Jamie Chung Jamie Gunns Jamie Lynn Sigler Janet Jackson January Jones
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Send me a wine postcard, I?m thirsty!
On the subject of wine innovation, one thing I forgot to post was a very quick video shot of Patrick Schmitt, Editor of The Drinks Business, sampling a new form of single-pour packaging, called OneGlass at the Fine Wine Fair. The concept is a single pour of only 100ml, which is actually less than the [...]
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Three Heart Warming Merlots: Waterbrook, Bolen, and Robert Foley
We got pounded with snow here in Massachusetts last week. As much as it sucks battling through a cold winter there's a certain amount of pleasure to be drawn from being snowed in with no place to go and nothing to do other than crack open a bottle of heart warming red wine.
A trio of Merlots found their way into the rotation during the week. They say if a winery is still making Merlot at this point they're probably making good Merlot. I don't know if that's necessarily true, but I find Merlot to be a value play compared to Cabernet Sauvignon from domestic producers frequently, and for immediate consumption Merlot can often run circles around Cabernet. It's kind of like Barbaresco to Barolo - if you're buying it for tonight Merlot and Barbaresco show a lot better than their rough and tumble counterparts.
Here are my thoughts on Merlots for your shopping consideration...
2007 Waterbrook Reserve Merlot
Release Price: $22
14.5% Alcohol
3,030 Cases Produced
Aromatically vibrant immediately upon opening with welcoming aromas of caramel on top of warm black cherry preserves. But there's a hole in this wine's soul - at least in this bottle. The initial attack on the palate is straight fruit, but things fall off right after that and never quite rise to the level the of the aromas. It's a bit of a let down because the nose on this wine is amazing.
88/100 WWP: Very Good
Purchased at: VinoDivino
2007 Bolen Family Estates Merlot
Release Price: $60
15.2% Alcohol
250 Cases Produced
Visually this wine is less opaque than you'd expect given its bold flavors. On the nose I get rich red and black fruit, mocha, and cinnamon. Floods the palate with a satisfying rich presence. Velvety mouth feel. Long finish. 15.2% alc and it shows at points. Overall - outstanding. Sample for review.
92/100 WWP: Outstanding
Sample for review.
2005 Robert Foley Merlot
Release Price: $50
14.6% Alcohol
1,000 Cases Produced
Dark fruit on the nose. Milk chocolate on the palate. Superb velvety mouth feel. Everything is well-integrated at this point. Nicely balanced.
91/100 WWP: Outstanding
Purchased at: The Wine Cellar of Stoneham
Question of the Day: What are some of your favorite domestic Merlots?
A trio of Merlots found their way into the rotation during the week. They say if a winery is still making Merlot at this point they're probably making good Merlot. I don't know if that's necessarily true, but I find Merlot to be a value play compared to Cabernet Sauvignon from domestic producers frequently, and for immediate consumption Merlot can often run circles around Cabernet. It's kind of like Barbaresco to Barolo - if you're buying it for tonight Merlot and Barbaresco show a lot better than their rough and tumble counterparts.
Here are my thoughts on Merlots for your shopping consideration...
Release Price: $22
14.5% Alcohol
3,030 Cases Produced
Aromatically vibrant immediately upon opening with welcoming aromas of caramel on top of warm black cherry preserves. But there's a hole in this wine's soul - at least in this bottle. The initial attack on the palate is straight fruit, but things fall off right after that and never quite rise to the level the of the aromas. It's a bit of a let down because the nose on this wine is amazing.
88/100 WWP: Very Good
Purchased at: VinoDivino
Release Price: $60
15.2% Alcohol
250 Cases Produced
Visually this wine is less opaque than you'd expect given its bold flavors. On the nose I get rich red and black fruit, mocha, and cinnamon. Floods the palate with a satisfying rich presence. Velvety mouth feel. Long finish. 15.2% alc and it shows at points. Overall - outstanding. Sample for review.
92/100 WWP: Outstanding
Sample for review.
Release Price: $50
14.6% Alcohol
1,000 Cases Produced
Dark fruit on the nose. Milk chocolate on the palate. Superb velvety mouth feel. Everything is well-integrated at this point. Nicely balanced.
91/100 WWP: Outstanding
Purchased at: The Wine Cellar of Stoneham
Question of the Day: What are some of your favorite domestic Merlots?
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Berlin Tasting in Copenhagen
Berlin Tasting in Copenhagen" might sound a little confusing? However the Berlin Tasting is a reference to a famous tasting held in Berlin the January 23. 2004. It was held by the Chilean wine producer Eduardo Chadwick from Errazuriz and he had invited 66 wine journalists from all over Europe to taste the best Chadwick wines from Chile against the supernames from Bordeaux and Tuscany. 16 wines were tasted from the vintages 2000 and 2001, among them 2000 Chateau Latour, 2000 Chateau Lafite and 2000 Chateau Margaux.
