - -

(1.00)
October 25
Studies for chemistry all afternoon with Judy.  Talked to Marge on phone for an hour & she thinks I am lucky to have Dave. So do I.  Babysat at Akeys.

November 10

Haven't wrote for a long time. - Is too boring in this town.  Hate (don't like) Nancy Weaver.  She can flunk test & still get As.  What a badcuse.

November 13
I think today was the day.

December 1

We are fudding with N. Mauer yet.  I gahce care if y she goes & jumps in a lake.

December 2
Xmas is growing near & I am saving money like mad.  See Dave & love one him yet.

Woot shirts!

Woot recently had their bargain mystery shirt sale again, both for adults and kids.  As always, order 3 for the best price and outcome.  Adult shirts first, kids second...

I LOVE THIS ONE!  It is called Poison.  If you don't get the reference then I'm afraid being friends with you would be inconceivable.  I'd flip you off, but having six fingers makes it difficult to figure out which finger is in the middle.

This next shirt is nice too.  It is called Minor Modifications.  Poor Pluto.  :-(

I wasn't sure what the third shirt was all about.  Now that I know, I"m still pretty Meh about it.  It just doesn't apply to me.  It is called King Of The Grill.  I'm willing to part with this one, if anyone wants it.  It is a ladies XL; you can see the measurements by clicking here.

On to the kids shirts!  This batch produced three that my sons will actually be able to wear in public.

The first is called Cupcakeosaurus.

The second is Fractal Tree.

Third is Orbital Model Of The Carbon Atom.

Pencil Hoarding

I'm in the middle of a household purge and rearrangement.  I came across a small box labeled 'desk' in my husband's writing.

As I started to sort through the mess inside, I found a couple dozen unused pencils that I've been dragging around since high school.  Mostly fancy round pencils; the kind that were sold individually back then.  Holographic, rainbow, marbled pastel, etc.  There were even a couple brightly colored neon pencils with my old Credit Union logo.  I got those when I opened my first checking account at 16.

I remember why I never used them. I couldn't bear to actually sharpen the pencils because they were too pretty.  I wanted them to stay nice and new.  I was also the kid that, given some stickers, would not stick them on anything.  I'd continue to use tiny old crayon stubs rather than 'ruin' a new box of crayons.

I clearly had issues.

I see that same 'saving' trait in my older son.  He will unwrap a gift, but not open the box, because he likes the thing to stay new.  He usually gets around to playing with the toy, but sometimes I will find a small gift - like a matchbox car - still unopened months later.   He is the same way about his favorite candy.  Only recently did he finally eat the last bag of Skittles from the pile that he bought at summer camp in 2010.

My younger will use the heck out of something but will not easily give up the destroyed leavings.  Broken pencils, a random leg from an action figure, a toy car with no wheels, etc.  He is the rare person that actually will find a new purpose for the object.

As an adult, I've made an effort to be more of a Use It or Lose It person.  There is really no point in holding onto things that should be useful but are just collecting dust.  Not even "in case I need it later".  99 times out of 100, you won't.  That other time, you'll swear and gnash your teeth about it.  "If only I hadn't thrown that out two years ago!"   Heh.

I didn't toss the pencils, btw.  I'm going to use them.  For real this time.