My favorite players of the week are…

DaRon Bland Cowboys cornerback.

I’m starting with DaRon Bland who made the list last week with his record tying 4^th interception return for a touchdown.  On Thanksgiving, Bland picked off Sam Howell & made a brilliant return.  I thought he was going to be tackled, but he made it 63 yards into the endzone for his record-breaking 5^th interception return for a touchdown.  In his 28 NFL games, he has 12 interceptions!  Rod Woodson is the NFL’s record holder for most interceptions returned for a touchdown in a career with 12 over 238 games & 17 seasons played.  Bland is halfway there in a little more than a season & a half.

Jessie Bates Falcons safety

In the 1^st quarter Bates picked off David Carr at the Falcons’ 8 yard line & returned it 92 yards for a touchdown.  In the 3^rd quarter with the Saints driving again, he punched the ball out of the hands of Taysom Hill inside the 10-yard line & it was recovered by the Falcons.  In a game won by the Falcons 24-15, it can be argued that Bates was the difference.  He stopped 2 Saints drives inside the Falcons 10-yard line & scored a touchdown.  You can’t ask for much more from a defensive player.  He also made 12 tackles with 7 of them solo tackles.

Rashan Gary Packers linebacker

Gary sacked Lions quarterback Jared Goff 3 times & forced 2 fumbles, one of which he recovered himself.  This was a huge boost to help the Packers get the upset win.

Bijan Robinson Falcons running back

Robinson ran for a 10-yard touchdown & then caught a pass for a 26-yard touchdown against the Saints.  He totaled 123 yards for the game, averaging 5.7 yards per carry on the ground & 10.7 yards per catch.  Robinson isn’t getting as much publicity as some other rookies, in part because the Falcons are mediocre & don’t get as much coverage, but also because the Falcons haven’t featured him.  Until last week, Tyler Allgeier had more carries than Robinson despite averaging 3.5 yards per carry to Robinson’s 5.0. Robinson has quietly put together an impressive rookie season.  In 11 games he has 703 yards rushing & 240 yards receiving. He is 137 yards ahead of Jamyr Gibbs for the lead among rookie running backs.

Jake Elliott Eagles Kicker

His 59-yard field goal to send the game into overtime was good despite the rain & wind.  That was a clutch kick that might have been critical to the Eagles getting the #1 seed in the NFC.

Wine of the week

Bodegas Vinicola Real 200 Monges Gran Reserva 2009 100% Viura 13% ABV $95

I have often read about how white Rioja compares favorably with classic white Burgundy.  That comparison isn’t readily understood if you have only tried basic white Rioja, or even solid Reservas.  Trying high quality Gran Reserva white Rioja makes all of the difference in the world.  At Prowein in Dusseldorf earlier this year I tried about a dozen fantastic old white Riojas & was an immediate convert.  I recently revisited my favorite from that tasting, the 200 Monges Gran Reserva.

The vineyard (Alto NajerillaI) is located more than 600 meters (almost 2,000 feet) above sea level. They were planted over 20 years ago. The combination of high elevation, old vine, & organic practices helps to elevate the Viura planted there well above what you might expect from a Rioja blanco.

Gran Reserva blancos see a lot of time in oak (2 years for this wine).  In this case, the oak is so well integrated that it shows as butter & toffee & structure rather than as an overt oaky flavor. The wine has a long, elegant finish. It shows delicate fruit with apple & melon mingling with the aged oak notes.  It is just a beautiful wine.

The name pays tribute to the disappeared monastery of San Martín de Albelda.  Its ancient rupestrian Scriptorium generated treasures such as The Albeldense Codex of the year 974, a compendium of knowledge from the 10th century which contains the oldest record of Indo-Arabic numerals.  If you visit, you can tour their extensive underground caverns.