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Lost sense of smell often an invisible, untreatable problem
CHICAGO - Mimi Koberlein woke up one morning unable to smell the bacon her husband was frying for breakfast.
Confused, she ran to the shower, grabbed her shampoo and inhaled deeply. Nothing. Two years later, Koberlein, 47, still can't smell lemons, freshly cut grass, her three boys or any other fragrances of life. Diagnosed with anosmia, or smell loss, she has tried decongestants, nasal irrigation, oral steroids and acupuncture. But nothing has worked.
Without scented cues to guide her, Koberlein said she now feels anxious about personal hygiene, frequently changing her clothes on hot days. She often forgets to eat, throws away perfectly good food in case it has spoiled and puts up with remarks about how "great" it must be not to have to smell stinky feet or dog poop.
Smell is often considered the most expendable of the five senses, the one people often say they would sacrifice if forced to give one up. But the olfactory system is far from dispensable; it warns about gas leaks or smoke and makes food and drink palatable. Smells communicate information, connect us to the environment and play a vital role in emotions and mood, arousal, memory and quality of life.
There are no evidence-based preventive measures, interventions or treatment options for smell disorders and fewer scientists in taste and smell research than in other fields, according to the National Institutes of Health.
That leaves anosmics- and there are millions of them - on their own as they struggle with a life upended by a disability few understand.
Anosmics report higher levels of depression, anxiety and social isolation. Eating and drinking become difficult; they lose their appetite, have trouble cooking and gain or lose weight. They also frequently describe themselves as "frustrated," "disconnected," "missing out on something" and "lost," according to published studies.
Sufferers seek validation - or at the very least some empathy - but the condition is often trivialized. They sometimes receive disinterested, rude or callous "help" from doctors and are subjected to "smell tests" by disbelieving friends and family or strangers, according to interviews and published surveys.
"I feel a little bit like a freak show," said Koberlein of Redwood City, Calif., who has lost 30 pounds since her sense of smell vanished. "If a person loses any other sense, there are fundraising drives, public education or awareness campaigns - at least some sympathy for the situation. With anosmia, it's just, 'eh, that's weird,' and people move on. For those of us who suffer from it, a big piece of our life experiences are gone."
At least 6.3 million Americans report problems with their sense of smell, a figure that is likely underestimated because many people aren't aware of their problem until it's severe or doctors fail to perform adequate tests, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, or NIDCD.
Standardized olfactory tests have been available since the mid-1980s, but very few physicians use them, making it difficult to track the number of people affected.
The prevalence of smell loss increases dramatically with age, affecting more men than women. Smell disorders also can be caused by a physical blockage, viruses associated with the common cold, head trauma and exposure to toxins.
Evidence of smell and taste disorders in association with other health problems is also increasing, according to the NIDCD. People with early stage Alzheimer's disease, nongenetic forms of Parkinson's and polycystic kidney disease all report a reduced sense of smell. In addition, about 3 percent of those with olfactory disorders were born without the ability to smell.
Even though there have been no breakthroughs in treatments, some smell and taste clinics boast about outright cures or measurable improvements for their patients. But claims of cures are "unfortunate and misleading," said olfactory researcher Richard Doty, director of the University of Pennsylvania's Smell and Taste Center.
"Every hope is false hope," said Andreas Keller, a research associate at The Rockefeller University, who has studied the hidden consequences of olfactory dysfunction. "There's not much we can tell people."
At the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, where scientists conduct basic research on taste and smell, staffers regularly receive desperate emails from people who have lost their sense of smell and want advice on treatment. "All we can say is, 'I'm sorry, there's nothing we can do,' " said Leslie Stein, Monell's director of science communications.
Jack Hickey, 68, who lost his sense of smell four years ago after a viral infection, wasn't satisfied with that answer. Frustrated, he fired off a challenge. "If Monell doesn't lead the way in this area, who will?" Hickey wrote in an email to Monell Director Gary Beauchamp.
Beauchamp, in a thoughtful three-page letter, explained the hurdles-including the absence of public interest and funding to support research in the field - and invited Hickey to meet with him. The result was the seed money for the Monell Anosmia Project, a research and advocacy program, made possible by a six-figure donation from Hickey and his wife.
"There are millions of people who suffer from this, and I think Monell has a chance to do something in the next eight to 10 years," Hickey said.
Though he missed the new baby smell of his first grandchild, "you count your blessings," he said. "But if I could just enjoy chocolate ice cream or one cold beer again, that's what I'm looking for."
The chemical senses of smell and taste, the oldest from an evolutionary perspective, interact with each other to produce flavor sensations. The loss of smell affects flavor, significantly affecting the dining experience. (Those with smell loss, however, still can often detect the five basic tastes - sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savory - along with spicy.)
Odors are created when objects in the environment release molecules. These molecules stimulate specialized sensory cells called olfactory neurons, which are found in a small patch of tissue high inside the nose, between the eyes. Once the neurons detect the molecules - whether from baking bread or rain hitting hot asphalt - they send messages to the brain, which identifies the smell.
Jennifer Leigh, 40, who lost her sense of smell in her early 20s, underwent two sinus surgeries to help with breathing and hearing problems caused by sinusitis. Her smell returned for several months after each surgery but then vanished again. On the rare occasion when she gets a whiff of something, she said, the usually unpleasant odor haunts her for a week straight.
"It bums me out if I think about it," said Leigh, of Evanston, Ill. "I haven't smelled what my husband smells like in years, I didn't get the baby smell with my kids and I eat food really spicy to give it a taste." One night she heard someone pounding on her door in the middle of the night. A neighbor in her building had smelled gas and alerted the gas company, which detected it under her door. Leigh didn't realize the burner on the stove hadn't fully clicked off.
"With three senses (smell, taste and hearing) affected, in some ways, I do feel it is similar to a disability," she said. "I've had to adjust to being closed off in some ways."


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John Sebastian Presents FOLK
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6-CD Collection includes: My Music - FOLK REWIND LIVE! (single CD), The Folk Years - Reason to Believe (2 CDs), The Folk Years – Blowin' in the Wind (2 CDs), Classic Folk Music from Smithsonian Folkways (single CD).
JOHN SEBASTIAN PRESENTS: FOLK REWIND (MY MUSIC) focuses on the greatest singers and songwriters of the classic 1950s and 1960s folk era. Presented by the lead singer of The Lovin' Spoonful ("Do You Believe In Magic"), FOLK REWIND features a treasure trove of historical footage that has not been seen in more than four decades, plus new performances by artists who are still appearing in concert today. Featuring Pete Seeger and Judy Collins singing "Turn, Turn, Turn," Harry Belafonte's hit "Jamaica Farewell," Trini Lopez's rendition of "If I Had a Hammer," Rod McKuen's classic "Seasons in the Sun," Bobby Darin's heartfelt "Simple Song of Freedom" and many, many more.

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Live Amaryllis Bulb Kit in Tuscan Cachepot
- Overview
Loved for its large, dramatic bloom, the amaryllis brings a bright note from the natural world to the indoors. Each bulb comes wrapped in burlap and nestled inside one of our hand-thrown Tuscan Cachepots.
- Blooms 4–8 weeks after planting.
- Produces 1–2 stems, each with 4–8 blooms.
- Kit includes an amaryllis bulb, cocopeat disk, decorative moss, and planting instructions on gift tag.
- Cachepot is hand thrown from terra cotta and hand glazed in white with a rustic crackle finish.
- For the Peppermint Amaryllis, please note that color of the flowers may vary from image.
- Bulb imported from Holland.
- Catalog / Internet only.
- Shipping & Return Info
To ensure freshness, perishable items are shipped overnight from the supplier and are not eligible for rush shipping. Please allow up to one week for delivery.
This is a general shipping item. Perishable items are shipped directly from the supplier to arrive within 5 business days. Perishable items cannot ship outside the contiguous 48 states and are not available for Rush Delivery service.
View our Shipping Information
Return Policy
At Pottery Barn, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction is our priority. We carefully inspect your order prior to shipment. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement. If, within 7 days for Quick Ship upholstery and 30 days for all other products, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, made to order items, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. We also cannot accept returns of final-sale items which are identified by a price which ends in .99.
For returns of items purchased from your Pottery Barn registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later.
You may return merchandise through the mail for a refund or replacement. For detailed procedures for returning items through the mail, please contact Customer Service at 1.888.779.5176, 7 days a week, 5:00am - 9:00pm (PT).


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With its lighter nights, pretty dresses, and the opportunity to spend glorious days out and about with friends, summer is my idea of perfection. However, I find that my makeup doesn't adore the season quite as much as I do. The moment the temperature rises, it begins to slide off. Primers, tinted moisturizers, and waterproof eye makeup all help prevent this, but your best bet for an all-day, picture-perfect face is a setting spray.
My standby spray is Model in a Bottle ($18), a couple spritzes of which render makeup transfer-resistant. Tyra Banks shares my love of the product, so you know it does the job well!
