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Notable Quotable

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 11:42:34 -0800

Is that a Rubber Chicken?
My rubber chicken came to work with us today, and hopefully had a good time. He got a little bored on our 40+ minute commute into the city and tried to drive, but Matt was having none of that.Now, I'm not sure how many of you have ever walked the streets of a major city carrying a rubber,…

Impossible food-wine pairings: fish tacos!
A couple of nights ago I had one of the storied dishes of Napa Valley. And no, Thomas Keller, I' m talking about the fish tacos at Taylor' s Refresher, a roadside joint in St. Helena! The horrendously bad cameraphone pic does not to the food justice but it is a piece of grilled mahi mahi,…

REthinkCompliance is Here to Help
As with any new website, when we released www.rethinkcompliance.com to our Inertia clients last Friday, we knew there would be questions about what it will do and how to use the site. Many of our clients have already responded to our announcement by registering for the site by using the Signup link…

Consumers lose in alcohol "control states"
I m on a family ski vacation in Utah, which is one of the most restrictive of the 18 alcoholic beverage control states. A control state is where the state maintains a monopoly over the retailing and/or wholesaling of some or...

Wine Chick Wednesday: Sour Grapes
By Jamie Gabrini, Special Columnist I’m sick of wine. I don’t quite know how this happened, but it’s true. At some point during the past year, I lost interest in wine and – quite frankly – don’t give a fig...

This blog came THIS close to a mention in the NYer, WSJ!
This excellent New Yorker article examines the phenomenon of measuring carbon emissions. The author, Michael Spector, mentions the study on the carbon footprint of wine that I wrote with Pablo Paster. And we were THIS close to a mention! Roll the tape: Last year, a study of the carbon cost of the…

A Wee Bit of Bottle Age
It's really amazing the difference a few months can make. Here are a few Loire Valley '05s that I enjoyed when I first tasted them, but that I really loved when drinking them recently. In each case, about 6 months passed between tastes. I always liked the Loire '05s, but this is…

The Open Wine Consortium
I've never really had the time or inclination to get involved in all those social network sites; facebook et al leave me more than a little non-plussed and apathetic. The stories and rumours surrounding a social network dedicated to the wine scene have final been realised with the launch of The…

Sicily Makes White Wine, Too
When you think Sicily you might think of big, brawny red wines that go along with ample bowls of pasta with red sauce. This side of Sicilian wine and food is well known--but Sicily makes white wine, too. The island off the toe of Italy's boot is known for its volcanic soil, and its rich whites…

2004 Vintage Bordeaux, A Timing Thing - Episode #414
We are going with Intense Friday instead of laid back Friday because I think there is a real opportunity to learn and exploit a huge oppertunity and I want to make sure all the Vayniacs out there have a chance to score! Having trouble viewing this video? Try the Quicktime version. Comments on this…

What Wine Goes Well With Birthday Cake. WLTV Turns 2 Today. - Episode #412
Gary Vaynerchuk' s little tiny wine show turns 2 today and it makes Gary Ponder what wine goes well with birthday cake? Having trouble viewing this video? Try the Quicktime version. Comments on this episode(20) Leave a comment HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WLTV! Looking forward to the Terrible Twos by…

Open That Bottle Night

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:37:58 -0800

Good Wine Under $20: Open That Bottle Night Is Coming Up: What is Open That Bottle Night, you ask? It's the brilliant annual event started eight years ago by Wall Street Journal wine critics Dorothy Gaiter and Jon Brecher. They ask people to open a bottle that they've "been waiting to open forever." Why wait? Do it now.
Open That Bottle Night Five Wines, One Selection: What a great idea! Go digging around in your collection and open something you’ve been saving for a long, long time.
Kathleen Lisson's Wine and Food Pairing: Open That Bottle Night: Which bottle on your wine rack is a good candidate for 'Open That Bottle Night?'
And the Wine Winner Is…: I hope everyone has a fantastic time this Saturday evening. No matter what the wine or how it tastes, you know you’ll be among good company and will have new memories to share.
Jump in and have some fun in the Wine Blogosphere: Feb 23rd is Open that Bottle Night. OTBN is always the last Saturday in February and was the creation of Wall Street Columnists,Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher. This should give you a great excuse to open that special bottle you keep saving.

