VinDivine - Living it Up John & Janine Style

K&L: The Love / Hate Relationship - Breaking News!

Heeeyy! So I stumbled into my favorite wine shop I love to hate today (I don't think that is proper sentence structure, just pretend you're listening to my say it and spray it all over you), and what a surprisingly joyous experience it was! Who The F cares about the wines, this is about the wine buying EXPERIENCE! So, I stroll in all intent on buying some cheap stuff.  I mean, tenderloin-lying in the gutter - brown bag crap. Just to see the reaction. And, I kinda like cheap sh#* sometimes. A little Chef Boy-Ar-Dee and some juice. You get it.

Anyhoo, of course no one asked me if I needed help. I am used to that here at the ol K&L. Although I really don't get it. I mean, seriously. Oh well. Not in their DNA I guess. Also, never a 'hey how's it going?' when you walk in. Odd. I mean, seriously there are not that many customers at any one time NOT to say hi.

Wait. LOL. I actually started this post to say GOOD things about K&L. LMFAO. OK, so it gets better. I throw 6 bottles of homeless-wino crap on the counter and this dude doesn't give me attitude! WTF?! He was nice! "Hi man! Did you find everything?" (not even a '...you cheap bastard' look in his eyes or tone in his whiny voice). "How do you like this swill..I mean , affordable table wine? Can I help you out to your car.." (I mean...shopping cart, you loser). Very polite and nice actually.

Well, that's it VdV disciples. A positive vote for K&L. Damn that hurt. But I'm still not going to add a link to your site..keep trying!

Wild Oak Cabernet Sauv

OK so here we are fresh back from the 'hood. That's right bitches, The Mission. Yah, we hang there most Sundays. LOL. Anyhoo, we hit Delirium and Elbow Room and caught a mini-buzz. But that's not what we're here for tonight, kittens.

It's kinda rare I bother to blog about Cab Sauv. I mean, I like it and all and it's been my best friend at 3AM more than once, after I've drained the Patron and random saké in the fridge, but all in all I think there are so many Cabs, and so many mediocre cabs I don't bother.

But the other day, some poor bastard's wine club shipment was mistakenly routed to my office (sorry Mr. Daniel LeFrancois;) So, in a weak moment, I decided to take the bait. Yes, basically steal wine! OK, it wasn't that weak..

Anyhoo, one of the three bottles was a Wild Oak Cabernet Sauvignon. Something about the bottle and label seemed..REAL.

So I remove it from its nest of popcorn styro, and caress it in my arms for a minute. Sniffing and stroking it's smooth, green neck.  Next, I pop that cork like a maestro.  And I gotta tell ya, it popped right back! OK that just got weird. Here's the real deal:

This wine rocks. Would I waste our precious time otherwise?! Unless it really sucks, that is. This is an awesome Cab, I really enjoyed it. It has an excellent structure, with a deep color, dark ripe berry (blackberry and persimmon) ha, persimmon -  just making sure you're reading! rich cherry, and perfect tannins. It has  a blend of 15% or so Merlot, and although I despise merlot the mix is SWEEEET. Adds a tasty chewy-ness and killer finish.

Go getcha some! No shit. Goes for about 23 bones. I suggest the FineWineHouse.com

2003 Wild Oak Cabernet Sauvignon

New Beer Bar in Mission

Ready for a little test, VdV'ers? Huh...can ya guess the name of this Mission beer-ery? Damn we have sharp readers. But admit it - pretty literal clues.

I was going to put a picture of Redskins great Art Monk and a Kettle Fish , but sorry to say I feel that may have put most of our readers (but not YOU, no sirree) into a stupor. Or maybe a pic of Thelonious Monk, but come on - I barely know who he is myself. Yes, puppies it's Monk's Kettle. And it's located on 16th between Valencia and Guerrero. On the strip with Killowatt and a ton of other drinking and noshing holes-in-the-wall. 

Anyhoo, my drinking buddy and complete beer-o, or whatever the beer equivalent of a wino is, Steve, turned me onto this place so we met there the other night.

And yes, some of you will say this is a restaurant with a good beer selection. Well, I say it's a beer bar that happens to serve up some soakage. Take that. Their home page shows a beer tap, not a burger & fries.

