November 2010: Boston Trip

Boston here we come….  Tiring to say the least and if it were not for GPS to negotiate unfamiliar traffic patterns and the pace our niece maintained all would have been impossible. We enjoyed every moment of our four day visit and wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Up at 7am, picked up our ride at 10am, over the Queenston bridge and the border at 11am with a stop at Duty Free. Then the long drive passing the tips of the Finger Lakes, Syracuse, Utica, Albany into Vermont tracking the I90 into Massachusetts arriving in Lowell - 40 minutes north of Boston - on time at 7pm.  (Map it!)




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We saw only one idiot texting while driving - in a dealer Chevrolet - using the rumble strip on the right to correct his driverless motion and swerving only once into our path as we attempted to pass on his left. I would have had GM fender blue on my right pant leg if it were not for our alert driver.

A few hockey games between UMass Lowell and Boston University kept our sport life alive and dinners at Longhorn Steakhouse, Cobblestones, P J Chang’s and Ye Olde Union Oyster House   kept our digestive systems fully loaded. We even indulged in creamy delicacies from Mike’s Pastry. Hey, we were on holidays enjoying every calorie and kilometer.

Woods Hole  is at the shoulder of Cape Cod, an hour’s drive from Boston. From there the ferry leaves for Martha’s Vineyard however the skies were grey with stiff winds across Buzzards Bay so we did a walk-about. We then wove around the weekend marathoners who were being guided by route wardens and police escorts, slowly to East Falmouth eventually having a chowder lunch at McMenamy’s then returning to our new  sleepover at the Hingham Holiday Inn. (Map it!)

Tastings for three reds, two from a Massachusetts CostCo, are blogged below. Three of the other wines consumed during dinners were stellar but tastings weren’t recorded. The wines were Whitehaven Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Wente Riva Ranch Chardonnay and Treana White Marsanne Viognier. All were excellent!

This is a short history of our Boston trip so I won’t forget the great time we had.   Cheers, Ww

• MacMurray Ranch ‘Central Coastal’ Pinot Noir 2008,  Ww83  --  Healdsburg, California, #Costco $14.89US 
• Chateau Ste Michelle ‘Indian Wells’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Ww82  --  Columbia Valley, Washington State, #Costco  $13.99US
• Fuzion ALTA Malbec Reserva 2009, Ww76  --  Mendoza, Argentina, #DutyFree $6.99US 
  

TASTINGS:

FUZION ALTA MALBEC RESERVA 2009, Mendoza, Argentina, 13.5% D, #DutyFree $6.99US  (Tasted October 31, 2010)

My notes:  Jammy sweet berries to the nose, an opaque purple tinted ruby with a firm film and lots of tears. Off dry with a slightly tangy, freshly pressed berry fruit, thin and the finish quickly shifts to a shallow mineral ending. A ‘pop’ red, simple and quaffable. Could be an economical house sipper for ‘pop‘ drinkers - not a serious grilled meat red, have with bacon or sausage on a bun. A drink now.  Ww76
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MACMURRAY RANCH ‘CENTRAL COAST’ PINOT NOIR 2008, Healdsburg, California, 13.5% d,  #Costco $14.89US  (Tasted November 1, 2010) 

My notes:  This has a strawberry hued ruby colour with an almost detectable nose of strawberry. On the light side of medium-bodied with a hint of strawberry flavour with a soft edge. The moderate finish carries some fruit and a balanced tang to a dry, silky, phenolic tainted finish.  A polite red to pair with a ham steak, tuna or planked Pink salmon. A drink now - not for the cellar. Ww83  
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CHATEAU STE MICHELLE ‘INDIAN WELLS’ CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2008, Columbia Valley, Washington State, 14.5% d, #Costco  $13.99US  (Tasted November 1, 2010)
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My notes:  An ebony hued ruby colour in the bowl showing a firm film with slow tears and having an aroma of earthy blackberry. The first sip retains the moderate spice and tang of the blackberry adding some roundness - medium-bodied. A social red meant for generous consumption by a convivial crowd and buffet - or have with lightly spiced entrées. A drink now.  Ww82