Return of the prodigal beppe

"Joe Rosenberg" wrote in news:W_idnVte snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:

I'd like to get to NZ in 2005 and France

Sounds like a fine occassion for Domaine Dundalk or Chateau Holabird!

Good to "hear" from you again. Your presence has been missed. The only grand thread has been the now infamous thread on acid levels in german and french white wines along with a companion on what to serve with troll a google will quickly bore you on the former.

I'm an alumnus of Ft Holabird's Intelligence School after which I was assigned to the 6th Psyop Bn in VN.

Actually used to buy Smith Haut Lafite, somebody's Chateuneuf Du Pape and Hans Cristendorf Liebfraumilch at the Cholon PX in Saigon, my first serious wine purchases.

"Joe Rosenberg" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:

My best was Beer Con Cop (the tiger pee stuff) and some of the fowlest concoction ever to be called rice wine, servied compliments of an angry Village Chief (my interpreter had just told him that I didn't want *his* beer- I had said I don't care for beer)

Maybe Mark Lipton could do a quick analysis of Bier 33 aka BaMiBa. It allegedly had a high formaldehyde component. I've had it here in the "world" but it didn't taste as bad. Anything like Hamms shipped in aluminum cans was preferable as was Singha from Thailand. Most Saigon bars carried it and black market American beer.

The Cholon PX was frequented by the UN peace keepers. Top price was $3.20. If I wanted wine I'd watch what the Brits were buying(Our allies from OZ only drank Fosters). Like the Caribbean, PXs were great dumping places for off-vintages of Bordeaux and the Rhone. The few Saigon restaurants I could afford had mostly french wine lists featuring of course high end champagnes. Besides the Mayfair where I ate Thanksgiving dinner and a good bye dinner, I ate at the Surete's rendezvous L'Amiral, the Alsatian William Tell and numerous chinese places. My girl friend had me meet her between Saigon & Bien Hoa for a family wedding, where I had a wonderful meal. When I checked an S2 map later I found out the village was a VC stronghold, which was I had to leave the party by sundown. Had some potent sake to ease my departure.

Hey Joe do you remember Park Lane "cigarettes"? (A little thai stick with a filter tip)

"Joe Rosenberg" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@comcast.com:

Since i actually smoked cigarettes off the economy I smoked Gauloises blues for effect but used to get looked at with great suspicion when I came back to the rear since "gook" cigs were associated withthe Park Lane variety.

See you in 2006 then !

Mike

Mike Tommasi, Six Fours, France email link

Well, don't forget that Sonoma County is just a hop, skip and jump from Mendocino County. So do try to stop by the winery, won't you? Not on Saturday, of course, and be sure to call first to see whether I'm available. I'd love to meet you.

Craig Winchell GAN EDEN Wines