However, they do have a ginormous Pretzel w/Mustard & Cheddar Ale Sauce that looked killer. But not for chubby 'ol J this time, I packed on some blubber over the holidays and am religiously doing the Nutrisystem boogie the few weeks or so until some weight is shed.  And don't even start with me "if ya didn't drink so much you wouldn't have to diet" crap.  Do you know me?!

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. The bar - the back part anyway - is very cool. Old oak, and these fierce-looking lions carved into each end. They got it from some old mansion. Rocking. The actual bar, ho-hum. Looks like they went down to home depot, picked up a 2"x12", stained it and called it good. And the overall deco is a bit Z Gallerie meets Bed Bath and Beyond. Oh well, now I'm just getting catty. I hear ya: "...who the hell cares, Martha Stewart, WHAT ABOUT THE BEER?!"

Oh yeah. The beer. Well, first off if you are indecisive stay away. They have a 4-page beer list. Take that Toronado!! Reminds me, I love and need to blog Toronado...my liver is going to hell in a handcart just for you people.

Anyhoo, back to the beer list. F'ing Awesome! I mean, there's a serious alcoholic running this place! Par-tay time. Woo Hoo. They break it out by Bottle vs. On Tap (doi). The bottle selection is good, not as extensive as Toronado but about 25 or so. Nice range from Czech Pilsners to Pales, Stouts and IPAs from Cali to a nice selection of Belgians. Try the Delirium Nocturnum, if only 'cuz the name's killer. The bottle selection is insane, gotta be at least 100 or so. I've turned into much more of a wino than a beer snob lately so I was lost, but impressed. Everything from Bière Brut-Style Lagers (made in the "la methode de champenoise" style like Champagne) to 'Grampa's Suds', Olympia and PBR in CANS. Yee Haw!

We threw back a Hop Stoopid from Lagunitas in Petaluma and a Hop Rod Rye from Bear Republic in Healdsburg. We're hoppy happy people! Both quality brews, the Rye took the prize. Next round, the very nice bartender talked me into the Buffalo Belgian Stout, which was Awesome. A little more subtle and mellow than many stouts. I think Steve had St. Bernardus Tripel from Belgium, and slurped it right down.

So, finally. The reco: this place has a beer for anyone, from a crusty old toothless Olympia-guzzling coot to a pretentious Urthel Samaranth Quad-sipping beer geek. I wish it was a little more beer-bar like in the decor, but the real question: would I go back? Yeah. Maybe not as a 100% destination, but hit Monk's and then hit a few of the other dozens of bars in this rockin' 'hood.

Note: They also have a decent wine list and pretty good food menu too so even if you're not a beer snob, check it out.

Monk's Kettle
3141 16th Street (between Valencia & Guerrero)
San Francisco, CA
415.865.9523

2004 Stag's Leap FAY Cabernet Sauvignon

OK so I just polished off a bottle of this fiiinnne juice all by my lonesome so excuse the typos. And my breath. And the way I stare at you. Never mind. For a change I'm gonna cut to the chase and say, even at $65 or so a pop, this crusty old Stag's Leap brand has a winner on their hands. A solid 9 outta 10. Woo Hoo! And that's not the wine talkin'.

So as I was rummaging around the wine cellar (aka fridge) earlier I pulled this puppy out. It was supposed to be a holiday gift for a buddy of mine, but I got a cheap attack at the last minute and kept it for myself (sorry, Gants). Figured, what the hell let's pop the cork on this puppy and take a ride. And this crap caught my attention - I mean, I was just looking for sustenance. Yeah, I know a $65 vino should provide more than a cheap buzz, but I really didn't expect much. Bada bing - this crap hit me right between the eyes.

FAY, you had me at the get-go. Awesome, strong fragrances of cherry and anise (no, not anus idiots). Yummy. But it keeps on keepin' on. It even tastes good! This is a killer vino with layers of dark plum and cocoa with a long finish that hints at some kind of leathery incense. I was never that much into burning incense so can't really nail the exact one. You get the idea...COMPLEX. yeah. It's like breakfast, lunch,  dinner and a saddle all in one.

You can get this wine almost anywhere, I got mine at K&L...'cuz they're around the corner. And 'cuz they treat me like such a king every time I walk in;). But how 'bout going direct to the source at the Stag's Leap website? Not sure it'll be in stock but give it a go!