Skindinavia has the world's best-selling makeup setting spray ($29), and it is available in a number of different formulas to suit various skin-types. I favor No More Shine Makeup Finish for oily and combination skin, which gets bonus points for preventing excess shine throughout the day.
Urban Decay also hit the mark with its range of setting sprays. The All Nighter ($29) promises to hold makeup for 16 hours, while De-Slick Oil-Control ($29) uses light-dispersing particles to deflect surface-shine.
For something a bit lighter, try Make Up Forever's Mist & Fix ($28). It provides the same great makeup-setting benefits in a near weightless formula.
With any of these setting sprays, your perfect pout, winged eyeliner and coral blush will survive the hottest and stickiest summer days.
Siobhan Bentley is a 24-year-old Londoner, self-proclaimed beauty addict, and the voice behind A Girl and a Beauty Blog.


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November 1, 2012
Mike Strecker
Estimated Cost: $65 million
Amount Raised to Date: $50 million
Capacity: 30,000
Construction Start Date: January 2013
Expected Construction Completion Date: July 2014
Benson Field—The state-of-the-art synthetic turf field will feature green and white checkerboard end zones, harkening back to historic Tulane Stadium. The field turf will be similar to that used in the best professional and collegiate stadiums around the country.
Jill H. and Avram A. Glazer Family Club—This space is the premium donor and spectator environment for the stadium. It features approximately 2,300 chair back seats, two club rooms with direct field views, a sports bar, expanded concession offerings, restrooms and a large space for gathering, similar in scale to the Kendall Cram Lecture Hall of the Lavin Bernick Center. It connects to the Club Decks and to the Hertz Center Hall of Fame.
Athletes Plaza—This becomes the quadrangle for Athletics and the outdoor forecourt for Yulman Stadium, the Hertz Center and the Wilson Center. It will be used for pep rallies, pregame festivities and postgame celebrations. It's also envisioned as a space to complement campuswide public areas like the LBC and Newcomb Quads.
Athletes Walk—This ground-level connection between the Reily Center and Wilson Center doubles as an animated game day concourse and primary student circulation route for this portion of campus.
Multi-Purpose Hall—A large, open room on the ground level that allows for pre- and postgame functions. The entire university community will use it year-round.
Letter Winners Club--A lounge environment adjacent to the Multi-Purpose Hall that serves as a display space highlighting signature moments in Tulane athletics history. It can also serve as a breakout area for the Multi-Purpose Room.
Club Decks—There are two elevated club decks on the home side with tiered rail seating, and open decks offering premium concessions. These two environments are envisioned as group gathering spots for a wide variety of Tulane fan groups, community clubs and organizations, fraternities, sororities, student and alumni organizations, etc.
Upper Level Club—This open-air space is covered by a canopy and offers terrific field views throughout. This level includes rail seating on the concourse edge, approximately 2,900 seats with backs and premium concessions. As a bonus, this level affords a panoramic vista of the New Orleans skyline in the distance.
Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118 504-865-5000 email@example.com


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Your Excellencies, Heads of state and Government, Your Excellency Denis Sassou-Nguesso, President of the Republic of Congo, Your Excellency, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the UN and dear colleagues (USG, Heads of UN Agencies), Dr Jean Ping, Chairperson of AUC, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and distinguished guests, Let me first thank President Kibaki for organizing this high level celebration of 40 years of UNEP. The decision, taken at the 1972 UN General Assembly, to locate UNEP in Africa and in Kenya four decades ago was an inspired one.
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Take a trip to Camelot and enjoy a week of medieval merriment at Singing Cedars Day Camp as you step back to a time of lords, ladies, knights and castles. From archery and swordsmanship to song and dance, girls will discover the adventures of knights, as well as learn the courtly skills of maidens. Who doesn't enjoy a little medieval tomfoolery?
Westover Park, Dogwood Drive, Harrisonburg, VA
Date & Time
June 17–21, 2013; 9 AM – 4 PM daily (with overnight depending on age)
Rising 6th graders and older will stay overnight on Wednesday and Thursday, with rising 3rd–5th graders joining on Thursday.
Campers' Ages
Rising 1st graders and above may attend as campers.
Camp Leadership Programs
Camp Program Assistant (CPA) (grades 7 and up)
This program is for girls who want to help younger campers. CPAs assist leaders in carrying out camp programs and activities. Space for this program is very limited. They must register for camp and attend a staff planning session prior to camp.
Counselor-in-Training (CIT) (grades 8 and up) (formerly known as Counselor Apprentice)
Older girls may apply to become a CIT. They must complete a CIT application and attend GSVSC's CIT training. Check www.gsvsc.org/calendar or this publication's training section for more information. They must register for camp and attend a staff planning session prior to camp.
Counselor-in-Training II (CIT II) (grades 10 and up, and have served at a GSVSC summer camp as a CIT) (formerly known as Junior Counselor)
Girls can apply to be a CIT II if they have previous camp leadership experience. They must register for camp and attend a staff planning session prior to camp.
Please note, credit cards are not accepted for this camp.
$55 Camp fee, rising 1st–2nd graders
$65 Camp fee, rising 3rd–5th graders
$70 Camp fee, rising 6th graders and up
$45 Camp fee, CPAs/CITs/CIT IIs
$10 Late registration fee after May 24, 2013
$12 Membership fee for non-Girl Scouts
Registration Opens April 1, 2013
Early Registration Closes May 24, 2013 ($10 late fee applies after 5/24)
Registration Closes June 3, 2013
Scholarship Deadline May 24, 2013
Parents/guardians are responsible for transportation to and from camp. Parents are encouraged to form carpools with other campers in the area or with their troop.
Send Camp Registration and Health History Form (PDF or Fillable MS Word Doc) and fee (payable to Singing Cedars Day Camp) to:
Jeannie Lopez
2140 Ramblewood Road
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Camp Director
Jeannie Lopez
540-435-8480 or email@example.com
Refund/Cancellation Policy
$20 of the camp fee is nonrefundable after May 24, 2013. Refund requests must be made in writing and received by the camp director no later than June 3, 2013.
There will be a parent/camper meeting on Sunday, June 16, 2013, at 6 PM at Westover Park in Shelter #3. Confirmation will be sent to campers/parents 1-2 weeks prior to the opening of camp by email and/or mail. Credit cards are not accepted for this camp.


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In my opinion, everyone is giving Mclemore to much credit for his performance. The kid plain and simple had the game of his life. He shot out his ***! Everything he threw up went in! He didn't even get called for a single travel (even on the one where he took three steps from beyond the 3-point line, got fouled, and made two free throws) And to top it off, he BANKS in a shot to tie the game! That was NOT a good shot and would not go in 9 times out 10 but of course it did for him.
I do believe Mclemore is a good player and probably the best on Kansas's team but he is not as good as he showed last night. Kansas is very lucky that he had the game that he did because without his performance Iowa State wins going away!
No, he's legit. Did you realize he scored his 33 points on only 12 shots? There's a reason a lot of people have been projecting him as a top 10 draft pick, and that stock definitely went up after last night.
Not overrated. Not the game of his life. Just one huge game on a list of many to come.
Kansas Must Be Destroyed
Sic Semper Jayhawks
It wasn't that everything he threw up went in. His shots looked good. Good moves. Good jumps. Good releases. Nothing but net (don't even think he lucky bank shot hit the rim!).
Thought I heard that he only had like 12 pts with 7 minutes left in the game. He single handedly kept kansas in the game.
I do think it's ironic that KU needed an out-of-this-world performance from one of its players to win this game (while we had a collection of solid performances). But McLemore is a stud, and I expect that to be a common theme for the Jayhawks throughout conference play. It is what it is, and he deserves the accolades he's received.
Ate you serious? You high or just special? That kid is a stud! I agree on the bank shot but I'll eat crow if he lays an egg in conference play
You're not giving him enough credit!
Follow me on Twitter: @mjballman20
Dudes a lottery pick.
Let me know the next time he scores 33 points on 12 shots. In fact, let me know the next time anyone does.
He has entered the discussion for the top pick.
He is a stud. But I would be willing to bet he doesn't have a shooting night as good as he had last night the rest of the year. 6-6 from 3, 10-12 from the field, and 7-7 from the line. He was just in the zone.
Originally Posted by CyArob
Let me know the next time he scores 33 points on 12 shots. In fact, let me know the next time anyone does.
That is the sick thing. He could never have another game as good as he had against us and still be a lottery pick!
He's a one and done, right?
Hey may not have many nights where he shoots that well, but he was making VERY tough shots for most of the night. He will definitely have more games where he takes over and dominates.
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Greetings All,
I have Zimbra 4.5.6 opensource installed on one of my Linux box. I want to build only Zimbra WEB UI 4.5.6 and use it, instead of the one installed with the full deployment. I downloaded the Source tar ball and went to the directory [$SOURCE]\ZimbraWebClient and issued the command 'ant'. This created a distributable web archive(war). But when I compared this build with the one installed on a full deployment there was considerable size difference and also there was difference in the packaged content. There was even a difference in the list of JS(JavaScript) files used by Zimbra Web UI.
