theCorkHead.com

theCorkHead.com

The online home of Mark “The Cork Head” Stuart, Certified Wine Professional, speaker/educator, judge, and columnist.

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Articles by: Mark the Cork Head

Discount, not cheap, Crested Butte Lift Tickets

Discount Crested Butte Ski Lift Tickets

I created this post in an effort to save everyone some time when looking for a stand alone discount Crested Butte lift ticket deal.  Lots of so-called discount sites exist out there, but there is only one true stand alone lift  pass sale for Crested Butte, and this is it.

I was working on updating my discount Telluride lift ticket page when I stumbled upon this killer deal for discount Crested Butte lift tickets.

Insider Crested Butte Lift Ticket Savings Information

To use this special lift pass, you must buy the tickets in advance.  These tickets are valid for everything a ticket you would purchase at the Crested Butte window, they are just quite simply a discount to even the cheapest online rate at the ski mountain’s website.

No packages necessary, no add ons, no additional purchases necessary.  Just simply the best discount on Crested Butte lift tickets, period.

**This is the cost chart showing average rates using the discount link within this blog post.  NOTE:  Rates may be higher or lower depending upon the start date of your ski trip.  However, I’ve never seen the rates here to be higher than what is offered anywhere else.

Options Travelers Price Quantity
Adult $166.00
Youth (13 – 17) $149.00
Child (7 – 12) $83.00
Adult $248.00
Youth (13 – 17) $224.00
Child (7 – 12) $124.00
Adult $331.00
Youth (13 – 17) $299.00
Child (7 – 12) $166.00
Adult $392.00
Youth (13 – 17) $351.00
Child (7 – 12) $198.00
Adult $470.00
Youth (13 – 17) $421.00
Child (7 – 12) $238.00

So, you may ask, how much money does it save if I’m going to Crested Butte?

Below is the chart for the biggest discount available for mountain-direct Crested Butte multi-day lift tickets: (Copied directly from www.skicb.com)

Time Period Adult
Days Skiing

Window

Online

Half Day (starts at 12:30 PM)

$67

NA

1 Day

$92

NA

2 of 3 Days

$184

$174

3 of 5 Days

$276

$261

4 of 6 Days

$368

$348

5 of 7 Days

$435

$390

6 of 8 Days

$522

$468

7 of 10 Days

$609

$546

So, for example, if you are a traveling party of two adults and want to ski 3 of 5 days while you are at the resort, using my Crested Butte discount link, you’ll spend $496.00.  If you used the best available online rate from the ski resort or other online resellers, you’ll pay $522, or a savings of $26.  Hey, it isn’t life changing money, but it is real and yours!

**Kids and senior lift ticket discounts are also available at the discount link.

This really is the best deal on Crested Butte lift tickets available anywhere. I hope this insider tip helps you enjoy your mountain trip just a little more!

Just click this link and it will take you to the purchase window where you will be able to choose the amount of days you’d like to ski. If for some reason the purchas grid does not come up directly, follow the below simple instructions when on the travel discount site:

1) Click the “activities” button on the upper left of the screen

2) Enter “Crested Butte” in the text box

3) Enter the dates of your travel

You should be all set to choose and purchase your discount lift tickets there!

Best of luck, and happy skiing!

The Cork Head

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2007 Conn Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

So I was wasting a little time at the Vons grocery store in Pacific Beach last week and came across the 2007 Conn Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley.

Like most winos I know, we are all suckers for a fairly priced Napa wine, and get especially excited when it is from the famed 2007 vintage.  So, I plunked a couple of them in my 10% discount 6 pack carrier and headed for self checkout.

It isn’t often I use the word “lovely” when describing cabernet sauvignon, but in this case it absolutely fits.  It offered a sound structure for mid-term cellaring, but was soft enough around the edges to please right now.

Over the 2 hours I tasted it, the wine  provided twists and turns as to what it predominantly offered…all I can ask from a bottle priced under $20!

I guess my palate still has it, as I see Wine Enthusiast gave it 93 points.  Certainly one of the best deals around.

Quality, complexity, and varietally correct.  Pick some up and confidently enjoy!

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Discount, not cheap, Telluride Lift Tickets

Discount Telluride Ski Lift Tickets

As a Telluride regular, I am always asked about cheap or discount Telluride ski lift ticket sales.  Well, this is the best one available.  I’ve spent hours scouring the internet and local hangouts alike, and I can honestly say this is the only real Telluride lift ticket special on the market.  Coupon codes just don’t exist.  Kids and senior lift tickets are available too!

Rules for Getting the Lift Ticket Discount

You must by at least a week in advance wherever you buy, otherwise you’ll be stuck with window rates no matter what!

With this link, there are no tricks, add ons, or additional purchases necessary.  It simply offers the best deal on discount Telluride lift tickets, period.

Read More

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2009 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2009 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

It has been a while since I have had time to post about some of my favorite wines of the year, and I’m glad to have a little now before Monday Night Football to post about what may qualify as my go-to cabernet for 2011.

The folks at Folsom and Associates, the marketing arm for Robert Mondavi Winery, sent me this one a few months ago to give it a test run.  Coming off the staggeringly good 2007 vintage, it has been a while since I tasted something that gave me pause.  This one did.

Retail $28, buy widely available for far less, the 2009 RMW Cab is all it should be:  voluptuous,  with a hearty combination of full ripe tannins, balancing acidity, and complex barrel flavors of cinnamon toast, dark berry fruit, and a whisper of cabernet “sauvage”.