Great

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:29:22 -0800

Book club, and wine blog awards, and new sites--oh, my!: Tom does a terrific job running these awards, and they provide a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on the wine blogosphere. ...fellow blogger John G. from Quaffability has a new blog: the Web Tasting Room . It's a great new format: a combination of video blog, on-camera tasting, discussion with a winemaker, and wine store that is linked directly to the wineries involved.
Wine pairings, Tips on Cooking Wild Game: Syrah, with all it's funky aromas, and Spanish Rioja, are great pairings for wild game.
jamie goode's wine blog: A lovely Viognier: The palate has a lovely texture and great balance, with bright fruit, a hint of sweetness and a rich texture. Rich but not too rich, this is the qualitative equal of a good Condrieu.
la gramiere: Rayas Meets La Gramière...: We had another great visit to Chateau Rayas this year. ...one of the legendary properties in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It has a unique terroir and setting... Tasting La Gramière at Château Rayas, one of the greatest wineries in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Talkin' bout Two More Wines In the Italian Wine Satrter Kit This Month: It is a bit confusing but the result is a great bottle of wine. We have the 2005 Intrepid Aglianico. This wine as I stated before is a great introduction to the varietal.
Washington Wine from the Walla Walla Wine Woman: And the 2005 Couvillion "Hoobie" Sauvignon Blanc ($18) has the kind of great story behind it that always adds to my pleasure when I drink a glass of wine.
jamie goode's wine blog: A celebratory blind fizz: The palate is bright and elegant with good acidity and great balance. It's dry but not at all austere, even without the dosage. Just has great natural balance, which is what you want from a non-dosage fizz.
West Coast Wine Country Adventures: WBW: In Seven Words or Less 2005 Gaja Ca Marcanda Promis: This wine was fantastic and possesses a great balance between opulent cherry cola fruit notes, leathery tannins, and a lovely bracing acidity that lends Italian wines to pair so well with food.
Eats: 'The greatest wine on the planet': There are good wines, great wines, and then there are legendary wines -- the ones even a devoted oenophile may never get to taste. Over on Slate.com, Mike Steinberger writes about one such "iconic Bordeaux," the 1947 Cheval Blanc:
Golly's Wine Drops: Domaine de Guiron - Wine as we know it: It's made of a mix of French workhorse grapes including Colombard and Ugni Blanc. It would taste great if you were picnicking on a sunny day...
Vintage Bottle Talk: 2003 Collazzi IGT: Great wine! 94PTS
jamie goode's wine blog: I love NZ Pinot Noir!: This Pinot is from Marlborough, and has that vibrant, slightly sappy berryish character that Marlborough Pinots share. It's a really great wine - not cheap at £17, but good value nonetheless.
Kathleen Lisson's Wine and Food Pairing: Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese, Primitivo and Merlot wine and food pairings: Danzante Italian Wines has done a great job of highlighting the importance of wine and food pairing. Their website features recipes and wine and food pairings for each of their wines.
Winetastic :: Scorpiiion GSM 2006 :: February :: 2008: The GSM represents the best bang for your buck and is a great option if you just want to buy, open and drink. ...Although I personally lean toward more savoury styles, $17 per bottle is a great price.
Virginia Vine Spot: Virginia Wine Showcase: And the winners are …: ...the winner is a great bottle of wine. But, it is more of an after dinner dessert wine in my opinion; and that is how I have enjoyed this tasty and popular Loudoun County treasure in the past.
February and the Weather is Fine-Global Warming?: The Rose' was a great match with the Kumomoto oysters-fruity vs salty- and the Sauv Blanc went better with the more 'steely' Freshwaters.
Wine Consultant » Marketing Nonsense and Clichés: Alder at vinography has posted a great topic “wine marketing techniques that need to stop”. It’s a good fun and a great read.
WBW #42 - Seven Word Wine Review (Banfi Rosso di Montalcino): Most wine lovers have at least heard about the famed wines of Brunello di Montalcino, from Tuscany in Italy's Central-west region. These suckers are famed because a) they're expensive, b) they taste great and can make amazing matches with roast meat dishes and c) need upwards of 20 years of aging ...

