Wednesday, 31 December 2014

Previewing a potentially massive series of Pacific storms

Source: http://tablascreek.typepad.com/tablas/2014/12/previewing-a-potentially-massive-series-of-pacific-storms.html

Mondavi Pine Ridge Phelps Pastiche Ritchie Creek Rochioli

Dining@Large is closed

Source: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2011/06/dininglarge_is_closed.html

Cain Cuvee Castoro Caymus Ch. St. Jean Ch. Souverain

Judd?s Hill Winery is a good place to start your wine tour

Why Judd’s Hill Winery is a good place to start your wine tour in the Napa Valley Judd’s Hill winery in the Napa Valley is a very good place to start exploring the Napa Valley. Many tourists miss this winery because it is very near the start of the Silverado Trail at the southern end […]

The post Judd’s Hill Winery is a good place to start your wine tour appeared first on Wine Country Getaways.

Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/judds-hill-winery-good-place-start-wine-tour/

Andrew Murray Arrowood Beckmen Benziger

Telegraph Hill Luxury Robes

If you are looking for a special gift for pretty much anyone, look n further than one of the luxury robes offered by Telegraph Hill. The robe I chose was the Chocolate Seersucker. It is made of 100% miccrofiber, and may be one of the most comfortable garments I have come across. The microfiber was […]

The post Telegraph Hill Luxury Robes appeared first on Vagablond.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vagablond/ysSN/~3/8rAsIb854UY/

Benziger Beringer, KV Buehler David Bruce Buena Vista

Field Notes from a Wine Life ? Media Edition

Odds and ends from a life lived through the prism of the wine glass…

Rex Pickett

If you’re not reading Rex Pickett’s (author of Sideways and Vertical) blog, you are officially remiss.

Pickett is a gifted writer who cranks out perfectly incubated long-form posts with turns of phrase that are both wry and rich, offering insight into the machinations of publishing, film and stage that few culture vultures grasp.

Pickett recently wrote an extensive (3900 word) post on the reasons why a film sequel to Sideways (directed by Alexander Payne) would not be made from Vertical, Pickett’s book sequel.  In doing so, Pickett offered a discursive meditation on Payne’s artistic pathos and the factors that may be playing into Vertical’s stall on the way to celluloid.

image

Unfortunately, Pickett removed the post after re-publishing a second version that deleted much of the armchair psychologist rumination he originally channeled from Payne’s psyche.  An email inquiry to Pickett on why he removed the post (in either iteration) has gone unanswered.

If I were a muckraker, I would publish the post because Pickett’s deletion of the post from his site did not delete the post from RSS feed readers like Bloglines or Google Reader.  But, I’m not a muckraker…

Hopefully, Pickett will revisit the topic in a manner that is less confessional and more elucidation because it was worth the extended read time.  Until then you can read the other posts on his site and gain tremendous insight into the vicissitudes of the publishing process, what the afterglow is like after capturing the cultural zeitgeist and how he’s helping bring Sideways to the theatre with a stage version.

It’s definitely recommended reading.

A Discovery of Witches

While we’re on the topic of books and authors (and with Halloween around the corner), a reinforcing mention goes to Deb Harkness of Good Wine Under $20.  Earlier this year a little book she wrote called, “A Discovery of Witches” was published and immediately shot up the best sellers lists.  The movie rights were acquired this summer by Warner Bros, likely securing Harkness’ financial future in the process.

While I read fiction infrequently (the last fiction book being Vertical by Rex Pickett), those that I know who can tell the difference between kindling and a classic call A Discovery of Witches “mad genius.”
Any conversation about a wine blogger doing good should begin with Deb Harkness who is now dabbling in rarified air.  Pick up her book if you haven’t yet.

Bargain Wine Books

There’s little doubt, in the prolonged US economic malaise we’re experiencing, that “value wine” and “bargain wine” are hot topics.  Heck, an entire channel of business has been defined with “Flash” wine sale sites.  Given that, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a couple of wine books would be published with this specific focus.

image

What is a surprise is that the books are authored by wine writers with real chops engaged in offering a deeper narrative than the slapdash compendiums of wine lists that has passed muster in years gone by.
Just in time for the holidays, Natalie MacLean has Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World’s Best Bargain Wines publishing on November 1st and George Taber, a wine writer on a tear with his fourth book in six years, has A Toast to Bargain Wines: How Innovators, Iconoclasts, and Winemaking Revolutionaries Are Changing the Way the World Drinks publishing on November 15th.

An Idea worth Duplicating?

Celebrity deaths come in threes and new wine ideas come in twos.

We’ve seen this duplicative market entry in recent years with winery reservation systems CellarPass and VinoVisit and now we’re seeing it with quasi-wine search engines.