Gabrielle Union Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy Georgianna Robertson Georgina Grenville
Best Kept Secret in Boston Wine Value Eyes Expansion into Waltham
Most people who shop at the BJ's Warehouse locations in Danvers and Stoneham, MA probably don't realize the liquor stores within these locations aren't run by BJ's. At first glance they look like a typical liquor area within a warehouse club, but to wine value hunters like myself these stores represent one of the best kept secrets in the Boston area.
The stores are owned and operated by Boston-based RWJ Beverage Management in a model similar to what KH&H Liquors has done at Costco locations. Two unique laws cause warehouse clubs to operate this way:
Sure they have Kendall Jackson Chardonnay at $9.99 but they also have the 2007 Cakebread Cabernet at $59.99. They've got the Annabella Pinot Noir at $11.99 and they've also got the 2007 Chappellet Pritchard Hill Cab Franc for $39.99. And the 2005 Robert Foley Merlot for $24.99. And the 2006 Nicolas Potel Volnay for $24.99. These are, for my interests, unbelievable values.
It's not just a matter of dishing out cheap wine. They host in-store wine tastings, they fulfill special orders, they support local charities and they're friends of the local wine community. They're anything but a seedy discount liquor store.
So why am I writing to tell you about these stores today? Well, to raise awareness of the value they offer in general but also to let you know they're seeking to open another location within the BJ's Wholesale in Waltham, MA.
Last year they acquired the license from the now-defunct Winecellar of Silene contingent on being permitted to transfer it by the City of Waltham. Their first request was denied, perhaps as part of an overall anti-big box sentiment associated with BJ's. The BJ's in Waltham is open now, without a liquor store, so I hope the city will permit this high-value retailer to set up shop.
There's going to be a hearing Tuesday night January 25th, 2011 in Waltham. Especially if you're a Waltham resident and like wine values close to home this is a hearing you may be interested in attending. Although I don't live in Waltham I'm thinking about swinging by to show my support. It really bugs me to see high quality retailers like this denied the opportunity to serve consumers.
If you have any questions about the store or the hearing contact Mike Reardon at 617-412-2858 or on Twitter: @WineCellarsMA
Your call to action:
The stores are owned and operated by Boston-based RWJ Beverage Management in a model similar to what KH&H Liquors has done at Costco locations. Two unique laws cause warehouse clubs to operate this way:
- In Massachusetts any single entity can only own 3 liquor licenses. That's why some Whole Foods and Trader Joe's locations don't sell wine in the state.
Here's a list of the grocery stores in the state that do sell wine.
This creates a situation where warehouse clubs have locations where they can't sell alcohol and instead allow a third party to operate within their locations so shoppers can buy alcoholic beverages. - It's illegal for an alcoholic beverage retailer to require a membership. Therefore, one need not have a membership to Costco or BJ's in order to purchase alcoholic beverages. This applies whether the store is managed by the warehouse club or not - a membership is never required.
Sure they have Kendall Jackson Chardonnay at $9.99 but they also have the 2007 Cakebread Cabernet at $59.99. They've got the Annabella Pinot Noir at $11.99 and they've also got the 2007 Chappellet Pritchard Hill Cab Franc for $39.99. And the 2005 Robert Foley Merlot for $24.99. And the 2006 Nicolas Potel Volnay for $24.99. These are, for my interests, unbelievable values.
It's not just a matter of dishing out cheap wine. They host in-store wine tastings, they fulfill special orders, they support local charities and they're friends of the local wine community. They're anything but a seedy discount liquor store.
So why am I writing to tell you about these stores today? Well, to raise awareness of the value they offer in general but also to let you know they're seeking to open another location within the BJ's Wholesale in Waltham, MA.
Last year they acquired the license from the now-defunct Winecellar of Silene contingent on being permitted to transfer it by the City of Waltham. Their first request was denied, perhaps as part of an overall anti-big box sentiment associated with BJ's. The BJ's in Waltham is open now, without a liquor store, so I hope the city will permit this high-value retailer to set up shop.
There's going to be a hearing Tuesday night January 25th, 2011 in Waltham. Especially if you're a Waltham resident and like wine values close to home this is a hearing you may be interested in attending. Although I don't live in Waltham I'm thinking about swinging by to show my support. It really bugs me to see high quality retailers like this denied the opportunity to serve consumers.
If you have any questions about the store or the hearing contact Mike Reardon at 617-412-2858 or on Twitter: @WineCellarsMA
Your call to action:
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Wine, drugs and an unhealthy debate
For an audio version of this post, click here: I should warn you now, I am a dedicated proponent of a non-communicable disease. There is only ALCOHOL! The debate has been stirred by a report by Professor David Nutt, the former UK chief drugs advisor, published in The Lancet called “Drug harms in the UK“. [...]
Kelly Monaco Kelly Ripa Kelly Rowland Kerry Suseck Kim Kardashian
Chteau Latour Pauillac is One of Collectors Favorites
Chteau Latour is one of the most dependable vineyards in France and manufactures one of the best among the three Pauillac on the wine market. This famous wine draws its richness from the rich soil of the vineyards. Among the richest wines of the Mdoc region, Wine experts selected it as the best wine of [...]