Interesting

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:37:31 -0800

Brooklynguy's Wine and Food Blog: Coming Back to 05 Beaujolais: Lots of interesting 2006 Beaujolais is out now too. I'm telling you, there is just far too much interesting wine worth buying these days.
Benito's Wine Reviews: 2005 Pouilly-Fuissé: It had such a rich oak aroma that my friend Paul said it smelled exactly like an old church. It was an interesting combination: old leather, wooden pews, and the faint scent of Lemon Pledge.
Dim Lights Big Barolo Downstairs at Cru « Do Bianchi: But the most fascinating and certainly the most noteworthy story was revealed when the subject of modern vs. traditional was put on the table..
On the Wine Trail in Italy: Bloggers, Cloggers and Robot Jellyfish: I met Jeremy Parzen last month in NY and read his blog often. He is interested in intellectual ideas about wine and always has an interesting view of things.
Ch. Petrogasm: Wine Reviews From the Edge: Below are its two most recent reviews. Taken together they’re edgy. They have the potential to offend someone other than just the wine producer, which is an interesting switch.
Bigger Than Your Head » Let Me Spell It Out For You: What’s interesting about the issue, though, is a section in which the Spectator’s writers and reviewers go country by country and region by region and reveal the average price of the wines in the different scoring categories.
Brooklynguy's Wine and Food Blog: By the Glass - Wines that I Don't Like Edition: At a delicious brunch at Deetrane's house he opened a bottle of NV Feuillatte Blanc de Blancs. What an interesting experience it was for me to drink this wine in all of its chemical candied glory.
Food and Wine Matching at The FrontLine - from Spittoon.biz: ...I found it very interesting. It is big, ripe, perhaps a little over-extracted but with good structure and acidity. It cut through the rather mouth-clogging, unusual, dumplings wonderfully.
Vines & Wines » Blog Archive » Wine I’d buy again: Washington Merlot: We recently had an interesting Washington Merlot tasting that featured wines predominately from the Chateau St. Michelle wine group. Two wines stood out to me and both seemed worthy of another look even though more expensive:
Golly's Wine Drops: Malvis Douro Reserva - Porty Wine?: Portugal does seem to be producing some interesting wines at reasonable prices. This was great value at £5.50...
A Four-Dollar Gewurztraminer: And while not my favorite Gewurztraminer, it was certainly worth the try, especially for so little harm to my credit card.
Brooklynguy's Wine and Food Blog: An Imaginary Wine Vacation in Bandol: In the end, very complex and interesting wine, and at 14%, relatively low in alcohol and drinkable.
Tempranillo: Climate change and wine: Friday morning: I've just been listening to interesting (and somewhat frightening) presentations at the 2nd Climate Change and Wine Conference.
V i n o V e r v e: Win(e)ding Roads: More From the Connecticut Wine Trail: Overall an interesting little winery, and certainly worth a stop.
BKWine Brief Blog: BKWine TV: Visual visit to Malhadinha Nova winery in Alentejo: A young ambitious family wine estate owned by the Soares family, making some very interesting Portuguese wines: Herdade da Malhadinha Nova, Alentejo, Portugal.
A Take on Global Warming from Experts such as Richard Smart, Pancho Campo, Michael Rolland and other Influentials of the Wine World!: I intend to talk more on this issue because I think it’s incredibly interesting, but for now, I’d be curious where you stand on the issue.
The Wine Conversation: Support your local winemaker: I read an interesting post on this topic over on vinoalvino.org (unfortunately it is in Italian so not all of you may be able to read it) written by the entertaining & knowledgeable Franco Ziliani. The gist was to pick up on a campaign in the US to "support your local winemaker".
The Wine Conversation: Virtual Stormhoek: For those following the story, this link will probably be very interesting: On the Stormhoek Trail
Psssst, I Got A Secret - Episode #410: Gary Vaynerchuk tells you about an area that’s producing some of the most interesting wines in the world.
Good Wine Under $20: Washington Wine from the Walla Walla Wine Woman: The Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman Shop focuses on wine that is from Washington state and is priced under $25. As always, you may find some exceptions along the way, but I found a number of interesting looking bottles that I will definitely be ordering after payday this month.
Seattle Wine Blog: First 2005 Bordeaux: Not complex, but interesting enough for the price.
Chateau des Campets 2003: Forget the preamble. This Corbières is the most interesting and, frankly, gorgeous wine I have tried in ages.
Mark Squires' Bulletin Board on eRobertParker.com - Interesting Study About Effects of Wine on One's Health: Looks like I'm drinking too much to have a positive effect....
Pancho Campo Poses a Question for Al Gore on Wine and Market Choices: Wineries who place conservation as a priority and the life of their consumers as a focal point is a winery that will have a better chance of succeeding in the future. Interesting thought, is it not?!
Fermentation: The Daily Wine Blog: Putting Your Heart Into Wine PR: This leads to an interesting question: Your wine is very likely to appeal to the reviewer equally as well as MANY other wines they review. ...Why yours and not another's?
2007 Grape Prices. Go Pinot Go!: Some of the data are pretty interesting. I’ve highlighted a couple bits below.
la gramiere: Visiting Tavel: ...my visit to Tavel was particularly interesting last week.
Samples | The Wine Knows: Tom Wark ...does an occasional post interviewing various wine bloggers. He asks the same questions to each blogger, so it's interesting to see their answers... One question whose answer interests me is, "Do you accept samples for review?" Many bloggers do not...At Wine Press Northwest - just like nearly every wine magazine - we gladly accept samples.
domaine547 » Central Coast week at d547: Palmina Wine: ...it was interesting for us to have the chance to taste what Italian grapes do when grown in California terroir.
A quick confabulation with Aldo Vacca, winemaker and president, Produttori del Barbaresco « Do Bianchi: Aldo and I conversed in Italian and it’s interesting to note that he used the English “fleshy” to describe his impression of the wine.