Is my procedure to build Zimbra WEB UI correct? Do I need to do a complete Zimbra (all Zimbra products) build so as to just get the build of Zimbra WEB UI?
I had a look at the link Building Zimbra on Fedora Core 5 and x86 64 - Zimbra :: Wiki but I could not find anything mentioning, building Zimbra WEB UI only. My Linux OS is RHEL 4 update 3.


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PHOTOS: Check out the 2012 regional finals of the Hooters International Swimsuit Pageant!
MARATHON, FL (CBSMiami) - A Marathon man practically puts himself behind bars after he called the police on his neighbors but ended up leading a deputy to a stash of marijuana in his own home.
On Saturday residents of Keys RV Park noticed a lot of cars coming and going to 77-year-old Michael Csernik's home, said Monroe County Deputy Anthony O'Dea.
O'Dea said he received a phone call from one of the neighbors who said that they believed that Csernik was selling drugs.
O'Dea went out to the RV park to check out the tip but no one answered the door at Csernik's residence.
About an hour later, Csernik called the sheriff's office himself and spoke with O'Dea to complain about his neighbors taking pictures of the cars coming and going from his home.
When Csernik was asked about the many cars stopping at his residence, Csernik reportedly told the deputy he has a lot of friends.
O'Dea then went to Csernik's residence and asked for permission to search his home. The sheriff's office said Csernik signed a "Consent to Search" form along with his 51-year-old son.
Inside the home, the deputy reportedly found three zip lock bags of marijuana in the living room.
When O'Dea went into the bedroom, he allegedly found seven more stashed bags of marijuana and a scale used to weigh the drugs. In total, O'Dea found 110 grams of marijuana in the home.
In Csernik's front pocket, O'Dea reportedly found $1,363.00 in cash which the sheriff's office suspects came from drug sales.
Csernik reportedly confessed to the deputy that the drugs were his and his son wasn't involved.
Csernik was arrested and charged with having marijuana with intent to sell, having a felony amount of marijuana (over 20 grams) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
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ORNL has the nation's most comprehensive materials research program and is a world leader in research that supports the development of advanced materials for energy generation, storage, and use. We have core strengths in three main areas: materials synthesis, characterization, and theory. In other words, we discover and make new materials, we study their structure, dynamics and functionality, and we use computation to understand and predict how they will behave in various applications.
From its beginnings in World War II's Manhattan Project, ORNL has had a distinctive materials science program. Today, materials science research benefits from ORNL's integration of basic and applied research programs and strong ties among computational science, chemical science, nuclear science and technology, neutron science, engineering, and national security. This broad approach to research is allowing ORNL to develop a variety of new materials for energy applications and transfer these new materials to industry. For example, an understanding of how defects form at the atomic level allows creation of improved materials that approach their theoretical strength, such as radiation-resistant steels for next-generation nuclear reactors and lightweight materials for energy-efficient transportation. In electrical energy storage, we are studying how chemical processes occur at the interface of electrodes and electrolytes and using supercomputers to predict how battery systems will perform. We develop "soft" materials, including polymers and carbon-based materials, used as membranes for batteries, fuel cells, and carbon capture, solar cells, and as precursors for the carbon fiber used in lighter cars and planes. We've also discovered ways to improve materials processing, using photon, microwave and magnetic field-assisted processing to increase the performance of new materials while reducing processing costs. These advances have resulted in a broad portfolio of ORNL materials and technologies in the nuclear, automotive, and structural materials industry.
ORNL researchers are improving analytical tools used to characterize the structure and function of advanced materials, including electron microscopy, scanning probes, chemical imaging, and a variety of neutron scattering capabilities. Many of these capabilities are available through DOE user programs at ORNL, including the two neutron user facilities (the Spallation Neutron Source and the High Flux Isotope Reactor), the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and our microscopy user facility (the Shared Research Equipment User Facility—which will be incorporated in the CNMS later this year). Complementing our experimental research is one of the nation's largest collections of materials theorists who take full advantage of ORNL's leadership computational facility to understand and design new materials, as well as processes that occur at materials interfaces. Together, these research capabilities in materials synthesis, characterization, and theory contribute to our leadership in basic and applied materials science that ultimately will lead to new technologies for meeting tomorrow's energy needs.


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Dovetail DesignsFILTER
Browse our selection of Dovetail Designs crochet patterns for beginner, easy and intermediate skill levels. Many of the garments are worked in one piece, either top down, or bottom up with shoulder seams. Sleeves are usually set-in (stitches are picked up around armhole) and worked in the round from shoulder to cuff. Dovetail Designs knitting patterns are also available.
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- On highlighted items totaling $60 or more!
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It can be difficult to write new things about wine, especially if you write about a lot of wines. How can you keep your originality? One wine critic has an answer. You just use the same phrases to describe different wines like Cabernet and Merlot. And sometimes you use exactly the same description of a wine from different vintages.
1995 Russian Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
This wine is not a blockbuster, but rather, an open-knit, richly fruity, expressive wine unburdened by excessive tannin or weight. Plump and hedonistically-styled with natural textures, it merits serious attention. The 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon offers an expansive, open-knit, black currant, earth, and spice-scented bouquet. Soft, round, generous, and richly fruity, this medium-bodied wine is meant to be drunk over the next 5-7 years.
1994 Russian Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
This wine is not a blockbuster, but rather, an open-knit, richly fruity, expressive wine unburdened by excessive tannin or weight. Plump and hedonistically-styled with natural textures, it merits serious attention. The 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain reveals a saturated purple color in addition to blackberry/cassis and floral scents. Expansive, rich, chewy, and succulent, with low acidity, exuberant, pure fruit, and a hedonistic, fleshy mouth-feel and finish, this is a sumptuously-styled Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy over the next decade.
1996 Russian Hill Merlot (87 points)
This wine is not a blockbuster, but rather, an open-knit, richly fruity, expressive wine unburdened by excessive tannin or weight. Plump and hedonistically-styled with natural textures, it merits serious attention. This wine is dark ruby-colored, with plump, sweet, expansive, black cherry fruit intertwined with a subtle dose of wood. The acidity is low, and the fruit succulent. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.
1995 Russian Hill Merlot (88 points)
This wine is not a blockbuster, but rather, an open-knit, richly fruity, expressive wine unburdened by excessive tannin or weight. Plump and hedonistically-styled with natural textures, it merits serious attention. This wine is dark ruby-colored, with plump, sweet, expansive, black cherry fruit intertwined with a subtle dose of wood. The acidity is low, and the fruit succulent. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.
Let me guess? Its not abusive use of cut and paste, even though it does occur in the same group of tasting notes. Its all the publishers fault! No matter, its all good!
I now hold in my hand the truth teller, otherwise known as the Vinometer. OK, that may be overstating the case. But this rather fragile looking glass tube has the ability to measure the alcohol in dry wine. No, its not infallible but it has significant advantages over more precise but much more involved methods.
The most precise method for determining alcohol in wine is by distillation. This method is based on removing and collecting all of the alcohol contained in exactly 250ml of wine. The distillate is diluted back to exactly 250 ml. using distilled water, and the alcohol concentration is then determined by measuring its density using an alcohol hydrometer, usually calibrated at 20C and in % v/v. Other methods include ebulliometry, which uses the depression of the boiling point of water in the presence of alcohol. This method requires more expensive equipment than distillation and is also dependent on the accurate measurement of the change in boiling point of wine compared to water.
The Vinometer, as the blurb says is a piece apparatus that consist of an open, graduated glass tube with a small filling resevoir. The vinometer's reservoir or funnel is filled with a small amount of wine being tested until some wine exits out at the other endIt is then turned around and placed on a flat surface, filling reservoir side down, and allowed to self drain.The alcohol concentration level is read of the vinometer's scale, on the capillary, at the top of the liquid being measured, in %v/v alcohol.
I've not jumped into the terroir argument in any substantial way. The reason is that while I believe there are wines that display a sense of place (e.g. the eucalyptus notes in Cabernet Sauvignon from the Willows vineyard in the Barossa or the influence of calcrete on Coonawarra wines), I just don't see many wine drinkers showing that much interest or facility in identifying the flavors and tastes that may indicate that a wine is expressing its terroir.
Others, like David Farmer of Glug, are even more suspicious of the concept of terroir. An article written by David makes some interesting points, and is certainly worth reading. Like all well written opinion pieces he saved the best for last.
As for being able to recognise when a wine is expressing terroir this seems more hope than reality and it seems more and more that terroir simply means making the best wine possible from that site. After all that is what humans have been learning to do for centuries.
Perhaps the last word should be this from the Beaune négociant, Louis Latour as reported in the August 2000 edition of Bourgogne Aujourd'hui.
"What definition do you give for terroir?