Perhaps one of the reasons I liked it so much is that it barely qualifies to be labeled as a cabernet sauvignon at all, with only 75% of the blend being CS.  Merlot, cabernet franc, and a few percentage points of common blending varietals all come together adding to a wine I just might like a hint better than it’s 2007 counterpart.

High praise indeed.

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2009 Franciscan Estate Sauvignon Blanc

So I know it has been a while since I posted a wine review.

Honestly, I’ve just been incredibly busy with my job that pays the bills, being a La Jolla real estate agent. Actually, most of my business recently has been in UTC, North Park, and Pacific Beach. Anyway…

I’ve been dying to write about the 2009 Franciscan Estate Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc since I received the sample early this year.

Clearly it is not the grass bomb of New Zealand, nor does it have the piercing minerality of a Sancerre. What it does offer are aspects of both of these sauvignon blanc stalwarts while offering the distinctly Californian touch of ripe fruit and the most pure streak of lime since you licked the saltless rim of a margarita.

This will be one of the top 5 California whites I taste all year.

Though I won’t be offering a point score for this wine, ( it clearly doesn’t need it) I know I will buy it, drink it, and give it as a gift with confidence!

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Discount San Diego Attraction Tickets

gosandiego

As a longtime San Diego resident and someone who previously managed beach vacation rentals for out of town visitors, I’ve been asked countless times about getting the best discount San Diego attraction tickets. The below represent what I think are the three best options to save money and enjoy Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, Zoo Safari Park, Midway Museum, and more. Read More

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Rhythm and Vine Returns to Escondido

RHYTHM & VINE: A Music, Wine & Food Festival

Benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego

Music and wine lovers indulge all their senses this spring as Rhythm & Vine returns to San Diego North for a one-of-a-kind tasting extravaganza. Held Saturday, April 9, 2011 at Westfield North County in Escondido, the 3rd Annual Rhythm Vine will feature over 35 world-class wineries, spirits and breweries; 25 restaurants and gourmet foods; and three live musical performances by San Diego’s favorite musicians.

APRIL 9, 2011

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

VIP Admission from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm

$75 General Admission ($100 at the door); $125 VIP Admission ($150 at the door).

Must be 21 and older to attend.

LOCATION: Westfield North County

272 East Via Rancho Parkway

Escondido, CA, 92025

35 award winning wineries, breweries, and spirits companies.

25 of North County’s chefs and gourmet food companies.

Spectacular, live performances by singer/songwriter Simeon Flick, classic rock cover band Clay Colton Band and local spirited Flamenco band Espiritu Flamenco.

1,000 wine, food, and music enthusiasts, along with members of the trade and media, coming together to support the Boys Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego.

Silent Auction filled with charitable donations from exhibiting companies.

Exclusive VIP after-party extending past regular event hours from 9:00 – 10:00 pm.

All proceeds benefit the Boys Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego.

For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.rhythmandvine.org

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2008 La Follette Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir

Words such as complex, concentrated, and elegant are thrown about in the wine world like balls in a McDonald’s play pen enclosure.

Well, I’m here to tell you that no 3 words could be more accurate than when applied to the 2008 La Follette Sangiacomo Vineyard Pinot Noir.  A wine that is nothing short of magnificent.  Read More

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World Wine Challenge CD-ROM

world wine challengeCD-ROM author Barry Wiss, CWE, is a leader in the Society of Wine Educators, Vice President of Communications and Trade Relations at Trinchero Family Winery, and helped write The Napa Valley Intensive course for The Culinary Institute of America. Yup…he’s qualified.

Basically it is a question and answer game.  If you get the question correct, you move on to another random corner of the wine world.  If you are incorrect, it spells out why.  Multiple players may participate or one can study on their own. Read More

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Best Wine with Thanksgiving Dinner

2007 Bonterra Viognier Mendocino County

2007 Bonterra Viognier Mendocino County

When I think of Thanksgiving dishes, I think quantity, variety, and aromatics.  Choosing a wine that matches these traits while offering up a little contrast to make things interesting is often the best choice for such a complex meal.  But how does one find a wine that works with turkey, creamed corn, and green bean casserole all at the same time?

Quantity:  Lots of food, lots of guests, and a long time at the table.  The wine should be lower than average in alcohol…I mean yeah…we’ll be watching football and having fun all day, right?  But, lower alcohol shouldn’t mean it doesn’t have the body style necessary to stand up to all the cream and gravy.  For contrast, the wine should have a little zing of acidity to cut through our close friend’s delectable sausage stuffing.

Variety:   This wine should be complex.  With a dozen different dishes, and some strong ones at that, the wine should bring lots of different aromas and flavorsto the table.

Aromatics:  Thanksgiving is the most aromatic of traditional American meals so it stands to reason we’ll need something with a high degree of aromatics so the food does not diminish its partner.

The winner? 2007 Bonterra Viognier, Mendocino County.

This cool climate wine has under 14% alcohol, offers both floral and fruit aromatics, and has a medium-full and creamy mouth feel.  Without question it is consistently year in and year out one of the great values in viognier, and it is widely available around the country for around $15.  Did I mention it is also Certified Organic?

Remember, its not what is in your glass, but who you share it with.

And, if you use this coupon, you’ll get a discount of $5 of any $75 purchase too!

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