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Please don't read this if you think I am just being negative. I just got to thinking of this as I watched my neighbor move (ex track and field coach) and I pay my season football tickets that have gone up in price. I am a season ticket holder for Football, Men's and Women's Basketball, Wrestling and Volleyball. Have been for 10 years. I even travel with the team a lot. I went 11 out of 12 football games. I have been to 3 soon to be 4 away basketball games. I am going to St Louis for wrestling finals.
But, I am about as frustrated as I have ever been as a Cyclone Fan. I am not saying fire Pollard. I think he has done great things with facilities. I am not saying fire coaches. Chizek has not had enough time to get a fair shake.
But, I would rather have 25 wins and year and a coach that likes to get drunk with college chicks.
Football 2004
7-5 Independence Bowl Champs
Football 2007
Advantage Pre Pollard
Basketball 2004-05 Mens
Second Round of NCAA
Basketball 2007-08
Advantage Pre Pollard
Basketball 2004-05 Womens
Basketball 2007-08
19-9 Comparable because of injuries
Nationals 10th
Big 12 2nd
Nationals TBD hopefully better than 10th
Big 12 TBD should finish no lower than 2nd
Advantage Pollard
5th in the Nation
Advantage Pre Pollard
Track and Field
Advantage Pollard
Advantage Pre Pollard
I think apart from records, I'd want a coach that is respected by the rest of the Big XII and is respected by the fan base first and foremost. Yes, having a lot of wins is great, but I'd rather want a good image for our university over wins any day.
I think the coaching staff is respected by all the conferences in all sports and it's hard to compare apples and oranges like you are doing. You can't compare Gymnastics because the coach left for more $
Drivel.... Way to soon to compare anything.
I would honestly say FB is advantage Chiz. This is based on nothing but high hopes and optimism, but anything has to be better than the poor game management we lived through for 12 years.
JP's never been afraid to make change. Most of the changes have been made because of non performance.
As far as ticket prices go, we were getting a lot of bang for our buck before. I think the fairest way to look at is compare where we are at for ticket prices relative to the rest of conference and I believe we're still solidly in middle of the pack. If fans are unhappy, they can vote with their pocketbooks and not buy tickets, but you might be accused of being a fair weather fan then...
How long had coach Mac been here by 2004? HMMM
How many players had left the b-ball program in 04-05?
For telling us how many games you go to you sure like to compare apples to oranges.
I have an idea - wait for 2 more years then reevaluate. That is what I keep hearing. Definitely football has made strides when compared to basketball.
Last edited by Wesley; 03-02-2008 at 06:50 PM.
I would rather have this season than the debacle that was ISU hoops during LE's final years. Even during the Elite 8 & Hampton years- I would say the overall quality of student athlete wasn't to a standard that ISU should aspire to.
The good thing is, it is not an either or proposition. There are quality coaches who do things the right way. I hope G-Mac brings prosperity to ISU hoops, but if not we need to bring in another coach who is a quality person & will bring student-athletes to Ames.
My husband used to work for a company that would take him to the NCAA tournaments. He happened to be at the tournament in Atlanta in 2002 or 2003 or whenever. He had been at a party and they came back to the hotel, and just so happened to stop at the bar. There was a huge group of people in the corner, being loud and raucous. The one who happened to be the loudest, drunkest, and swearing the most was our very own LE.
While it was very nice of Larry to buy my husband a drink and talk to him, it isn't necessarily the way I feel comfortable with our school being represented. Talking to others about "Tinsley f-ing shaving points" doesn't necessarily give the best image. He was having a good time, which is great, but I think having a coach who is a role model is exceptional. It's the same reason why I liked McCarney, and why I think Chizik seems to be a good fit.
Originally Posted by Firefighter4Cy
I got 99 problems but angie isn't one.
Originally Posted by Wesley
I have an idea - wait for 2 more years then reevaltuate. That is what I keep hearing. Definitely football has made strides when compared to basketball.
Actually the win vs loss ratio was 25% for football and we'll be close to 50% on basketball. Less turnover in the football program, but the recruiting class was at the bottom for the Big 12. I'd say the jury is out on fooball as well.
Originally Posted by Bobber
Actually the win vs loss ratio was 25% for football and we'll be close to 50% on basketball. Less turnover in the football program, but the recruiting class was at the bottom for the Big 12. I'd say the jury is out on fooball as well.
Can you give me an example of a program in rebuilding mode that the jury isn't out on in the coach's second year?
Last time I checked Mr. Pollard did not fire LE. If you think the football and mens basketball program were being lead by the guys that would have gotten us to the next level you are crazy! Wasn't Mr. Pollard the guy that gave coach fennely a lifetime contract. I think you are just bummed your neighbor is moving.
Originally Posted by Wesley
I have an idea - wait for 2 more years then reevaltuate. That is what I keep hearing. Definitely football has made strides when compared to basketball.
I think that, if you're going to doubt one, you have to doubt the other. Our win ratio was much higher in bball. They're both foundling programs.
I understand people's frustrations, but what's the alternative? We get rid of our coaches again and get a reputation as "that school that cans their coaches every two years"??? We obviously can and should expect more from our coaches, but I believe in guarded optimism.
Last edited by Angie; 03-02-2008 at 06:57 PM.
pollard is doing a great job, look at season ticket sales, and getting the garbage out of the basketball program, and bringing in mcD
At this point Pollard is my hero. He has created some excitement and brought in some classy coaches. I am happy with our athletic program at the moment. If it doesnt improve in a few years, then I will expect Pollard to make some changes.
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By the way, I will be out of the office until May 5 with limited internet access. *Sniff, how will I survive without my iphone wifi games?* I will return all calls and e-mails upon my return.
these portraits are flawless!(04.26.10 @ 06:28 PM)
Wow!! Beautiful light in the eyes!! Fantastic!(04.29.10 @ 09:24 AM)
If I received a piece of wedding cake for each time I heard people describe Linda and Steve this way, I would weigh 200 gazillion pounds. I'm not exaggerating.
After photographing this wedding, I agree. I LOVE THIS COUPLE!
They have that complete ease of couples secure in their love for each other with a bunch of passion thrown into the mix.
Grown men do cry, especially when one of them is marrying his love of life.
Laughter, silliness, and balloons are the perfect ingredients to any wedding reception.
Linda and Steve's guests and family were as friendly and kind as the newlyweds.
Okay, enough about my love for them, I should allow the photos to speak for themselves. I'm sure you'll fall in love with Linda and Steve too.
Click here for a slideshow of these photos and more. Thanks to Maggie Rife, my second photographer, for her great photography. Can you guess which photos are hers?
Royal Fox Country Club
Oak Mill Bakery (Des Plaines)
Flowers by Christine
The Crystal Bride
The Colour Line (hair)(Geneva)
Angelo Castellucci (DJ)
Congregational United Church of Christ
Amazing Bride & Groom. I love your detail shots of the cake :)(04.21.10 @ 01:51 PM)
Those balloons look SOOO fun! I(04.21.10 @ 02:02 PM)
Thanks! Maggie Rife did the wedding cake detail shots. :)(04.21.10 @ 02:07 PM)
You were right, they ARE a lovely couple. You captured this fun wedding beautifully! last but one shot: HILARIOUS!(04.21.10 @ 02:09 PM)
I got a bit teary eyed watching this! Lol I guess i'm yet another emotional man. I hope to capture pictures like this at my weddings.(04.21.10 @ 02:15 PM)
Hi Laurie. I like a lot of these images quite a lot. Looks like everybody was extremely happy(04.21.10 @ 02:30 PM)
These are great!! You captured all the energy of the day. I feel like I was there. Beautiful work!(04.21.10 @ 07:23 PM)
Wow - they look like such a fun couple and so happy too! - and you've captured their wedding beautifully and all at the right moments too.(04.21.10 @ 08:54 PM)
that second to last one is so sweet! fantastic work!(04.21.10 @ 10:03 PM)
awesome. I love all the emotions you have captured.(04.22.10 @ 12:34 AM)
Beautiful wedding, fun reception. I have never seen balloons at a wedding! Awesome!(04.22.10 @ 01:04 AM)
I'm loving the PJ style. The details are awesome too!(04.22.10 @ 01:22 AM)
What a sweet set of photos. Lots of feeling in them. Plus they're beautiful!(04.22.10 @ 01:58 AM)
Fantastic work Laurie. You captured so many beautiful moments full of emotion. You're really excellent at anticipating those perfect times to get the shot.(04.22.10 @ 10:40 AM)
Great set, and what a fun wedding! I love the old couple kissing. And the guy in the red shirt. I bet you laughed when you saw what you captured in that one.(04.22.10 @ 10:44 AM)
You capture emotion and color so well!!!(04.22.10 @ 01:50 PM)
hehe... I'd love to know the story with those balloons! Lovely wedding all around :)(04.22.10 @ 10:20 PM)
look at all the smile and laughter... beautifully captured =)(04.23.10 @ 03:54 AM)
WOW! Amazing emotion in these photos. You really really did an outstanding job with this wedding, and they must be stoked!(04.25.10 @ 09:13 AM)
love the centerpiece shot with available light! and how fun are those balloons. I'm way jealous :)(04.25.10 @ 09:31 PM)
Awww beautiful, I love all the tears. Sweet moments, great photos congrats!(04.26.10 @ 02:48 AM)
So much going on in every photo. Great job capturing all that emotion!!!(04.26.10 @ 05:04 PM)
WOW- these are awesome! one is better than the next!(04.28.10 @ 03:03 PM)
You are the best Laurie! We had so much fun with you and Maggie. Looking at these photos really puts us back into each moment, we love them! Thank you for being so wonderful!(04.28.10 @ 11:50 PM)
what a fantastic wedding with many, many wonderful expressions that you captured beautifully.(04.29.10 @ 07:08 AM)
I love that you captured alot of emotions in your shots. Great work!(04.29.10 @ 10:06 PM)
This is a great minute. I'm sure the couple will love it.(05.05.10 @ 01:42 PM)

subset: commoncrawl


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My kids drew a planted pheasant hunt this Saturday so no duck hunting for us.
I'll be at my duck club near Gustine. It's all flooded up and looking good,,,bring on the cold!
We don't open up until Oct 26th here.. My new dog has got me really stoked for duck season again. I got burned out on duck hunting a few years back, and have probably only been twice in the last 3-4 years...
But.. This dog was born to duck hunt, and I'm not gonna be the reason she doesn't get to go.. I bought a sweet new mud motor last week, and have been re-rigging decoys the last few days. I picked up my calls for the first time in a long while tonight.
I'm pumped! 10 days!
My mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.
DUCKS????........Its DEER SEASON!!!
Going to Wister to set up my trailer for the season got no ressi for Sat.but thats all right then going deer hunting sunday D11 or A31
Trying like hell to live the dream,Nomad
We dont even have ducks here LOL


