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Staff Favorites - Bryan Brick
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2012 Chateau St. Jean Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 12-01-2015
Chateau St. Jean. Surely a classic name in California wine but not necessarily one that elicits oohs and ahhs from the wine intelligentsia over the last decade. That being known to me when I tasted the 2012 Alexander Valley Cabernet, I'd have to say that I was completely, shocked, blown away, floored and whatever other preferred adjectives you want to insert here, by the wine. In fact, I'd say it is in my top 5 values of the year regardless of place or varietal. Yes it is that good.
Leather and cedar intermingle on the nose leading to a warm-hued and familiar fruit and spice mélange that is about as textbooks as it gets for Cabernet: cassis, black olive, sandalwood, tobacco, leather, bay leaf and black tea. This wine certainly has plenty of fruit, oak, texture and tannin, but where it really shines is how all those pieces perfectly mesh together. "Harmonious" is the word I used in my notes to summarize this wine originally, and tasting it again recently I really couldn't think of a better descriptor for it. Perfectly drinkable now, this has a firmness of tannin and a wealth of fruit that should keep it vital for the next 6-12 years.
Leather and cedar intermingle on the nose leading to a warm-hued and familiar fruit and spice mélange that is about as textbooks as it gets for Cabernet: cassis, black olive, sandalwood, tobacco, leather, bay leaf and black tea. This wine certainly has plenty of fruit, oak, texture and tannin, but where it really shines is how all those pieces perfectly mesh together. "Harmonious" is the word I used in my notes to summarize this wine originally, and tasting it again recently I really couldn't think of a better descriptor for it. Perfectly drinkable now, this has a firmness of tannin and a wealth of fruit that should keep it vital for the next 6-12 years.
Price: $23.99
2013 Hahn Estates Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
Review Date: 12-01-2015
$20 Pinot Noirs are rare these days, with the grapes themselves and the materials to make them "right" costing too much to have a twomp pencil out in the ledgers and still be able to keep the lights on. However, you still see them everywhere: mass produced and not tasting so much like the varietal on the label, so we are always apprehensive about the quality before we taste them. So on the rare occasion that we find one that is not only affordable, varietally and regionally correct and critically acclaimed, the only thing we can do is back up the trucks and shout from the heavens, or at least our e-mail platform, "BUY THIS, BUY THIS NOW!"
The Hahn label is not unfamiliar to K&L: the preceding vintage did extremely well in our wine club and had people coming back for more. The 2013 is possibly better, with more crystalline fruit and underlying savor. With pure cherry, cocoa powder, beef au jus and flowering fennel on the nose, this comes off as a bit prettier than many of the over-masculine Santa Lucia Highlands Pinots. But never fret: for fans of SLH, or "Big" Pinots, this has plenty to keep you coming back for another glass. Muscular, especially for a PN in this price point, this comes in with more red fruits, cranberry, allspice, sagebrush, sassafras and ash. Open and large-scaled at the same time, the finish resonates with savory, bloody underpinnings over pure bass-toned red fruits. We just can't get over how good this is.
The Hahn label is not unfamiliar to K&L: the preceding vintage did extremely well in our wine club and had people coming back for more. The 2013 is possibly better, with more crystalline fruit and underlying savor. With pure cherry, cocoa powder, beef au jus and flowering fennel on the nose, this comes off as a bit prettier than many of the over-masculine Santa Lucia Highlands Pinots. But never fret: for fans of SLH, or "Big" Pinots, this has plenty to keep you coming back for another glass. Muscular, especially for a PN in this price point, this comes in with more red fruits, cranberry, allspice, sagebrush, sassafras and ash. Open and large-scaled at the same time, the finish resonates with savory, bloody underpinnings over pure bass-toned red fruits. We just can't get over how good this is.
Price: $19.99
2013 Gary Farrell "Russian River Selection" Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Review Date: 11-24-2015
A few years back when Gary Farrell sold his winery we were all pretty bummed out. We thought, "Well there goes another iconic name down the drain." Honestly time told us we were wrong. Why they may have had some growing pains when Gary finally left in 2007, the last few years the wines have been tremendous, especially since Theresa Heredia (Joseph Phelps, Freestone, Domaine de Montille ) became their full time winemaker in 2012. Since she has taken over we have been incredibly impressed with how the wines are at once delicate and powerful, fruity yet serious and ripe but fully dry. The 2013 Russian River Selection had plenty to offer and wildly overshot its $37.99 price point. In fact I've tasted plenty of $60 pinots this year that couldn't hold a candle to this wine. Anise laced cherry fruit, wet red clay, boysenberry, white pepper and a touch of mocha combine on the wonderfully complex and powerful nose. Pliable and soft on entry with an expanse mouth feel this has both tons of fruit but also a skyscraper-like structure. Red and black berry fruits combine with well meshed oak toast, some bay leaf and an acid structure that is reminiscent of fresh farmer's market persimmons. Blood orange, rhubarb, savory meaty qualities, and a return of the anise found on the nose squeeze into the packed and lovely finish. I'd love to see how this develops over the next 6-10 years; this will only grow into something even more special than it already is.
Price: $37.99
2014 Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc
Review Date: 11-24-2015
"Partyrific!" That is what I thought when I first tried the 2014 Pomelo Sauvignon Blanc. We've carried this wine forever, and year after year it comes to us and proves that it is one of the most rock solid $10 wines in the marketplace, regardless of varietal or region. The only difference this year is that Wine Spectator finally caught onto this little wine and gave it a 90 point score. We couldn't believe it. Then just last week, when the Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2015 dropped, we were pleasantly surprised that it made the list at #40! Easily the least expensive wine on the list—we fought to secure as much as we can so we could pass this tremendous deal to you, our wonderful customers. With a surprisingly complex nose of talc, grapefruit, chalk and lemon curd, this wine over-delivers from the start. Fleshy and textural, with some noticeable lees-y richness, this wine will keep the masses happy with an overall nature that's kind of like a lemon meringue pie: both snappy and confectionary at the same time. Soft, pliable and full of tangy lemon thyme, orange peel, wet stone, pie crust and a long savory finish, this is one hell of a $10 bottle of wine.
Price: $9.99
2013 Orin Swift "Mannequin" California Chardonnay
Review Date: 11-17-2015
Since the late '90s Dave Phinney has been chugging out wine after wine under the brand Orin Swift. Probably the most popular of these wines is The Prisoner which began as a delicious affordable red full of top-notch Zinfandel and other mixed red varietals. Then a flurry of wines came: Mercury Head, Papillon, Saldo, Veladora. Heck, even some outrageous imports came down the pipeline from Spain and Southern France. Mannequin, for me, was one of the wines he made that always got lost in the shuffle. It just never seemed to have much in the way of personality or character. The 2013 vintage changed everything. Robust, fleshy, tropical and intense, this wine is fantastic for fans of big, rich, weighty whites. With a nose packed full of vanilla bean and orange 50-50 bars, this is a boisterous and flamboyant wine that has rich oak lacing and the exotic spices and fruit from the small amounts of Rhone varietals mixed in to the dominant component, Chardonnay. If you've ever liked one of Dave's many wines, or super rich Chardonnay, this is not to be missed.
Price: $29.99
2013 Spellbound California Petite Sirah
Review Date: 10-22-2015
Over the last couple of years we've been selling box after box of the Spellbound Chardonnay to our customers, with great results. This brand, a part of the Michael Mondavi empire and made by Robert Mondavi Jr, is sourced from throughout the state of California and truly over-delivers on its price point. The winery came to us recently with its Petite Sirah, and we were floored by how good it was for way under $15. Typical for Petite Sirah in its density, brooding dark fruit and Amaro-like spice, this was as good as most of the $20-35 wines from this varietal on the market today. Plush and velvety on the palate with juicy wild berry, new leather, sweet licorice, unsweetened cocoa powder and surprisingly soft, but ever-present tannins, this is completely ready to drink right away. With the holiday season right around the corner, this would be a great candidate to stock up on for both planned and unplanned parties we are all sure to be a part of.
Price: $11.99
2012 Dunn Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 10-14-2015
There are not many wines coming out of Napa these days that have stayed as true to their roots as Dunn Cabernet. While the ripeness of the 2012 vintage certainly shows up here in the enjoyable baby fat and rare upfront openness, this is still quintessential Dunn. One will realize quickly that the savory, mountain-like flavors are all still present and accounted for. Stratified flavors of porcini mushrooms, spearmint, fried sage, blackberry, hot asphalt and spice cake are at once intriguing and comfortable, certainly familiar to longtime Dunn fans. Backed by the trademark tannins of the winery, this is a wine perfectly suited for the cellar as per usual, but more open young than I can ever recall.
Price: $89.99
2012 Ancient Peaks Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 10-06-2015
I've maintained that for the last 4-5 years, Ancient Peaks is making the best series of value-driven wines in California. Their Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon are all market leaders in super high-quality wines, all for under $15. In fact, I think they may be one of the few producers, if not the only one, that uses 100% estate fruit in all of the above wines. Speaking of their vineyards in Paso Robles, they are truly something to behold, if you ever get down that way. But if you can't I'd implore you to try a bottle of their Cab. I truly believe that if you like the bolder, more extracted style of the varietal, there is no better wine out there for the cost. With a fleshy and oak-laden nose full of black currant, olive, sandalwood, cassis liquor and a touch of fresh sage, this is one wildly complex nose for such an inexpensive wine. Bold and mouth-filling, this Cab has all the bells and whistles, with sweet-tinged blackberry fruit slathered over the top of a nice core of pencil shavings and gravel. Large in scope and full in body, you just can't beat this Cab!