"None! It's an idea that doesn't move me much. A great wine is born from a set of conditions amongst which is the soil. We must simplify! The essential thing is to say to the client that this wine comes from this place. Full stop! This is already the case when we speak of 'wine from Beaune.' And then when you try to analyse in detail the diverse elements of terroir you find yourself with such uncertainties that it's better not to stick your nose in too far. That said, terroir is an excellent marketing tool, that's why everyone uses it." *
* This translation is by Warren Moran, Professor of Geography, University of New Zealand and is from Terroir-The Human Factor. Link to article.
Additional Note: David Farmer's Land Surface Studies.
Regular readers will have noticed that I have challenged the anti-high alcohol league to address their concerns with more than just words. After all, members of the Australian wine industry have addressed this issue in a constructive manner, so why not here in the US.
Alcohol levels in wine are increasingly becoming a hot topic in the wine world. Here in the US there is significant use of reverse osmosis (RO) to reduce alcohol levels in wine. However wineries/winemakers are not keen to come out of the closet about their use of the technology. This makes it difficult to find wines that have undergone RO in order to identify any changes that the process may make to a wine beyond removal of alcohol (and apaprently volatile acidity (VA)).
I was therefore quite pleased to find this post on the West Coast Wine Net forum. The 3 year old post provides tasting notes on a Syrah (made by students at Fresno State University in California) that was made with differing levels of alcohol.
Fruit for the experiment was harvested at 31 Brix (the 0.55 multiplier doesn't account for the 18% alcohol) with a 2-day cold-soak, the fermentation ran for 17 days at 55-60 degreesF. Pressed at 1 Brix, the fermentation proceeded to 0.6% rs afore sticking.
..........the wine was sent to Vinovation for reverse osmosis to reduce the alcohol, from the original 18.0% to 12.8%,and everything in between in 0.1% increments. The four "sweet spots" at above alcohols were selected for aging 6 months in American oak. Each lot completed alcoholic fermentation except the original 18.0%, stopping at <0.2%>. Three of the four reduced alcohol lots finished M-L fermentation. Then given a 5 micron filteration and packaged in a slick redwood box.
The final wines were 13.35%, 13.75%, 14.35%, 15.0%, and 18.0% alcohol. And after the tasting the 17 participants rated the 13.35% the worst wine (14 votes) and the 15% the best (8 votes) followed by the 14.35% with 5 votes. One individual favored the 18% wine!
The comments on the tasting, from several individuals, are interesting and worth reading.
One point to note is a comment by Mike Officer (of Carlisle Winery & Vineyards) that it's virtually impossible to get syrah to taste pruney or raisiny. Our syrah last year was around 31 brix as well. Not a trace of overripe character. I'm not sure why syrah behaves like this but might have something to do with phloems cavitating around 22 brix. It's definitely a physiological issue unique to syrah.
I must admit that I don't recall finding overt prune character in Syrah/Shiraz except for the 2004 Massena The Eleventh Hour Shiraz (Barossa Valley).
Any more examples of approaches that have tested whether or not alcohol levels adversely affect wine appreciation?
After several attempts to post a comment on Dan Berger's latest article on high alcohol wines, and getting the message of an error on the page, I've decided to post my thoughts here. Maybe they will take my comment later?
Appellation America is directed toward a very small segment of the wine drinking population, so I wonder how much thought you or any of the other writers on the "big wine" topic give to the average wine drinker. Is it in the interests of the majority of consumers that appreciate the riper style of wine that you pen these articles?
There are an additional few questions I would like some data for, and no I don't want dogma or anecdotes. Let's put some meat on these bones!
1) Where are the studies showing that there is a correlation with the popularity of high alcohol wines and cola drinkers? (Just pose that possibility to the average Australian wine drinker and see what answer you get).
2) How many wine drinkers buy wine so that they can determine the regional characteristics of a wine? (Do you really believe that Mr/Mrs Average Winedrinker is at all interested in regional character when they drop by their local wine shop to get a few bottles to serve at their dinner party?)
3) More to the point, how many wine drinkers can actually identify regional characteristics in a wine?
And finally,
When is the anti-high alcohol league (Corti, Dunn, Asimov, McCoy, yourself and others) going to attempt something constructive in terms of addressing alcohol levels in wines? No, the diatribes that have been written thus far are not constructive. They are destructive, divisive and elitist. When will any of you judge these wines blinded against food? Wine has been judged this way at The Sydney International Wine Competition for the last 26 years. (Just as an FYI, the 2007 winner was the 2004 Neagles Rock One Black Dog Reserve Cabernet Shiraz. At 15% alcohol it came away with best Fuller Bodied Dry Red Wine, Best Red Table Wine of Competition, and Best Wine of Competition.) When will any members of the wine press pull together both sides of the argument to discuss alcohol and balance in wine as the Wine Press Club of NSW attempted in July of this year? If winemakers believe that less ripeness and lower alcohol levels will be popular with the cognoscenti then why don't they make limited releases of such wines? These wines would likely sell at a premium, albeit to very small market. But surely that is a more constructive approach than writing "The current fad of higher and higher alcohol wines should stop." If the Australian wine community can approach this topic in a constructive manner then its about time that the US does the same.
As a prelude to a summary of the results of The Great Decanting Experiment I thought it might be prudent to review the only book I can find that, at least according to it's title, is devoted to the decanting of wine.
Written by Sandra Jordan, of Jordan Vineyard and Winery, The Art of Decanting: Bringing wine to life is an extremely well presented volume. Chapters cover everything from the historical aspects of wine storage, to corkscrews, wine glasses, wine appreciation, and even a menu for a dinner to show off your ability to decant your favorite wines. The images, although a little too close to commercial photography, are nonetheless eye catching. I found myself impatiently reading the text just to get to the next page to see what other images of wine glasses, corkscrews and additional accoutrements of wine tasting might be found there. Its no coincidence that the title includes the word art, nor is it coincidence that a number of the photographs are less than subtle in their advertising of Jordan wines.
Yes, this is one of those books that you do read for the pictures! And that is a problem because there is precious little examination of why wines should be decanted and what happens when wines are decanted. There is simply no support provided for dogmatic statements such as " In truth, the beneficial influence of air upon young reds may be the closest thing to certainty in the world of decanting. In all other matters – particularly in those pertaining to treasured library wines – the experts continue to engage in fierce debate and friendly disagreement." Or " For a young wine(a red one to five years old), however, consider decanting one to three hours before your dinner to allow more oxygen to reach the wine, unleash the flavors, and smooth out the texture. In short, some patience, and a good decanter can improve the flavor and bouquet of a rough young red immeasurably."
But is all this exposure to air a good thing? The wonders that oxygen will bring to a young wine are seemingly fraught with danger for we are told that in decanting a wine it should not be allowed to splash into the decanter lest it "tire". And please don't "shake the decanter to more fully aerate the wine – a controversial move, to put it mildly" as Hugh Johnson, if he is present, is likely to faint.
No, this is not a book for those looking for knowledge on the benefits (or otherwise) that aeration will bring to wine. It is chock full of the art of decanting, thou.
The Art of Decanting: Bringing Wine to Life (Hardcover) by Sandra Jordan with Lindsey Lee Johnson. 132 pages, Publisher: Chronicle Books (Oct. 1, 2006). $12.71USD.
For the last wine in this decanting series we head back to Burgundy and the Mercurey Appellation. And this time it's a Faiveley. That's right, the last wine will be the most severe test of the idea that aeration softens tannins because this wine, like all good Faiveleys, has astringency in spades. Oh, excuse me. Its more robust than most. Let's see if a little air will bring it down to earth!
Wine #13: 2003 Faiveley Mercurey Clos des Myglands Premier Cru, Burgundy, France ($21.00USD, 375ml), 13% alcohol.
One bottle was splash decanted and the other left unopen; both in the cellar at 56 degrees F. After two and a half hours the second bottle was opened and the two wines poured randomly into three marked opaque glasses while I was out of the room.
Glass A: Muted notes of strawberry and cherry over toasted oak and anise. Very soft and supple entry that is overrun by gripping tannins. Nicely structured with good clean acidity.
Glass B: Is there wine in this glass? Nothing except a faint whiff of toffee. Same palate as glass A ; soft and supple on entry but the astringency is overpowering.
Glass C: As for glass B, very, very closed. Just a little anise and oak. Again a palate overpowered by astringency.
My opinion: A and C are from the bottle and B the decanter.
Reality: A is from the bottle and B and C are from the decanter.
Conclusion: My first assessment of the glasses was that A was from the bottle. Why didn't I stick with that? Well, the aromas in this wine (like a lot of red Burgundy that I have tasted) are very subtle and I knew that I should spend time searching for them. In the end it was a somewhat futile exercise as the astringency of a young Faiveley batters the palate into resignation. But I will say one thing. Two hours of air seemed to make this wine more astringent, if that is possible!