Sanaa Lathan Sara Foster Sara Spraker Sarah Gellman Sarah Michelle Gellar
Haydn?s Review of the Hard Row to Hoe Shameless Hussy Sangiovese Dry Rose
Winery: Hard Row to Hoe Appellation: Lake Chelan AVA (just established last year!) Price: $22 Haydn gives this wine: 90pts You can buy this wine: Hard Row to Hoe’s website At least for me, when it comes to summertime, the rose wine jumps right up to the top. Along with those crisp whites (hello New [...]
Kirsten Dunst Krista Allen Kristanna Loken Kristen Bell Kristin Cavallari
Friday, January 28, 2011
Lebanon and a truly inspiring wine story from the BBC
Today the BBC Radio 4 broadcast a special programme on the wines of Lebanon, presented by Jeremy Bowen, called ‘Vines on the Front Line‘. The result was actually a very interesting human story, not one of grapes, and I was impressed. To listen to the report, click on the link below: (at least if you [...]
Scarlett Johansson Selita Ebanks Shakara Ledard Shakira Shana Hiatt
Lebanon and a truly inspiring wine story from the BBC
Today the BBC Radio 4 broadcast a special programme on the wines of Lebanon, presented by Jeremy Bowen, called ‘Vines on the Front Line‘. The result was actually a very interesting human story, not one of grapes, and I was impressed. To listen to the report, click on the link below: (at least if you [...]
Laura Harring Laura Prepon Lauren Bush Lauren Conrad Lauren German
Do Australian Rieslings need more age?
The Contours vineyard at Pewsey Vale, Eden Valley. The Seppelt Drumborg Riesling 2010 has the fresh lime aromas of a young Aussie Riesling. But on the palate, the dry wine is tightly wound, wrapped in a crunchy, almost impenetrable shell of acidity. By contrast, the 2003 vintage of the same wine is much more accessible, [...]
Jill Wagner Joanna Krupa Joanne Montanez Jodi Lyn OKeefe Jolene Blalock
Reminder: 2011 Wine Peeps Reader Survey closes Sunday
If you haven?t already, we hope that you will take a few minutes of your time between now and Sunday night to answer our short reader survey: Click here to take the 2011 Wine Peeps Survey Thanks! Reminder: 2011 Wine Peeps Reader Survey closes Sunday was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your [...]
Reminder: 2011 Wine Peeps Reader Survey closes Sunday was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.
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Bonus Content: Three Guest Posts Published Elsewhere
Just a heads-up on three pieces I wrote for other publications recently:
Have a great weekend!
- How will the MA Alcohol Tax Repeal Affect Sales Long-term?
This piece is a call to Massachusetts wholesalers and distributors to look at their assortment of wines and the fully loaded cost of the wines they sell to compete favorably nationally. I shouldn't be able to find French and Italian wines in California for 25% less than in Massachusetts. - 2008 Liberte Cabernet Sauvignon Review on Jason's Wine Blog
If you like shopping for wine at Trader Joe's, Jason's Wine Blog is a must-read. I shared my thoughts on the a $9.99 Paso Robles Cab I tried recently - check out the action in the comments. - How Taste Tribes are Actually Formed
A few months back there was some talk online about "badges" being a new/better way to rate wines than the 100 point scale. Out of that, a discussion around "taste tribes" formed. I shared my thoughts on this subject in a new multi-contributor online publication called Smart Tastes.
Have a great weekend!
China Chow Chloë Sevigny Christina Aguilera Christina Applegate Christina DaRe
Phifer Pavitt ? New Kid on the Block Making Waves with Date Night Cabernet
For those that have the pocketbook and like the idea of finding something different, a little out of the ordinary, Phifer Pavitt is worth a visit and a chance to buy some of this delicious wine to share proudly with your friends. Continue reading
Jessica Simpson Jessica White Jill Arrington Jill Wagner Joanna Krupa
Who makes money in wine writing?
“I do it on the web for free.” A fellow blogger and I once joked about putting that on a T-shirt. Blogging is not a path to riches. Especially for wine. While a tech blogger might earn a decent living from Google’s Adsense or the Amazon affiliate program, such a path is not really open [...]
Rosario Dawson Rose Byrne Rose McGowan Roselyn Sanchez Rozonda Thomas
Smoky Pinots and spicy Cabernets
Yesterday will be one of the more memorable days among the many tasting occasions taking place this January. First, the BIVB event. I went to hear how the BIVB presented itself, the diversity of offerings from Burgundy (at Village level) and maybe try a few of the seemingly popular 2009 Burgundies. The presentation was simultaneously [...]