Price: $13.99
2014 Talley/K&L Wine Merchants Edna Valley Chardonnay
Review Date: 10-02-2015
With a nose full of peach pit, lime flesh, brioche and wet clay aromas, this comes soaring out of the glass the instant it is poured. Fleshy and round on the palate but with consistent cut and verve throughout this is a medium-weighted Chardonnay that punches higher than its weight class. With rich laces of leesy bread dough, structural oak and a wealth of lemon curd, apricot, sea foam flavors this is one delicious Chardonnay. Long and fleshy in the finish with a recurrence of the coastal energy found on the palate. I couldn't think of a better Chard we have at this price point.
Price: $24.99
2013 Beckmen "Cuvée Le Bec" Santa Ynez Rhône Blend
Review Date: 09-30-2015
As soon as I tasted the 2013 Beckmen "Cuvee Le Bec" I declared it the best Rhone Blend we had in the shop under $20, including wines from the Rhone. With the internationalization of the wines from the south of Rhone and the rising costs of wine all over the world, somehow this sneaks in at a tremendous value and still remains completely true to its parent varietals. Outrageous aromatics of whole black peppercorns, anisette, fennel, cured pork and wild berry fill the alluring nose. Juicy and full in the mouth, this is a ton of wine and is completely accessible currently. Full of blueberry, white pepper, crispy bacon, sage, chaparral and crushed stone the ripeness here is perfectly suited to keep the gamier, earthier flavors in check. I think I found my new go-to value wine!
Price: $16.99
2010 Clendenen "Le Bon Climat" Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
Review Date: 09-29-2015
The Clendenen Family Vineyards wines are probably new to most of our customers however they may be familiar to many in one aspect: the winemaker. For 35+ years Jim Clendenen has made the tremendous wines at Au Bon Climat, long focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Out of that love for making wine he began a side label where he could make wines with his children, Isabelle and Knox, all from vineyards that were planted for Jim specifically. The results are stunning wines that are similar to the Au Bon Climat wines in style but have personalities all their own. The 2010 Clendenen "Le Bon Climat" Pinot Noir is a wine that should please Burgundy fans and California Pinot lovers alike. With a deep set nose of sandalwood, muddled cherries, wet asphalt and cola this is at the same time effusively fruity and darkly earthy. Mid-weighted and savory on entry this wine has layers of sassafras, nutmeg and black tea mesh seamlessly into the pitchy fruit tones of wild strawberry, cranberry and black cherry. Certainly more savory than sweet this is a complex, layered and contemplative wine that should be used at the table rather than as a cocktail. At a great place to drink currently this would be great as a Thanksgiving dinner wine.
Price: $39.99
2010 Clendenen "Le Bon Climat" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay
Review Date: 09-29-2015
The Clendenen Family Vineyards wines are probably new to most of our customers however they may be familiar to many in one aspect: the winemaker. For 35+ years Jim Clendenen has made the tremendous wines at Au Bon Climat, long focusing on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Out of that love for making wine he began a side label where he could make wines with his children, Isabelle and Knox, all from vineyards that were planted for Jim specifically. The results are stunning wines that are similar to the Au Bon Climat wines in style but have personalities all their own. The 2010 Clendenen "Le Bon Climat" Chardonnay is a powerfully rich and stunning wine coming from certified organic grapes, barrel fermented and aged in 100% new French oak, sur lie for 24 months. With its crushed rock, gun flint and dried apricot aromatics and layered flavors of silica, baked apple and lemon curd wrapped tight in perfectly toasty oak this is full scale Chardonnay. However big, this wine keeps its energy and verve through with a resonating and oily finish. Truly a wine for fans of big, yet balanced Chardonnays, think ripe vintage Meursault.
Price: $29.99
2013 Dry Creek Vineyard "Heritage Vines" Sonoma County Zinfandel
Review Date: 09-22-2015
There are very few varietals that can give you as much sheer drinking pleasure as Zinfandel. When made right it has a perfect blend of fruit, spice, tannin and heft all for a comparatively low cost. The 2013 Dry Creek Vineyard "Heritage Vines" Zinfandel is a spot on example of quality and affordability all in the same bottle. From younger vines that were grafted from old parent material the idea here was to make a wine that had "old vine" character but without all the farming and yield issues of old Zinfandel vines. Airy and bright on the nose this wine is packed with white pepper and blueberry aromatics that are very appealing and rare to see in Zinfandels under $20. Ripe and bordering on the jammy edge of Zin this is packed with fun and accessible berry fruits, a plush core of chocolate covered cherries and more velvety tannins than you'd first expect for an affordable Zinfandel. This is a perfect mid-week wine, versatile, over delivers and is never a mental exercise. It gives you what it has and there is plenty of goodness to give.
Price: $15.99
2012 Qupé "Bien Nacido Reserve-Block Eleven" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay
Review Date: 09-09-2015
Bob Lindquist has put his heart and soul into the Qupé wines for the last 30+ years, and while his winery has long been known for their category-leading work with Syrah and other Rhone varietals in California, many still don't know just how good the Chardonnays are from him. The 2012 Qupé "Bien Nacido Reserve-Block Eleven" Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay is one of the best, and friendliest, I've ever tasted from Qupé. From a block of the Bien Nacido vineyard planted in 1997 exclusively for Qupé this 100% Barrel Fermented and fully Malolactic Chardonnay is one rich wine, yet still manages to feel bright and high toned throughout. Oak toast dominates the nose and play nicely with other aromas like toasted coconut, pie crust, green tea and vanilla custard. Fleshy and full weighted, this has lovely baked apple, marshmallow and treacle notes with a perfectly creamy mouth feel. If you like your Chardonnay "big" we think you'll love this. However the truly special thing about this wine is that people that typically don't like the "bigger is better" approach find themselves liking this wine as well. The key here is the retention of natural acidity that keeps the wine lifted and focused and adds a nice citrus driven cut to the wine that you rarely see in wines of this style. I like to think of this as a perfect middle-ground Chard that has a little something that everyone will like.
Price: $24.99
2013 Rutherford Ranch "Rhiannon" Red Blend
Review Date: 09-09-2015
Last year we sold a ton of the '12 Rhiannon out of nowhere, sure it got a nice score from Parker, but it really had a life of its own. I don't think half of the employees here even got a chance to taste the wine it came and went so fast. Now the 2013 just landed, just received another fantastic score from Parker, and we expect it will sell like crazy too! This kitchen sink blend of 49% Syrah, 38% Petite Sirah and 13% Barbera is wildly crowd pleasing with gobs of sweet tinged oak and juicy mid weighted fruit. Add distinct flavors of bacon, cola spice, mocha and caramel and this is a packed wine for just over $10. Any fan of wines like Prisoner or Meiomi should absolutely love this
Price: $10.99
2013 Melville "Estate" Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay
Review Date: 09-09-2015
We've supported the Melville wines for quite some time here at K&L, in fact our history with the brand dates back to the 2000 vintage which was the second year they made wines from the Estate. For the last 16 years they have consistently produced some of the most delicious and affordable wines from the Santa Rita Hills, heck, they helped put Santa Rita Hills on the map! The 2013 vintage set up well for the winery and they produced a myriad of fantastic wines numerous of which you'll see from us in the upcoming weeks. The first of which is the 2013 Melville "Estate" Chardonnay. This 100% Barrel Fermented, all in neutral oak, Chardonnay sees no Malolactic fermentation and no lees stirring—real world translation—this is one energetic and zesty Chard that has more in common with a top flight Pouilly Fuisse than a buttery California Chard. The nose is expressive and giving with aromas of baked apples, honeysuckle, and subtle earthy notes like talc and silica. Structured, pretty and focused with great sandy minerality and flavors of apricot flesh, grilled corn and more apple this is a treat to drink and will be a great food wine. Energetic and resonant on the finish there is plenty to love about this old-world influenced Chardonnay.
Price: $23.99
2012 Novelty Hill Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 09-04-2015
While most here in the wine-knowledgeable state of California can get by with a lot of the "local" wineries, I am still shocked at times by the lack of awareness of the great wines coming from the Pacific Northwest. If you asked most people that come into the shops if they have ever heard of or tasted the wines from Novelty Hill, you probably get a resounding "no" from most. Well, here is your chance to get up-to-date about one of Washington State's great, value-driven wineries. This 2012 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon comes mainly from the Stillwater Creek Vineyard, which acts as the estate vineyard, and a few other sites. Carrying plenty of power and certainly over-delivering on the $20 price point, this has sappy notes of oak toast, molasses, tar, black currant and olive on the nose. Plush, mouth-filling and full of soft, velvety tannins throughout, this has plenty of five spice, cocoa powder, crème brulee, Asian plum and a lovely violet highlight on the palate. Complete and fully weighted, this is a ton of wine for the cost and is perfectly placed as crowd-pleasing Cab--just from a different place and in a slightly different style.