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If you miss Turntable Tuesdays at Clifton's Golden Lions Lounge, dust off your disco balls, because John O'Bryant and Hilly Kenkel are back! The duo who presented the weeknight dance party on Ludlow Avenue have relocated downtown. Now Mainstay Rock Bar will be the place to for weeknight partiers, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. on Thursdays.
Important People is a diverse collective of area writers that strives to bring together others through creative expression at organized events. Tonight's Important People Forget Their Lines is a night of staged works of poetry, theater and other performances. Forget Their Lines is an investigation of the stage as an environment for exposing human impulses like anxiety, absurdity, self-deprecation and vulnerability. Come to Museum Gallery-Gallery Museum in the Brighton Arts District from 7-9 p.m. tonight to check it out. Read more about Important People and tonight's performers here.
Martinis and manicures might sound a bit messy (I can't go without smudging wet polish while I'm sober), but not when professionals are involved! Oriental Wok in Hyde Park hosts a pampering session tonight: mini-manicure appointments, two cocktails and mani-friendly appetizers for $35. All proceeds go to the Red Cross to benefit local victims of recent tornadoes. Order some tasty dinner to go when you're done. Go here to RSVP.
Find more arts, theater and comedy events on our To Do page, and follow our music blog for nightly shows.
This weekend Cincinnati Ballet presents a production quite fitting, considering our weather – Rite of Spring. With Stravinsky's music performed live by the Cincinnati Orchestra, Rite of Spring is a "raw, grungy" piece that pits "individual against the group; it's kind of timeless and universal," as described by Resident Choreographer Adam Hougland. There is an 8 p.m. performance tonight and 2 and 8 p.m. performances Saturday. Go here for ticket information and performance details.
Concert:nova's Food + Music Festival comes to a close Sunday with Quartetto Italiano. The festival, which featured food and music from France and Germany, wraps up with an Italian brunch at Via Vite prepared by Chef Christian Peitoso and string quartet music written by Italian composers Puccini, Verdi and Nino Rota. The event takes place at noon and is $55 ($35 for pass holders). Get tickets here.
46th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at noon downtown. The parade famously continues through rain, snow, or, perhaps this year, unseasonably warm weather. Hopefully the impending storms will hold off anyway. The route begins at Second and up Main Street, across Fifth and down Elm Street. Find details here.
If historically inaccurate holidays that celebrate stereotypes aren't your thing, check out The Art of Food, Merrily We Roll Along, A Day in Pompeii, tons of live music or any of our other To Do recommendations. Or just stay home and watch Always Sunny. No judgement.
Covington's Carnegie Center presents its sixth annual Art of Food show, opening tonight. As you might've guessed, this art exhibit is centered around all things edible. The reception features beautiful culinary creations (that you can actually eat) by everyone from BonBonnerie to La Poste, Queen City Cookies to Taste of Belgium. Admission is a little steep ($60 at the door for non-members), but you'll leave with your left brain and stomach both very satisfied. Admission after the reception is free. Get details here.
The opening reception kicks off at 8 p.m. In addition to checking out the artwork, electronic musician/wizard Dan Deacon will perform 8-9 p.m. If you haven't heard of him, here's a preview:
If you didn't score tickets to tonight's sold out Black Keys show, there are plenty of other music options. Eli's BBQ on Riverside Drive hosts Downtown Country Band tonight at 10 p.m. Tickets are $12. And really, any concert that also features barbecue is probably a sure bet. The Harlequins hosts an album release show Saturday at Mayday in Northside. Peep our interview with the crew. There are tons of other live music shows this weekend. Find them all on our music blog.
No, it wasn't a somber night of the Obamas watching the GOP race progress. Blues Night brought B.B. King, Buddy Guy and Mick Jagger to Washington for a night of great performances! The trio, along with many other performers, played classics like "Let the Good Times Roll," "I Can't Turn You Loose" and "Let Me Love You Baby." No word on whether "Moves Like Jagger" was on the bill (sorry for making that get stuck in your head). The highlight of the night? Obama singing a few lines of "Sweet Home Chicago." The concert aired on PBS Feb. 27.
My Strange Addiction
It's baaaack! This hot mess of a show seems like it would be an SNL spoof on ridiculous reality shows, but it really exists. And who really knows if these people are truly "addicted" to their behavior, or just do it for attention — either way, it's some twisted entertainment. This season of the TLC "hit" features a man who is in love with (as in sexually attracted to) his 1998 Chevy Monte Carlo; a woman who can't stop snorting baby powder; a woman with 38KKK-sized breasts addicted to (you guessed it) breast augmentations and plenty more sorry souls.
Alcohol on the Internet
You've probably heard of What The Fuck Should I Make For Dinner, a comically crass blog that randomly generates unique recipes (and if you "don't fucking eat meat," there are plenty of veg options, too). Thankfully, now you can find out where to get a cocktail after dinner, with Where The Fuck Should I Go For Drinks. Just enter your location, and the site gives plenty of good options to wet your whistle.
I also discovered an amazing blog this week (That's So Michelle) and instead of gushing, I'll just explain one thing: It has a category devoted to Jell-o shots. And I'm not talking nasty lime gelatin-and-Popov crap, this shit is gourmet! Michelle uses excellent ingredients and ingenious flavor combinations to create shots of pink lemonade, caramel apple and strawberry margarita, all served in hollowed-out fruits. Bask:
Frankly, I'm disappointed in myself for just now discovering "Chloe." This web show stars Drew Droege as Queen Original Hipster, Chloe Sevigny. Each episode is set up the same: Chloe introduces herself and discusses her appreciation of something mildly timely (Valentine's Day, Summer, Resolutions). She then goes on to discuss how she celebrates the topic, name-dropping all along the way. From the unusual accent to the discussion of obscure activities to the amazing wardrobe, it's hi-lar-i-ous. Again, I realize this has been around the 'nets for a while, but I have to share with anyone deprived of Chloe as I was. Enjoy!
Baby Kanye Meme
I've grown tired of this "everything's a meme!!" trend happening, but sometimes
there are decent ones amidst the sea of "What my friends think I do…" And since
everything Kanye is generally entertaining, I present Baby Kanye: The Meme.
Design*Sponge's "Living In" Page
can do no wrong, so I love everything about it. But I've always particularly
liked when blogs and magazines show me how to incorporate style from a movie
into my real life. D*S' "Living In" page covers all the best scenes you want to copy, from Cleopatra to Clueless. Most recently, the site featured Twin Peaks, Almost Famous and Chocolat.
Christopher Plummer
in grade school when there would be "Star of the Week," and that kid would
bring in brownies and talk about his pet turtle and make a posterboard about his cool life? Beginners' Christopher Plummer is my Star of the Week. He's proof that it's
never too late to do something awesome. So if you're 28 and crying because you
hate your office job and you don't know what to do with your life, suck it up! CP waited 82 damn years to get an Oscar! Check out his charming speech here.
20th Century Cincinnati is a vintage-modern (is that an oxymoron?) collector's dream. The 18th annual event brings 60 furniture and decor dealers to the Sharonville Convention Center with all kinds of goodies from the 1920s-1980s. Tickets are just $7 for the weekend, with the sale open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Find details here.
Do you think there's ever been a February Final Friday as mild as this one? Surely not. Hop around the galleries, restaurants and bars in Over-the-Rhine and make the most of this odd weather!
should send five photos of their best work, provide a description of
their creative process and a $10 nonrefundable application fee by the
end of the month. Go here for the application and details.
Crafty Supermarket is an amazing opportunity for artisans and craft-lovers alike, and the event gains more popularity year after year. This isn't your grandma's arts-n-crafts show: shoppers can expect outrageous and subversive handmade items.
There is typically a spring and holiday show, both featuring around 50 DIY-ers and drawing thousands of shoppers. Vendors hawk everything from handmade clothing and jewelry, to re-purposed artwork, to books and paper goods. It's an excellent place to find a unique gift while supporting hard working crafters. Many vendors also have websites or Etsy pages so shoppers can continue to show their love for their goods year-round.
a CS is a full-day affair. Though they typically open around 11 a.m.,
many will show up early, wrapping around the block, in hopes of
receiving an infamous crafty swag bag and first dibs on all the crafts. With a live DJ and plenty of
local food vendors, it's a super fun way to spend a Saturday. This year,
the event returns to Clifton Cultural Arts Center.
NST's back room will transform into a runway where you'll watch some local hottie patotties strut their stuff with hair designs by Northside Chop Shop. Kenneth Wright will DJ the show and ongoing dance party.
Spot someone with the best moves you've ever seen? Send them a message via the valentine post office, and pose for pictures in a fabulous Flashbox photo booth. It all starts at 9 p.m., with the fashion show at 10 p.m.
Get a peek at Chicken's fashion in Bad Veins' new video for "Dancing on TV." Some of the ensembles in the Soul Train-esque shots were provided by the boutique!
To women, nothing says 'I Love You' quite like a big, fat cockroach on Valentine's Day. That's right, for just $10, you can name a special bug living at the Bronx Zoo after your sweetie - because like love, a cockroach is indestructible.
With the holidays right around the corner, this weekend promises plenty of twinkling lights, Christmas songs and the one gift the three wise men forgot: booze.