Samantha Mathis Samantha Morton Samantha Mumba Sanaa Lathan Sara Foster
Winemakers Impress at the 2011 Boston Wine Expo
I really enjoyed this format for the most part since it reduced crowds in the morning session and provides more opportunities to interact directly with winemakers. And if there's one piece of advice that will guide us to enjoyment at these events I think that's it - spend as much time as you can talking with winemakers and listening to what they have to say.
I found a wide range of folks pouring and representing wines at this year's Expo. Some booths were manned by employees of trade organizations, others by importers, and yet others by regular Joes who just showed up to pour at the Expo. But my favorite conversations were those with deep knowledge about what they were pouring - chatting with them is like a mini-visit to the winery.
 |
| Sebastiano Ramello, Owner Piemonte Wine-Food |
A 2007 Massucco Roero they poured had many of the characteristics I like in a Barbaresco - elegant fruit, floral aromas, earth, acidity and firm tannins. This Roero was also Nebbiolo based but just from a different part of Piedmont. I'll definitely be looking to these wines as a more affordable alternative in the future.
 |
| 2005/2006 Antonio Sasa Brunello |
She asked because evidently he rated the wine 94 points - the first time I've heard a numerical rating of his leveraged in a sales context since he's left Wine Spectator. The wine is a bargain at $29.99 from K&L.
 |
| Richard Proctor from Vintage Point |
I've enjoyed the 2007 vintage of this wine and the 2008 shows every bit as well. But behind the table he had a just-bottled 2009 available and cracked it open to taste. The aromas struck me as slightly disjoint at this point but structurally the wine is solid. I think it'll be another winner with some time to settle down in the bottle.
Definitely try the 2008 Educated Guess if you're heading to the Expo today. 88 points from Wine Spectator and quite a value in Napa Cab south of $20. Richard Proctor enthusiastically represented the wine along with others in his portfolio. Nice stuff.
 |
| Avery Anderson, Second Glass |
In talking with Avery, Tyler, and Morgan from Second Glass it sounds like they've got some very cool things in the works in the wine and technology space. Definitely keep an eye on them as they expand Wine Riot to other cities this year (Los Angeles and Chicago) and as it returns to Boston this April.
 |
| Morten Hallgren, Ravines |
I've had a bottle of 2008 Ravines Dry Riesling in my refrigerator since Thanksgiving. Somehow, we never seemed to have the right food to pair it with and I was afraid (needlessly) that the wine was going to be exceedingly dry and searingly acidic. I had a great time talking with owner and winemaker Morten Hallgren - asking him things like "what exactly extracted means to a winemaker." After tasting through the wines I'm a huge fan of what they're doing. I cracked open that bottle of Riesling last night and found it to be delicious and not-too-dry at all. Highly recommended.
 |
| Robert Dale Wojnar, Sr., Dr. Konstantin Frank |
I enjoyed their whole line-up, especially their Chateau Frank sparkling wine and their Gewurztraminer. I thought their Rieslings, from dry to semi-dry, were very good as well. Another enjoyable stop.
Especially if you didn't have a chance to try the affordable crowd favorite at the last Wine Riot check out the Giorgio & Gianni Lambrusco. It's being poured at the Expo and flying off retailer shelves for around $7.99 I understand:
A connection I hadn't made previously was that Joel's son Morgan Twain-Peterson is behind the hot Bedrock Wine Co. Joel was sharing some great stories about their early winemaking explorations together (when Morgan was just 5 years old!) including a jaunt to Domaine Romanee Conti. Fascinating stuff you just can't get when you hire out pouring responsibilities. Here's Joel pouring for Ken Hoggins from KensWineGuide.com:
The trade and media portion of the show ran from 10 am to 1 pm. Towards the end I started to rifle around looking for some substantive food but it looked like most of that was gearing up for the afternoon general session. Perhaps I didn't look hard enough.
Overall, I enjoyed this session as much or more than any previous Expo. I had memorable conversations with people deeply connected to the wines they were pouring, learned a lot, and had a great time. I'm looking forward to checking out the Grand Cru Lounge for the first time this afternoon. I'll report back with my thoughts.
Question of the Day: What wines did you find at the Expo yesterday that caught your attention?
Julie Benz Julie Berry K. D. Aubert Karen Carreno Karolína Kurková
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Jean Farris Winery ?Tempest? 2007
You never know where the next emerging wine State will be here in the U.S. but if this wine is representative of the wines coming out of Kentucky these days, this might be the place. Given as a gift from the parents of a friend of my son visiting over the holiday break, the wine [...]
Jean Farris Winery “Tempest” 2007 originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
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Stuart Weitzman?s ?Diamond Dream? Stilettos - Every Lady?s Dream Footwear
If you have fetish for shoes and also like to know about different shoes and some really interesting facts about the shoes then check out this Stuart Weitzman?s ?Diamond Dream? Stilettos. It will cost you around $500,000. It will be a dream shoe for any woman in the world. Your feet will definitely turn the [...]
