Thursday, October 9, 2008

"Smoking Loon" The Verdicts In...

OK, so the loon cost an extra 3 bucs on the east coast but Joyce did have a coupon and saved a $1.50 a bottle.



I was fortunate enough to be visiting after a conference in NYC.


Kathy made a nice chili, Diane provided a fine salad and Joyce bought the loon and some nice deserts.



That said all the vets and novices alike seem to agree that the Smoking Loon was a fine wine and suitable for a brief family gathering.



Though I still enjoyrd my beer I'd defenitely pick up a bottle if I find it at the local grocer.
Thanks Red for the recommendation and thank you to Kathy and family for the nice gathering....

23 comments:

Red said...

Exactly what the family blog is for, good job Gray!

A thumbs up from AA is worth more than words can describe, but also as worthy is seeing family get together and sharing thier experiences and spirits over the miles...

Thanks for sharing.

Buying wine by the case makes one a wise consumer hardly a wino...

I am disappointed GPE did not imbide, but I am certain we'll get him on another suggestion, because one thing that is certain is that Reds Wine Review will continue!

I can't wait to hear reactions from SoFlo to Ct from NY across the Plains to the Rockies and up in the windy SF, keep em coming Mulligan Nation!

God bless the MulliClan!!!!

laurenashley said...

Wow, that is NOT my mom.


BTW, Red.. I was a sober observer during this little gathering and i can honestly say they more then liked your wine.. or atleast i could tell hahaha..!!

gpe said...

Let me clarify.. I did partake- two glasses- and I did enjoy the second much more then the first. And my commentart did declare that I would pick some up at home.

John Mulligan said...

Party Time! Great Photos!

joyce said...

The Smoking Loon was a nice wine of course we had to pay a few more $$$ for it ,I guess because it's imported from Kaleeeefornia.

It was a fun evening & nice to have Gary visiting for 36 hours.

Anonymous said...

Wow, looks like you all had a great time, kudos to Red,

Brofy pick: "Bud Diesel" aka Budwieser 24 cans for $11.99.. a hearty and semi-harsh retro beer...try some and enjoy...yanks

Anonymous said...

Bud isn't even American anymore!

That's like me puttin a Frenchie wine on the Red Wine Review (Like that'll ever happen)!!!

You can't have an MBA and be bluecoller too...

gpe said...

Sorry Charlie we know the REAL wine expert is in Northern Kaleeefornia and he's overseeing you like teacher to a pupil by letting you run the 101 course on the weekend.

Red said...

CC is the "real" expert, no disputing that...

But his expertise and incredible wine collection, and suggestions, would surely exceed our $10 buck Mulli-limit...

Think of CC's recommendations when your trying to impress the boss, close the big deal or meeting important state officials.

Whereas the Red Review is more for the 1st generation college grad who should probably be working at the factory and who knows he should stop being a beer drinking degenerate but doesn't know how...

And everybody else too...

Anonymous said...

sometimes it's not about how much something costs but the quality. If you really like a product(wine in this case) price doesn't matter.

I hope we have some other tasters out there. Or else I guess it's the Espo's who rule the world!!

Anonymous said...

As they say at work, tru dat!

But if we put expensive, high qulity stuff up there then there will likely be less buy in...

We like it when Mulligan's participate!

Where are the other tasters???

C'mon MulliNation!!!!

Anonymous said...

i agree with the price range you have chosen Chris, so keep the review going.

Look how long it took some of the Mulligans to commit to the family reunion, tasting wine should be an easier task don't ya think?

We are off to the Benmarl Wine & Fall Festival today, in Montgomery, NY. Should be fun!!

gpe said...

The everyday wine choice and price is perfect for us novices..but some holiday recommendations from KCH would be great..

Lets be clear - the exerts judge wine on taste, smell, age points, price..etc..

Red gauges wine on one sole attribute - buzzfactor! Actually its the same criterea the local beer snob in Weston Fl use, coincidence, hmmm?

Anonymous said...

Ok then, KCH gets the Holiday rec's and I get the ones in between... Settled...

I would never reveal my recommendation formula... but, I can assure the wise public that buzzfactor consists of less than 50% or my review process... the fact that almost al of my reviews will be at or near 15%abc is pure mullicoincidence...