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27 May 2016
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From executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer comes a high-octane thriller about a family taken hostage in their own home. Toni Collette stars as a surgeon caught in the middle of a grand political conspiracy, who is ordered to assassinate the President of the United States in order to save her family. Dylan McDermott stars as the lead hostage taker compelled to do the wrong thing for the right reasons in this taut drama filled with unexpected twists and turns.
Toni Collette | Ellen Sanders; Dylan McDermott | Duncan Carlisle; Tate Donovan | Brian Sanders; Quinn Shephard | Morgan Sanders; Mateus Ward | Jake Sanders; Billy Brown | Archer Petit; Sandrine Holt | Sandrine Gonzales; Rhys Coiro | Kramer Delaney; James Naughton | President Kincaid
Return to Only CBS


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Equipping the Custodians of the Culture
MC offers the state's only MFA in Graphic Design
"I love graphic design. It's my God-given talent and it's given me a passion for creating that surpasses everything else," says Derek Walker '12. "I love what I do too much to keep it to myself, so I want to teach graphic design on a college level. When MC was considering offering the MFA in graphic design, I let my art professors know that if they started it, I would come."
Walker's dream was realized in 2012, when Mississippi College launched the state's first and only master of fine arts in graphic design program.
"The idea for the program began with the MC art faculty, whose members saw a need for the program in Mississippi," Dr. Randy Miley, chairman of the MC art department, says. "Many of our graphic design students wanted to teach, and you must have a terminal degree to teach at the university level. Other students wanted to learn new technical skills. We saw an opportunity for MC to be the place that helped them achieve those goals."
While there were several associate and bachelor's degree programs in graphic design offered in Mississippi, the state was losing those students who wished to pursue an advanced degree. With fewer than 10 universities in the Southeast offering an MFA in graphic design, the potential for creating a successful program at Mississippi College was clear.


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Put on a happy face! It's time for an organization makeover and what better place to start than The Container Store. With a complete palette of makeup storage ideas to choose from, you're sure to find makeup organizers that complement your cosmetics needs. And don't forget to layer on another coat of coordination with a nail polish rack. Our makeup cases and nail polish organizers are available in a variety of designs and materials, including best-selling clean and clear acrylic. Smile through your morning routine and blow a goodbye kiss to clutter with makeup cases and organizers sure to make you blush from The Container Store!
Makeup Organizers


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»» Description:
Fireside 4 Piece 18 Inch Old English Oak with Rotary Control - Natural Gas
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Warranty Logs: Lifetime
Warranty Burner Pan: 5 Years
Warranty Valve: 1 Year
Manufactures Website