Just to see what a long exposure to air might do I left one bottle about a quarter full of wine and the other was filled with the remaining wine and corked. After 24 hours the wine in the full bottle was still quite fresh and had developed a note of mushrooms while wine from the other bottle was quite oxidized and almost undrinkable.
Score: Wines tested 13, Decanters 1, Non-decanters 4.
Or is it the alcohol in my acid, or the pH of my…. Oh hell, it's just wine!
I think most folks know that I'm not a fan of the anti-high alcohol league. I'm not completely sure why but for some reason the league stirs in me images of The League of Gentlemen. No, not The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The League of Gentlemen. There is something about this cadre of criers of "nothing above 14.5%" that casts a grim shadow over my world. It's akin to the foreboding behind the 'Welcome to Royston Vasey. You'll Never Leave!' sign. I picture myself being locked into a little corner of the wine world with people that, well, just don't sound like a lot of fun. But I digress.
Dan Berger is one of the biggest critics of big wines and Big Wine lovers. I give Berger credit; he knows he's in the minority. Still I'm not so naïve as to believe that all wines with alcohol above 14.5% are great wines, or even representative of their style or variety. However I'm also not convinced that delicacy, harmony, and balance is found only below the magical number of 14.5% alcohol. But this is the thesis of folks like Dan Berger, Darrell Corti, Randy Dunn and others. It's just unfortunate that they don't test their hypotheses. But I'm always willing to help, if I can! One of Berger's most recent discussions on high alcohol wines made a point that I thought worthy of follow-up.
"Look at it this way: The bigger the wine, the more alcohol it typically contains. And the more alcohol a wine has, the less acidity it usually has. High-alcohol wines need more, not less, acid and a lower pH to balance the "sweet" taste of the alcohol. But with high-alcohol wines, we almost always get a higher pH, not a lower one."
It seemed just a little limiting to me, given the complexity that goes to generate balance, that Berger should focus on the relationship between alcohol and acidity. Does he know something the rest of us don't? One way to find out is to look at the alcohol and acidity in several wines. It's a little difficult to do this with a large number of wines simply because alcohol, pH and total acidity (TA) numbers are hard to find for most wines. But I was able to get some data on three wines: Penfolds Grange (Shiraz) from 1955 to 2002; Penfolds St Henri Shiraz from 1993 to 2003; and Carlisle Dry Creek Zinfandel from 1998 to 2005. Grange and St Henri have yet to pass 14.5% alcohol, while the Carlisle Zinfandel has not been below 15.4%.
Graphing alcohol and TA reveals significant positive correlation for both Grange and the Carlisle. St Henri shows a non-significant correlation, although higher alcohol tends to indicate lower TA values. Graphing alcohol and pH reveals a significant negative correlation for Grange; that is the higher the alcohol the more acidity (lower pH), a positive correlation for St Henri (alcohol and pH values both increase) and no significant correlation for the Carlisle although the acidity tends to increase with increasing alcohol.
So if Dan Berger is correct then poor old St Henri, my favorite wine and one of Australia's most refined, harmonious and balanced Shiraz wines does not fit his thesis. Or could it be that balance (delicacy and harmony) in a wine is just a little more complex than pH and alcohol?
"Like the '51 Grange, like a Streeton painting, a Melba recording, a Bradman bat, or a Lawson short story, its part of the Australian ethos. A true icon". - Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald September 24, 2002.
The recent sale of Seppeltsfield and its stocks of fortified wines to Kilikanoon got me wondering about who buys these extraordinary but amazingly inexpensive wines.
As recently as 1966 fortified wines accounted for some 62 percent of wine sales in Australia but by 1984 it was only 16 percent. Sales fell even further to around 7% by 1993, and have continued to fall to the present day. In the 1993-94 financial year fortified wines were 8.4% of domestic wine volume and 2.3% of export volume. By 2005-06 domestic volume was 4.2 % and export volume accounted for 0.35%. Much of this drop in market share has been the result of enormous growth in sales of table and sparkling wines, although the volume of fortified wine sold in Australia has fallen steadily from 27 million liters in 1993-94 to 18.5 million liters in 2005-06.
Eighteen and half million liters seems like a large volume but with a population of 20,434,176 (July 2007 est.) that is less than a liter per person. That 18.5 million liters looks even more insignificant when its broken down by wine styles (Sherry, Port, Other) and wine containers (glass less than2 liters, soft packs, other). For 2005-06 fortified wine in glass (of less than 2 liters) made up 1.36% of domestic sales by volume with Sherry at 0.4%, Port at 0.87% and Other accounting for 0.085%. I'm assuming that "Other" includes Muscat and Tokay which (in glass of less than 2 liters) sold 366, 000 liters in 2005-06. Divided amongst 20 million people that is less than 20 milliliters/person. That is not even a fluid ounce!
With numbers like that its no wonder that the Chairman of the Muscat of Rutherglen group, Colin Campbell recently announced a $1.4 million (Aust) dollar project to transform all sectors of the Australian fortified wine industry. Campbell stated "We expect the outcome of the project will be a totally new approach to presenting our wines – in bottle shops, restaurants and cellar doors. The renewed focus on fortified wines will permeate all sections of the wine industry – distributors, retailers, restaurants, wine producers, and vocational and tertiary training institutions. We believe consumers will also embrace the changes."
Part of the funding for the project includes a grant of $500.000 (AUD) from the Australian Government to aid the Australian fortified wine industry re-brand its products and increase access to European markets. But how much fortified wine is exported? Unfortunately not a lot but in contrast to the steady fall in domestic sales the volume of exported fortified wines has remained remarkably constant between 2 and 3 million liters; 2.873 in 1993-94 and 2.587 in 2005-06.
Where is Australia exporting these wines today?
In 2005-06 over 70 percent of exported fortified wine went to four countries; USA 20.8%, UK 19.6%, Canada 16.7%, France 15.2%. However in the first three countries fortified wines do not constitute a large segment of total exports. Fortified wines only accounted for 0.26% of exports to the USA even though they consumed 28.4% of total exports. Its worse in the UK where 0.2% of wine imported from Australia was fortified and they received 36.2% of total exports. Canadians have a greater appreciation for Australian fortified wines with 0.89% of the wine being fortified; Canada receives 6.8% of exported Australia wine. Perhaps surprisingly France shows the greatest attraction for fortifieds. Even though France consumes only 1% of exported Australian wine, they accounted for 5.2% of the fortified wine exports.
I'm not even going to try to figure out the consumption per person in these countries, but if you want to do part of the exercise put these numbers in your calculator. 539,000 divided by 300 million. Yes that right its less than 0.0018 liters per person in the USA. But let's look on the bright side. It can only go up from there, can't it?
Note: The definition of fortified wine used to collect these numbers is: Wine to which grape spirit, brandy or both has been added, thereby adding alcoholic strength and precluding further fermentation. Fortified wine must contain at least 150 millilitres/litre and not more than 200 millilitres/litre of ethanol at 20° Centigrade.
The Foster's Group, the Australia-based global multi-beverage company, agreed today (Aug. 27th) on the sale of the Seppeltsfield site in the Barossa Valley to Kilikanoon, a Clare Valley winery. The fate of Seppeltsfield has been haunting lovers of Australia's most awarded fortified wines for months. The Seppeltsfield property was purchased by Joseph Seppelt in 1851. Today the 185 hectare property includes the National Trust listed historic homestead and approximately 100 hectares of surrounding vineyards and its blue stone cellars are home to 9 million litres of fortified wines including stocks of the 100 year old Para Liqueur Vintage Tawny; begun in 1878 when Benno Seppelt placed a barrel of the finest wine from that vintage in the cellar and decreed that it would remain untouched for 100 years. In addition to the 100 Year Old Para, the other fortified wines make up Australia's most diverse and most acclaimed range as the listing below proves.
The most awarded wine of any style is the DP 90 Rare Barossa Valley Tawny which has won 14 Trophies and 59 Gold Medals in Australian Wine Shows since 1990.
DP 59 Rare Rutherglen Tokay, recipient of 4 Trophies and 48 Gold Medals in Australian Wine Shows since 1990.
GR 113 Rare Rutherglen Muscat, recipient of 9 Trophies and 35 Gold Medals in Australian Wine Shows since 1990.
DP 63 Grand Rutherglen Muscat, recipient of 5 Trophies and 24 Gold Medals in Australian Wine Shows since 1990.
DP 57 Grand Rutherglen Tokay, recipient of 29 Gold Medals in Australian Wine Shows since 1990.
"Seppeltsfield houses the world's greatest collection of fortified wines dating back to 1878 in an unbroken tradition. We are proud to become the next custodians of this priceless national treasure", said Kilikanoon CEO, Nathan Waks. "We will work hard to ensure that Australia's already fine reputation in this area is enhanced and to rejuvenate the Seppeltsfield Village over time through sympathetic wine-related redevelopment" (see Press Release)
The sale includes the Seppeltsfield winery, Cellar Door, approximately 100 hectares of surrounding vineyards, the majority of Seppelt fortified wine stocks currently on site, fortified brands names including Para, Solero, Trafford, Old Trafford, Mt Rufus and an exclusive license for the Seppeltsfield brand for fortified wine.
