Dirty South Wine

Two Years Ago Today-- Wine, Social Media, Love, and Dreams

Wow.  Two years ago today I sat on a conference call that I'd been waiting for for months-  Though semi-fluffy, the message was clear-- If you are on this call you no longer have a job.  What wasn't said, or even implied,  was if you are on this call, we are giving you back your life, handing you back your dreams, and giving you the chance to make anything happen- all free from the restraints of having a "job".

The thought of being totally ferked never entered my mind.  I had the joy and pain of knowing what I wanted to do (for years), but was mentally and financially lashed to the mast of a work-- not my work, but the stuff that you do because you think you should.

What happened next is pretty well chronicled-  7 months of non-stop hustle, amazing love and support and encouragement of friends, family (more than they will ever know), old-coworkers and clients, media - social and traditional, and what felt to be the entire great city of Atlanta.

This week, my friends and long-term supporters at Vintank asked for a brief "Where are They Now?" type of email. 

To the world at large, my mug and presence has been less present.  But sometimes it isn't about spreading the message- It is about creating something you love that others might share.

The link below to the Vintank post covers what I've been doing in the days post Murphy-Goode, and most importantly "why". 

I got here out of love and wonder.  Following that dream is the best thanks I can give- A dream that started with a love of real, soulful, wine.  Made by a place and the people that love it.

Post Murphy-Goode, I've never been happier.  It is an amazing feeling to stand in the light of what you were meant to be.  I owe everyone sincere gratitude.

Thanks Vintank for the amazing post.

Enjoying the Blur: A Burning Goose of Funky Juice

The Interim:  This week back in Atlanta has been 2 parts scrambling to tie up loose ends, and 1 part the bacchanalian equivalent of the human cannonball.

I've been extremely fortunate to get together with some great friends in Atlanta, open many ridiculous bottles, and wake up with cold sweats every other night.

 

Woodfire Grill

Chef Kevin Gillespie is on another planet-- Rockin; the pure Dirty South flavor.  7 of us camped out and were blown away by his cuisine.  (Catch ATL's Kevin, Eli, and Hector on Top Chef 6 starting on 8/19.)  Kevin, Bernard and Nick run a hell of a restaurant and this place is really like home.

With a ridiculous amount of bottles, I'm often amazed at how the seemingly simple bottles shine...  In a line up of all-stars, the 2006 Foillard Morgon "Cote de Py" (Cru Beaujolais aka Cru-Boo) delivered an anvil of justice (who doesn't need more anvils of justice???) when paired with Woodfire's pork rib.  The Foillard totally drives me wild. Floral, tart, acidic, and just sexy.

Chez Dirty: Pizza Pahty!

Delivery pizza and poppin' funky bottles.  Chadd dealing with an overdose of brett (this wine smelled like chicken poop).  A little can add a touch o' funk-- But a lot is like eating a plate of nachos on hot day at the petting zoo. 

Tasty "The Mother-Funky'" China!!!!!!

In what has become a staple of the Atlanta wine scene, Tasty China is the playground for juice greatness.  No corkage fee (but bring your stems and cork screws) and crazy Sichauan food... This is where weird bottles come to shine.  Late harvest Condrieu, 1975 Napa Riesling (???), and a bevy of light reds-- pairing insanely well with Sichuan Beef Tongue, pork belly, tofu, and whatever seemed to be dropped in front of us.

The world is spinning quickly-- Grab some bottles, a couple of friends, sit down for a meal, and be happy. 

(Photos courtesy of Rowdy Food)

Flashlight Fried Chicken, Biodynamic Gamay, and Freaky Grilled Quail

(Grilled Quail, and 2007 Clos Roche Blanche Gamay)


(Szechuan "Nashville Hot Chicken" and 2001 Dirler Riesling)
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The Birds were fried outside by flashlight so as not to fill the kitchen with that dirty south, fry-stank. 

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Grilled quails served up first (in daylight) and were paired with the Gamay.

2007 Clos Roche Blanche Gamay
(France, Loire Valley, Touraine)  $15-$20.  Louis Dressner Import
Clean, mean, and delivers, cranberry, raspberry, pepper, and earth.  This wine needs to open up (60+min), but when it does, textbook delicious.  Someone please distribute this in GA!

Though a light bodied wine, this was actually too big for the quail, and we swapped it out for some white Burgundy.  This stuff is the pure goodness...

2006 Henri Perrusset Macon Villages
(France, Burgundy, Maconnais, Macon-Villages) Chardonnay, $15-$20, Kermit Lynch Import
Straight up citrus and tree fruit-  full bodied, like a dose of unsweet lemon candy, and a slightly bitter finish. 

The finish was a bit off kilter at first, but once opened (45min) this rounded out really nice.  It killed it with the Quail- Just enough acid, and fruit, not overpowered by the grilled parts, and good quaffin' while eatin' on a hot porch.