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I spoke to Lafite director Christophe Salin yesterday about the history of Carruades and its growth in recent years, as a follow up to the Decanter article from a few days ago. Here is what he said:
'A second wine called Carruades has been made at Lafite for decades, but was called Moulin des Carruades until the early 1990s, when we changed the name to Carruades de Lafite.'
'At the same time, we decided to work much more closely on its quality. At first, it had very much been seen as a second wine, whose only real function was to better the quality of Lafite, but since the early 1990s we introduced a third wine, Pauillac, which has meant we could further improve the quality of Carruades.'
'But we want it still to remain an affordable wine. This means that we are also technically looking to make this affordable – putting in a higher proportion of Merlot, for example, and using second year barrels that have come from our first wine, but of course with exactly the same team as with Lafite.'
'Commercially, we have been pricing it very low, and plan to continue to do so. I am personally convinced that it is a second wine, and I want it to be a wine that I can afford to buy in a restaurant, to be an affordable good step towards Lafite.'
'We are still opening at 30 euros, and it is sold entirely through negociants, through the en primeur system. We use the same negociants for both, but I know that some also buy it up from the Place afterwards and do further trading. This is part of the success of the product, it is a free trade, if there is a demand it can be fulfilled by the market.' (incidentally, as an aside from me at this point, a few negociants have said to me that it is only Carruades de Lafite that is keeping them going at the moment).
'It is very much a Chinese phenomenon. I have been visiting China for around 20 years, and they have been very quick to adapt to the French luxury market, and consider the top wines to be part of that art de vivre. Lafite resonates well with the luxury world, as does the Rothschild name. It has a good story, it's easy to pronounce, and they like the label because it reflects their idea about France. We keep both labels very simple, they are not designed from marketing consultants, just intended to be clear and easy to read.'
'In terms of quantity, we split in thirds between Lafite, Carruades and Pauillac – but both Lafite and Pauillac are very small thirds, and Carruades is a much larger third.' (this translates into approx 25,000 cases for Lafite, and around 30,000 cases for Carruades, although of course this is not exact every year).
Thomas Duroux at Chateau Palmer gave some very interesting thoughts on how the 2009 vintage is shaping up in the Margaux area:
'Alcohol levels are getting high. Merlot is particularly high, up to 14-15%. This is the classic situation in a warm vintage – and classic in Mediterranean climates for Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. I know about it from my Italian experience (Thomas worked at Ornellaia for a number of years).
'Is is is a concern? It's always a concern to a certain extent, although we can mitigate the problems. First of all, it is certainly easier to ferment at 13 than 15 degrees, because things can get stuck at high temperatures, and it is difficult for the yeasts, but we know how to manage those situations and I am not worried. The other thing to worry about is balance of the wines. We need to ensure enough acidity and tannins. So far, acidity levels are still quite good. We have low malic acid, but total acidity is quite good.
'I think the tannin extraction will be the key of the vintage. Grape skins are quite thick at the moment, with lots of tannins, but at the moment will not be easy to extract because skin is a little too hard, a little too thick. First, we have to wait a little more time to see if those skins will become a little more gentle - and the rain this weekend will have helped. And then we will have to adapt our extraction to make sure we get the amount of tannin that we need to balance the alcohol, while being very careful not to extract bad tannins.
'We know we have a huge potential in 09, but key will be selecting the right time to harvest to get good tannins and soft skins, and then to extract those tannins in a smart way – perhaps at the beginning of the fermentation, and then becoming very careful once the alcohol levels rise. At Palmer, we got 12mm of rain this past weekend (nothing compared to Pomerol and St Emilion), which was just perfect, we think it will help the vines to complete their growth cycle - and are just beginning with our young vines this week, but waiting to give the water a few days to get to the grapes. We are very confident. Won't really start until next Monday, 28th – we will see how the next few weeks go.
'It's a strange vintage, not super easy like 05, huge potential but it will be quite technical. In 03, the berries were cooked, a lot were just completely over-ripe. This year, they are not cooked, just high alcohol, and we need to look for the right balance – and then we will have incredible wines. Get the balance wrong, and the potential will be wasted.'
I hear today that the 2003 Carruades de Lafite is currently breaking through the £2000 barrier in London.
I wrote a story for Decanter last week on this phenomenon - the 2004 is already trading at higher than the 2004 Mouton Rothschild (although I know which one I'd rather drink, no matter how good Carruades is).
Full story here - http://www.decanter.com/news/289291.html - and below, with a few extra thoughts behind it. And I am hopefully speaking to Christophe Salin at Lafite on Wednesday morning to get their take on this.
Chateau Lafite and its second wine, Carruades de Lafite, continue to defy the fine wine market, with prices of both continuing to rise week on week.
Lafite 2008 is currently trading at around £3,800 per case, rising in price by around £90 per week, even though it is not due to bottled until next year. Margaux 2008, in contrast, is trading at just over £2000. Carruades 2008 is still at around £1,000, but it is predicted to keep climbing closer to the other first growths once in bottle.
Gary Boom, managing director of Bordeaux Index, explained, 'Today a case of Carruades 2004 would set you back £1800, which is considerably more than the £1650 you would pay for a case of Mouton 2004. And this for a wine that cost around £280 at initial release. The 2008 may not climb as high as the firsts, but it is already looking higher than Cos and the other Super Seconds.'
The September Liv-ex report also looks at the phenomenon of the 'seemingly unstoppable Brand Lafite', reporting that Carruades has bucked the trend of price drops during the financial crisis, and that on average, recent vintages are now 22% more expensive than they were at the peak of the market in June last year.
'Asia has made up its mind on this brand,' says Boom, 'and completely ignores either vintage effect, or Parker scores. The other second wines are trading at a third to a quarter of the price of Carruades, and even the other firsts, apart from Lafite, are very much score-led in terms of the price. And I'm not sure this will slow down - before the wine is bottled, trading takes place in Europe, but once in bottle, it heads over to Asia, and then goes out of circulation, so pushing the price even higher.'
Why has it happened? Boom suggests: 'It really is just an Asian phenomenon; I suspect it's a brand that everyone is comfortable with, the Lafite name is a very powerful name as is the Rothschilds. So the next one is Mouton, because it also has a Rothschild attached.
'Also the Carraudes label is a dead ringer for the first growth, which is a very smart move.'
Just had a great interview with Eduard Labruyère, owner of Domaines Jacques Prieure in Burgundy and Chateau Rouget in Pomerol. I won't be able to use all the material in the article, and it was so fascinating, that I thought I would reproduce it all here.
I was asking about the differences in attitude and philosophy between Bordeaux and Burgundy, and here are his thoughts:
'We are originally from Macon, and have had a family estate in Beaujolais since the 18C; Clos du Moulin à Vent, the only monopole in the Moulin à Vent appellation. In 1988, we invested in Domaines Jacques Prieure in Burgundy, and have since 2008 owned 75%. It seemed a natural next step for my father to buy in Bordeaux – he was then making wine in Beaujolais and Burgundy, in two excellent quality properties, and he felt that, as a true wine lover, a place in Bordeaux would complete the picture.'
'We chose Pomerol because it is the most Burgundian appellation in Bordeaux – full of small properties, working on a small scale – we felt our background in Burgundy could be a help, and it wasn't too much of a culture shock. It was a great challenge, as the family who owned Rouget before us had all the wine made by JP Moueix, so when we bought it in 1992, there was a lot of work to be done to establish it in its own right. We bottled our first vintage ourselves in 1994. My father's background was in supermarkets, and he wanted the challenge of improving and creating something. From the beginning, we wanted to introduce Burgundy methods and philosophy into a Pomerol estate. I see the main difference between the two places is in their viticultural methods. Burgundians cultivate the vineyards like gardens, because we have small plots and small parcels – and Pomerol is very much like that, so we felt at home. We are not strictly organic, but follow sustainable agriculture to make sure we are not restricted by the label, but are still caring for the environment.
'Our Burgundian vineyard manager came over when we bought the estate to help us understand the soil and how to make it the best it could be, and he initially helped the team in Pomerol. Even now our Bordeaux team has a Burgundy focus; it is all about great grapes, taking good care of each individual bunch. Our budget for chemical treatments is a quarter of what it was five years ago. And we were among the first to introduce horses for cultivation in Pomerol, which we still just use today.
We also simplified the blend – when we arrived Rouget was using cabernet franc and merlot, but also cabernet sauvignon and petiti verdot. We took it down to just the first two, because we felt an overly elaborate blend would mask the terroir.
For vinification, we love pigeage because we are from Burgundy, and follow exactly the same method of standing over an open vat pushing the cap down into the juice. Personally I think remontage is quite harsh, so we do a balance between the two. We have introduced a few other Burgundian ideas – we hold the alcoholic fermentation at 28 degrees for a few days to extract just the good tannins without going too hot. And we also let the malolactic fermentation start naturally, with no inoculation. Rouget is a gentle wine, it takes its time. We are not afraid if malo has not started by April – which makes its tough for Rouget at the primeur time, and at first we certainly found that a tough approach to making wine, putting yourself under all that pressure, but we have not changed our approach. Some years malo is still going on during the en primeurs, but that is the way we work.
People in Burgundy have a lot of ideas of how to approach winemaking, without knowing scientifically why they do it. In Bordeaux, there is more scientific experience, and research in universties as to why they do things. Burgundy is more about feeling that you should do things a certain way, while in Bordeaux you know that you have to do it because the university researchers have told you. So in Bordeaux, winemakers understand precisely what they have to extract in any given year for producing the best vintage they can, whereas in Burgundy there is still more variation between the years because any interventions are less precise.
There is also a greater pressure on individual properties in Borkdeaux – there is the challenge of making the best wine because you are often working as a big team, and there is the idea of the 'en primeur 'competition' every year, whereas in Burgundy winemakers tend to be more philosophical – if it's not a good year, it's just the way it is. The pressure of the market for me is less intense in Burgundy.'
I divide my time fairly evenly during the two, except during harvest when I am full time in one then the next. But my usual week is Monday to Wednesday in Burgundy, and Thursay to Fridayi in Pomerol. I live in Lyon, and have my Twingo parked in Merignac in a permanent parking space, and take the Easyjet flight between the two!
I studied originally at SciencePo in Paris, and my dream was to be an ambassador, but that didn't work out. When I knew I wasn't going to go on to do that, I wanted to go to wine, my other passion. I didn't want to go back to Burgundy,,as I grew up in Beaune and wanted to do something different, so moved to Bordeaux and became a courtier for five years, specialising in the Right Bank, which was a great introduction , until 2006, when my father asked if wanted to take over.
'Having one foot in Burgundy and one in Bordeaux is quite difficult. You have to resist your natural tendency to apply the same techniques, and to keep the specificities of each region. If you try to import too much, it's difficult, and people have difficulty understanding. I tried, for example, to import some Bordelais techniques to Domaine Jacques Prieure – to ensure they knew the exact kilograms of grapes to put in each vat, how to strictly control temperatures, how to write down everything that we observe during vinification and ageing. It was a struggle at first, but now they do it, and are happy with it. Without losing their philosophy, they understand more precisely what they do and why they do it, which then gives them more confidence in what they are doing. Now the vineyard manager and cellar master in Burgundy are going twice a year to Rouget, and vice versa for Pomerol team back to Burgundy. It's important to see how people in other regions work.'
We were the first family to have a property in both regions, and are still one of the very few. It aas tough at first to be accepted by the Bordelais, who were suspicious of a Burgundy family coming over to make wine. And we found it tough to understand how Bordeaux works, and why they didn't feel the need to know their customers. But we quickly realised that if you want to be recognised as a good Bordeaux wine, you have to be sold through negociants on the Place, so that's where we are. To be understood by the Bordeaux marketplace when you are a small property is very tough, but I work closely with my negociants, and do follow through to know my clients. On promotional tirps, it can be difficult to talk about the three estates in Beaujolais, Burgundy and Bordeaux, and only be responsible for selling two of them, but that's the Bordeaux works, and I wouldn't change it. Each region has its own specificities and I am not going to be the guy to change hundreds of years of experience!'
http://www.prieur.com (100,000 bottles)
www.chateau-rouget.com (80,000 bottles)
Clos du Moulin a Vent (60,000 bottles)
'Call me from 12 onwards and you will receive instructions on where to meet up. And do keep on trying if it's engaged, because it's going to be fairly busy.'
Last Saturday, September 4, saw an annual event take place that has been going on in Paris for over a decade (possibly two?) and started up in Bordeaux in 2006.
The idea is for a large group of people to meet up in a public space for a picnic where everyone is wearing white, and brings along a folding table, folding white chairs, a linen tablecloth, silver cutlery, white dinner service, candles, and a three course dinner. The week before was spent procuring all these items... with my personal favourite find being white glasses from Guy Degrenne.