Kim Comstock's Hubby said...

Ahhhh… I’m touched and a little scared! I grew up in Modesto, home of Scott Peterson and GALLO WINES! I drank wine from a box growing up. I think the most important thing to remember is that you’re taste in wine is exactly that, YOU’RE taste in wine! Always remember that you don’t have to like a wine because it scored high, but there’s gonna be some that do stand out to a lot of folks. That being said, I love the Smoking Loon for all the reasons Red mentioned is his original post, especially the bang for the buck.

My favorite well priced wine is Bogle Petite Syrah. It’s a dark purple wine that always tastes good to me. Also, Cline Vineyards holds a special place in my heart for many reasons and they have a decent wine under 10 bux. A few more Safeway wines I like to drink are Pepperwood, Dancing Bull, Gnarly Head, and for the whites: I still love Fetzer which is the cheapest out there, and check out Century Cellars BV for their whites.

Personally, I love a good beer and consider myself a beer snob above all else. Right now, Lagunitas IPA is my favorite. Does it count that they are in wine country?

Any visitors we get we take wine tasting for fun hint hint hint!!! So if you come out here and taste with us, remember… It should be fun and you should enjoy it! If the server is any bit “snobbish” to us, we’ll simply turn around and walk out. There’s way too many wineries to put up with that and we’re paying their bills! I’ll try to buy a few to taste again and put up a post…

Anonymous said...

Good stuff. Can't wait for the posts!

As a past visitor to the Comstock Inn I can vouch for the excellent and extensive winery tour options available. And as one up and coming wine enthusiast I intend to obtain and sample those you just mentioned as well, even the beer.

Keep on bloggin...

Any other tasters out there????

joyce said...

when is the next wine pic coming?

tonight i made my own spaghetti sauce & I added 1/4 cup of the Smoking Loon wine to it. It gave the sauce a nice rich flavor.

gpe said...

JAD..I think KCH just gave you 3 or 4!!

Ultimately I think Chris is right it comes down to individual taste.. I like the wine suggestions b/c I'll tell you I walk the wine aisle at the local store and my head spins..sp instead of closing my eyes and pickin its good to learn from those willing to knock off a bottle or two a night and then report back to the rest of us... So heres to you, Kalifphorniaa wine sippin beer slurpin guys!!!

joyce said...

Yes GPE, KCH has listed a bunch of wines that he likes but this is supposed to be one wine at a time, & everyone trying the same wine then commenting on it.. It won't be a wine review if we are all tasting different brands, am I making any sense here? I'm confusing myself...all I was asking was is red's review once a month or once a week? And if the two Chris's want to switch back & forth that is fine too.
just my opinion.

Anonymous said...

Good feedback JAD and you are right one at a time and in detail is best. I am going to post one review from every other week to once a month pending on how things go...

I'll get one up this weekend or sooner...

KCH and I haven't planned any schedule but we'll see how it goes...

Your also right the idea is to have time in between the posts in order to let the MulliNation obtain the grapes and enjoy them, then respond in an reasonable time period so we can hear the differing opinions...

It only works when we all participate, you can't tell me the Espo's are the only wine enthusiasts out in MulliNation?????

Anonymous said...

Also, remember JAD the idea of the wine tasting post is just a template. Me and KCH are doing this topic, hopefully on a regular basis. But others, meaning YOU YOU and YOU, should also be developing regular posts on selected subjects or hobbies that one enjoys... For example, HD making cakes or other culinary items would be a great idea or KCM doing a weekly "gripe" post about all that is wrong with the world...

Any topic from anyone is welcome and encouraged, it would be very cool to see all of our varying talents and opinions...

Lets raise the blogg up to the next level!!!!

Wake Up Mulli-People!!!!!!!!

joyce said...

very well pt Chris this really can be a lot of fun.

awhile back big Scott suggested pet posts so come on mulligan clan it doesn't take much to participate.

Anonymous said...

Scott?

Does he even have a computer anymore????

He SWM did you fall off of the Mulli-globe or whaaaaatttt??????

Start postin and ramblin you quintessential beer snob!!!!