WineMatch and VinoMatch are both in the early stages of launch purporting to help a consumer match their likes with wines they might enjoy.

Meh.  The problem with these sites isn’t that consumers don’t need help finding a wine they like, the problem is that most wine consumers don’t understand what kind of wine they like.  Yes, it’s the tannins that dry the back of the mouth and its residual sugar that makes that K-J so delectable…

By the time consumers figure out their likes and dislikes graduating beyond the “go-to,” they don’t care about having somebody help them “match” their wines to their tastes because they’re on their own adventure.

It’s just my opinion, but these sites face looooong odds of finding consumer success and short of the slick willy seduction that happens with some wineries who haven’t been bitten and as such aren’t twice shy, they won’t find *any* success.  But, I’ve been wrong before, at least once.

Pictures and Pithiness

While we’re on the topic of online wine services, I’m not sure whether I should be happy or aghast that I’ve been a habitué of the online wine scene for long enough to see a derivative – it’s like watching a remake of the movie Footloose when I was saw the original in the theatre.

There’s a new wine site called TasteJive that takes the concept of a wine blog called Chateau Petrogasm, popular in 2007 and 2008, to new heights.

image

Around the premise that a picture is worth a thousand words even if that picture has nothing to do with wine, they have created a site that provides nothing but visual metaphors with a 140 character description for finding wines you might like.

I loved the idea of Chateau Petrogasm, I like the idea of a perfectly crafted 140 character slug, but I’m very uncertain about the community aspect of TasteJive—the users who control the uploading of pictures and descriptions.

As noted mid-20th century photographer Diane Arbus said, “A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know.”

Not exactly a recipe for success in bumping into a wine.

Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/field_notes_from_a_wine_life_media_edition/

Meeker Mondavi Pine Ridge Phelps Pastiche Ritchie Creek

A Life in Wine: Stu and Charles Smith, Smith-Madrone

The Smith Brothers are living legends in Napa Valley. This great interview tells their story. via Hawk Wakawaka Wine Reviews A Life in Wine: Stu and Charles Smith, Smith-Madrone originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

A Life in Wine: Stu and Charles Smith, Smith-Madrone originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/nAKzbE3qYKs/

Fisher Foxen Girard Groth Keenan Cab

Meet Roy Welland who is selling $15 million of wine

Roy Welland is a big-time collector. It’s well known that his collection served as the core of the restaurant CRU, which he owned. But it’s not well known that his collection also helped out Alinea when they first opened. That’s one of the many interesting tidbits I learned when I talked to Welland before the […]

The post Meet Roy Welland who is selling $15 million of wine appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/GuSC/~3/KvbHRHfSTe8/

Talley Whitehall Lane Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc Riesling

On Self-Actualizing Wine Interest, Purple Pages, the Kindle Fire and Gutenberg

While it has been cited that we’re living in a “Golden Age” of wine writing, what is interesting to me these days is NOT the subject of wine writing.

My interest is in a broader understanding of the consumption of the wine writer’s output – self-identified wine interest by consumers who are seeking out wine information.  This is a seismic shift more important than the vagaries of who writes what, where, when and for how much.

Something much bigger and amorphous is at work.

It used to be that people self-identified by their job or some other affiliation that produced recognition from others, a status-marker of sorts—“I work for IBM, I have two kids and we’re Protestant.”

However, nowadays, people, principally online (which is moving center stage in our life), are self-identifying by their personal interests which, often times, diverges greatly from their profession and their family situation.

Look at Twitter profiles or a body of status updates from somebody on Facebook.  People are no longer duotone and defined by work and family. They’re multi-layered and complex and defined by their interests.  The modern day self-description goes something like this: “Passionate about wine and travel.  I build furniture, follow the San Francisco Giants, and work in a non-profit by day.  I also volunteer to ensure clean water for sub-Saharan Africans.  Dad to two wonderful kids”

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In diamond-cutting terms, it’s more Peruzzi than table cut and it seems we’re all on a journey to be the most interesting man person in the world.

This kaleidoscopic advancement in sense-of-self is a very important development because, on an individual level, we tend to project externally how we see ourselves in the mirror.  By stating publicly online that we’re a wine enthusiast, a foodie, a jazz lover, who does dog rescue and loves college football with a fascination for all things digital, it’s like writing down a goal.  A goal written down means something to most people and people are likely to actuate their activities around it, even if aspirationally.

This is a very subtle point and I hope I’m conveying it faithfully:  Societally, we’re changing how we view ourselves, we are stating how we view ourselves and consequently we’re more likely to pursue knowledge around those interests because we’ve put it out there.

In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, we’re all self-actualizing.