When I finally got through, at about 3pm on Saturday, we were given a meeting point of the church square car park in Leognan at around 7.15 that night, where we would be met by a coach to take us to our final destination. The last time I had an evening like this was going to a rave somewhere near Stoke in northern England...
This year the picnic had managed to procure the services of Pessac Leognan chateaux, so we didn't have to bring along wine. From the car park, a number of coaches pulled up to transport the 700 assembled people. We all loaded our picnic things into the side - with serious picnic hamper envy by the point - and were driven a short distance to Chateau Haut Bergey, just next to Domaine du Chevalier. For us firt-timers this was wonderful, but there were mutterings among the faithful that it was more 'authentic' in a true public space. Apparently in 2006 it was held on the beach in Arcachon, with just 200 guests. The following year it was on Quay des Queyries in central Bordeaux-Bastide, then last year it was in Moulon, a small village near to Pyla again in the Arcachon area.
On arrival, you have to find your group - every table is grouped together with others into a series of long tables that fan out from around a central serving table of wine. We were with the organiser of the event, Pierre de Furlac, who showed us to our spot, where we started setting up. A jazz band provided entertainment - followed at the end of the evening by a Michael Jackson impersonator (now I imagine the busiest man in showbiz).
It was just a great idea, a really fun evening, and something totally different.
The new chais of Pierre Lurton - director of Chateau Yquem and Cheval Blanc - were inaugurated yesterday. This particular chateau, Marjosse, is a family estate in Entre deux Mers and rather less illustrious that those of his day job, but his name was clearly sufficient draw to get vast crowds of the great and the good along to cheer him on.
It wasn't the easiest job in the world finding the chais. It had been tough enough to get to Chateau Marjosse (no GPS coordinates!! How soft-bellied we have become...), but I arrived there to find two dogs, a chicken, a few farm vehicles, and not much else. 'Oh, the chais aren't next to the chateau' I was told on the phone.
When i finally arrived, they were very impressive. Large and modern-looking, like something you might find in Argentina (and not unlike his uncle Andre's new winery at Rochemorin in terms of simple but striking architecture). For some reason, we were only given the 2008 to taste (in white and red). The red was good, smooth tannins and rich firm fruits, although it didn't lift itself completely out of its appellation. Still, an enjoyable wine to drink at under 10 euros (probably between 7 and 9 depending on where you are buying it from), and clearly very well made. One that I would buy to drink at home. the white was a classic Bordeaux; less gooseberry, more cut grass. It was very good, but I didn't feel it stood out in the same way.
Chateau Marjosse covers 80 hectares and makes 40,000 bottles per year. And judging by the number of big name negociants who were there yesterday, he clearly doesn't have much difficulty selling it. I really liked the winery building, designed by architect Guy Tropres and covering 2,400 m2 of clean lines, exposed wood and smooth walls.
The chais are also open to the public, by appointment, and I recommend going to have a look. Although I'm not totally convinced by the press release, where they locate Marjosse and the winery as 'equidistant between Yquem and Cheval Blanc' so as to get some reflected magic of their two names!!
Chateau Marjosse, 33420 Grezillac
05 57 55 57 80
I had a very interesting tasting on Friday morning at Chateau Canon, Premier Grand Cru Classe B in Saint Emilion.
Owned by the Wertheimer's of Rauzan Segla (and a little known fashion house called Chanel), Chateau Canon has been the subject of serious renovations and investments since their purchase in 1996, but especially concentrated over the past five years. Covering 22 hectares with 19.5 in production, at a 35 hl/h yield, on the clay-limestone plateau (the really attractive bit of Saint Emilion where there are high stone walls along every road and you just know that driving fast is a very bad idea). Planted to 75% merlot and 25% cabernet franc (fairly high % cab franc for classified St Emilion, along with Angelus, Figeac, and of course Cheval Blanc). Between 5,500 and 6,500 vines per hectare, average age 25 years.
2008 – Bright purple in colour, although not as deep as some from this vintage. A rich, full-bodied nose of crisp red fruits, loganberries and raspberries, and some smoky oak. Creamy, sweet vanilla oak on the palate (80% new oak, from eight tonnelleries), and insistent but well rounded tannins. This is very smooth, but with good texture, velvet rather than satin, and a good length. I like this. 75% merlot, 25% cabernet franc. (50% first wine). 93-94.
2007 – Slightly lighter in colour than the 2008. But same 75/25 for the grape mix, and 75% of the production ended up in the first wine this year. There is real smokiness to this wine – perhaps because the fruit was less luscious and firm, so the barrel toasting is more apparent?? But that is not unattractive, and in fact works quite well to give some interest on the palate if the fruit isn't quite there – and they only used 50% new oak in this vintage, so were clearly aware of the danger. Still good freshness, and has charm. 90.
2006 – Already the nose is beginning to round out. This vintage had a cool and wet August, but other than that one month, conditions in Saint Emilion were pretty good, and harvest began on September 19 (2008, in contrast, started on October 1). Lovely soft, red fruits nose, very gentle and welcoming. 80% merlot, 20% cabernet franc. Again on the palate this is very creamy, almost slippery, but could do with more bite (has 60% new aok, had three pumping overs per day, vinified between 28 and 32 degrees). This is a pleasure wine, insouciant is the word that comes to mind... 92-93.
2005 – Began the harvest here on September 16 for the young plants, so the earliest in the years tasted so far. 80% merlot, 20% cabernet franc. No need to say that this was a particularly good vintage! 70% of the production ended up in Chateau Canon. Rich, red loganberries and cranberries, with an unbelievably tangy follow-up, gorgeous seam of acidity that comes in with an almost lemon-lime twist. It's lovely. The smoky wood which is a definite mark of Canon in recent years is here a sweet sandalwood, or roasted sarmants over a barbeque. Very, very good indeed – just when you think the 2005 isn't really going to stand out so much, it always does! 95-97.
2004 – Still very firm and ripe in colour. The nose is less expressive here, even though we are back up to 25% Cabernet Franc, a grape that in theory should have more perfume than the Merlot. This has far less obvious structure. The wine is there, but it has suffered in this line-up from going after the 2005. 70% again went into the first wine. It's got structure, and tannins and acidty, but you are ticking them off a list, rather than experiencing them. You can tell it's a quality wine, but it's not singing. 90.
2003 – Harvest started on September 9, due to the heatwave across the whole of France. Temperatures climbed over 40 degrees in August. They put a whopping 75% into the Chateau Canon in this year, and did just two pumping over per day as opposed to the usual three, as there was a high danger of over-extraction. I am often suspicious of 2003s, but I have to say that is very good. Enjoyably fat. Yes, acidity is a bit too low, but again the smoky oak saves things but giving some interest to the sweetness of the fruit. You could easily drink this now. Just 50% new oak in this year, surprising as a lot of people went higher because of the power of the fruit. 75/25 merlot/cab franc. 92.
2002 – Back to a more normal harvest date of third week September – 24th for the young vines. Not the hottest of summers here, but the harvest conditions were perfect. Again two pumping over per day (interesting – does this indicate a change of style recently that they have upped this to three times from the 2004 vintge? Here 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc. For me, this is the least successful so far, the fruit has a pinched quality that is completely absent in the other years. However I have to say (although have not changed the score) that this wine was tasted over lunch and it was really excellent, tasted against a flaky-pastry seafood tart. Which just goes to show how unfair judging wines can be!! 89.
2001 – Wet and warm winter, cool spring but from May very good weather all the way through – indicating again that the main thing wrong with this vintage was that it followed on from 2000. 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc, and 65% of the production ended up in the first wine. There are some very attractive tertiary qualities coming through here – gentle white pepper and nutmeg, although still some very pleasant autumn fruits of blackberries and redcurrants. A good length and pleasurable to drink now, while the fruit is still hanging onto the structure. This clearly still has time ahead of it, and quite a bit of it, but for me I love this stage of a wine's evolution, when you can see how it's going to continue evolving, but there's still lovely freshness and youth to it too. 93-94.
2000 – The millennium vintage, and a similar fanfare to the 2005. Rainy April, and the rain continued through much of May, but June became hot and dry, and a rainy July was followed by a hot and dry August and September, all the way through harvest. So – the weather tells you that part of the glory surrounding this vintage is millennium hype... but the grapes were of sufficient quality to allow 25 days of maceration (2007 was kept to around 20 days), and there's no doubt that the results were big and bold. Lovely rich colour and a very attractive open, if slightly dusty, nose. Classic older vintage mix of fruit and tertiary cigar, sandalwood and mushrooms aromas. This is very nice. Good grip still, but really lovely complexity going on here, rich almost plumy fruits, chocolate and mocha, and the beginning hints of an autumnal mix. 93.
1999 – The weather over in St Emilion was pretty good for this vintage right up to early September, when a large hail storm fell over Saint Emilion, and grapes had to be brought in to save them. This meant that the cabernet franc, which is a later ripener, hadn't reached full phenolic ripeness, and so just 5% was used in the final blend, and only 30% of the production went into Ch Canon. Only 55% new oak used. Even with this very severe selection, a lot of the fruit has fallen away here. There is still some sweetness left, even some tightness to the structure which is pleasant, but very little depth or length. 89.
1998 – Another classically good Right Bank vintage. The spring was rainy and colder than usual, but the summer was warm and sunny, and the good weather lasted through til harvest. 70% new oak barrels, 80% merlot, 20% cab franc, and 43% of the total production ended up in Chateau Canon. And what a great one to end on – still amazing amount of power, concentration and depth of fruit, and still so young. This has a grip and punch that would never let you know it has over a decade behind it – although the finish, while being long and powerful, does have spice rather than fruit, giving a hint of age, and of what is to come. But this is great, full-bodied, dark fruits, some sweet roasted sandalwood, very good quality. 94.
Incidentally, 5mm of rain fell over the past few days in St Emilion, but it was needed up to a point. Over 15mm they have to start worrying. They expect to start harvesting around the 18-20 September (last year was Oct 1), and so far perfect health for the grapes.
Château Canon
333330 Saint-Emilion
I wrote this story for Decanter today, but thought I would reproduce it here, with a little more background.
Louis Fournier, director of Domaine de la Passion Haut Brion died over the summer, leaving a question mark over the future of the property.
Fournier, who was vineyard director of Chateau Dillon in Blanquefort (a teaching establishment) for over 40 years, had taken on the role of managing La Passion Haut Brion in 2007, as 94-year old owner Michel Allary lives full time in Paris.
From 1954 to 1978, the property bottled under its own name, but for the past 30 years, the grapes – located adjacent to the vines of Haut Brion and planted to 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon – have been leased for Haut Brion wines. Following a legal dispute, the vines were once again available for Allery's sole use.
Fournier had been overseeing the construction of a new winery, that is still some way from completion, as well as taking care of the viticulture and winemaking. He was working alongside consultant Stepane Derenencourt.
A close observer of the situation, who did not wish to be named, said, 'Allery relied on Fournier to keep things going in Bordeaux, and this throws the future into question. The last two years produced very little quantity because of mildew affecting the vines, and now this will be a further set-back.'
Allary's grandson is understood to live in Bordeaux, but is still studying, and until now had not been working in a full-time capacity at the estate.
Fournier died following a heart attack on August 13, 2009.'
I sincerely hope that they work out a good and quick succession for the property, but have been doing a lot of background reading into the whole thing over the past few days. I think Louis Fournier was a very dynamic, warm and talented man (I certainly found him like this in any dealings I had with him - mainly in the earlier story I wrote for Decanter when the property decided to once again go it alone). The - alleged - story behind it is that the owner of La Passion Haut Brion had received a certain amount of money per hectolitre for his vines for years, payable at the rate of a hectolitre of Haut Brion. He began to ask for a higher sum per hectolitre, which Haut Brion declined to pay. This then went to court, and he lost, so the price per hectolitre reverted to a simple Pessac Leognan price. As soon as was possible under the terms of the agreement, Mr Allary then (sensibly no doubt), took the wine back under his control.
Mr Fournier was the one with the expertise in winemaking - but of course with Stephane Derencourt as consultant there is no lack of that, and the grandson is (again allegedly - please do contact me if you know him!) studying viticulture currently. I saw the vines this week, and they are adjacent to a plot of young vines from Haut Brion. It is no doubt a jewel worth holding on to...
I wrote a piece for Decanter yesterday on the first grapes being brought in at Chateau Carbonnieux in Pessac Leognan (www.decanter.com).
I wanted to add here some more indepth weather statistics that show - at least for the moment, which means for white grapes being brought in now - that 2009 has enjoyed excellent growing conditions.
According to statistics from Meteo France in Merignac, Bordeaux, the 2009 vintage has been above average so far in both sunshine and temperature.
May 253 hours of sunshine, against 30 year average of 220 hours
June 300 hours of sun against 30 year average of 225 hours
July, 263 hours of sunshine against a 30-year average of 243 hours
In August, up to 28th of the month already at 220 hours, with average for whole 31 days usually 240 hours, so at very least will be average, probably slightly above average.
May 17.3°C against a 30-year average of 15.4°C
June 20.3°C against a 30-year average of 18.3°C
July 21.5°C against a 30-year average of 20.8°C.
With four days still remaining in August, the average temperature has been 22.6°C, against a 30 year average of 20.9°C.
May 78mm, against 30 year average of 84mm
June 75mm against 30 year average of 64mm (but this fell in storms, so affected isolated areas in short bursts).
July 46mm, against 30 year average of 54mm.
Rainfall in August has so far (up to Aug 28) been just 20mm, against a 30 year average of 60mm.
