R&R

Hat Trick

A good birthday weekend would not be complete without friends, food and tasty tipples. Saturday we hit the jackpot with these three ringers: 2008 Pey-Marin "the Shell Mound" Riesling which shined through dry, steely and citrusy, the 2005 Ridge York Creek Zinfandel bursting with vibrant dark fruit and tannins that say "I'm drinkable now, but I'll be smokin' in 10 years and a bottle of 1989 Anderson's Conn Creek Vineyard Napa Valley Pinot Noir which stole the show. The nose might have smelled a bit overripe what the body spoke of a busty 50 year old diva. Mouths dropped. And to think this wine was made when I was 8 years old! But honestly Pinot Noir didn't have shit on Thundercats back then.

Tramping at Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve

Sunday was slow and groggy, but an open faced over easy egg sandwhich on a bed of fresh arugula quickly changed our tune. Oh the sweet sizzle of greasy eggs and Sir Mixalot's seminal "Baby Got Back" music video was music to my ears. In the words of the Seattle rapper gone MIA "Side bends and crunches are o.k. but please girl don't lose that butt."

In the afternoon we explored the coastal redwood in Armstrong Reserve. Here 'lil Jan Jan looks out over the winding Russian River Valley as it snakes to the coast.