2 Tickets to Des Moines (It's a city in Iowa): Around $700.
Rental car, hotel in Ames, food, and unhealthy amounts of Natural Light: $400ish.
2 Tickets to an Iowa State game: Free?
No, they were playing Texas, so maybe $60.
Coming home to see that Uncle Jason converted your son into a Wolverine fan: Priceless.
We thought we were working for free, but turns out the going rate for watching the oldest Jansen boy for a weekend is 2 solid bottles of wine. I've only gotten into the Riesling so far. The highly hyped Pinot (by Tom) will hopefully not stay on the rack through the weekend (that's called foreshadowing!).
Der Bucket 2009 Riesling Spatlese
As Tom always does, he did his research. This time from The Wellesley Wine Press, which I think is a blog written by a guy who does what I do, but way more serious and has a much bigger budget. Maybe. Anyway, he really liked this Riesling. I like Riesling. Tom likes me. So I scored a bottle.
A few months ago (on this special day. Sorry, gotta scroll down) I picked up this whopping 95 point Riesling Spatlese because it was a special day and because it was 95 points. Had I not been so consumed with the rating and actually listened to the lady explain EXACTLY the question I'd asked about Spatlese, I would have heard her say something about the grapes being the same, but they are left on the vine about 2 weeks longer than normal, thus losing their plumpness, shrinking up and becoming much more concentrated and sweeter.
I guess she knew what she was talking about. This was a very sweet, Gewurtzraminer like wine. Very tropical fruitish, somewhat syrupy, yet very smooth. Not so smooth that it reminded anyone of "flat pop," but smooth in a normal good wine way.
I really enjoyed it. But I also loved the other Spatlese I had and enjoy Gewurtzraminer. I can definitely see how this wouldn't be for everyone (including Beth), but also see how it came so highly recommended.
Grade: Priceless
Beth's Grade: "Too sweet"
