An expensive wine tasting and an upcoming album by Eilen Jewell

I attended a Keenan Winery tasting at Veritas Wine Room here in Dallas on 4/21/11. The reds, mainly what I drink, were pricey to very expensive. The o8 Chardonnay, Spring Mountain District was rated 88 by Robert Parker and was very good in the $30 range. The 06 Napa Valley Merlot rated 89 by Robert Parker was good in the mid $30 range. The 07 Cab Franc (100%) rated 94 by Robert Parker was quite good in the upper $50 range. Then came the really pricey ones, first the 07 Napa Valley Mernet (50/50 merlot & cab sav) rated 98 by Robert Parker was vey good but it was priced right at $100! The final one, the 06 Cab Sav Reserve Spring Mountain District rated 90+ by Robert Parker which I liked the best priced just over the mid $90 range.

The host was Travis James from Avante Beverages who also hosted the Blackburn Wine tasting previously with very good wines more in my price range. I was told by a wine provider a few years ago that wine pricing is perceived value. I, for one, cannot perceive any wine to be worth $100 or anywhere near that price. No one I enjoy wines with does either. I prefer finding a wine like the 08 SXS South Australia Shiraz at World Market for $10! That's just one man's opinion.

Now to the new album soon to be released (June 28th) by Eilen Jewell-Queen of the Minor Key. Those of you who have followed this blog know she is a favorite of mine. I have had the opportunity to hear the album in it's entirety and it is spectacular. If you have an opportunity to see the woman live, take it; you won't be disappointed!

Blackburn Wine Company

Last night, I went to Veritas Wine Bar here in Dallas to taste three reds from Blackburn from Paso Robles, CA. The wines-2008 Blackburn Cab Sav, 2006 Park Blend, 2008 Proulx Petite Syrah were great! The Cab & the Syrah were $14.50 with the Blend selling for $19.50. These are excellent wines at VERY good prices!

My cheapo SXSW!

I am late in talking about the four acts I saw in the DFW metroplex as opposed to trekking to Austin. It began with my favorite-Eilen Jewell and her band who came by KNON on Wednesday March 16th prior to her show at the Chat Room in Ft. Worth on their way to Austin. She was joined by Zoe Muth and the Lost High Rollers from Seattle making this a bi-coastal pairing as Eilen is from Boston. The venue in Ft. Worth was small and smoky, but the music was excellent! I'm now a Zoe Muth fan as well.
On Saturday March 19th again in Fort Worth-this time at Arts 5th Ave.-I caught David Olney and Sergio Webb on their way back from Austin. I have heard great things about David, but had never seen him live. This venue is much better and the show was spectacular! David's songs and styling are wonderful; adding Sergio's guitars made even better. He is a great player! I won't miss them anytime they're in the area.
Finally, last Friday March 25th, I saw the Stone River Boys at the All Good Cafe here in Dallas. I saw them for the first time at last year's SXSW. They are from Austin and played SXSW this year as well. They are a great group playing an eclectic style of music. These are all groups I would have seen in Austin, but I was able to catch them all locally.

Great, cheap Malbec

Central Market in Dallas, TX has Crios Malbec
09  Mendoza Argentina for $10!
 It is rated 90 by Robert Parker for the fourth
 year in a row! A great value for a very good wine.

Christopher Lee Martin's Megacities opening at Haley-Henman Gallery at 2335 Hardwick St. in Dallas, TX was truly remarkable! His new lenticular work is breathtaking to say the least. You really need to see these images to appreciate them. This medium allows for multiple images to be viewed in a single piece.

His 10 images include some color transitions as well as some image transitions. They are true to the theme, Megacities, in various ways. There is motion, architectural shapes, mechanical images, vivid color and so much more. If you can get to this show before it closes on November 27th, you will see what I'm talking about!

These works are ideal for corporate collections.

TOM ORR GHOST STORIES

I attended the Tom Orr opening last night at the Marty Walker Gallery near the design district in Dallas. It was great! My son and I really liked the work. Tom is primarily a sculptor, but this work was graphic with the exception of one sculpture. The work was very simple; architectural in nature.

Marty has reconfigured her space for the better in my opinion. A very enjoyable art experience.

Backyard Concert

Wow! I just heard the Deadstring Brothers from Detroit at a wonderful house concert here in Dallas last night. They were superb! We heard them at the last SXSW at Jovita's Twang Fest where they brought the house down after a day of excellent music. Their alt. country sound is a cross between early ZZ Top and the Stones.
If you get a chance to see these guys, do it!