The local Sud Ouest newspaper (from journalist Cesar Compadre) ran an interesting piece yesterday revealing that of France's 500 wealthiest citizens, more than 50 own vineyards.
Based on a survey run by Challenge magazine, the owners largely fall into two groups. The first of these made their fortune in wine (such as Pierre Castel with Castel Wines, born in Blaye, Bordeaux, and now owner of Castel Wines, the second biggest French wine group after Les Grands Chais de France), and Bernard Magrez (82nd wealthiest in France, and made his money first with a whisky, but then wine). Others – and this is more typical, known as 'neo-vignerons' – made their money elsewhere (in property, finance, other industries) and then bought into wine. Some have made their purchases very public, others remained very discreet.
Among the business men (no women seem to have been mentioned, besides Florence Cathiard and that is with her husband - surely there are some successful women who want to follow suit?) mentioned were:
Bernard Arnaut (2nd wealthiest), owner of LVMH and therefore Krug, Moet & Chandon, Hennessy, Chateau Yquem and Cheval Blanc. According to sources in the newspaper, he is rarely seen in either Champagne or Bordeaux, which suggests wine is an investment, rather than a hands-on passion.
Francois Pinault of course also gets a mention, owner of Chateau Latour – that he bought in 1993 for 600 million francs (around £600,000) and is probably now worth closer to 600 million euros, so not the worst investment ever!
Others on the way up in power and prestige in the wine world include Dassault (number 7) owners of Saint Emilion Cru Classe (Dassault), the Wertheimer family of Chanel (10th) owners of Chateau Canon in Saint Emilion and Rauzan Segla in Margaux. And the Bouyges (21), owner of Chateau Montrose in Saint Estephe, then the Ricards (24th) who of course made their fortune with pastis but now also own vineyards in France, Australia and Argentina, as well as Mumm champagne and Martell cognac.
Further down the list, at 26, the Peugeot family part own Guiraud in Sauternes, and at 36 Clement Fayat owner of La Dominique in St Emilion and Clement Pichon in Haut Medoc. Owner of Cos d'Estournel, Michel Raybier, makes an appearance as 75th wealthiest person in France – something that will no doubt have helped him invest a reputed 30 million euros in the new winery.
The Frey family, of Chateau La Lagune in Haut Medoc, made their money in property, and come in at number 90 on the rich list. Other wealthy Bordelais owners include Perrodo, who made money in petrol and now own Labegorce in Margaux, the Picard family (frozen foods) who own Chateau Jean Faure in Saint Emilion, the Cuveliers of Chateau Clos Fourtet in St Emilion and Poujeaux in Moulis and whose money came from the sale of a large stationary company. More recently, Jacky Lorenseti, founder of Foncia, recently bought Lilian Ladouys in St Estephe and Pesesclaux in Pauillac.
Among the most high profile in Bordeaux are Gerard Perse of Chateau Pavie (361st wealthiest) and the Cathiards (336th) of Smith Haut Lafitte.
I am just this week putting the final changes into the Michelin Green Guide to the Wine Regions of France. This has been a huge project, around 480 pages that was last updated in 2007, and covers fourteen wine regions across France, from the big ones like Bordeaux and Burgundy to the lesser known such as Savoie and Bugey, and the vineyards of Corsica.
There are so many wonderful estates in the book, but here are a few that I either added in this time, or discovered through the book, that I find particularly exciting.
Domaine du Tunnel, Saint Joseph
Located in the Rhone Valley, Stephane and Sandrine Robert have 3 hectares of Cornas, 2.5 Saint Jospeh, and 2 of Saint Peray. Young husband and wife team who are increasingly sought after in France and overseas, and their small production sells out very fast - but really worth tracking down.
04 75 80 04 66, 20 rue de la Republique, 07130, St Peray email@example.com - and in Bordeaux, they are stocked in CashVin.
Domaine Champalou, Vouvray
Didier and Catherine Champalou in the Loire set up their domaine in Vouvray in 1984, and twenty five years later are well established as producing some of the best wines of the region.
02 47 52 64 49, Le Portail, 37210 Vouvray
Domaine Canet Valette, Saint Chinian
Domaine Canet Valette is run by Marc and Sophie Valette. In 1998 Marc built his own winery and cellar, where winemaking takes place by gravity. The domain now covers 18 hectares just outside the village of Cessenon. Try their traditional blend of five local grapes – the romantically-named Une et Mille Nuits
34370 Cazouls-Les Béziers 04 67 93 60 84 www.canetvalette.com
Domaine du Mas Blanc, Banyuls
One of Banyuls' leading estates, run by Jean-Michel Parcé.
66650 Banyuls-sur-Mer, 04 68 88 32 12, www.domainedumasblanc.com
Chateau Léoube, Cotes de Provence
Romain Ott, formerly of legendary Domaine d'Ott in Provence, has now opened his own chateau, since Roederer bought the family estate. Always interesting to follow excellence of course, and I tried their red Chateau Leoube last night, a blend of the classic varities of the area Syrah, Mouvedre, Grance, Carignan and Cinsualt. They have done the incredible and kept this southern blend at 12.5%ABV, and I absolutely loved it; so full of flavour, punching with fruit, but also truly drinkable because of the fresher alcohol levels. A great bottle, and looking forward to discovering the rest of the range. The location of the chateau is gorgeous also.
2387, route de Léoube - 83230 Bormes-les-Mimosas, 04 94 64 80 03, www.chateauleoube.com
Domaine de l'Hortus, Pic Saint Loup
Recommended to me by the excellent http://rougeblancbulles.blogspot.com/2009/04/le-domaine-de-lhortus.html . The Orliac family are quietly making better and better wine at this estate, set in a really magical location.
34270 Valflaunès, Pic Saint Loup, www.vignobles-orliac.com
I have been following the first growths this year as the 2009 vintage progresses, taking videos for decanter.com, and David Bolomey at Bordoverview has kindly put up info about them on his blog today.
He did an excellent synthesis of what appears in the Chevallier video, which I hope he doesn't mind my repeating here:
- The start of the growing season in April was in good conditions; there was no frost. To compare: in 2008, there was the Graves region was hit by spring frost, which - more or less - diminished the crop.
- Pauillac was not affected by the hailstorms that hit large parts of Bordeaux in early May. Damage, sometimes severe, was recorded in Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Entre-Deux-Mers, Graves and the Southern Médoc including Margaux - the affected properties are likely to produce less Bordeaux 2009. Lafite's crop however is of normal size, slightly bigger than last year's crop.
- In May and early June the weather was less ideal: there were substantial fluctuations in temperature between the one week and the other, and at times it was quite wet. As a result it was necessary to spray against diseases.
- From mid-June onwards the weather is good again.
Good link to the video itself also on Lafite.com
And from last Friday, a look at how Latour is doing with their quality-control expert, Penelope Godefroy.
It's that time of year again when the Mascaret wave starts heading down the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, and young and old Bordelaise get their surfboards ready.
Chateau de la Vieille Chapelle has decided to organise a Vin et Vagues (Wine and Waves) event on August 22nd, to celebrate this fact, where you can watch the wave and have something to eat and drink at the same time. Apparantly this is one of the dates when the wave is at its height, and it will attract the highest number of surfers.
This attractive wine estate has a chapel that dates from the 12th century, and is (handily in this case) located on the banks of the Dordogne river.
Programme of the Day:
12-4pm: Exhibition of the Mascaret phenomenon by photographer Frédéric Dupuy, and films by Olivier Desagnat.
Plus visit of Château de la Vieille Chapelle, and light lunch and wine tasting.
4pm - Talk and explanation about the Dordogne and the Mascaret, its history, why it happens etc, from R. Marcel
5.50 : The Wave and its Surfers!
And after the wave, more wine, the sunset, music and roasted chestnuts...
Entry is free - and it definitely sounds like an event worth going to.
More info:
Château de la Vieille Chapelle. Lugon & L'Ile du Carney (33240).
Fabienne or Sandrine : 05 57 84 48 65, www.chateau-de-la-vieille-chapelle.com
A good article in the Telegraph newspaper today...
A group of chefs, sommeliers and chateaux has issued a call to action, urging the country to secure ambitious targets in the months ahead to limit global warming.
President Nicolas Sarkozy was posed a stark choice: save French wine by clinching a deal at the international climate conference in Copenhagen in December, or see generations of viticulture slowly die out as vineyards cross the Channel and head north.
"As flagships of our common cultural heritage, elegant and refined, French wines are today in danger," 50 leading names from the world of French wine and food wrote in an open letter. "Marked by higher alcohol levels, over-sunned aromatic ranges and denser textures, our wines could lose their unique soul."
Among the signatories were Marc Veyrat, a chef with three Michelin stars, Mauro Colagreco, the award-winning chef, and Franck Thomas, who was voted the best sommelier in the world. The message was also supported by a host of domains from Champagne to Languedoc-Roussillon.
Climate change has been blamed for degrading French vineyards, with heatwaves, giant summer hailstorms in Bordeaux and new plant diseases.
The signatories said that if global temperatures rose by more than two per cent before the end of the century, "our soil will not survive" and "wine will travel 1,000 kilometres beyond its traditional limits".
"We will have new wine-producing regions in zones where one doesn't normally cultivate vineyards like in Brittany and Normandy," said Jean-Pierre Chaban, a climatologist at France's National Institute for Scientific Research, in an accompanying online film. "It will spread to Great Britain. One can imagine vineyards in southern Sweden and Scotland."
The signatories want the government to push for a global deal to cut industrialised countries' greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent by 2020 and set up "solid aid mechanisms" for developing countries.
According to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, there are now 416 vineyards in England and there are 2,732 acres of vines under cultivation – an increase of 45 per cent in the past four years.
Julie Trustram Eve, from English Wine Producers, said: "There are as far as we know no vines yet in Scotland, although there have been rumours. It's gradually creeping up. It depends how accurate the predictions are for the long term, but some say by 2080 it will be too hot to grow grapes in southern England."
However, Roxanne Canvan Schayk, who runs a traditional fruit and flower wine shop at Lambholm in the Orkney islands, said the French had nothing to fear from where she was standing. "It's far too windy for a start," she said.
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The New Ute Events Center in Rifle likely would be feasible, if it was subsidized by the city or another source, but more than $2 million is needed to complete remodeling of the former movie theater and reopen it to the public.
That's what two consultants told Rifle City Council and members of the New Ute Theatre Society, or NUTS, on Sept. 12. NUTS is a volunteer group overseeing the project.
The 1940s building has had asbestos removed and the exterior given a make over, but the interior will need substantial improvements to bring it up to building and electrical codes, said Phil Vaughan of Vaughan Construction Management of Rifle.
"It's just a total demolition and remodel project inside," he explained. "The masonry has issues, there's some major roofing improvements to do to support the two HVAC [heating, ventilation and air conditioning] units that will go on the roof. Then there's new drywall, paint, flooring and you want to replicate the murals that were inside, too."
Vaughan presented a lengthy, itemized cost breakdown list on the needed improvements, plus a 10 percent contingency he said is common on large remodeling jobs such as the Ute.
"Especially with this building's age," Vaughan added. "We always find things we didn't plan for when we go into these types of projects."
Vaughan's firm will not be allowed to bid on the project, he noted, since he compiled the detailed costs and would have an unfair advantage over other similar firms.
A phased approach to the remodeling was not recommended by Vaughan.
"You've got to have some pretty large holes in the walls to get the equipment in and out," he said. "You can't use ladders due to the design of the building, without risking the safety of your workers. So I'm recommending you go in and hit this baby hard and get it done at once. I know the money is a hurdle."
Recycling the building materials removed would likely not reduce the cost much, either, Vaughan said. Current building materials would be far superior due to the Ute's age, he noted.
"You might be able to recycle a few things like conduits, but I see some scary wiring in there right now and that all must come out," Vaughan added.
Once work began, Vaughan estimated it could be completed in around six months.
"I really feel these are responsible numbers and I'm not giving you pie-in-the-sky figures," he said.
Mayor Jay Miller said if NUTS expects the city to fund most of the project, "You're going to be waiting a while. I think we're going to have to beat the bushes for grants and donations."
Governmental Affairs Coordinator Mike Braaten said the city had designated $306,000 to the project this year, plus several grants, for a total of $618,000 available. However, some of the grants will sunset at the end of the year, he noted, if the city does not act by that time.
"And I'd say we would not be likely to get those back," Braaten added.
Meanwhile, Andy Knudsten of Economic and Planning Systems in Denver told the group his market and feasibility analysis of an events center in Rifle found most similar centers needed some sort of funding help to remain open.
He looked at the Avalon Theatre in Grand Junction, the Durango Arts Center, Rialto Theater Center in Loveland, the Silverthorne Pavilion, and the Steam Plant Events Center in Salida. Knudsten said four of them are owned and operated by a public entity, the other by a nonprofit group.
"On the average, you probably need around $84,000 a year to operate, and the average city subsidy we found was around 36 percent," Knudsten said.
With start up costs, he said Rifle would likely need around $164,000 for staffing and operations.
"Some of the main things we found is you need a liquor license or a bar and kitchen, flexible seating and a flat floor for banquets," he added.
Revenue at these venues comes mainly from rentals, ticket sales, food and beverage and memberships and donations, Knudsten said.
"Not everyone of them charges for tickets, but we'd recommend you do that at the Ute," he added.
One part time staff member would likely be enough to oversee events initially, Knudsten. If a center annually reaches an average of 40 events, he said more personnel would likely be needed to be hired.
"A multi-functional facility is a key, too," Knudsten said. "For performances, there's really nothing available in western Garfield County. So we feel the competitive position for Rifle would be strong."
Economic benefits would include people who travel to Rifle for an event, then eat meals at restaurants and stay overnight in hotels and motels, he added.
Promotional tie ins, such as movie tickets for every events ticket sold, can spur that kind of benefit, Knudsten added.