Price: $19.99
2012 Ridge "Lytton Springs" Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel
Review Date: 08-17-2015
If you haven't tried the Lytton Springs and Geyserville bottlings by Ridge Vineyards by now you probably have been living under a rock, or on some deserted island somewhere. For decades--the first Geyserville was made in 1966 and first Lytton in 1972--these have been the best zinfandel based wines in the United States. For either instant consumption or long term cellaring few have ever shown as much promise and continuously paid such great dividends. We thought we'd not see any more of this wine having been sold out for some time but, PRESTO, there some was just hanging out in Southern California. So we jumped on whatever we could and are bringing this to you as a "last call." The 2012 Lytton Springs was delicious from the start with a vibrant mix of high toned wild red berry fruit, sassafras, white pepper and streaks of vanilla and coconut flake. A bit more confectionary and lush than the 2013 Geyserville this is a touch more giving right now and is just delicious. However, like all the Ridge wines it will continue to age gracefully. It is about as good as it gets in the current world of Zinfandel.
Price: $39.99
2013 Ridge "Geyserville" Alexander Valley Zinfandel
Review Date: 08-17-2015
If you haven't tried the Lytton Springs and Geyserville bottlings by Ridge Vineyards by now you probably have been living under a rock, or on some deserted island somewhere. For decades--the first Geyserville was made in 1966 and first Lytton in 1972--these have been some of the best Zinfandel-based wines in the United States. For either instant consumption, or long term cellaring, few have ever shown as much consistent promise and continuously paid such great dividends. The 2013 Geyserville is classic and wildly representative of why Geyserville has become so famous. Deep, brooding and darkly fruited, this is a wine that is delicious right now. It has plenty of boysenberry, unsweetened cocoa powder, whole black peppercorns and a broad rich textural feel on the palate. It has that perfect balance between ripe, plush fruit and marked spice, all the while being fully accessible early. The great news is that as good as it is now, this wine is only going to get better with time, and should be a wonderful wine over the next 8-15 years.
Price: $32.99
2013 Varner "Amphitheater Block-Spring Ridge Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
Review Date: 08-03-2015
I'm not scared to say it, and I have many times, out loud, to real people. I think the Varner Chardonnays are some of the best, if not the best, Chardonnays made in the United States. These wines are still way under the radar to most wine fans due to their small production, out of the way location-high in the hills above Portola Valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and stylistic choices. But for all of us lucky enough to have tasted these wines vintage after vintage we can't help but feel this way. The wines are just too good, with pinpoint precision, amazing complexity, and little "wine making" to get in the way of the amazing raw materials they put into each and every bottle they make. The 2013 "Amphitheater Block" stunned me with how fleshed out it was. Typically the Amphitheater is always the most strict, linear, mineral driven wine under the Varner label. However this year there is a pleasing nutty generosity to the nose and a very deep set richness on the palate that just wasn't there in previous vintages. (The Varner's attest this to the vineyard block maturing rather than any changes in the cellar, of which there were none.) Cashew, almond skin, dried apple and nectarine mesh on the complex and intriguing nose. Bright and citrusy on entry with layers of mineral and earth over tangerine, pomelo and lemon pith this has a subtle creaminess and fleshes out with a pretty floral bitterness at its edges.
Price: $47.99
2013 Varner "Bee Block-Spring Ridge Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
Review Date: 08-03-2015
I'm not scared to say it, and I have many times, out loud, to real people. I think the Varner Chardonnays are some of the best, if not the best, Chardonnays made in the United States. These wines are still way under the radar to most wine fans due to their small production, out of the way location-high in the hills above Portola Valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and stylistic choices. But for all of us lucky enough to have tasted these wines vintage after vintage we can't help but feel this way. The wines are just too good, with pinpoint precision, amazing complexity, and little "wine making" to get in the way of the amazing raw materials they put into each and every bottle they make. The 2013 "Bee Block," long the favorite block of most of our local customers, is Bee Block at its finest. I don't know if it is the suggestion of the name, or if the name came from the suggestion, but there is always a honeyed quality to this wine. Never sweet of course but more of an exotic, spiced, ripeness that the other blocks just don't have. Build on top of that aromas of anise seed/fennel, jasmine blossoms, talc and a delicate marzipan note and this is one aromatic wine. The heftiest of the bunch this has layers of rich flavors like crème brulee, peach pit, egg custard and apricot however it never feels flat or blousy. It's quite the contrary one the finish full of Meyer lemon, wet stone and fresh alfalfa rolls around. But never does that honey quality subside and I'm glad it doesn't, it's the true tell of this stunning wine.
Price: $47.99
2013 Varner "Home Block-Spring Ridge Vineyard" Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
Review Date: 08-03-2015
I'm not scared to say it, and I have many times, out loud, to real people. I think the Varner Chardonnays are some of the best, if not the best, Chardonnays made in the United States. These wines are still way under the radar to most wine fans due to their small production, out of the way location high in the hills above Portola Valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and stylistic choices. But for all of us lucky enough to have tasted these wines vintage after vintage we can't help but feel this way. The wines are just too good, with pinpoint precision, amazing complexity, and little "wine making" to get in the way of the amazing raw materials they put into each and every bottle they make. My favorite of the bunch, and certainly a wine worth lying down, is the 2013 Home Block. This wine is not some much about its aromas or flavors, which are all certainly wonderful (chalk, granite, Asian pear, kumquat, saline) but about its intensity and tension. Structure is always hard to write about in wine, and rarely done in white wines, but this wine is all about its frame. The way its parts build on one another to create a wall of flavor, an experience of everything at once yet remaining streamlined and delineated. I'd love to taste this wine in 5, 10 and 15 years to see the life it lives.
Price: $47.99
2013 Joseph Carr Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Review Date: 07-22-2015
Long one of our favorite negociant producers in California Joseph Carr has continuously knocked out fantastic value wines. Some of you may remember their Cabernet Sauvignon from late 2014/early 2015? That was a huge hit with over 300 cases sold. Well we think the 2013 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is the next big hit from this relatively unknown producer. This Chardonnay is barrel fermented, goes through 100% malolactic fermentation and sees around 10% new oak so while it's creamy it never is too over-blown and shows great balance. Aromas of mango, passion fruit and green apple flesh are tied together on the nose by a subtle note of clover honey. Fleshy on entry with ripe orange, more honey and layers of savory oak, mushroom and challah toast this is one delicious Chardonnay. Riding the line between textural and savory this wine comes off much more serious than the price tag would suggest. Maybe that is some of Aaron Pott's pedigree rubbing off on the wine. He's a superstar, having made wine at Troplong-Mondot, La Tour Figeac, Newton (under John Kongsgaard) and Blackbird amongst others. If you love a great value in Chardonnay this is not to be missed!
Price: $14.99
2012 J. Davies Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 07-11-2015
Most people probably have never heard of J. Davies and their outstanding wines from their estate on Diamond Mountain but that is not for lack of history or pedigree. The Estate was founded in 1862 by Jacob Schram and planted shortly thereafter. Out of this vineyard sprung Schramsberg the famous, and quite prolific, still wine house of the 19th century. Obviously many years have passed, 153 to be exact, and while Schramsberg is still wildly famous and is now producing some of the best sparkling wine in the United States, if not the world, they wanted to get back to their roots of making great still wines. So in 1994 they replanted the Estate to Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietals and in 2004 the first vintage of J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon was released (2001). Since then they have produced a string of wildly delicious, balanced, structural efforts that have for some reason or another remained distinctly under people's radar. Hopefully that all changes with the 2012 vintage which is a stunning wine full of the complexity, depth and concentration that is rarely seen but often spoke about in Napa wines. Chock full of unsweetened chocolate, cassis liquor and spiced plum on the nose this has tons of sweet tinged aromatics but underneath that lays a savory sous bois and new leather quality that adds complexity and considerable depth. Brightly blue fruited on entry with a texture that is slick, round and approachable this Cabernet comes off as ripe but never jammy or sweet. As the wine floats along the palate it adds flavors of fleshy black fruits, asphalt, red currant, sage and black tea. The tannins melt away slowly in the finish and frame the wine in a harmonious manner.
Price: $84.99
2013 Foxen Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir
Review Date: 06-19-2015
On our recent trip to the Central Coast we tasted a myriad of Pinot Noirs--mostly great, a few exceptional, and maybe one or two that were just OK. Point being that there is tons of great Pinot Noir coming out of the area. Few were better, however-- especially if you consider pricing--than the 2013 Foxen Santa Maria Valley bottling. The lion's share of this wine comes from the famed Bien Nacido Vineyard, and not any parcel but the same parcel that Foxen's famed Block 8 vineyard designate comes from. Rounded out by fruit from Riverbench Vineyard and Solomon Hills Vineyard, the quality here, for an appellation bottling, is off the charts. A fresh and pithy nose of plum, violet, blueberry and crushed stone is unencumbered by oak, the wine seeing not a lick of new oak. Ripe and juicy on the palate, with plenty of berry fruit, this spices up as it goes along with pretty confectionary spices like nutmeg and allspice and gingerbread. Broad velvety tannins round out the back end with a streak of floral complexity that persists. I don't know if we saw anything better for $30 Pinot on the trip!