Jessica White Jill Arrington Jill Wagner Joanna Krupa Joanne Montanez
A Tough Reminder
As I sit in the middle of what has to be referred to as the holiday rush, there are still signs that the wine industry as a whole has some issues. Outside of the standard complaints about big distributors and their affect on smaller production wineries, the direct shipping assault led by wholesalers through HR [...]
Missy Peregrym Molly Sims Monet Mazur Monica Bellucci Monica Keena
By: Russ Kane My Messina Hof Winery Harvest Dinner.
Photo by Russ Kane Messina Hof Winery Harvest Dinner Russ Kane is one of my favorite Texas wine bloggers. His style of telling the story is amazing. Visit Vintagetexas.com and see all his write ups. Another great blog write up by Russ Kane. Its that time of year for Grape Harvest in Texas and Messina [...]
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Grape sex, Snooth, icewine fraud, Aussie beer ? sipped & spit
SPIT: repurposed content Snooth.com, a site that ranks high in search results yet often offers frustratingly little hard information, has been scraping Cellartracker content, the Vintank blog suggests. The Snooth co-founder admits the content has “slipped through” their Ph.D. programmers since 2007 and apologizes. The Cellartracker founder comments on the post to say he has [...]
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Diamond and Emerald Necklace from Chopard?s ?Haute Joaillerie? - Worth Over $3 Million
Jewelry is every woman?s favorite especially if that is of emerald and diamond. This Magnificent Diamond and Emerald Necklace from Chopard?s ?Haute Joaillerie? is certainly one of the most expensive and stunning works of creativity. It will ooze luxury, sophistication and elegance �– all at the same time. Your partner will certainly be the cynosure [...]
The Pussycat Dolls Thora Birch Tila Tequila Tina Fey Tricia Helfer
My Most Exciting Wine of 2010: The 2005 Cigliuti Serraboella Barbaresco
I first discovered the wines of Cigliuti at a tasting at The Wine Bottega (review) in late 2009. Their wines sent me off on a Nebbiolo kick that continues to this day (more on that here). There are a lot of fine producers of Barbaresco but I haven't found another for under $50 that deliver the intensity, flavor and all around excitement I've found in Cigliuti's Barbareschi.
In some ways Barbaresco is a mainstream wine, but in others it's still a niche category. Most retail stores don't carry more than a few bottlings (try Vintages in Concord and Belmont, MA for a truly amazing assortment of Piedmont reds) and that's a shame because I've found it to be an incredible passageway into the wine of Italy which I often find austere and thin. Most Barbareschi are thin visually but the better ones are powerful aromatically and on the palate.
Cigliuti produces Barbaresco from two different vineyards. The Vigne Erte retails for $60 and the Serraboella for $75. When the 2004 was beginning to evaporate from the market I was concerned the 2005 would be a let-down. Thankfully the 2005 is just as good if not better than the 2004. Only time will tell - we're admittedly drinking these wines in their youth.
Here are my notes:
2005 Cigliuti Barbaresco Serraboella
$75 Release Price
14.5% Alcohol
830 Cases Made
This is a gorgeous wine.
On the nose I get rich ripe raspberries, menthol, rose petals, and flinty Certs retsin action. On the palate some earth comes forward. Mushrooms. Chalky tannins.
Still shows some tannic bite even after a quadruple decant. Will benefit from time, but I didn't regret opening it now. Could be my wine of the year. The kind of wine you want to seek out and stock your cellar with. Can't recommend a wine any more enthusiastically than this one. Truly special.
96/100 WWP: Classic
Purchased from: Wine Library
Find this wine available for sale on: Wine-Searcher
CellarTracker: Currently a 95 Point Average
Further Reading:
Click here to download the Wellesley Wine Press Top 25 of 2010 in pdf.
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Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tasting Report: 2007 Red Car Heaven & Earth La Boheme Pinot Noir
A brief programming note: The Wellesley Wine Press hit 500 subscribers today! After typing away here for the past couple of years it was a great Christmas present to receive. Subscribers are, more than anything, what I've been focusing on in the past year. The idea that so many of you are interested in hearing what I have to say means a lot to me. Happy Holidays.Oh, and check out this deal from Petit Robert Bistro from Buy With Me. $25 for $50 and I hear they're BYOB-friendly at their Needham, MA location every night with a $15 corkage fee.
I usually like to write about current release wines here because they're actionable suggestions. However, the 2007 Red Car Heaven & Earth La Boheme I enjoyed last week was such a memorable wine I thought I'd share my impressions.
I purchased two bottles of this wine from Lower Falls Wine Co. about a year ago. The first I considered outstanding (93 points) and the second I had with friends over dinner last week. An interesting thing about this wine - although James Laube from Spectator thought it was out of this world (97 points), Robert Parker thought it was so-so. He rated it 88 points. I think Laube got this one right, and the market seems to have responded accordingly. Although the wine initially sold for $60 it's now going for around $135.