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point reyes cheese
Market Watch: Sunday Supper, Very Hot Sauce and Fresh Mozzarella
By root on September 17, 2009 12:21 PM
If anyone has the inside sccop when it comes to the Ferry Plaza Farmers market it's Lulu Meyer, associate director of market operations at CUESA. You'll see her at the market, rain or shine. Every week, she'll be giving us her short list for the market—just in time for Saturday shopping. Go to cuesa.org for more information about farmers, what's in season and market goings-on.


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Ceiling-recessed, motorized projection screen with independently motorized masking system installed in the same case for dual format projection.
Flat black mask on second motor-in-roller converts the projection screen to a 4:3 NTSC format by masking the right and left sides of the viewing surface.
Height of viewing surface remains constant.
Both projection screen and masking system are independently controlled, each using any standard or optional control. Two, SS-1Rs are supplied. Or, select AMV-C, a low voltage control that allows both motors to be controlled by independent 3-button switches in a single box.
Depending on surface, available in sizes through 133" diagonal HDTV format or 136" diagonal WideScreen format.
U. S. Patents 6,137,629; 6,421,175; 6,532,109; 6,816,308 and other patents pending.
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Textile Backed Screen Surfaces
In this group, the reflective surface is laminated to a woven textile base. The screen surface hangs suitably flat because of the stability of the material and the weight of the bottom dowel. Good for all types of projection. Commonly used for single lens video projection, as well as for CRT video and data-graphics projection.
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A matt white surface diffuses projected light in all directions, so image can be seen from any angle. Provides accurate color rendition as well as superior clarity. Recommended for use with all high light output projection devices. Requires control of ambient light in the audience area. Washable, flame and mildew resistant. Seamless in virtually all standard sizes.
Gain: 1.0
Viewing Cone: 180 Degree Cone
Glass Beaded
Spherical glass beads embedded in surface provide brighter on-axis viewing than matt white, within a narrower viewing cone. Glass beaded surfaces have some loss of clarity and perform best with table-mounted projectors. Flame and mildew resistant; cannot be cleaned. Seamless in standard sizes through 10 high.
Gain: 2.5
Viewing Cone: 45 Degree Viewing Cone
High Contrast Grey
Grey, textile-backed surface offers excellent resolution while enhancing the blacks of LCD and DLP projected images, even as whites and lighter colors are maintained. Performs well in ambient light. Lower gain of 0.8 allows use with even the brightest projectors. Available on most non-tensioned motorized and manual screens, seamless in sizes through 8' high. Viewing cone of 180°.
Gain: .8
Viewing Cone: 120 Degree Viewing Cone
The most innovative and versatile acoustically transparent screen material. Similar in gain performance to Matt White and does not require tensioning for flatness. Acoustical properties comparable to the finest speaker grille cloth. Washable, flame and mildew resistant. Available in sizes through 72" x 96" or 10' diagonal. Not recommended for screens smaller than 80" wide when used with LCD or DLP projectors.
Viewing Cone: 180 Degree Cone
AT Grey
Offers the acoustical properties of our popular AT1200, while providing the best optical qualities of both Matt White and High Contrast Grey. It is unique in that it offers both a 180° viewing cone and the vivid color contrast associated with high contrast grey materials. Washable, flame and mildew resistant. Gain of 0.8. Available in sizes through 72" x 96" or 10' diagonal. Not recommended for screens smaller than 80" wide when used with LCD or DLP projectors.
Viewing Angle: 120 Degree Viewing Cone