Price: $29.99
2013 Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Review Date: 06-18-2015
On a trip earlier this year a crew of K&L employees went up to the far Sonoma Coast and visited places like Hirsch, Fort Ross and Flowers. It was certainly a wonderful experience and we had a ton of fun and found plenty of new wines. On that trip I think we were most surprised by the wines at Flowers. We knew that they were up to some new tricks but we really were thinking of the wines as they used to be, not as they actually are. A perfect example of this was the just released 2013 Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. The first thing that struck me was how balanced the wine was. I recalled these wines being bigger, fatter and flabbier, but that couldn't be farther from the truth for what I was tasting. Made with less than 20% new oak, this wine struck a chord with me in its aromas of mint, nectarine, peach and chalk and little to no woody aromas. Vibrant and energetic, this bordered on citrusy-tangerine and clementine--with plenty of stone fruit, apricot preserves--passed around on the medium-weighted frame. Richness and texture were there but they came more on the back end with brighter fruit tones running the show. A long, savory finish laced with thyme and stone wrapped up the wine and my expectations were blown. If you haven't checked out Flowers in a while I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!
Price: $34.99
2013 Domaine Drouhin "Arthur" Dundee Hills Chardonnay
Review Date: 04-21-2015
One thing is for certain the Drouhin family knows what they are doing when it comes to growing and producing Burgundian varietals. When they started Domain Drouhin Oregon (DDO) back in 1987 there were producers in the area that were both thrilled and a bit terrified. They were thrilled because there was this behemoth in world of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that was willing to put a large sum of resources into the Willamette Valley. It truly helped to legitimize the area as a world class growing region. But it terrified people for the same reason; they knew that the bar had instantly been raised. This influx of knowledge and experience certainly didn't solely make the Willamette Valley what it is today but I think most of the producers that are in the valley would tell you that it certainly helped more than it hurt. Fast forward to 2015 and DDO are still cranking out some of the best wines you can find in the valley for fair and affordable prices. No wine better embodies this than the 2013 "Arthur" Chardonnay. Long one of my favorite Chardonnays from Oregon this wine has superb balance and a tremendous weight without ever being cumbersome or flat. Ripe flavors of baked apple, nectarine and pie crust are bolstered by fresh, mouthwatering acidity and lovely subtle lime pith. The touch of new oak, 15%, gives just enough added depth and complexity, not to mention a pleasing honeyed nature, to the wine as to make it far from an oak bomb but still noticeably oak driven. There is just so much to like about this wine no matter what side of the Chardonnay spectrum your taste falls on.
Price: $29.99
2010 Fort Ross "Fort Ross Vineyard" Fort Ross-Seaview Pinotage
Review Date: 04-14-2015
It's not every day that I get to write about Pinotage, more less try the few coming from the States, but this certainly is the best I've ever seen. Sweet licorice, blueberry, sage and a touch of beef blood flavors come to the fore with a layered approach. Violets and pinning tannins fill the finish in this bold, intense wine that would be perfect for a bacon wrapped filet.
Price: Hidden
2013 Mercer Canyons Columbia Valley Chardonnay
Review Date: 03-20-2015
The Mercer winery was first put on my radar a couple of years back on a field trip to Washington State. We met with the folks behind this large farming operation; they are one of the largest producers of carrots and potatoes in the state, to check out their impressive amount of vineyards. Long one of the main growers for the largest wineries in Washington a number of years ago they decided to start making their own wine off of the better parcels of their sprawling acreage. The "Canyons" series was debuted in 2012 and already has turned heads nationally with its tremendous quality for value ratio. I was shocked on just how pure and clean these wines were. The Chardonnay is a perfect example of this. Pulpy apple aromas fill the nose with a broad streak of vanilla/butterscotch that meld into a rich golden fruited base. Broad and rich but still with a nice airy feel this has all the toasty flavors and yeasty richness that the classic Domestic Chard fans are going to want but also has a pretty floral component and some mellow citrus tones to keep the wine from being bogged down in excess. The best thing here is that this is only $11.99 a bottle which is a paltry sum for a wine that has this much going for it. I think we just found our best "cheap" Chardonnay.
Price: $11.99
Marietta "Old Vine Red-Lot #62" Red Blend
Review Date: 02-25-2015
For years the Marietta Old Vine Red has been one of the most underappreciated values coming out of California. This non-vintage, multi-varietal and multi-appellation blend has flown under the radar of most affordable minded customers, but in our experience, one try and you're hooked. We've sold it religiously over the last 7-8 years and every year I'm astonished with just how true the flavors are, how fresh the fruit is and how balanced the wine comes off overall. This blend, Lot 62, is every bit as good as any of the other blends, maybe a bit more, as a new estate vineyard has come more on board in this bottling, with pretty graphite, briary berry and a clove/nutmeg spice to the nose. Pulpy and sun-fresh, the ripe, but bone-dry, berry flavors on entry are sure to please with a persistent, bright energy and an underlying pastille spice. Plum and violet combine with a rich, coating nature on the finish to round out this tremendous value for well under $15. Simply put, this is one of the truly best wines in a category with more filler than killer.
Price: $11.99
2013 Banshee Sonoma County Pinot Noir
Review Date: 01-29-2015
With every new release of Banshee I become more and more impressed with just how dedicated to quality these three young men are. This year they've really upped their game adding Winemaker Ross Cobb, of Cobb Vineyards, a little known winery to the masses but to us nerds this means something, and moving production to Copain's new winemaking facility. Both of these moves are apparent to me in this new Sonoma County Pinot Noir. There seems to be a much finer point to the wine this year with better delineation of flavor, more pronounced acidity while still being fully interwoven in the wine and a bit more overall structure. All in all the fruit that most of our customers have come to know and love is still here but there is just a little bit more here than in past vintages. I've loved these wines for the value that they offer our customers over the years and I continue to love them for not resting on their laurels but to be in constant pursuit of upping their game.
Price: $22.99
2013 Alma Rosa Santa Barbara County Chardonnay
Review Date: 01-28-2015
Richard Sanford is a true legend that simply does not receive the credit he deserves. Back in 1971 he planted the first Pinot Noir in the Central Coast at the now famed Sanford & Benedict Vineyard. Just that act alone has him in the history books yet he still continues to make rock solid and affordable wines, first under his Sanford label that was a staple in fine wine shops in the last three decades of the 20th Century. After a shake up at Sanford, which we won't get into here, Rick once again set off to create something new, this time Alma Rosa where sustainability was paramount to the winery, both in the vineyards and in the business practices of the winery. Taking this model Rick has made many lovely wines from both his self-planted, historic vineyards and new sites as well. This 2013 Santa Barbara County Chardonnay is a perfect example of his craftsmanship. Mostly coming from a 35 year old block of Chardonnay at the White Hills Vineyard this is a powerful wine that betrays its paltry price point. With notes of almond skin, apricot pit, sage and a touch of salinity in the nose there are few rival Chards that can hold a candle to this sort of complexity at this cost. Waves of peach flesh, green apple, sea salt, low toast oak and crushed cashew flavors flow freely on the palate to create a sense of both richness and breadth. If that's not enough for $15 the finish is long and energetic with lemon zest and a touch of a white floral note. Kudos to Rick and all he has done, for so many years, for all the wine drinkers out there.
Price: $14.99
2013 Seghesio Sonoma County Zinfandel
Review Date: 01-07-2015
Back in 2011 there was quite a scare in the world of Zinfandel. That was the year that the Seghesio Family sold their winery to a large company named Crimson Wine Group. This was a bit unsettling at the time being that the Seghesio Family was second only to the Foppianos for the crown as the longest running winemaking family in Sonoma County. We were all a little depressed by it for a while but then nothing really changed. The family still held control of the old vine plots like Cortina and Home Ranch, Pete stayed on as CEO and Ted as winemaker. The quality and branding was the same as it ever was and quite honestly I think most people even forgot that the Winery changed hands. This was great news to all Zin fans, especially when they kept churning out tremendous, affordable Zin like the 2013 Sonoma County. Just released this is a great wine for $20 with all of is warm spice cake, berry cobbler, whole peppercorn and sweet tea aromatics. Big and burly but with wild acidity acting as a counter weight this has a little something for everyone in the Zin world with its briary richness of fruit, bushels of pepper, fresh berry notes and a sweet oak lacing which ties up the substantial finish. I guess change, or the lack thereof, isn't always a bad thing!
Price: $19.99
2012 Chateau St. Jean Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
Review Date: 12-16-2014
Can you really teach an old dog new tricks? I don't really know but I think that some old dogs are smart enough to pick some new things up as they go along. That is exactly what Chateau St. Jean did with this brand, spanking new Sonoma Coast bottling. (By the way please don't confuse this with the Sonoma County bottling that is everywhere and is completely different.) To say that I was taken by surprise by this new wine would be an understatement. I was blown away by the amount of power and richness it had, all the while keeping true, cool weather Sonoma Coast acidity throughout. With a nose laced with apricots, crème brulee and persimmons, while having an underlying citrus backbone, this was completely appealing and felt really natural. On the palate comes waves of vanilla, baked apples, some crushed stone and a lovely white floral highlight. For the under $20 arena of Chardonnay it certainly does not get much better than this. I'd scoop this up before the powers that be at CSJ realize just how good this wine really is!