I among others feel tremendous relief that Seppeltsfield and its fortified wines stocks have attracted the attention of a buyer and may now have a future. With interest in these rare but extraordinarily inexpensive wines having fallen into a slump, it was always on the cards that they could just fade from Australian wine culture. However the future is not assured. Foster's will "continue to retain ownership of key fortified wine stocks on site which will form the basis of Foster's fortified wines." These wines appear to include Penfolds Great Grandfather and Grandfather wines, but with Foster's record of bowing to profitability one wonders about their future.
The other concern is more practical. Kilikanoon, although they have an enviable reputation as makers of dry wines like their Oracle Shiraz, they make no fortified wines. So there are unanswered questions. The most important being - Who will be responsible for maintaining the wines already stored at Seppeltsfield and for the production of future releases and future vintages of the 100 Year Old Para? Putting up the money to buy Seppeltsfield is one thing, having the experience to continue the tradition is an entirely different wine game.
EDIT: Killikanoon is the principal of the newly formed Seppeltsfield Estate Trust. The Seppeltsfield Estate Trust will buy the assets. The owners of the Trust include Kilikanoon Wines, Janet Holmes à Court, Greg Paramor and Kilikanoon's major shareholders Nathan Waks and Bruce Baudinet. (see bottom of Kilikanoon Press Release).
For our twelfth wine we are finally headed to Bordeaux. Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is in the Saint-Julien appellation; one of the four major appellations of the Médoc region. On the left bank of the Garonne estuary, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of the five second growth (Deuxièmes Crus) vineyards of St-Julien. The chief feature of the vineyard are the pebbles or "cailloux" which contribute to the greatness of many Medoc wines. This gravel, about 5 meters deep, is on a calcareous base of about the same thickness. The vineyards are planted in 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot.
Is this a wine that needs decanting? The Chateau recommends that a ten year old wine should be decanted two hours before serving, 20 year old decanted 1 hour and a 40 year old wine decant at the time of serving. Our wine is 5 years old so it will get at least 2 hours.
Wine #12: 2002 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou (St Julien) ($37.00USD, 375ml), 13% alcohol.
One bottle was splash decanted and the other left unopen; both in the cellar at 56 degrees F. After two and a half hours the second bottle was opened and the two wines poured randomly into three marked opaque glasses while I was out of the room.
Glass A: A little muted with notes of banana skin, violets and dusty coffee. Full bodied with clean acidity and firm tannins carrying a short finish. More aromatics on the palate.
Glass B: Has the most complex aromatic profile with oak, cedar, dusty coffee and banana skin. More acidity and obviously firmer tannins that carry a longer finish than glass A.
Glass C: Very muted. Faint violet under dusty banana skin. Again firm tannins but little length to the finish. Nicely balanced but with less vibrant acidity than in glass B.
My opinion: B is from the bottle, A and C from the decanter.
Reality: B is from the bottle, A and C from the decanter.
Conclusion: After smelling all three glasses I was ready to name glass C as the decanted wine but tasting revealed that the wine in glass B was more vibrant with the firmer tannins encouraging a longer finish than the wine in the other two glasses. Still it did take a while to reach a final conclusion, and calling A and B as the wine from the bottle was always the backup decision.
Common to many wines the act of swirling the wine in the glass over time did open this wine even further. That does seem like a contradiction if exposure to air actually lessened the appeal of the wine. But exposure to air in a decanter and coating the inside of a glass with a thin film of wine by swirling are not one in the same. That thin coating of wine is likely to release its volatile components more readily possibly due to effects of surface tension and exposure to warmer air within the bowl itself. If you don't believe me take two glasses, pour several ounces of wine into one and just a few milliliters into the other. Now swirl for a few moments and smell. Notice any difference?
Score: Wines tested 12, Decanters 1, Non-decanters 4.
Those who favor lower alcohol in their wines point, not infrequently, to European wines as the saving grace against the onslaught of high alcohol wines from the New World. And in fairness the argument does have some merit as many white wines particularly those with residual sugar, including the sweeter Riesling styles, do have quite low alcohol. But even if a wine does have high alcohol the anti-high alcohol league has remedies. All you have to do is run it through reverse osmosis or a spinning cone and watch the alcohol drop off like the extra pounds on a dieting Oprah! The problem is that both practices "are not currently permitted in the production of wine for sale within the European Union", and that has the potential to create significant problems. In recent weeks wines have been banned from sale in the UK because their lower alcohol levels were achieved by these practices. Sovio, a semi-sparkling Spanish wine, bottled at 8% abv, had been subjected to spinning cone treatment, and the French Plume wine range sold by Tesco achieved its alcohol levels by reverse osmosis.
What to do, what to do? Well, wines from the USA and Australia (pending agreement) that have undergone alcohol reduction by either treatment can be sold in the UK due to bilateral agreements with the EU. But that subjects EU wines to unfair competition from both non-EU nations. To address the problem the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) in the UK is seeking a temporary derogation under the appropriate EC Council Regulation to allow lower alcohol wines made using these two practices to be marketed and sold in the UK.
Problem solved? Not really because the European Union will need to develop uniform legislation to address this problem as its member states appear to have different solutions to the dilemma. Both reverse osmosis (in France) and spinning-cone technology (in Spain) are under experimental use but the wines made using these processes can only be sold in their country of origin. However, according to French producers, wines made using reverse osmosis are being sold and marketed in the Netherlands, Austria and Germany.
Getting lower alcohol wines to consumers in Europe, especially lower alcohol European wines, looks like being a tricky process. Who would have thought that would be the case?
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Keep the Oven Off! 15 Great Meals to Cook on the Grill
Recipes from The Kitchn
If the thought of turning on your oven this summer makes you cringe, head outside and fire up the grill instead. From salad to seafood, must-have juicy burgers and rotisserie chicken, even pizza and dessert, here's 15 delicious dinners (and desserts!) you've got to try this summer.
- Grilled Chipotle Lime Cauliflower Steaks
- Grilled Oysters
- Thai Grilled Steak Salad
- Garlicky Grilled Kale Salad with Grilled Bread
- Grilled Artichokes
Korean Bulgogi-Style Grilled Steak
- Blackened Beer-Brined Chicken Breasts
- Rotisserie Chicken on the Grill
- Grilled Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin
- Korean Bolgogi-Style Grilled Steak
- Grilled Pizza
Grilled Figs with Honey and Mascarpone
- Grilled Juicy Burgers
- Whole Grilled Branzino
- Grilled Figs with Honey and Mascarpone
- Grilled S'mores Banana Boats
- Grilled Peaches with Bourbon Vanilla Whipped Cream
It's Reader Request Week at The Kitchn!
This post was requested by mginwa and ceweller.
(Image credits: Faith Durand; Emma Christensen; Anjali Prasertong; Sara Kate Gillingham; Chris Perez; Nealey Dozier; Nick Evans; Neighbor Food ; Elizabeth Passarella)


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WASHINGTON - Pentagon chief Leon Panetta has lifted the military's ban on women serving in combat, a move that will allow women into hundreds of thousands of front-line positions and potentially elite commando jobs, a senior Defense official said Wednesday.
The move, which was recommended by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, overturns a 1994 rule banning women from such roles, said a Pentagon official speaking on anonymity because the decision has not been announced publicly.
Panetta's decision gives the military services until January 2016 to seek special exceptions if they believe any positions must remain closed to women. It comes after more than 10 years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The official said the services will develop plans for allowing women to seek the combat positions. Some jobs may open as soon as this year. Assessments for others, such as special operations forces, including Navy SEALS and the Army's Delta Force, may take longer.
The official said the military chiefs must report back to Panetta with their initial implementation plans by May 15. The announcement on Panetta's decision is not expected until Thursday, so the official spoke on condition of anonymity.
Panetta's move expands the Pentagon's action nearly a year ago to open about 14,500 combat positions to women, nearly all of them in the Army. This decision could open more than 230,000 jobs, many in Army and Marine infantry units, to women.
In recent years the necessities of war propelled women into jobs as medics, military police and intelligence officers that were sometimes attached - but not formally assigned - to units on the front lines.
Women comprise 14% of the 1.4 million active military personnel.
Contributing: Associated Press


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Paul Rhoads Weekly Media Conference
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Out of Stock
Item # SNZ0193
Don't worry though, we have a lot more Hardtail in stock than that.View Similar Products
Santa Cruz Bicycles Highball Carbon - 2012 $0.00
Greyhound, Moscow Mule, and Screwdriver are some names for highball drinks that seem appropriate as metaphors for the Santa Cruz Highball. It's a full-carbon hardtail (the first for Santa Cruz) that answers the call for a lightweight hard-charging race bike with their logo on the downtube. The folks at Santa Cruz have been practicing their craft with carbon fiber for their latest round of full suspension designs, and here they put their knowledge and experience to good measure to create a superlight, race-ready 29er hardtail.