Wine Blogging Wednesday

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:56:34 -0800

WBW Just 7 Words - the round-up - from Spittoon.biz: Luckily my slightly off-beat theme for Wine Blogging Wednesday seems well received; plenty of thoughtfully produced entries. Number of entries: 53 +1 (missed). All the wines (bar a handful) were Italian reds.
My Wine Education: WBW #42: Just Seven Words: I did a little research on using Just Seven Words to express a thought. It's currently a popular idea, thanks to Michael Pollan's new book "In Defense of Food."
Through The Walla Walla Grape Vine: WBW #42: How about if I blog about a red grape with Italian origins, but grown in Walla Walla?
domaine547 » WBW #42: Italian wine in seven words: We’re wordy folks. So the challenge of reviewing a wine in just seven words is a bit outrageous and daunting.
Good Wine Under $20: WBW #42: An Italian Red in 7 Words: This has to have been the most devilishly difficult WBW yet. So, without further ado, the review:
1WineDude: WBW #42 (Banfi Rosso di Montalcino): Tricky, to say the least (get it?); especially for those of us whose prose, how shall I put this... does not value highly the elegance of the concise.
Cantine Sasso Aglianico del Vulture, 2005, Basilicata, Italy - from Spittoon.biz: ...for this tasting note I neglected to photograph the bottle before it hit the bottom of the recycling-bin. Which is more important than normal for this note for it is my entry to Wine Blogging Wednesday where I set the theme as an Italian Red in Seven Words.
Dr Vino’s wine blog » Paitin, Serra Boella, Barbera d’Alba - WBW 42 - red in seven words: WBW 42: The assignment, describe an Italian red in seven words. The wine: Paitin, Serra Boella, Barbera d’Alba, 2006 $20. (find this wine) My seven words, in alphabetical order!...
WBW #42: Feudi de San Gregorio Rubrato Aglianico 2004: Smoldering pomegranate undulates; cherries, corseted, explode briskly.
Wine Blogging Wednesday 42: Just Seven Words: 2004 Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano...
domaine547 » WBW Logo Contest: win a blogger-pack from d547: We may not throw our hat in the ring from a design perspective, but we’d like to help properly reward the winner of the contest (entries due on March 31st) by supplying them with a Catavino-Pack of 3 Portuguese table wines.
the wine wanker: Sabazio Rosso di Montepulciano DOC La Bracceca 2004 Tuscany...
Wino sapien: Wine blogging Wednesday #42: After struggling with typical wine descriptors I opted for two metaphors and a venn diagram.
Winehiker Witiculture: “Decant today, and you will smile tonight.”
WBW: In Seven Words or Less 2005 Gaja Ca Marcanda Promis: I chose the 2005 Gaja Ca Marcanda Promis based on a recommendation from the commentary on a recent Sangiovese post and I was not disappointed.
Music & Wine » WBW #42: Just Seven Words: This months Wine Blogging Wednesday: sum up an Italian red (or Italian-style red, in my case) in just seven words. As a bonus, I’ve also made a haiku out of it.
Dr Vino’s wine blog » tasting sized pours: ...Wine Blogging Wednesday theme has been announced: review an Italian red in seven words. Since having a good picture might help stretch that to 1,007, check out this month’s host and his tips on how to take better pictures of wine bottles.
LENNDEVOURS: Announcing: Wine Blogging Wednesday Logo Contest: I'm excited to announce the new Wine Blogging Wednesday Logo Contest, which starts today [Jan 25] and will run until March 31, 2008.
LENNDEVOURS: Three Quick Sips: I also have an update on the Wine Blogging Wednesday Logo Contest that I announced almost a week ago. The prize pack for the winner is really starting to come together.
Fermentation: The Daily Wine Blog: A Graphic Display of Wine: The venerable Wine Blogging Wednesday folks are having a logo design contest that will result in a new logo for the group. ...To get you started, here are my "Thinking Tips" for your approach to logo creation:
Wine Scamp » Wine Blogging Wednesday Logo Contest: So I might fiddle around with some ideas for the Wine Blogging Wednesday Logo Contest, but I harbor no illusions that I might actually win.
WBW 41 Summary Posted, WBW 42 Announced | Winecast: Much has taken place in the Wine Blogging Wednesday world since I last posted about our monthly virtual tasting, so I thought it would make sense to gang up all the news in one post.
Fermentation: Bloggerview #18: BrooklynGuy's Wine & Food Blog: I found myself wanting to participate in Wine Blogging Wednesday, and that was the final push for me to start my own blog.