Price: $16.99
2012 Michael & David "Freakshow" Lodi Cabernet Sauvignon
Review Date: 12-09-2014
Incredibly surprising or surprisingly incredible, either way I think those two statements describe the new releases from the Michael & David winery. Always known for their amusing labels and marketing I think the most recent batch of wines will make people take notice for just how much quality is in the bottle for such little cash. The style of wine is still full throttle, fruit driven and bold, as the wines always have been but there is much better balance in the wines overall and most importantly I found there to be no discernible residual sugar in the wines. These are a must try for fans of exuberant Domestic Wines for reasonable prices. I'm a big fan of party rock. Think Rick Springfield's Working Class Dog album or any of the great Power Pop Albums of the late 70's early 80's like The Beat's Self Titled album. These are certainly not the most critically acclaimed albums but when you hear them, especially at a party they really make everyone feel good, loosen up and start moving around the room. I sort of felt this way about the Freakshow Cab. Not the most critically amazing wine but damn if it doesn't taste great and won't please everyone in the room. Under $20 this is like a record that has 3 hits on it that you'll never get tired of and is in the dollar bin, pure magic. Deep, with silky black fruits and a nice waft of tobacco this is palate coating and intense wine that really brings some fun to the Cabernet game. Blackberry, spice cake, toffee and café con leche flavors are all apparent here and are meshed nicely. It's going to be hard to beat this cab for this price.
Price: $18.99
2013 Talley/K&L Wine Merchants Edna Valley Chardonnay
Review Date: 08-20-2014
Back in the late winter/early spring of this year I was really trying to identify a Chardonnay producer that we might be able to do a co-branded wine with. In looking at what we had and what was popular with our customers, I thought Talley would be a great fit for the project. We spoke and we both agreed that we really were excited to work with each other on this level. So at the end of June I drove down to Arroyo Grande to blend the wine with winemaker Eric Johnson out of barrel. There were 13 barrels for us to choose from, all of which were from one of Talley's estate vineyards, Oliver's Vineyard, and I got to select five of those barrels for this blend. What I found that day is that if I could have taken all 13 barrels, I would have. The quality of all the barrels was just superb and really showed off the vineyard and all of the subtleties that Chardonnay can have, but rarely does, in California. The final blend was actually the first we put together and while we futzed with it a bit, we agreed that this blend was always the best blend of the bunch. The nose showed a really delicate interplay of white floral notes, baked apple, sandy soil and a richer core of peach flesh and a hit of tropical fruits. With good entering cut and resonating energy and intensity throughout, this richly weighted Chardonnay never felt bogged down in anything excessive like oak or manipulated buttery richness. Instead it traded on its richly textured mid-palate and wealth of stone fruit and cleansing earth aspects as well as a lifting citrus oil note. I honestly couldn't be happier with the way this wine came out. Thanks, Talley, for making us such an awesome wine!
Price: $24.99
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales "Bam Biere" Farmhouse Ale, Michigan 750ml
Review Date: 05-25-2010
The Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales "Bam Biere" is one of the best work horse beers out there. Made in the style of a Saison this is one of the best interpretations coming out of the US right now. With its yeasty, fruity nose of peach, apricot, fresh bread dough, tangerine and a pinch of clove this is about as traditional as Saison gets. Lightweight on the palate but full of flavor the beer displays flavors of brewer's yeast, fried plantains, wet earth, savory grassy tones and a bit of drying hoppiness in the finish. The sweet/bitter interplay here is perfect, keeping the beer from ever getting out of balance or cloying white the understated fruitiness builds complexity as it goes. Big time Boosh!
Price: $10.99
West County Cider "Redfield" Cider, Massachusetts 750ml
Review Date: 05-25-2010
A perfect summer beverage is the West County Cider "Redfield" Cider. This is far from your typical cider made from the apple varietal of Redfield which is red fleshed giving the cider its brilliant orange, ruby color. Aromas of raspberry, rose water, mango and warm clay are wonderfully alluring and really add a separate dimension that most will not expect from cider. The cheery, bright flavors of cherry, cinnamon and pear build on each other developing acidity and cut as they go until you reach the grainy bittersweet apple quality towards the center of the mid palate. Mildly tannic and totally serious this has the ability to change any negative opinions you may have had about cider in the past. Total Boosh!
Price: Hidden


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I considered boring you with another AP style recap of IU's 75-47 loss at Michigan State, but as Devan Dumes was tossed shortly after throwing his third elbow of the game, I quickly changed direction.
I realize it's a long season and the players are probably frustrated with the losses that are piling up. It's not easy to come out each game, play hard and know no matter how well you play, you're probably going to lose. But the behavior from Dumes was flat out unacceptable. I was willing to dismiss his elbow on Craig Moore during the Northwestern game as a lapse in judgment during the heat of battle.
After today, I'm left wondering if Dumes should be punished by either Indiana or the Big Ten. For those of you who missed the game, here's a blow by blow recap of what went down:
I have no problem with guys competing and playing with an edge. But when you're throwing unprovoked elbows, especially in the waning moments of a blowout loss, you've got all of the elements of a cheap shot. And that's the last thing Tom Crean needs to have on his hands while trying to rebuild a program that, let's face it, has lost some credibility with the events that transpired last season. He's trying to rebuild the privelege of wearing the IU uniform that's been missing as of late.
So my questions for you, ITH'ers, are as follows: Did you view the elbows as intentional? How, if at all, should Dumes be punished? Thoughts on those questions as well as your reaction to the game are welcome in the comments, boys and girls.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tech News »
Why I ditched my cellphone carrier to try Google's Project Fi
Tech community facing an ethnic diversity problem
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg to take two months of paternity leave
Fido launching home Internet service as Rogers targets millennials
How to make self-driving cars seem less risky and radical
Adele's new album not available on major streaming services
Science »
With just a ball and a trampoline, we explore Einstein's general theory of relativity
Molecular science could be key to unlocking friction-less oil and engine efficiency
Research shows plants are lacing their pollen with an addictive substance to trick bees
NASA probe spots possible volcanoes on Pluto
Sunnybrook doctor first to perform blood-brain barrier procedure using focused ultrasound waves
Sudbury Neutrino Observatory wins 2016 Breakthrough Prize in fundamental physics
News »
Graph: Wearable tech market
Pebble prepares for weekend's wearables arms race
Independent smartwatch company is vying for market share with Apple Watch and Android Wear in what will be likely be a big weekend for sales http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/tech-news/pebble-prepares-for-wearables-arms-race-with-latest-smartwatch/article27501444/
Investors grow restless with Mayer-led Yahoo
CEO has been unable to snap the company out of a financial funk http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/investors-grow-restless-with-mayer-led-yahoo/article27481407/
How to get the best deals at this week's Black Friday
Here are some tips for navigating the U.S. shopping extravaganza that has come north http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/gadgets-and-gear/how-to-get-the-best-black-friday-deals/article27465299/
Hewlett-Packard revenue falls in last report before split
Sales fall for fifth consecutive quarter on lower PC sales http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/us-business/hewlett-packard-revenue-falls-in-last-report-before-split/article27465465/
Video »
Technology Video
YouTube Kids is now in Canada. Here's how it differs from the normal app
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Globe Debate
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New iPhone 6s to hit stores Friday in test for Apple


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we have spent the May bank holiday weekend in this house. It was a very last minute decision, we left on Friday at 8pm from london, Susan the owner has waited for us to arrive until 1:30am, she was very welcoming made us a hot drink. in the morning, we had a large selection to choose from: continental, english breakfat... More
Top-rated Attractions Nearby
Top-rated Restaurants Nearby


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Leona Williams (left) marches with others through downtown Shreveport on Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, in protest of the killing of De'Eric Bailey, who was shot by Shreveport police officers. For more photos of this event go toshreveporttimes.com. Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times Henrietta Wildsmith/The Times
- Filed Under
Shooting investigation completed, turned over to DA
At 3 a.m. on Aug. 18, Shreveport police officer Jennifer Monereau attempted to stop a tan 2000 Lincoln Town Car for a red light violation near Cotton at Common streets. The driver, 22-year-old De'Eric Bailey, sped off and eventually was westbound on I-20 just west of the Linwood Avenue exit. Police said Bailey lost control of the vehicle, causing it to strike a concrete barrier alongside the interstate, then ignored commands to surrender.
Bailey nearly ran down a passenger, who had jumped out of the vehicle, as he attempted to ...


text: Overnight stay for a flight to Colombia. Location was not familiar with my taxi driver, but he delivered me there in little time once he had the location located. This is strickly an Airport hotel and within 10 minutes of the airport, right next to the runway. The restaurant was good and my order of Corvina in a shrimp sauce... More


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I'd like to take screenshots on my android phone. I'm an app developer and have a pretty good understanding of the regular API, and I know this steps out of the "regular" thing quite a bit.
I would have root access.
I've seen a few apps that do this. I'm just wondering how one goes about doing it. Anybody know the general direction I should be looking in?