The advantages of the bigger wheels are hard to dismiss when your number one priority is speed. The larger diameter hoops have a reduced approach angle in comparison to smaller 26" wheels. This is the key to their fast, smooth rolling capability. This is also why the Santa Cruz hardtail had to be a backwards evolution of their light yet plush Tallboy 29er full suspension bike. The Tallboy was something of a revelation for Santa Cruz and for us here at Competitive Cyclist. The demand has nearly outstripped availability. As a 29er and being one of our best selling mountain bikes ever, it's certain that they've got big wheels dialed.
The technology is anything but backwards. Santa Cruz employs all the same molding techniques among their carbon fiber frames to make them superior to alloy. They achieve groundbreaking strength and stiffness through three unique carbon processes: (1) By using a one-piece lay-up for the front triangle, as opposed to assembling joints that require bonding or wrapping, Santa Cruz eliminates excess material and weight. (2) This one-piece process incorporates continuous fibers around the tube junctions, resulting in a structure that can distribute loads and absorb impact energy better. (3) Their net shape lay-up and fiber compaction ensures that Santa Cruz can control the outside shape as well as the inside shape and that the layup is compacted to promote an optimum cloth/resin ratio. The frame looks as good on the inside as it does on the outside. Even the cable and hose guides are incorporated into the original layup. There's nary a rivet to be found.
To enhance stiffness and tracking, the Highball utilizes the same mixed tapered headset as the Blur LT Carbon and Tallboy. This headset format offers benefits and a few options that are worth considering. The zero stack upper bearing assembly has a minimal stack height to allow you to get the handlebars low enough for a proper cross-country position. And while we might normally pair this frame with a traditional 1.5" lower cup that would accept a tapered steerer, there is always the option of running a zero stack lower bearing assembly with a straight 1-1/8" steerer to steepen the head angle a bit if that's the way you like it. As is, with a traditional cup on the bottom, the Highball has a 70.5° head angle.
The Highball tubes don't stray too far from simple rounded shapes. To us, it means that the design and engineering team at Santa Cruz were bent to make this thing all business. While its demure styling has its own quiet appeal, it's obvious that the Highball is all about function. And that purpose has to do with putting the power to the ground. The chainstays and seat tube are a great example, where they've been optimized for supreme uphill traction and a nimble feel in twisty singletrack. The shortish 17.3" stays are possible because Santa Cruz put a subtle bend in the seat tube a few inches above the bottom bracket for more rear tire clearance. If you'd noticed the 71° seat angle in the geometry chart, this is the reason. Fear not, your normal seat position and range of adjustment will not be affected compared to how you'd ride with a standard 73° angle. The slacker seat angle was chosen to account for the curvature in the seat tube.
The Santa Cruz Highball is available in Medium through XX-Large sizes and two colors -- Gloss Carbon Red and Matte Carbon Grey. It has a tapered head tube (44mm to 49mm ID) and requires a mixed tapered 1-1/8" to 1.5" headset. It also takes a 30.9mm seatpost and a high clamp, top-pull front derailleur. The QR compatible rear dropouts have ISO disc brake tabs.
For those of you intent on using SRAM XX, know that the Highball has ample clearance to run the narrower Q156 crank.
Please Note: The frame has a two year warranty against manufacturing defects. US Santa Cruz dealers are prohibited from shipping Santa Cruz bicycles outside of the United States.
- Proprietary one-piece layup ensures the maximum amount of stiffness coupled with the lightest weight possible
- Short chainstays make for a nimble, quick-handling race frame
- Two water bottle mounts keep hydration close at hand—none of that backpack business for you
- Designed around a 100-millimeter fork but will accept up to a 120-millimeter
Tech Specs
View more Hardtail
sizing chart
Bike size by rider height
Geometry chart
Santa Cruz
Seat Tube
Effective Top Tube
|Stand Over
Head Tube
Head Tube Angle
Seat Tube Angle
Bottom Bracket Height
Reviews & Community
When are medium sizes going to show up at...
When are medium sizes going to show up at this price?
Swizzle Track Eaten by Highball
Once Again, the Highball rules the single track. 6000 VF on this ride and the Highball left me pleasantly satiated, Once Again.
Ride ON!
She flies
I didn't get a chance to compare this to other carbon hardtails, but I own a Nomad-c and Tallboy-c and had high expectations of this as well. I was not disappointed.
I had planned to transfer parts from my Fisher Paragon, but instead opted to go a little heavier. Reba RLT Ti 20mm fork, X.9 1x9 drivetrain, Sun Ringle Charger Expert wheelset with heavy tires. It tips the scale at 23 pounds, yet doesn't "feel" heavier than my 20 pound One9. The bottom bracket area is super stiff which makes this thing launch when you mash the pedals.
I've ridden a fair mix of flowy single track, fire roads and semi-chunky downhill(ish) terrain. This bike excels on the trail and rides as fast as it feels. The only issues I've come across is the low bottom bracket leading to challenges on some of the ledge trails where the uphill pedal tends to hit the side of the trail and in narrow gully trails. I run my One9 super low as well (the EBB allows you to run it higher or lower in the rotation), so it wasn't unexpected. What it gives you in cornering and stability is worth it to me.
It's nice to see SC venturing out of their comfort zone and nailing it as well as they did.
Natural habitat
23 pounds with a stout build - Reba RLT Ti 20mm, X.9 1x9, Sun Ringle Charger wheelset and heavy tires.
That is a nice ride. Very helpful post. I need a hefty build and am looking to drop some weight. Sounds like Carbon Highball is the way to go (insert "Highball with the Devil" here).
Highball frame
2 pounds, 9 ounces - large
Snake River Range Single Track
She RIPS!
Light Weight
This is a new build and one of the best 29er hardtails I have ever spent my days riding trail on.
Blows away the Superfly and is "point and shoot" like the Stumpjumper.
Built up with 2x10 XO and XX (crankset), Fox RLC 29 Float fork, and FSA stem/bars the bike weighs in at 20.5 lbs.
Size: I am 5'11" but have a 33" inseam and long arms, I am on the (L) frameset with a 110 stem. Perfect.
Descending:The bike is very well balanced and very stable on the knarliest hairball chowdered trail you can find. Steep fast loose = No Worries
Climbing: like a goat. Again, well balanced and seems to gravitate up the trail. Running No Tubes wheelset with low pressure (24-26 psi) it flies uphill. Light is Right.
I have spent a year on a Superfly, and 1/2 a season on a Stumpjumper S-Works. This bike runs circles around both of these bikes. Very pleased with its performance. :thumbsup:
The Highball is not as slack and sluggish as the Superfly so it tracks better, climbs better, is more reactive making it a real point and shoot bike. The Superfly was slow and a very soft ride. That being said the Highball is not quarki like the Felt it is really stable and smooth, the bike really flows down the trail. I like the fact that I don't have to horse it around much, just think and it reacts. The tail is stiffer than the Superfly, more like the Stumpjumper S-Works so it accelerates quickly which I enjoy. I have several 5 hour rides on it so far and it does not abuse me.
Ride ON!


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A federal judge ordered HCS Medical Staffing, a Milwaukee-based health care staffing firm, to pay $148,000 to settle a pregnancy discrimination case, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission reported March 2.
The lawsuit alleged HCS owner Charles Sisson discriminated against Roxy Leger, the company's bookkeeper, when he made offensive comments about her pregnancy and fired her because she needed to take maternity leave following the birth of her son, according to the EEOC.
The court entered a default judgment against HCS on Feb. 17 after the company failed to respond to a court order to retain an attorney, according to the EEOC. The court ordered HCS to pay Leger back pay plus pre-judgment interest in the sum of $48,340, compensatory damages in the sum of $50,000 and punitive damages amounting to $50,000 for a total of $148,340.
Judge J.P. Stadtmueller found that HCS' owner referred to Leger's pregnancy as a joke; insisted that maternity leave should last no more than a couple of days; suggested that Leger's pre-natal appointments were a ruse for additional time off or for money; and gave Leger an offensive diagram of a machine which would allow Leger to return from her maternity leave sooner, according to the EEOC.
HCS terminated Leger's employment and health insurance while she was still in the hospital recovering from a Caesarean section, the EEOC reported. Leger learned of her termination days later by certified mail.
A call to HCS for comment was not returned.
"The conduct at issue in this case was deplorable," said EEOC Regional Attorney John Hendrickson. "Pregnancy discrimination is sex discrimination. It is flatly prohibited by law. Working to stop it remains a high priority for the EEOC."
Filed by Staffing Industry Analysts, a sister company of Workforce Management. To comment, email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Stay informed and connected. Get human resources news and HR features via Workforce Management's Twitter feed or RSS feeds for mobile devices and news readers.


