Nostalgia, Anniversaries, and Shramsburg Blanc de Noir

Feeling nostalgic this week as my wife and I celebrated our 36^th anniversary. In honor of that, I’m revisiting some of the guitar greats of the past. The 60s, 70s, and 80s saw some great guitarists hit the stage. Those were boom years when guitar technique blossomed from hard driving rock to shredder to more melodic forms. While everybody has their own opinions, the guitarists listed below can be found on many of the “top 100” lists, including mine. There are some great songs here, too. So, to end your week on a high note, I give you some of the greatest guitarists to ever pick up the instrument.

Nancy Wilson: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whXeb7Ohfkk

Joe Walsh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rlaF16gLF4

Tommy Iommi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9jqcgnpGKw

Brian May:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYabmM-uxdE

David Gilmore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N82TLB03Vk&feature=related

Paul Kossoff: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNVMJdqs5XE

Gary Moore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbJI1y0i1mk&feature=related

John Sykes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnzfE8war2w

Van Halen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpX3NhpRGdE

Steve Howe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNsbtnMeGbU

Richie Blackmore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFH36je9Hro

Jimmy Page: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS5R42ZWe8A

Robin Trower: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tLsFsGxLmE

Rory Gallagher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxiEMpcI83E

Duane Allman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6mwOixCObc

Eric Clapton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9N8Qi6zLSU

Leslie West: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMXeZWv6AS0

Alvin Lee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYwfZKl1BzY&feature=fvst

Jeff Beck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZlFTbvfKPE

Celebrated our anniversary with a great champagne. Well, actually it’s classified as a sparkling wine since it didn’t come from the Champagne region of France, but I’m not a snob.  The wine is a Blanc de Noir from California’s Shramsburg Estate. Shramsburg has a long, very interesting history detailed on it’s website, and the estate is actually a state historical landmark. They pioneered Blanc de Noir (“white of black”) made primarily from Pinot Noir, in the U.S. with the first release in 1967. The wine is pale gold colored with aromas of toasted almonds, peaches, and orange peel. It has a creamy texture and subtle flavors of red fruit, orange, and almonds with a citrus finish and perfectly balanced acidity. It’s about $32.00 a bottle, a little above my usual $25.00 limit, but hey, it’s our anniversary, and we’re worth it. So enjoy a blast from the past and try a wonderful sparkling wine to go with it.

Cheers!

Richie Blackmore & Atalaya Almansa

Artist’s styles often evolve over time, but in my opinion, no one epitomizes the evolutionary process better than Ritchie Blackmore. From the dark metal rock of Black Sabbath to the heavy metal of Deep Purple to his current English music, Blackmore has evolved from a shredding guitarist to a true complete artist.  Check out his evolution from Iron Man to smoke on the Water to Spanish Nights and you’ll see how a musician grows through the ages.

Paranoid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yU2RtlE7LY&feature=related

Iron Man: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgv3dnMHQd0&feature=related

Heaven and Hell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz3v7-KW6bo&feature=related

Smoke on the water with Steve Morse & Ritchie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ3EtcE_6FQ&feature=related

Highway star: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y47mKITGWGk

Greensleeves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgTC5LzpzKY&feature=related

Man on the Silver Mountain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFH36je9Hro

Temple of the King: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KriRo9OM5s

Play Minstrel Play: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHDAh4IMToU

Different version of Smoke: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tA5cfJB1bM&feature=related

Ghost of a Rose: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLsqr1gpPqM&feature=related

Shadow of the Moon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHTTSaCYjGw&feature=related

Under a Violet Moon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0GJjv9SdF8&feature=related

Spanish Nights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwBOEMmcf2I&feature=related

Richie Blackmore’s music has always had dark overtones, so I suggest a fabulous dark wine when you listen to his work. The Spanish 2008 Atalaya Almansa ($15.00) is primarily a blend of Monastrell, Garnacha, and Tintorera aged for 8 months in French oak, which all adds up to a wonderful wine. Deep purple crimson hue with a complex aroma of blackberry, spice, cedar, and hints of chocolate & coffee. The palate is filled with dark plums, black cherry, and other dark fruits. This is a very complex, earthy wine and a tremendous value at the price. It’s rich, dark color and flavors compliment the music of Blackmore perfectly. Enjoy!

Cheers!