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Updated 10/07/2014
This is Goa's original hippie haven. Those full-moon parties, now so synonymous with this beach state, first happened on the sands of Anjuna in the 1960s, and even today this northern beach is home to modern-day flower children, international travelers keen on sampling some of that hippie stardust, and everyone looking for a party. It's definitely not one of Goa's most beautiful beaches, but the steady influx of people means that it's got restaurants and bars galore. Anjuna's busiest on Wednesday, when the famed weekly Anjuna Flea Market takes place. The water is safe for swimming and you'll find lots of sunbathers and souvenir vendors year-round. Amenities: food and drink; water sports; parking. Best for: partyers; sunset; swimming; walking.
Anjuna, Goa, India
Updated 10/07/2014
By gani
Jan 7, 2015
I traveled to Anjuna beach in Goa last December. I was alone, since I'm a lone traveler and adventurer. My experience there was one of a kind, I love the people, I love the beach, I love the culture, I love the night parties, I love the sunset. I love the venue I slept in. It was really one of a kind, Thanks for these reviews, they really help people like me to pinpoint where and when to go, some reviews like this http://bestgoabeaches.com/ helped
me alot.
No Thanks


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The Military Divisions
1And the children of Israel, according to their number, the heads of fathers' houses, the captains of thousands and hundreds and their officers, served the king in every matter of the military divisions. These divisions came in and went out month by month throughout all the months of the year, each division having twenty-four thousand.
2Over the first division for the first month was #1 Chr. 11:11Jashobeam the son of Zabdiel, and in his division were twenty-four thousand; 3he was of the children of Perez, and the chief of all the captains of the army for the first month. 4Over the division of the second month was Dodai an Ahohite, and of his division Mikloth also was the leader; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 5The third captain of the army for the third month was #1 Chr. 18:17Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, who was chief; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 6This was the Benaiah who was #2 Sam. 23:20–23mighty among the thirty, and was over the thirty; in his division was Ammizabad his son. 7The fourth captain for the fourth month was #2 Sam. 23:241 Chr. 11:26Asahel the brother of Joab, and Zebadiah his son after him; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 8The fifth captain for the fifth month was Shamhuth the Izrahite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 9The sixth captain for the sixth month was #1 Chr. 11:28Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 10The seventh captain for the seventh month was #1 Chr. 11:27Helez the Pelonite, of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 11The eighth captain for the eighth month was #2 Sam. 21:181 Chr. 11:29|NoBook| 20:4Sibbechai the Hushathite, of the Zarhites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 12The ninth captain for the ninth month was #1 Chr. 11:28Abiezer the Anathothite, of the Benjamites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 13The tenth captain for the tenth month was #2 Sam. 23:281 Chr. 11:30Maharai the Netophathite, of the Zarhites; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 14The eleventh captain for the eleventh month was #1 Chr. 11:31Benaiah the Pirathonite, of the children of Ephraim; in his division were twenty-four thousand. 15The twelfth captain for the twelfth month was Heldai the Netophathite, of Othniel; in his division were twenty-four thousand.
Leaders of Tribes
16Furthermore, over the tribes of Israel: the officer over the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; over the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah; 17over the Levites, #1 Chr. 26:30Hashabiah the son of Kemuel; over the Aaronites, Zadok; 18over Judah, #1 Sam. 16:6Elihu, one of David's brothers; over Issachar, Omri the son of Michael; 19over Zebulun, Ishmaiah the son of Obadiah; over Naphtali, Jerimoth the son of Azriel; 20over the children of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Azaziah; over the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joel the son of Pedaiah; 21over the half–tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah; over Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner; 22over Dan, Azarel the son of Jeroham. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.
23But David did not take the number of those twenty years old and under, because #(Deut. 6:3)the Lord had said He would multiply Israel like the #Gen. 15:5Ge 22:17Ge 26:4Ex. 32:13Deut. 1:10stars of the heavens. 24Joab the son of Zeruiah began a census, but he did not finish, for #2 Sam. 24:12–151 Chr. 21:1–7wrath came upon Israel because of this census; nor was the number recorded in the account of the chronicles of King David.
Other State Officials
25And Azmaveth the son of Adiel was over the king's treasuries; and Jehonathan the son of Uzziah was over the storehouses in the field, in the cities, in the villages, and in the fortresses. 26Ezri the son of Chelub was over those who did the work of the field for tilling the ground. 27And Shimei the Ramathite was over the vineyards, and Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the produce of the vineyards for the supply of wine. 28Baal-Hanan the Gederite was over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowlands, and Joash was over the store of oil. 29And Shitrai the Sharonite was over the herds that fed in Sharon, and Shaphat the son of Adlai was over the herds that were in the valleys. 30Obil the Ishmaelite was over the camels, Jehdeiah the Meronothite was over the donkeys, 31and Jaziz the #1 Chr. 5:10Hagrite was over the flocks. All these were the officials over King David's property.
32Also Jehonathan, David's uncle, was a counselor, a wise man, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king's sons. 33#2 Sam. 15:12Ahithophel was the king's counselor, and #2 Sam. 15:32–37Hushai the Archite was the king's companion. 34After Ahithophel was Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, then #1 Kin. 1:7Abiathar. And the general of the king's army was #1 Chr. 11:6Joab.
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Home of the Year, and from the look of things, this iOS-enabled abode has the stuff to put your robotic butler out of work. The mammoth craftsman's interiors, designed by OCD poster boy Jeff Lewis, were automated by HD Media Systems using the Savant app. Everything from lighting to shower temperature are controlled using wall-mounted iPads or a series of unencumbered iOS devices. A pre-programmed "party button" immediately adjusts lighting and temperature, and bumps music to the 15 different Sonance in-ceiling speaker zones while displaying a slideshow on monitors dispersed throughout the house. Among the extravagant extras at work here are a switch in the master closet for flipping on the iron in the laundry room, a chandelier that flickers when it's time to switch out the toilet paper, and a virtual butler that warns of impending visitors. Looks to us like Rosie the Robot's days are numbered. Check out the source link for more automated overkill from this year's runners up.
- Key specs
- Prices
- Discussions
- Form factor Tablet
- Operating system iOS (8)
- Screen size 9.7 inches
- Storage type Internal storage (16 GB, Flash)
- Maximum battery life Up to 10 hours
- Dimensions 9.4 x 6.6 x 0.24 in
- Weight 0.96 lb
- Announced 2014-10-16
Apple iPhone 6s
Apple iPod touch 6th-gen


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Thank you to all alumni who came back to campus to reconnect with friends and faculty and reflect on their days at Emmanuel for Emmanuel Alumni/ae Day 2015. The day included the ECAA annual general meeting, worship with The Rev. Norm Seli Emm 9T1, and lively small-group discussions. A highlight was the presentation of the Distinguished Alumni/ae Award to the Rev. Dr. Nan Hudson at a dinner in her honour.


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Most Liked Positive Review
Samsung BD-F5700 Blu Ray Player
I have noticed a few people on here giving this product 1 - 2 stars for not having XYZ service available to stream, a issue with the remote not controlling a TV or not...Read complete review
I have noticed a few people on here giving this product 1 - 2 stars for not having XYZ service available to stream, a issue with the remote not controlling a TV or not having a display on the front panel. Did you bother to look at any online review from places such as PCmag, trustedreviews or any other online site product review place? Or better yet did you bother to look at the box when you bought it, if you purchased it in store? It states about as clearly as I have seen what services are available, and it did not have anywhere on the box that it had a learning remote in order to control tv's outside of samsung's line. These reviews should be of the products performance in playing DVD's (remember it is a DVD player), how well the installed apps work (netflix etc), any reliability or performance issues. I can say I have not noticed any issues with the Wifi performance when using Netflix, it picked up the Wifi at my house quickly, set up was easier than any other brand player I have used, load time is faster than previously owned players from other mfg's. Picture quality is as expected excellent. I have not had any issues with it dropping the Wifi signal in my home, which the other brands I owned both did while streaming content. Don't blame a product for a preconceived assumption you have about what it can or can't do, what features it may or may not have. For the individual upset because it doesn't have Amazon Prime, that's on you, It says nowhere on the box, samsung site or anywhere else that it does. The fact that is has any streaming services is a bonus I use only a couple and that is not why I purchase a DVD player, there are too many other options for that that in my opinion that work better. As I said earlier It's a Blu Ray DVD player. If you can figure that out you'll be fine, that's the purpose I purchased it for and it does a great job at what it was designed for. I hope that people reading these reviews will keep that in mind.
Most Liked Negative Review
Problems with streaming Netflix
I purchased this blu ray player last Thanksgiving. I was absolutely pleased with it until about 4 weeks ago when the firmware was updated and the device stopped streaming Netflix. I initially was sure...Read complete review
I purchased this blu ray player last Thanksgiving. I was absolutely pleased with it until about 4 weeks ago when the firmware was updated and the device stopped streaming Netflix. I initially was sure that it was a Netflix problem but after about a dozen calls to Netflix and some research of my own on the internet I found out that I am in a very large group of people who are experiencing the same problem. I have reached out to Samsung for help with this issue and I have not had the problem solved. So now I am stuck with a device that won't stream Netflix which is the most highly app used on smart tv/wifi blu rays. I give it four stars on everytbing except performance and overall because of this issue. I cannot recommend this product unless you have no interest in streaming Netflix.
