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Juana’s Salsa

Michael Blakeley — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:35:59 +0000

This is a classic tomatillo salsa. Don’t be afraid to add a little water: if you skip that, it can set up like cement.

10 dried japanese chiles
15 tomatillos
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp salt

Husk and rinse tomatillos, and simmer in a medium saucepan filled with water. Toast the chiles in a dry skillet until they become aromatic, tossing occasionally. Rinse the chiles and put them in a blender with the garlic and salt, adding just enough water to cover. Puree, then add the tomatillos and blend again, adding more water if the salsa is too thick.

Chill and serve. It’s good with chips, or tamales, or tacos, or a spoon.

Storybook 1982-87

Michael Blakeley — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:00:14 +0000

The wines were a mix of Estate and Napa grapes, all 100% Zinfandel.
Notes are mine, and sometimes I disagreed with the group ranking.

1987 Estate Reserve (13.5%): group rank 1;
cedar-box nose, still has good tannic structure and a long finish.
1984 Estate Reserve (13.5%): group rank 3;
rich and brambly.
1985 Napa (13.5%): group rank 7;
seemed off to me, with a musty mocha character.
1983 Estate Reserve (13.5%): group rank 5;
good minerality and some typical Zinfandel raisins.
1985 Estate Reserve (13.5%): group rank 6;
some bottle-stink, which diminished with time.
1982 Estate Reserve (13.5%): group rank 2;
some bottle-stink at first.
1987 Napa (13.5%): group rank 4;
seemed to be drying out early, but still rewarding.

Grenache

Michael Blakeley — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:24:47 +0000

1999 Bethany, Barossa-McLaren Vale (14.5%). Showed vanillin, pepper, and robust tannins. Group score 13.
2000 Bethany, Barossa-McLaren Vale (14.0%). Some orange in the color, indicating oxidation. Shows strawberries and peppery tannins, but they don’t linger in the glass. Group score 27.
1999 T-Vine, Napa Valley (15.4%). Cloudy, with eucalyptus in the nose, leading me to pick this as an Australian. Group score 20.
2000 T-Vine, Napa Valley (14.4%). Fleshy texture, cedar-box, and somewhat hot. Group score 18.
1999 Cedarville, El Dorado (14.5%). Showed vanillin and some light fruit, marred by vegetal notes. Group score 23.
2000 Cedarville, El Dorado (15.5%). Showed some pleasing strawberry and soft tannins, but fell apart into rubbery aromas as the wine opened up. Group score 25.