Amazing

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:59:51 -0800

1999 Rodney Strong Symmetry Meritage: The wine was amazing. I payed more for that bottle than I had thought I would ever justify paying for a bottle...but it was totally worth it, because it was a totally awesome bottle of wine.
Appellation Australia » Notes from a dinner: 1981 Chateau Musar Cherry/kirsch, smoked meats, earth and honey. The palate shows amazing fruit sweetness that is balanced superbly by aged earthy, spicy characters. Complex and long. If this was deconstructed too much you may be able to pick out many faults, but amazingly all mixed together they have achieved harmony. 94/100
East Village Wine Geek: Expressing The Truth Behind the Varietal: ...Nero d’Avola, Sicily’s most important grape has slowly crept into our vocabulary. It went from some weird, obscure wine found on the bottom shelf of wine shops and in the back of wine lists to a well known and well received wine that can have amazing quality.
le wine blog: The Yard: Top Aussie Shiraz in Years: It seemed to expand in the glass and get richer as it was exposed to air. I think this will be amazing after a few more years in the cellar.
the wine wanker: On Monday I attended an amazing tasting of 7 Ports and 3 Madeiras tutored by Rupert Symington, the managing director of Graham's and whose family has been involved in production of Port for fourteen generations.
Vintage Bottle Talk: 1996 Chateau Rayas Reserve: ...juicy red fruit and just an amazing mouthfeel......the finish is long, complex, balanced with perfume, spice and minerals on the backend....Awesome wine! Classic! 97PTS
2005 Union of Grand Crus of Bordeaux - The best of the best!: my wine of the night was without a question Chateau Pontet Canet. It is an undeniable star of the vintage and a value no matter what you have to pay for it! ...Chateau Lascombes - ...AMAZING!!!!! 5/5; Chateau Leoville Barton - ...AMAZING!!!! 5/5
Two Corks are Better Than One: Amazing to think that someone 44 years ago made this mistake, probably by doing these corks by hand and we just discovered it. If it weren't such an expensive bottle, it would have been interesting to open it up and see if the floater changed the wine.
Thoughts on Wine...: Been a while...: The 2005 Ridge Paso Robles Zinfandel was amazing. One of the great zins I've had in a long time.
CellarBlog: The Wine and Chocolate tasting at Breaux was amazing.
Tablas Creek Vineyard Blog: Congratulations to my Dad!: It's still amazing to think that when we founded Tablas Creek in 1989, there weren't any Rhone varietals planted here, and there were less than two dozen wineries.
La Mission Haut Brion: It is an amazing achievement for administrator Jean-Bernard Delmas, his son, Jean-Phillipe, and the entire winemaking team.
Finger Lakes Weekend Wino: 2007 Finger Lakes Weekend Wino Wine Awards- White Wines: 2006 Vidal Blanc, $8.99, 1.9% RS, very floral aromatics, layers of apricot and tropical fruits, an amazing value!
Sink or Swim with Gruner Veltliner: ...even if the Smaragds were not as approachable, some of them, even to a GruVe neophyte like me, were obviously amazing wines.