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"A long time ago, I was a living, breathing human being. I went mad. I served my enemies. They became my only friends.Since then, I've traveled back and forth across this galaxy, and out to the spaces between galaxies - a greater reach than any human before me. You have asked me to tell you about that time. Since you are the last true Reclaimer, I must obey. Are you recording? Good. Because my memory is failing rapidly. I doubt I'll be able to finish the story.
"Once, on my birth-world, a world I knew as Erde-Tyrene, and which now is called Earth, my name was Chakas...."
In the wake of apparent self-destruction of the Forerunner empire, two humans - Chakas and Riser - are like flotsam washed up on very strange shores indeed. Captured by the Master Builder, misplaced during a furious battle in space, they now find themselves on an inverted world where horizons rise into the sky, and where humans of all kinds are trapped in a perilous cycle of horror and neglect. For they have become both research animals and strategic pawns in a cosmic game whose madness knows no end - a game of ancient vengeance between the powers who seeded the galaxy with life, and the Forerunners who expect to inherit their sacred Mantle of duty to all living things.
In the company of a young girl and an old man, Chakas begins an epic journey across a lost and damaged Halo in search of a way home, an explanation for the warrior spirits rising up within, and for the Librarian's tampering with human destiny. This journey will take them into the Palace of Pain, the domain of a powerful and monstrous intelligence who claims to be the Last Precursor, and who now has control of both this Halo and the fate of Forerunners and Humans alike.
Called the Captive by Forerunners, and the Primordial by ancient human warriors, this intelligence has taken charge of, and retasked, the Master Builder's cruel researches into the Flood - which it may have itself unleashed on the galaxy more than 10,000 years before.
Listen to more stories of Halo.
©2012 Microsoft Corporation (P)2012 Macmillan Audio
Amazon Fan and Reviewer
"Once upon a time on a Halo far far away..."
I listened to the first book Halo Cryptum which told of a story of Chakas (a human), Riser (a hobbit like humanoid), and Bornstellar Makes Everlasting. However, midway through the first book, Chakas and Riser are separated from Bornstellar and their fate unknown. In Halo Primordium, we discover what did happen to Chakas and Riser. They had crash landed onto Halo Installation 07. This book is their story.
Halo Primodium...oh my goodness. While the story meanders in the first half with Chakas trying to make sense of this Halo world he crash landed on and the odd humans he's come in contact, the story rapidly ramps up to some eye-opening experiences that lead to big OMG moments all Halo game fans would recognize.
Tim Dadabo freaking excelled in his narration and storytelling style. I had no problems engaging, especially when he slipped into his character voice of 343 Guilty Spark. The final chapters of Halo Primordium are worth the price of the book alone as it became more of a Halo production than just a reading of a story. Great stuff! Kudos to Tim and the studio staff for doing what they did. It was pure awesome to my ears.
Greg Bear Halo stories have turned up to be quite amazing. While his stories take place a long time ago in galaxies far far away, he weaves the legends that become the foundation of Halo lore of today. Honestly, Forerunners are just as baffling back then as they are as mysterious in current Halo timeline.
In Primordium, we learn more of the Flood and the Gravemind. Very creepy, very mysterious. We also learn more of the humans of the past that had fought against Forerunners and against the Flood.
By the end of the book, you can't help but think - wow, we humans are in so much trouble in the Halo Universe.
I eagerly await the third book in the series Halo Silentium and truly hope that Tim Dadabo performs that book as well.
The book is read by 343 Guilty Spark which once you get to certain point makes the book all the more meaningful for fans of Halo.
It reminds me a lot of Dune at some points.
Tim was fantastic.
Yes it was and I did.
We need to get all of these the day they come out! To bad there is only one left in the series.
"Greg Bear, what happened?"
If you're a completionist, then get it. For everyone else, just skip it and read the wikipedia article. You are not missing anything important by skipping over this one.
The story is horrible. Nothing happens for the first 80% of the book, you listen about them wandering around halo, that is it.
The narration of Riser is incredibly annoying, it was very hard to finish listening.
I was happy when it was over.
This was by far the worst Halo book, I've listened to most of them. Fortunately the rest are mostly great. Greg Bear is likely embarrassed to have his name on the cover of this.
"Great for a Halo fanatic"
Halo Primordium is a bit confusing, real fast paced and i get lost a bit every now and then, but the attention to detail is great. real detail and step by step in a way in some of the story. great story overall.
"Tim Dadabo's narration really helps"
As an avid fan of the game this novel is based on, I have to say that having Tim Dadabo narrating this story is a pleasure. He's able to give every character a very distinctive voice that makes following the story very easy. Also his narration really helps you get through the early slower parts of the book. Now even though I haven't read the entire book yet (I'm 80 percent of the way through reading it while listening) I eagerly await the end of the book when I'm positive a character who is very famous in the Halo novels will show up. And once Mr. Dadabo slips into that voice my face will be full of fanboy glee.
The second half of the story once the main characters reach the camp and meet up with Chakas' old friend Riser is where the story REALLY starts to pick up speed. I'm finding it very hard to put the book, and the audiobook, down at this point. I can't wait to finish this book and see where it all leads.
This is my first performance by him
yes, but I didn't
Get the audiobook. Without it I don't know if I would have gotten through this book as fast as I did. Especially since the first half of the book is just walking around and talking about things, with very little action (but great character development).
"Haven't Finished It Yet"
Can't say, but the narrator Timothy Dadabo made the whole story fun to listen to.
Riser - I think I had a relative who he reminds me of.
Don't think so, but I will see if he has performed something else I might want to listen to.
A storehouse of life, varied, flawed, and yet noble.
Greg Bear doesn't hold back on making broad settings speak broad lessons. A great story that is a great yarn.
"Awesome is an understatement."
I don't play the games but I read/listen to the books and there isn't one that has disappointed me. This particular series is just awesome. I can't wait for the next book!
"Good continuation of the first book"
When the Didact appears.
The last.
When the primordium meets its fate.
Another good addition to the Halo Universe, and my addiction there in.
"Bleeding awesome"
yes. its very well written and the vocal talent is incredible
Guilty sparks emergence durning the narrative to his voice and personality made it tie in so well with the games.
personality and delivery
laughed and cant wait for the next book
keep making audio books like this. no seriously keep making them like this.
"Couldn't finish. Done with series"
I tried. This book had a few interesting situations, but in the end it didn't feel like there was a point. I've given up. The book just reminded me of the several really boring bits in the JRR Tolkein books without any of the endearing or exciting parts to draw me on.
I kept saying to myself, "are the characters actually going someplace?" I've got too many other books in my library to stick this series out.
How is it possible to mess up a halo universe book ??? Well it is just listen to this load of boring rubbish.
I've listened to the first book and its ok , this book is not worth your time.
Give it a miss !!!
"great book and a great insight into halo lore, it"
this is a great book, it makes halo 4 and 5 make more sense too haha
Not at all what i was expecting, doesnt really answer any questions . Infact i had more questions at the end than i started with .
"Could have been better"
So as the story goes it's decent but it's halo and this is the history of the forerunners so if you haven't read or listened in I would probably say a/ get this book on free 30 day trail or use one of your credits as paying £16 I.was little disappointed, the narration was ok at parts but still 3/5 isn't bad and looking forward to see what happens next!
"Halo Tedium"
I've generally enjoyed every book in the Halo series but this is sole the exception - read in a very matter-of-fact way, it just drags and drags with little ever happening and the most dull of events described in tedious detail. It's taken my several months to get half way through this thing I do hope it will have some payoff in the end but I'm not very optimistic.
"Such a great shame."
Just like Cryptum, this book is for Halo fans wanting to know more about the forerunners. Actually we don't learn much more about the forerunners but instead learn more about the first inter-stellar human civilisation and the precursors. This was an excellent idea that was let down by the fact that not enough information was given away. At the end I still had many 'how', 'what', 'why' questions in my head, that is to be expected as there is another book to come but not so many.
The first half is quite boring, persevere through it.
There is a very clever twist at the end, very clever indeed. And actually the twist had an added dimension as an audiobook and was fantastic to listen to. I can't give anything away but it is a massive 'OH' revelation moment (still only for halo fans though).
It is a shame as the forerunner saga could be so good, but at the moment I can't see the justification of making it a trilogy, more information needed and it all needs to be condensed. It is far too diluted for anyone other than Halo fans to read or listen to.
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Lapland 3 Night Trips
- Lapland
- Holidays in
Lapland 3 Night Trips
Ready Steady Snow (Levi Fell)
Our Ready Steady Snow adventure will fill you and the kids with delight - Lapland style! Your base is the glittering, fun-packed wintersports centre of Levi, right in the heart of Finnish Lapland below the majestic Levi Fell mountain....more
Santa's Tinsel Trail (Olos)
Santa was so busy last Christmas, he told us that he needs extra helpers this winter - YOU! That's why he's arranged our Santa's Tinsel Trail adventure with loads of organised fun and games to get you in...more
Lapland Adventure Guides
|3 Night Trips Holiday Guide
|4 Night Trips Holiday Guide
|5 Night Trips Holiday Guide