With the spicy, fried birds we needed some residual sugar and acid to work with the heat--

2001 Dirler-Cade Riesling Kessler
(France, Alsace, Guebwiller, Alsace Grand Cru AOC)  Riesling.  Approx $40, Robert Chadderdon Selections.)
Nose of mango, rock, and diesel.  Full bodied, rockin' acids, and a long finish.  I like this stuff a lot.   A lot. A lot.

This rocks with the chicken, straight up.

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A great night with killer food and wine, in the dirty south!

(Huge thanks to Chez Rowdy for doing the cooking, and taking the sick pics!)

Wine Deals at Woodfire, the WSJ, and a James Beard Nomination

Woodfire Grill in Atlanta has had a great week--  Coverage in the Wall Street Journal and a James Beard nomination for "Rising Star Chef of the Year" for their chef Kevin Gillespie.

I'm extremely happy for this team.  Nick, Bernard and Kevin are young, busting their backs, and completely going for it in the hardest possible times.

As an awesome restaurant promotion, they  run a "1/2 off wine" special every Thursday night.  This is on ALL wines, including wines by the glass!  For wine and food lovers-  this is a steal.

With my family in ATL for the weekend, we sat down for an amazing meal at Woodfire.  We chose Kevin's 5 course pairing and I can easily say that it was one of my top meals in Atlanta- EVER.  At some moments we all looked around and exclaimed perfection.  Momma Dirty and Poppa Dirty are tough to win over...  They were won over big time.

Nick selected two bottles for our meal-- 
2001 Helfrich Gewürztraminer  Steinklotz
(France, Alsace, Marlenheim, Alsace Grand Cru)

and

2006 Perrin & Fils Gigondas "La Gille"
(France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas)

Both paired really really well with our courses-

Scallop with Apple Bacon Compote, Striped Bass with Beets and Mushrooms


Duck and Sweet Potato Puree, and Pork Perfection.

The Gewurz with the Scallop was amazing.  Just a touch of residual sugar on the wine, great acidity, and a texture that truly complimented the perfectly cooked scallop.  Killer with the Striped Bass as well!  The key here-- restraint.  It isn't that Kevin is holding back (I think he's rocking!), but the food is not overdone, over-seasoned, and he knows when to get out of its way.  Nick's wine pairing worked the same way- complimentary, elegant, and nothing overpowering.

Then the jiggy-jiggy Gigondas-  Smokey, a touch of dust, and some light cherry.  Normally, I would have picked a Burgundy for the duck, but Nick was enthusiastic that this would work--  It was excellent. Like the scallop, perfect restraint-  The smoke and pepper, the acid and meat, the medium tannins working with the duck's fat.....  YO!!!!  Then the pork-  perfectly grilled, medium-rare, and also hearty enough to work with the Gigondas...

These guys are truly worthy of their press.  For locals, their Thursday deal is a no brainer and works in the bar as well.  We are really happy to see this crew kickin some serious a*#!

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For a closer look at Woodfire Grill, check out
their entry in the 2008 Riding Dirty Atlanta Wine Pairing Challenge
where they were awarded "Best Dish".

(Photo Courtesy of Smylie at Savory Exposure)

Dirty South Fine Dining- Popeye's Chicken, Grand Cru Riesling, and 1er Cru Burgundy

With Lady Dirty still out of town, Rowdy enlisted The Falcon and I in some serious shenanigans...  And shenanigans always seem to start or end with Popeye's Fried Chicken.

Popeye's Fried Chicken and Wine on 12seconds.tv

With the chicken in full effect we opened three of Rowdy's bottles.

2004 Meyer-Fonné Muscat
(France, Alsace, Katzenthal, Alsace AOC)  Muscat.  Available at Wine Gallery & Market.  Under $20. Kermit Lynch Import

Light yellow in color.  A provocative nose full of rosewater, a little Basmati rice, and exotic fruits.  Medium bodied, with a touch  of residual sugar.  More fruit and heavy rock on the palate.  A tight, hard, rocky back palate, and an acidic semi-bitter finish.

At first, this wine was almost too hard.  Imagine eating a stick of incense.  The smell and the taste don't match up. But better than eating incense sticks, the change between nose and palate was more puzzling and curious.  After being opened for about an hour, this  loosened up- and became fairly delightful.  Still heavy on the rock and a touch bitter.  This is nice wine for an apertif.

2001 Dirler-Cade Riesling Kessler

(France, Alsace, Guebwiller, Alsace Grand Cru AOC)  Riesling.  Approx $42 at Sherlock's / J. Sanders.  Robert Chadderdon Selections.

Gold with a banana colored core.  A deep nose of petrol, mango, oil.  Rich and full bodied, some light residual sugar, lots of stone, balanced acidity, and a high toned, bright finish. 