Best

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:25:29 -0800

My best wine values of 2007: The list includes 34 red wines, 20 whites and two rosés; among them you'll find six sparkling wines and one dessert wine.
Tohu pinot noir was best wine of 2007: Our 2007 wine of the year is the 2006 Tohu Marlborough Pinot Noir, a New Zealand wine that was a great value for the price.
Good Wine Under $20: Tasting Burgundy: ...I was particularly interested in this tasting because the organizers were emphasizing "Burgundy Best Buys" that cost less than $35. I wanted a chance to taste these wines, and to compare them with more costly wines from the same region. Here are my thoughts...
Finger Lakes Wineries Win Gold in Riesling Competition: Winemaker Tim Benedict of Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards... "There has been a consensus here in the Finger Lakes for a while now that our rieslings can stand toe-to-toe with the best rieslings in the world."
Meyney: Reputed to be one of the best Meyneys ever made!!
2006 Milton Park Thorn Clarke Shiraz: It is a Best Buy in savory Shiraz.
Washington State Wine Tasting: Along with Ciel du Cheval (Horse Heaven) Vineyard, Champoux is thought to be the best place for Bordeaux grapes in Washington State.
Wine Notes: Recent wines I’ve enjoyed: Champagne, Grand Cru 100%, Blanc de Blancs, Reserve Brut, Guy Charlemagne, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, NV - High strung and very toasty, this is a delicious and complex Champagne that shows the best of chardonnay in Champagne.
the vilafonte luxury wine blog: Preparation for harvest 2008: Please have a look at the site http://www.sablogawards.com/ which is about to start the nominations for South Africa's best blog.
Wine and Spirits / Introducing the latest palate charmers: Ben Hanna, Cabernet Franc, La Mariee, 2005. Best wine yet from this winery.
Merlooooooh! « Anything Wine: This was a big, complex, layered Merlot that shows the best of what California Merlot has to offer.
To bring a bottle to the restaurant, or not: The best way to try a new wine is when it is served with an excellent meal.
Sonoma Valley Wine, Olive and food tasting auction & event: Swirl, sniff and sip Sonoma Valley’s best wines
Cheers! The best wine in the world (and it only costs £30): Forget Pétrus or Montrachet: in a blind tasting of 15,000 wines from around the world, an unheralded label from the Rhone valley came top. John Lichfield raises a glass to Clos des Papes
Good Wine Under $20: Winery Watch: David Coffaro Wine: Coffaro wines can be found through some retailers, but the best selection can be had when dealing directly with the winery.
BKWine Herdade do Esporao interview: In 1989 the first wine "Esporão" was considered one of the best Portuguese wines and three years later the brand "Monte Velho" was launched.
2006 Viña Cobos “Cocodrilo” Cabernet Sauvignon: This could compete with the Ridge for the best bottle I’ve had since starting this blog!
Argentine vintners make wine a family affair: Q: What's the best wine you ever had? Susana: Myself, I was able to taste the '89 Chateau Latour, and for me is was wonderful. The '90 Haut-Brion. And the 2000 (Penfolds) Grange was beautiful!
Bigger Than Your Head » It’s All in the Timing: Here are the 2008 “Burgundy Best Buys” from Sopexa.
Mano a Vino Montclair: Porteno Red Wine: Porteño, Mendoza - 2005; Described as "With its ruby red color and aromas of black cherries and plums, this Argentine red is simply one of the best wines to come out of Mendoza in years.
Trader Joe’s Wine - Top 10 Wines of January 2008: 2006 Geyser Peak California Sauvignon Blanc ($8) – Wow! This is likely the best Sauvignon Blanc I’ve had that isn’t from New Zealand. Get yourself a bottle.
2002 Geantet-Pansiot Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Poissenot: This is one of the best bottles of Burgundy that I have ever had.........95PTS

