Image: New York Times
Image here too: http://wyn.cc/1fi7e
images from the movie: The Thomas Crown Affair
Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen
We all know that alcohol inhibits the brain function under normal circumstances. For some people, wine adds some kind of majesty or splendor to a function -or even aesthetic value – for some chess players too – to their game. I wonder what was added to Faye Dunaway’s game vs Steve McQueen? In the wine and chess scene, Faye’s Queen traps Steve McQueen’s King, and he says, ‘Let’s play something else,’ … hmm…think the wine was too much for him – or was it maybe the chess…[hehe] or was it more Faye’s clever ‘tricks’ to get him distracted from the game. Hmmm… some tips I might be thinking of next time – hehe… of course we know Steve McQueen had something else on his mind! Click HERE to view the clip of: The Thomas Crown Affair: – the wine and chess scene with Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen.
On the next link, a chess-friend , blog-friend and Sommelier ,- one who knows his onions– ‘Boer’, who is in South Korea, recently blogged about the Chilean vs South African wines – an Afrikaans entry – unfortunately. [Google might help a little bit with the translation.] He was then informed about a few wines – which had been given as pressies – I would like him to comment upon. I’m not a huge wine-lover, but do like a glas of sweet red wine from time to time -that is about 1 glass per month – or so. Bad, I know – some of you might say…hehe…but promise to have at least 2 glasses, if I have a special meal with you! [hehe] If you look at some chess-gifts, they even include some wine for the wine-lover! This is definitely not for the professional chess player, I guess. Ok, now the photos for our Sommelier in South Korea.
image: flower-delivery-uk.co.uk
White Chardonnay [2009]- Chile
Red Frontera -[2011] Chile
French and Italian wines – click image for a very large view
Domain Cauvard – Volnay [2000]
La Chasse: Shiraz
South Australian – Jacob’s Creek: Shiraz
Some words about wine: Plato said: ‘There is nothing more excellent or valuable than wine was ever granted by the gods to man.’ Thomas Jefferson: ‘good wine is a necessity of life for me.’
‘Burgundy makes you think of silly things, Bordeaux makes you talk about them, and Champagne makes you do them.’ Anthelme Brillat-Savarin. Click this link for more words on wine – a PDF document.
This poem originally by Rumi caught my attention:
I Am and I Am Not
I’m drenched
in the flood
which has yet to come
I’m tied up
in the prison
which has yet to exist
Not having played
the game of chess
I’m already the checkmate
Not having tasted
a single cup of your wine
I’m already drunk
Not having entered
the battlefield
I’m already wounded and slain
I no longer
know the difference
between image and reality
Like the shadow
I am
And
I am not
From: Love Poems of Rumi – Deepak Chopra
Translated by: Fereydoun Kia
Edited: Dr Deepak Chopra
Republished with permission of: Chopra centre
Click HERE for the poem source-link.
This image is from chessgames.com. It must be some sort of good position, but to get my pawns lined up like this, I will have to take a few ‘reds’ to be this good. I’ve never had 4 of my pawns in a line like this. I can recall two pawns, but 4…pass me the Red please! Click this link to read about double pawns.
Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/uncle_sparkles/6233864275/
Enjoy the clip: Wine, Woman and Song – by Strauss
Chessalee 
Ek vermoed beide was lekker gegambiet (gaar) teen die eindspel, ne? 😉
LOL! nes jy daar sê 😆
Well hello there! 🙂 After the frequent visits you have paid me, it was beginning to seem rude to not pay you at least one of my own. So here I am, and with a cat like interest in what you have presented here with regard to wine, women and chess.
You have succeeded in making the three together seem alluring to me, even though I’ve never experienced all three at once. You see, I make it consistent habit to be honest about what I have done, and equally honest about what I have not. This way, if I do something exceptional, which I have on more than one occasion – when I discuss it or write about it, people who know me, know I’m telling the truth without exaggeration.
So wine, women and chess has been worth to you the effort you have made here, to make all three together seem like an adventure that somehow I have missed, and one that I should longer miss anymore. I have the woman, and also a chess set, and although I don’t normally drink wine, it is easily obtainable.
Maybe this evening is now the time to discover what this is all about…
LOL! Hi Chris and welcome to my blog. I really enjoyed your writing and will def visit again. Well, as you say, you have the woman/chess set, so, why are you waiting! I would love to read on your blog the ‘outcome’ of the three. I can just guess what fun that will be to read! All first hand experience. 😆
Thanks for the welcome and I’m glad you have enjoyed my writing, so thanks for that also. I almost left your post without watching the chess scene from The Thomas Crown Affair, after being interrupted and distracted by a phone call. I am glad that I remembered to view, because now I know that to miss the scene would be to miss the point… and to begin this evening of new adventure with a mistake. But now a mistake not made, or a point missed. I see this now, as a good sign of things to come later…
Did you just follow me? Yes, it seems you have. I think I’ll follow you too…
Hi Chris, I hope your evening went well, waiting for the ‘report’ 🙂
Now that’s timing… Just logged on, and the very first thing I see is you. 🙂
Evening went very well, but any reporting will have to wait, because I just started my first cup of coffee and I can’t think very well without it. Lol
Ok, I’ll let you have your coffee [and breakfast I guess afterwards 🙂 ] *off to have some tea* 🙂
Thanks for this interesting post and the honorable mention, Nikita! 🙂 I wish I had friends who give me pressies like these!
How to you get these? Unfortunately I know only the Frontera, Volnay and Jacob’s Creek. Of all these wines, perhaps the Volnay (a delicious Pinot Noir) will be the best. Perhaps the Jacob’s Creek will also be yummy, though my past experiences with Jacob’s Creek are not that great. But I see it is a “Reserve” Shiraz, so perhaps it will be good. But now the ball is in your court. I would love to read your feedback after sampling these wines. Wish I could pop over to share these with you! 🙂
Hi Boer!
The mentioning was a pleasure. There wine-pressies were given by parents+colleagues! 🙂 In the UK people easily give you a bottle of wine if they want to give you a pressie. It’s almost ‘custom’, which is not great, as they don’t even ask if you drink, just assume – this nation is a ‘drinking nation’ LOL! I do have a few bottle of South African wines too, but didn’t see the need to add them to the entry too – for obvious reasons. 🙂 I think I would like to taste the Frontera first, as it says ‘fruity’ on the label..sounds great. I have also looked at a site about the Volnay – think that is a wine to share with friends. 🙂 I will definitely give you feedback – thanks for your comments. Yes, it’s always good to share a wine, so would have been great to have you here to share these – with a typical South African BBQ. 🙂
Hi Boer! I had a glass of the Chilean Red tonight – Frontera – and it is really a great wine, not bitter/sour – just the way I like a Red wine. 🙂 Now I will have to finish it myself! I don’t have a drinking partner around here – all non-drinkers 🙂
I also get presents, but not wine. 😦 Not necessary to mention that Korea is not a traditional wine drinking nation. Did you finish the bottle all by yourself!? 😯
🙂 No! The bottle is not finished – yet. 😯 It will take me more than a few days to finish it. 😆
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