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This Blu-ray player is great, but could be better
By Jester546
from Bakersfield, CA
Comments about Samsung Wi-Fi Blu-Ray Disc Player:
This is a great Blu-ray player, i love the apps it comes with. There are only a few things that I dislike, sometimes the Blu-ray freezes and I have to reset it. It would have been nice if you were able to download additional apps.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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Great blue-ray player.
By TM15
from Undisclosed
Easy to set-up and use. Outstanding customer support.
By Mom2yorkies
from Las Vegas, NV, USA
This product does everything I wanted. Love the quality of Samsung.
Very disappointing
By Mark1951
from Orlando, FL, USA
Bought this mainly to stream Netflix and then found out this model has known issues with Netflix. Go to the point where clicking on the Netflix button would crash the machine. Also the machine would turn on by itself and open the Blue-ray drawer after being turned off. Too bad, easy to use and a good menu.
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
bad unit
By cia0501
I have had nothing shirt of every problem with this blu ray player. I love samsung products but this is the absolutely worst product ever. Maybe, i got a bad unit but this was a nightmare and waste of money.
Does not do everything it claims
By RogueAndMe
from Woodhaven, MI
I love and live Samsung products, but this is the first and worst disappointing purchase of a Samsung product for me ever. The backlit remote has the work back lighting ever. Dim is more like it even with fresh batteries. Added it only stays lit for literally 5 secs lol The player itself list all the features on the package. I bought the system specifically for the BluRay, Nexflix, and Connect share of my external hard drive or flash drive. Well the bluray works, and netflix but not the connectshare. It does not see any of my movie formats on any device I plugin. Netflix can be annoying as if you are watching a show, in the beginning the movie will stop with a prompt asking if you are still watching the show and like to continue. Very Annoying! Oh, and it won't let you do a software update either even though the option is there. I so want my money back or a replacement. I do not recommend this product.
*** Hard Reset -- fix your netflix blah's.
By paterson
from Canada
*** A firmware upgrade broke netflix, but samsung seems to have fixed it if you do a hard reset: hold stop button on unit (not remote) for 8 seconds. Otherwise it plays dvd's, youtube, netflix etc. I wish the play button on the unit would start playing a blu-ray dvd. You must use the remote. 3rd party universal remotes work ok too. Will also charge your usb devices when powered on.
Great features, but a little slow
By LosK007
from Summerdale, AL
This is a great product. It's a nice compact design and has plenty of options. It's a little slow when it comes to using the remote for typing. Other than it it works well. Probably doesn't have processing power due to lack of enough processors. I love the compact design because it's easy to not notice in the bedroom and unobtrusive that way. Keep it up Samsung.
First Blu-Ray player
By pghcoyote
from Pittsburgh, PA
I was mainly interested in a simple BluRay player, not in the WiFi aspect of it. I was really surprised at the ease of setup with my household WiFi and the features (YouTube, etc) that were included. Usually these kinds of features are on more expensive models, especially if you don't have WiFi set up in your home (i.e., WiFi provided by the BluRay player itself). Works as expected. My only gripe is the button setup on the remote. I have several Panasonic DVD-Rs and am used to the intuitive setup of buttons on there (play, pause, stop, etc.) and think they could be better arranged on the Samsung. Also, I was disappointed that it is NOT POSSIBLE to step BACKWARDS in slow motion (i.e., step backwards frame by frame when in pause). You can ONLY step FORWARD. Why this is is beyond me, but I find it annoying. These are the only two cons I have with this player: the remote button layout and the lack of backwards frame-by-frame stepping. Also, perhaps this unit is TOO lightweight; I have almost knocked it off the shelf on several occasions.
So-so blue-ray
By dcmc775
I was pretty happy with the purchase until I noticed that it was missing certain apps. After spending about an hour looking for a way to add more apps, I came to the conclusion that it just couldn't be done. The Blu-ray picture is great when viewing DVDs but something goes haywire when we try to watch Netflix or Hulu. the program always freezes and the only way to reset it is to unplug for 30 seconds and then plug back in. Its a nice looking product but not really useful in a busy family room. I'll probably move it to one of the kids/guest rooms that don't see as much activity.
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Make fabulous little bags for little things like business cards, gift-cards, a quilter's quick chocolate treat (or gum, mints, etc.), a small camera or cell phone...the options are many!
Two sizes included -- finished size 4 1/2" x 5" and finished size 3 1/4" x 4".
Make these little beauties from 10" squares. Use for a camera or cell phone case and still carry the camera or cell phone by it's leash.
OR add ribbon and a clip to hang from a favorite purse. Stow, tuck, hang, clip either size anywhere you need a little bag.
The above images are Maggies Tracy has made:
Large & small Maggies in blue (fabric yo-yo's embellish the flaps).
A large blue Maggie shown with Tracy's phone.
Three small Maggies.
For the small size Maggie, Tracy made an "extra-small" fabric yo-yo using the Extra Small Clover Quick Yo-Yo Maker. For the large size Maggie, she made a small fabric yo-yo using the Small Clover Quick Yo-Yo Maker.
Click here for more Lazy Girl Designs sewing patterns...


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A recent announcement from Chevrolet about built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi furthers the availability of in-car functionality, which could bring opportunities for advertisers and allow marketers to eventually deliver much more targeted experiences by tapping into additional driver details.
Chevrolet is rolling out what it calls the "largest deployment of vehicles with built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi in the market this summer," and the move will help open up opportunities for advertisers in the in-car services market, experts say.
"Chevrolet is committed to offering consumers advanced technologies that enhance the vehicle ownership experience," a Chevy rep says. "Offering in-vehicle 4G LTE connectivity will allow Chevy owners to have a strong and consistent Wi-Fi connection that can pair up to seven devices."
This feature enables children to remain connected on tablets for streaming movies or playing online games on long road trips and allows small business owners to conduct work remotely, the rep adds.
But Chevy certainly isn't alone in offering in-car services like Wi-Fi.
Audi, too, has an in-car Wi-Fi offering, Audi Connect. And a Tesla rep says its Model S includes 3G connectivity.
And, as ClickZ previously reported, earlier this year, Google announced the Open Automotive Alliance in order to develop Android-based in-car entertainment and information systems for manufacturers like Audi, Honda, and Hyundai.
According to Joe Laszlo, senior director of the Mobile Marketing Center of Excellence at the IAB, the addition of automated data services is a natural evolution for in-car services like GM subsidiary OnStar, which provides subscription-based safety, security, and mobility offerings to more than 7 million consumers.
However, he questions how many consumers will want or need these services, given that many already have smartphones with 4G data services and may not want to shell out additional money.
"What was interesting to me at least was one of the things [Chevrolet emphasizes] is a potentially better connection because a car is a bigger thing than a mobile device and has a bigger antenna," Laszlo says. "Car-based services may be faster and more reliable, but, again, even if the end user discovers that's the case, they'll have to do the mental calculation to determine whether it is worth setting up a new monthly wireless data plan."
At the same time, Jason Burby, president of the Americas at digital agency Possible, points to an always-connected generation of future car buyers who may demand such access. He gives a nod to Audi, which has an audience that skews younger than other luxury players like Mercedes and BMW.
According to Burby, in-car access also adds up to huge potential for location-based targeting, with the caveat that it also dredges up privacy issues.
He says there's a tremendous amount of information marketers can glean from location, which, once privacy issues are sorted out, could help marketers determine where consumers drive, as well as how often and how frequently. It could also give them key information about their daily habits, such as whether they, say, stop at McDonald's every morning or often visit country clubs. That, in turn, could open up opportunities for brands to target specific groups of consumers or to target consumers by habit.
Tobin Trevarthen, founder of Spatial Shift and former vice president of monetization of the AHA Radio and the Harman Cloud Platform, says he was behind an interactive car ad for Quiznos that ran across the AHA platform in December.
In it, promotional content was mapped to a geofence around 900 Quiznos locations. When the offer and address of the nearest location was displayed on a car's dashboard, interested consumers simply pressed the thumbs-up icon on the screen and a coupon was sent to their phones.
"Today in the car, AM, FM, and XM are one-way streams and there's no way to engage with content unless you call or go to the website," Trevarthen says.
However, in addition to location, marketers may eventually be able to tap into a whole slew of driver data, Trevarthen says. In fact, he estimates information such as how long drivers are in their cars and what they are listening to will become addressable in 36 to 48 months.
He says marketers will also be able to know what routes consumers drive and how many people are in the car "so I think you're going to have all new kinds of targeting parameters that will yield very targeted experiences."
And that opens up sponsorship opportunities.
Marketers will also be privy to details such as whether the vehicle is a luxury car or a minivan, which means they will have more context-aware filters and can present more targeted offers or scenarios.
Trevarthen calls it a new "palate" of capabilities on the way. This includes CRM and content marketing coming to the forefront and/or the genesis of an ad hybrid of sorts in which conditional data like rain could generate an audio message that a vehicle has traction control and ask drivers if they want to improve safety.
