Night photo

Brine

1.

we are Myriad;

old lives as cobblestones;

(bared-teeth), sunk

in Earth.

Our memories;

(scaffold-shapes,

mica-schist):

loom over us,

from Four Sides of Consciousness:

as the embedded thing in mud (green circle),

as the adobe bricks steaming in the rain (brown dust),

as the smoke from the distant storm (red circle),

as the sour yellow smell of wet chamisa rising from the plain (spinning circle).

2.

when I lived in New Mexico, the

adobe houses would cluster together wetly in storms.

the lashes of rain would darken even the red dust,

under the trucks, and

rusted car shells.

3.

Here, powdered-iron and

Creosote

hang heavy in the air,

and like (metallic) wet

steel wool,

Coagulate,

(inside particles of storm wind,

nestled in their own-made nest).

4.

The wet brine of a west Texas afternoon,

Creeps

through my backyard window,

Reading furtively,

unbeknownst (to me),

the chicken stock and lentils

hum quietly on the darkening stove.

ELG

2010

Champagne Dinner

My love of atmospheric dark wine photos collided the other night with an amazingly thoughtful line-up of gorgeous grower champagnes, presented in pairs against delicious Terroir TriBeCa food. Many thanks to Peter, Rosemary, Nicole, and Terroir:

Marie-Courtin 'Efflorescence' (2006, 1st)
Ulysse Collin Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs (2007/20-10% rsrve 2006)

Jacques Lassaigne Cuvee 'Le Cotet' (2007)
Varnier-Fanniere Cuvee 'Saint-Denis' (2004-5)

Jerome Prevost La Closerie 'Les Beguines' (2009)
Michel Loriot 2004 Pinot Meunier Vieilles Vignes

Laherte Freres 'Les Beaudiers' Extra Brut Rose de Saignee Vieilles Vignes (50-60 yr old vines)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Benoit Lahaye, Brooklyn, and the Russian dolls in the house. Gorgeous wine, tart tart strawberry compote on the nose but so lemony and lean,,,,, did open up so nicely, great start to a new year.

To the Wedding

"He crosses the silver water, hardly reducing his speed when he corners, moving like mercury, seldom upright, often inclined as though listening to the earth, first on one side and then the other, bending over to listen with pity.

All I had to offer, old as the world, God-given, balm for pain, honey for taste-buds, promise for always, silken welcomes, oh to welcome, knees turned on their sides, toes extended-- all I had has been taken."
(John Berger, To the Wedding, 80-1)

San Fereolo Langhe 'Coste di Riavolo' Bianco 2006

RIESLING(70)/GEWURZ(30), Piemonte,IT

On the skins,,,, aged in oak, grippy. Honey and green straw nose, golden orange color, palate like crunching on green peppercorns, raw cardamom pods, eucalyptus, grapefruit pith. I love bitter but this one really takes the cake, riesling nose, but palate like juniper berries and the tiny tin cans of sour grapefruit juice my grandfather used to love for breakfast.

Confirming my suspicions: "ANGRY GREEN TANNINS"

San Fereolo Coste di Riavolo Vino da Tavolo Bianco :"a blend of Gewurztraminer and Riesling Renano, and is a deep brassy gold with brilliant reflections. The bouquet is powerful and frankly medicinal with mint and eucalyptus mingled with honey. Quite charged and quite particular. On the palate it's quite dry -- unexpected this is -- with bright almost brambly minerality supported by considerable warmth and some citric accents, and flows into a long warm mentholated finish with savory overtones. It was a great surprise, and is a wine some will love and others abhor."
(Kyle Phillips Wine Review)

EXACTLY.

new light