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May 30, 2016
Theater students at Vandercook Lake High School will hit the stage this morning, rehearsing for their first musical with a special drama teacher from Broadway.
Back in May, the theater department won a prize package worth $10,000 in NBC's Smash "Make a Musical" competition. That package included money to perform a musical, funds for costumes, and classes from New York-based teachers.
One of those drama teachers is in Jackson County right now, and will be on stage this morning with Vandercook Lake Students - singing, dancing and showing students the right moves for their upcoming spring musical.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Do you have tips, advice or observations on the best Christmas markets in Europe? If so, we would like to hear from you. A selection of your submissions will be published in Discover and on our website.
The sender of the best entry on each destination will win a two-night stay, worth up to £1,000, at any UK Natural Retreats property in Yorkshire, Cornwall, the West Highlands or the Llyn Peninsula in north-west Wales.
Please add your recommendation to this thread (no longer than 150 words, please).


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MARIETTA, Ga. -- For the past two years the Marietta Police Department has been holding gun safety seminars. On average about 100 people attend them. Thursday night was much different. The police department had to move the seminar to a much larger auditorium to handle an overwhelming response.
More than 500 gun owners, first time buyers and some who are thinking about buying a gun, filled the auditorium at Marietta Middle School. "That may be part of the political climate right now, it may be part of people's perception that they need this for self defense," said Lt. Brian Marshall, an instructor.
RELATED | NRA: Obama doesn't understand gun owners
MORE | Surprising results in exclusive 11Alive gun poll
The response might be a direct response to record gun sales that followed recent mass shooting events and debates in Washington over gun control. There were varied responses from people who attended.
Sandra Wheeler has never owned a gun but has been influenced by recent events. "Things have changed so much, things are more violent now, you know, I'm really concerned," she said.
Lampra Jones said her decision to purchase a weapon had little to do with recent events and more to do with her 7-month-old son Solomon. "Just for safety for me and my son because I'm a single mom," she said.
Peter Ruocco said he already owns a gun, but he wants his wife Amanda to know how to use it. "I'm kind of scared of them," she said. "So this is why I'm coming to the class to get more information."
The Marietta Police instructors who ran the event said it was good to see people take the next step after buying a gun. Lt. Marshall said people wanted to know the basics. "It seems like the number one question tends to be 'If I'm going to buy a gun, what can I do with it? Do I need a permit? Where can I carry and when can I use it?'" he said.
You can follow Kevin on Twitter @kgrowson


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Western Digital Red WD10EFRX 1000GB / 1TB NAS SATA Hard Drive - Brand New
Capacity: 1TB
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Open house on April 5; Mini Golf photos
The Royals will host a special open house on April 5 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
During the open house, fans will be able to tour at leisure the entire Plaza Level and new Outfield Experience area, getting a first-hand look at the expanded concourses, new concession and retail locations, and all the entertainment options in the outfield including interactive games for kids and a main stage for pre- and post-game parties. All interactive games and activities in the Outfield Experience, such as the John Deere Little K, Sluggerrr's Mini Golf presented by The Golf Stop and the new Kauffman Stadium Carousel, will be free during the open house. In addition, the club will be offering group tours of the renovated Loge and View Levels.
Throughout the stadium, fans will have a chance to taste the newest flavors of Kauffman Stadium as featured concessions will be available at discounted prices, including a special menu of $1 and $2 items. Select retail areas will also be open for those wanting to purchase the latest Royals merchandise.
Parking and admittance to the open house is free to all fans, but a ticket is required for entrance into the stadium. Fans may secure tickets for the event by visiting the Kauffman Stadium Box Office on the day of the event, April 5, beginning at 9 a.m.
Here's a look at Sluggerrr's Mini Golf presented by The Golf Stop. Be sure to check it out on April 5!
3 Comments
This looks great! My 5yr old and I have season tickets this year and I know this is gonna be great family entertainment for us. My son loves mini golf and baseball. What would be better than combining them both. This is gonna be a memorable year all around. CANT WAIT!
That's what we love to hear! We're glad you can't wait…we've posted a few new pictures of the carousel…it's ready to go!
Will be great to see the improvements at the stadium
Royals Tickets


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WASHINGTON (WUSA) -- One after school program teaches children how to make formal dinners, and we met the woman behind it all.
Classy Kids Cook is a summer camp and after school program where measuring ingredients is just the beginning. Tessy Medley spent two decades in the financial services industry and decided to give it all up to follow her dream. Out of a garden level condominium in D.C., she teaches kids life skills through her love of cooking.
"They learn math, the measuring, they learn to cook, which is a life skill, they learn generosity, because when they are cooking they are cooking for other people," said Medley, the founder of Classy Kids Cook.
They also learn knife skills, hosting duties and the proper way to set the table.
According to the USDA, when kids learn how to cook, they make healthier eating choices later in life.
Registered dietician Lorraine Butler told us, "In the short term, they tend to eat more of a variety of foods so they choose to try healthy foods they might to have tried ....in the long term if you learn how to cook it make a positive impact on your diet."
It seems to be working.
"The only thing I know how to cook before I came here was scrambled eggs," said Leeza Predovsky.
Now Leeza says her new knowledge makes her think of becoming a chef one day.
And Anya, who is 5 (and three quarters), has it down. She knows how to make fettucini alfredo and how to set the table.
What's really cool is that Classy Kids Cook students are being featured in a USDA video on healthy eating. With pupils like Anya Pedrovsky, it's sure to be a hit!


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This week we remain in the Dreadlands, moving to the border country village of Northgate. The 58th Map of the Week is from the pending Jörðgarð (TM) campaign setting release "The Northwest."
Northgate is the only open border entry point from the fallen Æsir Empire into the duchy and the march. One could, of course, enter the march and duchy by leaving the road and going though the Myrkwood, but the forest is patrolled. There always is the danger of being found there and questioned.
Such issues are, for the most part, academic. Normally, no one at all travel from the ruins of the old empire and the Northmarch into the duchy. The only exceptions are patrols and others that þráinn or Dagrún has sent out for a purpose and who are returning, military scouting units that go a short ways into the ruins to scout for activity there and agents of the Northern Circle. The latter do not travel through Norðhlið. They attempt to slip through Myrkwood.
Key to Northgate
Three more serf housing units and vassal houses are located west of the village. Another 400 orc warriors dwell in a camp west of the farmlands.
1. Fields. These lands are worked by the serfs.
2. Serfs' Woodshed.
3. Serfs' Outhouses.
4. Serf Barracks. More than 200 serfs live rather squalidly here.
5. Castle. The small castle houses the village administration (ground floor), Baron Pétur (second story), vassal Lárusar (third story) and Jódís and Hildar, fourth floor. Jódís, who has no avatar form, has a daytime work area in the cellar of the castle.
6. Outhouse and Woodshed of the Castle.
7. Castle and Military Stable.
8. Northgate Tower. This is a large tower, 90-feet/27 m high, with a 40x50-foot/12x15 m foot print. The cellar is a dungeon where prisoners can be held pending transport elsewhere. The ground floor is the military command's administration. The second through seventh stories are a military barracks, with some 50 human male and female soldiers living on each level. The magical lab used by Jódís and Hildar is on the eighth story. The ninth story is a military look out.
9. Guardhouse. Three human male or female warriors always are on duty.
10. Northgate Inn. The military outpost sees to it that the public room does a roaring business, but inland guests are infrequent mostly couriers and merchants. Most of the inn is rundown. The innkeeper is Hallgrímur, a human male merchant. His wife, Gróa, is the brewwife. The two and their oldest daughter, Tinna, run the entire inn. Meals run from 8 copper pieces to one silver piece. Gróa's lager beer costs three copper pieces per pint/half-liter tankard. The eight single rooms cost eight bronze pieces per person per night. The four doubles cost seven bronze pieces per person. The rooms are badly rundown and drafty.
11. Inn Woodshed.
12, Missing.
13. Inn Stable.
14. Inn Brewhouse.
15. General Store. The store is owned and subsidized by the marchioness. Her store manager is Valgerður, a human female merchant. She employs a sales person and a laborer. Both are human male and female commoners.
16. Serfs' Farm Shed.
17. Serfs' Barn.
18. Village Granary.
You can get the map in two versions:
1. The Fractal Mapper (TM) 8 map in FMP format, fully editable, from our Jörðgarð web page (20 MB).
2. As a JPG flat map of 3000 x 2250 Pixels (4,4 MB), available above.
Both versions are released for personal and commercial use under the Open Game License Version 1.0a, which you can read on the Jörðgarð web site.
The Jörðgarð web site:
Next: The Dreadlands: The Village of Nárgl's Mill.


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these benefits.
If you would like more information, please click the links below.
Every eligible veteran is entitled to a military funeral honors ceremony at their
funeral or memorial service. The ceremony serves as a final tribute and thank-you
from a grateful nation for the veteran's service.
The military funeral honors ceremony is conducted by two or more uniformed military
persons, with at least one member of the veteran's branch of service. The
service includes folding and presenting the United States burial flag to a surviving
family member and the playing of Taps.
Our funeral directors will assist you with arranging this special ceremony through
a local veterans' organization. Please click the links below for more information.
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a government headstone or marker for
any eligible veteran at no cost.
Flat bronze, marble and granite markers are available, along with granite or marble
upright monuments and bronze plaques to mark the inurnment of cremated remains.
The style of marker selected must meet with the approval of the cemetery in which
it is placed. Our staff will assist the family with ordering the marker and placing
it in the cemetery of their choice.
All honorably discharged veterans are eligible for a United States burial flag provided
at no cost by the Veterans Administration for their funeral or cremation services.
The flag will drape the casket or accompany the cremation urn. It is generally given
to the next of kin at the conclusion of the funeral service.
Our funeral directors will obtain the flag for the family.
The family of an honorably discharged veteran may receive special Presidential
Memorial Certificates in honor of their loved one's service.
The engraved certificate is signed by the current President to honor the service
and memory of the veteran.
A certificate can be ordered for each family member. Our funeral directors will
work with the Department
of Veterans Affairs to obtain the certificates.
Standard guidelines for benefits eligibility are provided by the Veterans Administration
(VA), but only the VA can rule on the exact benefits to be awarded to each veteran.
The VA can be contacted by phone, through their website, or via Facebook and Twitter.
For questions about burial benefits, please call the VA at 1-800-827-1000.