Favorite

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 09:40:53 -0800

Red Wine with Fish » Grenache Tasting: 2002 Deisen Barossa Grenache ($30) My favorite. ...2005 Koehler Grenache Estate - Santa Ynez Valley ($20) This was my second favorite. ...2006 Bodegas Borsao Garnacha ($15) Lots of people’s favorite...
My New Favorite Wine: This is one of the smoothest, best tasting wines I have ever had. We are definitely going to buy more Ruffino Chianti 2005.
Trotanoy: ...this young sample reminded me of the 1998 Trotanoy, one of my favorite Pomerols of the past 20 years.
LENNDEVOURS: Diploma Dispatches: Rhône Wines: My favorite red varietal is Syrah, and no one does it better. We tasted two iconic wines, Guigal’s Côte Rôtie “Brune et Blonde” 2003 and Jaboulet Hermitage “La Chapelle” 1996
A Tuscan Tasting: ...this event had some great producers and some terrific wines were poured. Here are some of my impressions: ...One of my favorite wines from the tasting was the 2006 La Parrina Ansonica Costa dell'Argentario ($13), which had sea spray, floral, and citrus aromas and flavors.
Bench Grafts: Pinotblogger wine links: New website Rules of Thumb has a wine section. My favorite rule of thumb: “A winery’s standards start to slip if it produces more than 50,000 cases of wine per year,” by Chalone founder and COO Dick Graff.
The Best of Wine IMPORTERS!! Part Two: ...my favorite wine importers, currently. The premise is simple. Think cheat-sheet for wine 'pickens'...
De Long Wine Moment » Are Oaked Wines Naff*?: My own mother - whose favorite wine is White Zinfandel (ouch! God knows I tried) – will insist on her preference for dry wine even though each sip of White Zin betrays it. Is sweet wine really that embarrassing? Will drinking it get you banished from polite society?
Cono Sur's Organic Cab-Carmenere :: Chile: At $10-$12 a bottle, it’s my new favorite “every day red.” The fact that the grapes are grown and the wine produced organically is a plus.
Wine Outlook » Next Wine Seminar: To Age or Not To Age: I will also discuss one of my favorite wine-related events: Open That Bottle Night, created by Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher, and will give attendees a chance to participate in the celebration...
Angelus: Picking a favorite between these two fabulous examples of their respective vintages is - for me - presently impossible.
Tastes Of Life: Alma Rosa Winery and Vineyards wine tasting: ...the first Chard was my favorite.
Weekly Wine Web Wrap-up - In-Flight Dining Edition: When We Got There, There Was No 'There' There Don't you just hate it when you fly to Bordeaux to visit the Chateau of your favorite French wine only to find when you get there that the place doesn't exist?
Sink or Swim with Gruner Veltliner: Of the Federspiels, my personal favorite was the Alzinger... So it was another wine, a more accessible wine that was my favorite of the night. The Nikolaihof Im Weingebirge Smaragd...
Wine.Woot : Corison Cabernet Vertical Two-Pack: Cathy herself says that her favorite time to drink her Cabs is seven to twelve years into their lives...
2005 Calistoga Cellars Cabernet Sauvingon: Great Wine Alert!: Today’s wine garners a 95 Point score from Agent Sparkle, who declares this her new favorite (non-bubbly) wine.
2007 Washington Wine Favorites: ...here are my favorites of 2007
Merlot-quacious!: Taster A and I decided it was time to remind ourselves what Merlot was all about with a horizontal tasting of three Merlots from Sonoma County. We opened three very nice single-vineyard bottles, and compared them side-by-side. All had typically soft tannins, plumy nose, and subdued character. Of course, we did wind up with our favorites.
Another Year… « spume: A couple of the wine selections I’m excited about drinking while celebrating my birthday: Domaine de la Pepière 2006 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur lie (one of my all time favorite party wines); Peillot’s 2004 Altesse Rousette du Bugey; and Domaine de Sablonnettes 2004 Anjou “Les Genêts”.
La Mission-Haut-Brion: 100 points Parker: "I am certainly not going to argue with anyone who believes La Mission-Haut-Brion's 1989 is every bit as profound as the 1989 Haut-Brion. It is a spectacular wine, and as it ages in the bottle, it is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite...
Wine Tasting and The Chain Gang Gourmet Cycling Tours: ...my favourite is the dessert wine from Chateau Puy Servain in Haut Montravel, near Ste Foy la Grande in the Dordogne valley.
Locals Favorites Blog: Something New - Locals Favorites: Here at Locals we’re starting something new; a feature on our website titled Locals Favorites. Every so often we’ll be posting information about something in the area that is recommended by a local.
Good Wine Under $20: Winery Watch: David Coffaro Wine: ...if you are a fan of luscious blends and interesting grape varieties at attractive prices, you need to know about this cult favorite among California wineries.
30 Second Wine Advisor: Valpolicella revisited - wineloverspage.com: Today, let's take a quick look at yet another tasty and table-ready Northern Italian favorite, Valpolicella.
Avenue Vine: PALLINI FOR VALENTINE'S DAY: Limoncello is Italy's favorite liqueur. Rating: 90 - 95 SUPERB. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, BEST BUY, Wine Enthusiast

Great

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:13:06 -0800

This is the stuff that WOW is made of!: Yesterday was one of those great wine days, because we had the opportunity to taste the new releases from the great Tuscan and Piedmont portfolios of importer Neil Empson.
La Vie en Pinot: 2005 Blackjack Ranch Black Cap Reserve...: If you like Chardonnay and want a great wine for a special occasion, I suggest this. Yummy.
2006 Handley Pinot Noir Rosé: ...it would be a great wine for a picnic this spring.
2005 Varner Chardonnay Spring Ridge Vineyard Home Block...: My third and last bottle. Still a great wine that distinguishes itself by virtue of its great minerality and finesse.
Au Bon Climat 2005 Pinot Noir, "Isabelle": This is a great wine, and which will make your next special occasion even more special.
On the Prowl for a Great Wine? Herding Cats Delivers: ...my family and I just enjoyed the 2007 Herding Cats Chardonnay | Viognier. We found it to be a really refreshing, easy apperitif...
Teperberg 1870: An underrated Israeli wine: ...would be a great wine served for B’nai Mitzvot and Jewish weddings and other events (when a mevushal wine is needed).
Fruit, spice balance Pinot Noir: This Pinot Noir is a great wine for mushroom lovers.
2005 Merlot: Always, the wines are great. Sometimes greater than great, as is the case with today’s wine from Kelley Creek Winery.
Great Conference – Great Wine: Gabi Kotsis produced at dinner one of the rarest bottles of wine – an original Pervasive 2004 wine ...The wine is great.
Wine Week 56: Blending to get top results.: This week two of our wines use grapes from various regions with great results, while the other uses a blend of red grapes to deliver a wine that is ideal for drinking now.
Drinking A 2005 Benson Ferry Old Vine Zinfandel With...: Also it is a great wine for the bitter cold that you just came in from or about to go into. When you come back to the wine after a break you will find everything coming together into a nice thick blanket of all of the above converging and coating your palate.
2005 Ladi Vineyard Syrah: Return to Trecini vineayards, revisit the Vicini family, and return with another of their great wines
Douro: Great wine from "Port" grapes: They have blended Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (aka Tempranillo) and Touriga franca into a nice table wine that has some of the distinct flavor of Port without the strong sweetness or alcohol.
Huntington Wine Cellars 2004 Sonoma County Reserve Syrah: The Wine Spies, through Top Secret negotiations with our inside operatives were able to secure an allocation of this great wine for our operatives.
Lost Canyon Winery 2005 Alegria Syrah: If you really love what you do, as they do, you’ll make magic happen regardless of were you are. Thanks for reinforcing this belief, Lost Canyon, and thanks for this great wine!
Wines of the Week: ...in short, a great wine at a great price that will get even better over the next couple of years. ...the best Sarpe I have tasted in a long while
2004 Sonoma Carneros Pinot Noir: Always, the wines are great. Sometimes greater than great, as is the case with today’s wine from Ceja Vineyards.
Far Niente Estate Bottled Chardonnay 2005: All in all this wine was a great wine for a great occasion: if you like Chard, this is one to get.
Cooking Chat: 2007 Wine Bargains: ...here are some of the great wine bargains I found in 2007
Dr. Frank's is Greatest Wine Producer Four Years in a Row!: Dr. Frank's 2005 Riesling Reserve was also named #1 in the "Greatest Quality Wines" category.
Wine review: Rock Rabbit shiraz, 2004: It's not an expensive bottle, and it's quite a crowd pleaser, so it's a great wine to bring to a party as well.
2002 Madonlina Toccata: Great wine for tomato-based foods.