"Is that an ad? Is that CRM? Is that a native capability that is a new context because the vehicle is now addressable?" Trevarthen asks.
Because of the potential to distract drivers, Laszlo says advertisers and in-car services should be thinking more about the people in the backseat or passenger seat. That means there are opportunities for partnerships between advertisers and kids' programmers.
In addition, Laszlo says the market could see further efforts to extend voice-enabled services like Siri that would allow drivers to access mobile data services more safely.
Trevarthen notes it may also mean brands come up with their own audio cues like Intel has done.
"It may be an alert or a voice or maybe someone comes up with a sound-activated thing...and maybe someone is able to create something along those lines that lets you know you're near a 7-Eleven," Trevarthen says. "You can't do that today."
Laszlo says it will likely be a while before brands have to start thinking about connected cars as a subset of their overall mobile advertising strategies. However, brands like quick-service restaurants or gas stations may find a natural affinity and find opportunities in order to be among the first in the connected car environment.
He also notes there is going to be a "chicken and egg problem" because companies that develop apps will want to see a certain level of adoption and consumers will want to see cool things before they shell out money for connectivity.
"For most other brands, I think it's at the far edges of where their short-term mobile priorities will be," Laszlo says. "A lot of brands will see how consumers react to the offering and how fast adoption grows before they start to talk to agencies about cars."
In addition to ClickZ and Search Engine Watch, Lisa's work has appeared in The Huffington Post, The Luxury Spot, LearnVest, MarthaStewart.com, GoodHousekeeping.com, amNewYork, and The Wall Street Journal. She's a graduate of Columbia's School of Journalism.
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- Filed Under
Thanksgiving was this past Thursday. I sat pensively, staring at the amazing assortment of culinary creations on the table and on my plate. I thought about everything that I was thankful for in life, especially life itself.
I thought about my deceased wife, too. I miss her. I thought about those who weren't as fortunate as I am - primarily those who don't have enough food to eat daily to strengthen their bodies.
I thought about our veterans, particularly those men and women on active, reserve or guard status who were away from their families defending our flag, our freedom, our liberties and our ...


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Janice Lester / Turnabout Intruder
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July 2 2013, 11:39 AM
Fleet Captain
Location: New York State
Re: Janice Lester / Turnabout Intruder
Metryq wrote:
Zeitgeist. Roddenberry tried a command character with Number One, and test audiences wouldn't have it.
That's what GR led us to believe for many years, but according to Justman and Solow, NBC rejected Majel Barrett because she lacked the talent and charisma of a lead actor. And I have no trouble believing that.
Then it seems, because Majel was his serious extramarital girlfriend, Gene had to break it to her gently. He told her the test audience story, and that the bad old executives at NBC were against a woman having authority.
In fact NBC was all for it, the executives were progressive liberals, and just wanted a better actress. Look at Barbara Stanwyk on THE BIG VALLEY. She played a lead character with huge authority. But having told Majel this whopper, Gene couldn't put another woman in the role.
I think women's parts on STAR TREK suffered thereafter to maintain the fiction that Gene told Majel.
And then the false story of heroic, feminist Gene Roddenberry vs reactionary, chauvinist NBC took on a life of its own as it got told to fans at conventions. But it was baloney and STAR TREK was anything but feminist compared to other shows of the period.
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Playing With: Rescued from the Scrappy Heap
Basic Trope: A character who was previously disliked by the public gets rewritten in a way that it becomes likable.
Back to Rescued from the Scrappy Heap
- Straight: Prince Raphael is a Jerk Sue Rich Bitch who uses his authority to force his Love Interest Elise to play Extreme Doormat — and yet is supposed to be one of the good guys because he's not as corrupt as his peers. This doesn't go over well with fans. Thus, Raphael has a Heel Realization when faced with evidence that he's Not So Different from his peers, and works to improve and prove himself worthy of Elise's affection.
- Exaggerated:
- To make him more sympathic to fans, Prince Raphael is seriously wounded in an assassination attempt. Then Duke Delivn approaches him with proof of Raphael's dealings with La Résistance and threatens to expose him, unless he does a few favors for him. Raphael chooses his friends over his wealth and is subsequently stripped of his title, joining the rebellion as an exile having to learn how to fight to survive.
- Prince Raphael's Character Development is so well done, he ends up becoming a Ensemble Darkhorse.
- Downplayed: Raphael becomes slightly more likeable, but remains the least popular character.
- Justified: Raphael has actively attempted to improve his personality.
- Inverted: A character who is very liked becomes The Scrappy.
- Subverted:
- Prince Raphael is abruptly killed by a political rival in an assassination attempt; Elise's reaction is heartbreaking.
- The author seems to making attempts to round out Raphael's character... but winds up tacking a bunch of Informed Attributes onto him and turning him into an even more annoying Mary Sue
- Double Subverted:
- However, Raphael turns out to be Not Quite Dead, and the Near-Death Experience leaves him so shaken that he resolves to become a much better person.
- The fandom adores Raphael anyway as a brilliant Parody Sue, even though this isn't what the author intended at all.
- Parodied: Prince Raphael is shown sneaking off to a fan convention to ask how to improve his popularity.
- Zig Zagged: Raphael goes through Character Development and seems to become a better character, but then returns to his original characterization in the next episode . . . only for the next one to treat him with his improved character again.
- Averted:
- Raphael remains The Scrappy.
- Raphael was never The Scrappy.
- Enforced: "Look, the fans hate Raphael and it's hurting our ratings! If you won't kill him off, at least make him more likable!"
- Lampshaded: "You know, ever since Raphael survived that assassination attempt, he's become a lot more humble and good, don't you think?"
- Invoked: Raphael discovers that he isn't very well liked, and resolves to change himself to improve his reputation.
- Exploited: ???
- Defied:
- Raphael is given the opportunity to change and become a more likable person, but absolutely refuses to take advantage of it.
- Raphael is killed off before he is liked by the fanbase.
- Discussed: ???
- Conversed: "I used to hate this character, but the show's writers appear to have saved him."
- Plotted A Good Waste: Raphael's fall from grace and having to build himself back up was planned from the start; he was deliberately established as an annoying person early on so that his Character Development would have more resonance.
- Deconstructed: Though Raphael goes through Character Development and becomes a much better, more liked person, the very vocal Fan Dumb refuses to recognize this and continues to bay for his blood. Eventually, the writers listen and kill him off, much to the dismay of those who actually liked his character arc. This becomes a Base Breaker.
- Reconstructed: Despite the vocal Fan Dumb, Raphael's Character Development is recognized by the majority of fans and helps to redeem him for his past Jerkassery that annoyed his fans.
- Played For Laughs: Raphael goes from the rebellion's Jerkassy contact in the court to a lowly Butt Monkey just now learning his way around a sword, with everyone he mocked before taking advantage of this to get a little good-spirited revenge in.
- Played For Drama: Raphael's poor treatment of Elise was having a major effect on her self-confidence, so she broke up with him; after his Character Development kicks in, he tries to win her back from Bentley, causing stress within the team (and Die for Our Ship in fandom). There's also the fact that Raphael, for all his flaws, was the rebellion's only hope of reforming the system from within; his fall from grace effectively cuts off that option, making further conflict all but unavoidable.
Back to Rescued from the Scrappy Heap


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16th Annual Women's Business Roundtable - Vendor Table
|Event Status:
|Event Date:
|10/14/2014 to 10/13/2014
|5:00-8:30 pm
|Dezaray Johnson, (325) 942-2098
|Event Location:
|69 N. Chadbourne St., San Angelo , TX 76903-5848
|Vendor Table - Located in Cactus Lobby This is a great option for vendors wanting more interaction with event attendees who are interested in selling at the event, and/or have valuables that they plan on watching throughout the event. If you plan on participating in event, we suggest sending an extra person to help. Includes 2 attendee tickets.
Registration Policies:
Registration and Fees: Payment of seminar fees may be made online via credit card, debit card, or PayPal upon registration. Payment may also be made at the door via cash or check but registration is still required to secure your spot (Payment at door may be higher than online payment). Payment must be received to guarantee your space in an event.
Refund Policy: If you wish to request a refund, please contact the conference organizer listed above to discuss. You may also elect to send a substitute in your place. If the event is cancelled, all fees will be returned.
Special Accommodations: In accordance with the American Disabilities Act and state law, you may request accommodations due to a disability by contacting the event organizer listed above. Advance notice may be necessary for some accommodations. Registration must be paid prior to accommodation requests.


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NEW YORK (AP) -- How snotty: Scarlett Johansson blew her nose on a tissue, and now the tissue is being sold on eBay.
Johansson appeared on NBC's "Tonight" show Wednesday to promote her new movie, "The Spirit." The actress said she'd caught a cold from co-star Samuel L. Jackson, and felt her illness had value because it had been passed down from one celebrity to another.
Host Jay Leno then handed her a tissue, and Johansson announced she would sell it on eBay to raise money for the hunger relief charity USA Harvest. She blew twice, depositing some lipstick and mucus.
As of Thursday morning, the dirty tissue had snagged more than 60 bids, with the highest bidder putting up $2,050. The online auction ends Monday.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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