Here are my notes:
2007 Red Car Heaven & Earth La Boheme Pinot Noir
14.5% Alcohol
292 Cases Produced
97 Points Wine Spectator
88 Points Wine Advocate
92.6 Average on CellarTracker
Release Price: $60
Current Value: $135
I thought this wine was tremendous and it's showing beautifully at this point in time. Vibrant and intense with red raspberry aromas and flavors on top of other typical CA Pinot Noir markers (strawberries, cherries, a little earth, silky smooth tannins). Incredible depth of flavor and length of finish. Up a couple points from the last bottle I tried over a year ago. Drink now but hold if you'd like more secondary characteristics to further develop.
95/100 WWP: Classic
The call to action is to keep an eye out for their 2009s at retail, and if live in a state they can ship to, consider joining their mailing list: http://redcarwine.com. I hear their 2009s are supposed to be spectacular.
Further Reading: An interview with Paul Sequeria from Red Car from last year when Spectator rated the Heaven & Earth Pinot Noir 97 points.
Question of the Day: Have you had Red Car Pinot Noirs before? If so what did you think? If not, what have you hear about 2009 California Pinot Noir?
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The 100-point Scale and The Myth of Precision
Every once and a while the debate about the 100-point scale swirls around the wine blogosphere (and now wine twitteratti). The latest flash-point is wine critic and recently turned blogger James Suckling who posted a video on his site yesterday detailing how he evaluates wine. Different than a lot of wine bloggers, but consistent with [...]
The 100-point Scale and The Myth of Precision originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Jaime Pressly Jamie Chung Jamie Gunns Jamie Lynn Sigler Janet Jackson
Clos Ouvert Loncomilla: Chilean for savory carmenere
In a recent column on Slate.com, Mike Steinberger threw most Chilean carmenere under the oak bus. Many of the wines in his tasting, “lacked personality and depth, and some were jammy, hideously oaky confections that were indistinguishable from other, similarly afflicted New World wines.” I’d also add that some of the ones that I’ve had [...]
Maria Sharapova Mariah Carey Mariah OBrien Marika Dominczyk Marisa Coughlan
Auction booty, 50 Cent, adulteration, heir apparent ? sipped & spit
SIPPED: boom times Wine auctions brought in a total of $408 million, nearly doubling the 2009 take according to Peter Meltzer. Hong Kong boomed, with $165 millon in wine auctions, surpassing New York’s $154 million. According to the article, the five largest auction houses by wine gross are: Acker worldwide, Sotheby’s worldwide, Christie’s worldwide, Zachys [...]
Missi Pyle Missy Peregrym Molly Sims Monet Mazur Monica Bellucci
Zinfandel Lives!!! Three from Wine Guerrilla and more
Last month, we were contacted by Bruce Patch, head honcho at a Sonoma County outfit called Wine Guerrilla, asking where he might send samples for review. Patch, who spent most of his career in the music industry, moved to Sonoma in 1997 and started up a wine brokerage firm; eventually, he decided to turn Wine [...]
Tamala Jones Tami Donaldson Tamie Sheffield Tara Conner Tara Reed
How Wine Became Modern: Design + Wine 1976 to Now; an SF MOMA Exhibit
The wine world can basically be compartmentalized into two worlds: The New World & The Old World. The Old World is France, and basically any other country within a trebuchet’s throw of France. Wines have been ratified by treaties, classified by region and not varietal, and are poured in chatea�s beckoning you with long dusty [...]
LeAnn Rimes Leeann Tweeden Leelee Sobieski Leighton Meester Leila Arcieri
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
2010 Grayson Hills Winery Annual Grape Harvest & Stomp
Saturday, August 14th My good friends Rick and Connie Magers owners and wine maker of Grayson Hills wine are having their annual Grape Harvest. There is nothing better than Texas wine in my mind. There is nothing more fun than to spend time with good friends and good wine. This is no exception. Grayson Hills [...]
Megan Ewing Megan Fox Melania Trump Melissa George Melissa Howard
Academy of Wine Communications:Twitter Basics Immersion for Wineries
Our next meeting of the Academy of Wine Communications here in the Finger Lakes will be followed by an interactive Twitter Basics Immersion for Wineries for AWC members.� The meeting and seminar will be held at Ravines Wine Cellars on Keuka Lake thanks to their offer to host us and let us utilize their wireless [...]
Leeann Tweeden Leelee Sobieski Leighton Meester Leila Arcieri Lena Headey
Three from Stark-Cond�
As far as I can tell, Stark-Cond� isn’t any more a household name here in the US now than when I last reviewed six of their wines a little over four years ago. They were distributed here in the Detroit area back then; I actually sold them in a wine department I managed at that [...]
Vanessa Minnillo Vanessa Simmons Veronica Kay Veronika Vaeková Victoria Beckham
A Little Competition Never Hurts!
That’s right – it’s time. The Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition begins tomorrow. Nearly 100 international judges, more than 3,000 international wines. Who will take the gold? Keep coming back to find out more information about the 3-day event and watch for judges to be blogging and twittering in between judging!