Wine Blogs

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:07:05 -0800

Passing the Two-Year Mark of Living My Wine-Colored Dream: Other than that, I now have this wine blog in addition to my first one, and I just started a cooking blog.
Bloggerview #17: Thomas Pellechia: Who: Thomas Pellechia, Blog: Vino Fictions
The Many Wild Walla Walla Wine Women: So once my wine blog took off I started getting emails from readers interested in more stuff about the Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman and it got me to thinking - - e-commerce.
Music & Wine » A Wine Book Blogging Bimonthly: This one is brief and I’m sure most of you (especially the other wine bloggers) already know about it. Dr. Debs first posted the idea:
The Wine Conversation: More European Wine Bloggers: As Ryan, Gabriella (from Catavino) and I are working on the European Wine Bloggers Conference concept (get in touch if you want to know more, participate or sponsor it), I thought I'd go on a search of more UK & European bloggers.
I’m Too Sexy for This Wine: Alice e il vino is on of Italy’s most popular wine blogs
Wino sapien: Absent friends: After almost two years of blogging, one of the notable things is the rate of attrition. Bloggers come and by and large they go. ...A toast - To absent friends!
Wine Biz Radio: Then there’s Tom Wark (of Wark Communications and Fermentation: The Daily Wine Blog) in the studio to discuss the top stories of the week.
Making Sense of "Wine 2.0" (Power to the People!): It must be important if everyone's talkin' about it, right? Some wine blogs even have their own sections devoted to it. So what is this Wine 2.0 stuff all about?...
January 2008’s 5 Most Popular Articles : Serious About Wine: Global Top 10 Wine Blogs, Ranking the top global wine blogs.
Twisted Oak Winery: We're Number Six! We're Number Six!: Dunno what it means in the grand scheme, but it has come to our attention that according to this web site, El Bloggo Torcido is the 6th most popular wine blog in the world.
Bloggerview #18: BrooklynGuy's Wine & Food Blog: Who: Neil From Brooklyn Blog, BrooklynGuy's Wine Blog
Celebrate Wine: A Final Toast: Well dear readers, today is my last day as your intrepid wine blogger here at Celebrate Wine. ...But even though I won't be writing here, I will continue writing at my personal wine & spirits blog, Pour More.
Wine Online : Serious About Wine: ...about half the millennials went to the Internet to obtain information about wine, indicating that producers should think about making more use of the Internet to communicate with this audience. 65% of the respondents logged onto wineries’ Web sites for information, about 40% went to Wine Spectator’s site, and about 26% used wine blogs for information.
Quaffability Help Wanted: Folks, within the few weeks I am going to be launching not one but two new blogs.
A Shot Heard Round the (Wine) World: Over the last few days, wine writers, bloggers, and pundits have published a number of posts and articles about Wine & Spirits ed-in-chief Josh Greene’s “State of the Industry” talk ...at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium...
Five questions with August Briggs Winery general manager Mark Koppen: Our new blog at www.augustbriggswines.com is all about connecting with people about what goes on at a small, family owned winery, and why, in our own small way, we’re unique.