This is sick.  I dropped a lot of F-Bombs drinking this.  $42 is not cheap, but this drinks better than its price, and is fairly mature.  It does lack a little fruit on the nose, but the depth and richness of this sucker is intoxicating.  This rocked da haus with the spicy fried chicken...

2002 Jolièt Pere et Fils Fixin 1er Cru Clos de la Perrière

(France, Burgundy, Côtes de Nuits, Fixin 1er Cru) Pinot Noir.  Under $30 at Sherlock's / J. Sanders.

Dark ruby colored.  Cherries and a touch of barnyard (but not a hot day at the petting zoo) on the nose.  Incredible texture.  Silky and delicate, bright cherry and earth without being heavy, nice acids, and still some hard tannins. 

After our first tastes, we ran this wine through a Vinturi aerator (nicknamed by Rowdy the "Vitilator") and dropped it in the decanter.  This was our first experience with the aerator, and though not a wine gadget fan-  I dig the "vitilator"!  It basically puts more air in contact with your wine as it is being poured.  Could the same results be had with a decanter, or leaving the wine in your glass?  I'm sure.  This just does the aeration part faster (and through vitilation!).

After being vitilated, the finish on the wine was much smoother, and this became a killer value for those wanting semi-mature Burgundy at a decent price.  Not profound juice, just good value.

Fixin 1er Cru and the Vitilator on 12seconds.tv

Next Post: Part II  More Chicken, High End (maybe just expensive) US Sparkling Wine, Pappy Van Winkle 23 yr Bourbon, and the return of the Vitilator!!!!

3 Great things-- Burgundy, Dynamic Dish, and Tasty China!

 

After waiting five hours to vote last Friday, I needed to unwind. I grabbed a half bottle of 20th Century Burgundy and had a wind down night at Dynamic Dish.

1999 Mommessin Beaune 1er Cru Clos du Roi 

(France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru)

This was an ultra-relaxing bottle- Nothing screaming, nothing sharp, just medium cherry-colored goodness.  Earthy, with some truffle and a puff of mixed berry yogurt (who doesn't need a puff of that?!).  Thin and silky on the the palate, with just enough acid that asks for food-  This isn't crazy complex, but for the ridiculously low $20 I paid (on closeout), it is made me as happy as I could be.  

I actually split this bottle over two nights at two of Atlanta's best BYO restaurants- Tasty China and Dynamic Dish.

Though not cut out for Tasty China's most fiery dishes, this wine worked great with their Black Pepper Beef, and some sort of Chicken and Mushroom dish.

Without time for full write ups-  Two of the other wines we opened at Tasty China (thanks Peter & Sil!) were both very good and worth seeking out (I don't know where either are available in ATL)

2004 Domaine Weinbach Gewürztraminer Altenbourg Cuvée Laurence

(France, Alsace, Kientzheim & Sigolsheim, Alsace AOC)

A SPECTACULAR off-dry Gewurz that screams for the heat of Tasty China.  This wine deserves its own post....  So much aroma, a nose like "a maze of twisty little passages".  Domaine Weinbach is a favorite.  

2005 Bodega Catena Zapata Chardonnay Alta

(Argentina, Mendoza)

I haven't had a lot of great Argentina white wines, many good little chuggers, but nothing that really said "yo!"  This was different-  Initially, tight on the nose with just a punch of fruit and oak.  We all said "eh?"-  After about 15min in the glass, this became a rich, buttery, glass of interesting fruit, rocks, and yeast.  A nice tweener of CA Chard and Burgundy.  I'd love to put this in a blind tasting.

On another note-  A few people have been asking about the birds at the Dirty South Wine Bird Sanctuary.  Here is a quick clip from some early AM activity on Sun.

Dirty South Wine- New Video: October FUNKS

Dirty South Wine October Funks!!!

Gewurztraminer's Message From Outer Space

Sweet goddess of all that is Waffle House!!!!  This smells great!  It smells better than great- It smells like space aliens are trying to directly communicate their intergalactic messages of peace and ease via our sense of smell.

2005 Andre Scherer Gewürztraminer

(France, Alsace, Haut-Rhin, Alsace AOC)  Approx $20 at Ansley Kroger.

Pale yellow.  Insanely heady with freak-show aromatics.  Deeply floral, rosey,lime- and a whole kaleidoscope of stuff that I can only describe as Gewurzt- It smells illegal...  Rich on the palate with a little residual sugar, and then a bit of an unnerving, semi-bitter, mineral laced finish.  

Well, Gawt Damb!....  One of the best noses I've had on any bottle this year.  The finish may not be for everyone, but I think this and a bit of Alsace Muenster could become a new street drug...

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We had this and a few other bottles at Dynamic Dave's.  Fall ingredients are coming into swing, hot soups are back on the menu, and there is no place in ATL that I'd rather eat.

Also, the not quite outstanding Cru Beaujolais we had (back L of photo) had a nose that Lady Dirty could only describe a "Television Set".

Max Romeo- I Chase The Devil