Maggie Grace Maggie Gyllenhaal Majandra Delfino Malia Jones Malin Akerman
Bonus Content: Three Guest Posts Published Elsewhere
Just a heads-up on three pieces I wrote for other publications recently:
Have a great weekend!
- How will the MA Alcohol Tax Repeal Affect Sales Long-term?
This piece is a call to Massachusetts wholesalers and distributors to look at their assortment of wines and the fully loaded cost of the wines they sell to compete favorably nationally. I shouldn't be able to find French and Italian wines in California for 25% less than in Massachusetts. - 2008 Liberte Cabernet Sauvignon Review on Jason's Wine Blog
If you like shopping for wine at Trader Joe's, Jason's Wine Blog is a must-read. I shared my thoughts on the a $9.99 Paso Robles Cab I tried recently - check out the action in the comments. - How Taste Tribes are Actually Formed
A few months back there was some talk online about "badges" being a new/better way to rate wines than the 100 point scale. Out of that, a discussion around "taste tribes" formed. I shared my thoughts on this subject in a new multi-contributor online publication called Smart Tastes.
Have a great weekend!
Foxy Brown Freida Pinto FSU Cowgirls Gabrielle Union Garcelle Beauvais
?Vertical? Is A Fitting, Yet Sobering, Sequel To ?Sideways?
It’s been almost seven years since Rex Pickett’s novel ‘Sideways’ was published in tandem with the wildly successful Alexander Payne film that made Pinot Noir a hot commodity nearly overnight. That previous novel was a treatment for a screenplay but worked well on it’s own expanding the ‘Sideways’ back story. In my review of that [...]
‘Vertical’ Is A Fitting, Yet Sobering, Sequel To ‘Sideways’ originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Simone Mütherthies Sofía Vergara Soft Cell Sophia Bush Stacy Keibler
Diamond and Emerald Necklace from Chopard?s ?Haute Joaillerie? - Worth Over $3 Million
Jewelry is every woman?s favorite especially if that is of emerald and diamond. This Magnificent Diamond and Emerald Necklace from Chopard?s ?Haute Joaillerie? is certainly one of the most expensive and stunning works of creativity. It will ooze luxury, sophistication and elegance �– all at the same time. Your partner will certainly be the cynosure [...]
Three Heart Warming Merlots: Waterbrook, Bolen, and Robert Foley
We got pounded with snow here in Massachusetts last week. As much as it sucks battling through a cold winter there's a certain amount of pleasure to be drawn from being snowed in with no place to go and nothing to do other than crack open a bottle of heart warming red wine.
A trio of Merlots found their way into the rotation during the week. They say if a winery is still making Merlot at this point they're probably making good Merlot. I don't know if that's necessarily true, but I find Merlot to be a value play compared to Cabernet Sauvignon from domestic producers frequently, and for immediate consumption Merlot can often run circles around Cabernet. It's kind of like Barbaresco to Barolo - if you're buying it for tonight Merlot and Barbaresco show a lot better than their rough and tumble counterparts.
Here are my thoughts on Merlots for your shopping consideration...
2007 Waterbrook Reserve Merlot
Release Price: $22
14.5% Alcohol
3,030 Cases Produced
Aromatically vibrant immediately upon opening with welcoming aromas of caramel on top of warm black cherry preserves. But there's a hole in this wine's soul - at least in this bottle. The initial attack on the palate is straight fruit, but things fall off right after that and never quite rise to the level the of the aromas. It's a bit of a let down because the nose on this wine is amazing.
88/100 WWP: Very Good
Purchased at: VinoDivino
2007 Bolen Family Estates Merlot
Release Price: $60
15.2% Alcohol
250 Cases Produced
Visually this wine is less opaque than you'd expect given its bold flavors. On the nose I get rich red and black fruit, mocha, and cinnamon. Floods the palate with a satisfying rich presence. Velvety mouth feel. Long finish. 15.2% alc and it shows at points. Overall - outstanding. Sample for review.
92/100 WWP: Outstanding
Sample for review.
2005 Robert Foley Merlot
Release Price: $50
14.6% Alcohol
1,000 Cases Produced
Dark fruit on the nose. Milk chocolate on the palate. Superb velvety mouth feel. Everything is well-integrated at this point. Nicely balanced.
91/100 WWP: Outstanding
Purchased at: The Wine Cellar of Stoneham
Question of the Day: What are some of your favorite domestic Merlots?
A trio of Merlots found their way into the rotation during the week. They say if a winery is still making Merlot at this point they're probably making good Merlot. I don't know if that's necessarily true, but I find Merlot to be a value play compared to Cabernet Sauvignon from domestic producers frequently, and for immediate consumption Merlot can often run circles around Cabernet. It's kind of like Barbaresco to Barolo - if you're buying it for tonight Merlot and Barbaresco show a lot better than their rough and tumble counterparts.
Here are my thoughts on Merlots for your shopping consideration...
Release Price: $22
14.5% Alcohol
3,030 Cases Produced
Aromatically vibrant immediately upon opening with welcoming aromas of caramel on top of warm black cherry preserves. But there's a hole in this wine's soul - at least in this bottle. The initial attack on the palate is straight fruit, but things fall off right after that and never quite rise to the level the of the aromas. It's a bit of a let down because the nose on this wine is amazing.
88/100 WWP: Very Good
Purchased at: VinoDivino
Release Price: $60
15.2% Alcohol
250 Cases Produced
Visually this wine is less opaque than you'd expect given its bold flavors. On the nose I get rich red and black fruit, mocha, and cinnamon. Floods the palate with a satisfying rich presence. Velvety mouth feel. Long finish. 15.2% alc and it shows at points. Overall - outstanding. Sample for review.
92/100 WWP: Outstanding
Sample for review.
Release Price: $50
14.6% Alcohol
1,000 Cases Produced
Dark fruit on the nose. Milk chocolate on the palate. Superb velvety mouth feel. Everything is well-integrated at this point. Nicely balanced.
91/100 WWP: Outstanding
Purchased at: The Wine Cellar of Stoneham
Question of the Day: What are some of your favorite domestic Merlots?
Jennifer Gimenez Jennifer Love Hewitt Jennifer Morrison Jennifer ODell Jennifer Scholle
Field Notes from a Wine Life ? New York Edition
Odds and ends from a life lived through the prism of the wine glass …
Vino 2011
It has been two years since I’ve been to New York City, a jaunt I like to make at least once a year in order to get my dosage from the city that hooks people like a drug – the energy, the culture, the food, the global village 13.4 miles long and 2.3 miles wide.
The first time I visited, I stayed at a Best Western near Madison Square Garden where I was greeted by a homeless guy sitting Indian style on the sidewalk vomiting in his lap. If that wasn’t jarring enough, a cockroach acted as my bellhop scurrying in front of me as I walked down the hallway to my room the size of a postage stamp. 15 years hence, the accommodations have gotten better.
As I write this, I’m ensconced in my hotel room at the Waldorf Astoria drinking the 2007 Donkey & Goat Syrah from Fenaughty Vineyard (a fan-freakin-tastic wine, but I’ll bet cab fare to LaGuardia that the wine is on the high end of the 1% latitude producers get from the TTB on alcohol labeling, this one is defined on the label as 14.1% abv). For what it’s worth, I think Lioco and Donkey & Goat are two of the most exciting young producers in California. And, it should be noted they have much in common from an ethos perspective ...
I’m doing some work, laying plans to visit Eataly, the Italian food emporium, and prepping for the reason I’m here – the Vino 2011 conference that kicks off today, Monday, January 24th.
You can watch the panel I’ll be speaking on streamed live on Tuesday, January 25th at 2:30 pm EST at the Vino 2011 homepage (link here). Called, “What Emily Post can Teach You About Social Media, Millenial App-titude and Geo-Marketing” the panel deftly combines two wine hot buttons – digital marketing and Millenials; it’s sure to be a packed room.
Tom Wark from Wark Communications and, of course, his blog Fermentation will lead the discussion. Gregory Dal Piaz from Snooth and several other talented folks will be on the panel, as well. Full description here.
While I’m looking forward to the panel, I do have to admit that technology and marketing is a tough topic to speak to. You run the risk of saying something that is totally obvious to one person who might be sitting next to someone for whom your bit of wisdom is received like manna from heaven. And, of course, the opportunity to completely speak jargon-ese over the head of your audience is an ever-looming threat as well.
I have a number of notes prepared, which I’ll save for the panel discussion, but a point I would like to make here is the wine industry is very guilty of talking about Millenials as if they aren’t in the room, a demographic, a target to aim for as a savior of wine sales. It’s all very patronizing and kind of counter to the respected inclusion that is a hallmark of the generation.
Instead of laying plans to market to “Millenials” using the nearest, brightest new social media related shiny object, I would urge wine marketers to take a step back and understand two key things:
1) What are the generational high level patterns of technology usage
2) What are the generational high level personality characteristics
The most value I’ve received in gaining insight into this generation, who are very different in sensibility than I am as a Gen. X’er, is not a book on marketing, but a book on generational effectiveness in the workplace – what are the broad generational personality characteristics so as a Manager or a leader you can nurture an effective work environment with young talent?
Secondarily, reviewing high-level survey data on technology usage amongst generations will aid decision-making for places to be and the types of activity to initiate. To that end, it doesn’t get much better than the Pew Research Center’s Millennial section.
The key in marketing is, in my opinion, not laying plans based on headlines and working in a vacuum, its understanding intrinsic buttons to push. Once you have that, the marketing plan will nearly write itself.
Here are a couple of recommended resources / books related to technology usage amongst Millenials, as well as effectiveness in the workplace:
- Pew Research Center / Millenial Research
- Managing the Millenials
- Not Everyone Gets a Trophy
Kristin Kreuk Kristy Swanson Kylie Bax Lacey Chabert Laetitia Casta
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