So, when it comes to wine writing, while I’m very happy for Alder Yarrow’s assignment in writing a monthly column for Jancis Robinson’s Purple Pages, I also tend to look at it within a much broader context because there will be more Alder Yarrow Horatio Alger-like stories in the years to come.

More to the point however, and within a bigger picture, what Alder writes now and in the future on his own site or at Jancis’ site is likely going to be viewed by an increasingly larger audience who, based on the aforementioned self-actualization, have become more inclined to seek a wide-range of information that supports a myriad of personal interests, including wine.

image

This online growth in information-seeking is, indeed, a very good thing particularly for the wine business who is caught up in a focus on Gen. Y, when the more important point is that there is a mass of people of all ages who have increasingly ready access to information online that allows them to easily pierce the veil of wine.  And, the implications for that for shouldn’t be understated because the view of the wine world is likely to be altered to be much more inclusive of all types of viewpoints – think the streets of New York instead of Pottery Barn.

The Kindle Fire tablet by Amazon.com may represent the next step in this evolution, driving the potentiality of mass on-the-move content delivery. No, it’s not as important as the printing press or any other God Complex hyperbole that is assigned to Steve Jobs, but it’s an important step forward nonetheless.

Where laptop computers are functional machines designed to execute work, and tablets (like the iPad) are a lightweight, portable device that act as a multi-functional hybrid between a smartphone and a laptop, here comes the Kindle Fire which is a device designed almost exclusively for content consumption, all kinds of content – blogs, digital magazines, digital books, videos, music, etc.

The Kindle Fire, to me, is a device that enhances the trend we’re seeing in the increased complexity of how we define ourselves because here’s a device that lets users pursue content around their interests anytime, anywhere and it’s reasonably affordable at $199, at least half the cost of other tablets on the market.

For example purposes, let’s say I have an interest in German Riesling, but I don’t really want to buy another paper-based book because I already have a stack of 14 books at my bedside that I haven’t read (or, perhaps, I don’t buy that many books, period).  Likewise, it isn’t convenient for me to read a book on my laptop because, well, that’s not really a form factor that works for me because I’m already hunched over my laptop for 12 hours a day.  In addition, I don’t want to print out a 150 page pdf because that’s paper I have to carry around.  Previously, with all of the aforementioned caveats, I would have let a deep dive into knowing more about German Riesling be a fleeting thought—an opportunity that would lay fallow.

Ah, but the Kindle Fire will let me consume this German Riesling content in a nice, portable, convenient, lightweight manner that is designed to do expressly that.  I’m now looking forward to pouring through Terry Theise’s 2011 German Riesling catalog and reading part II of Mosel Fine Wines 2010 vintage report.

All of this distills down to an essential takeaway:  When Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press with movable type, the tangible output was the ability to have ready access to print books.  However, the bigger impact was the spread of knowledge which led to the Renaissance period which inalterably changed the culture of the world.

That’s where I think we’re at now, particularly with wine and the spread of information.  The conversation can be about who is writing and where they come from, but the conversation with far greater impact is what the end game is for this mass adoption of personal nuance lived out loud.

In simpler terms, the wine writer, like Descartes in the Renaissance era, had a great, lasting influence, but the Renaissance period was much bigger than Descartes.

The key for the wine business in this seismic shift in wine affiliation and the pursuit of information thereof is to decide whether they want to support the status quo and perpetuate business as usual or open themselves to all kinds of thought.

Wine writers already are and so are the consumers seeking out this information.

Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/on_self-actualizing_wine_interest_purple_pages_the_kindle_fire_and_gutenber/

Arrowood Beckmen Benziger Beringer, KV Buehler

Social Media Quick Tip: Tag Your Favorite Wine Brands on Facebook

This is old news for some, but if you haven’t explored the status tagging feature (similar to photo tagging) on Facebook, take a few minutes and check it out. Status tagging can help your winery’s Facebook fan page to become more engaging and vibrant.� Facebook users can type the “@” symbol before a Facebook fan […]

Source: https://familylovewine.wordpress.com/2010/01/14/social-media-quick-tip-tag-your-favorite-wine-brands-on-facebook/

Firestone Fisher Foxen Girard Groth

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 […]

Source: https://familylovewine.wordpress.com/2010/01/12/academy-of-wine-communicationstwitter-basics-immersion-for-wineries/

Groth Keenan Cab Keenan Chard Kenwood Laetitia

Choose the first photo for the new blog

Source: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2011/06/choose_the_first_photo_for_the.html

Loring Lyeth Markham Meeker Mondavi

Tuesday, 30 December 2014

The Steve Jobs Of Wine: Winemaker Paul Hobbs

Short but�insightful�interview. via Forbes The Steve Jobs Of Wine: Winemaker Paul Hobbs originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

The Steve Jobs Of Wine: Winemaker Paul Hobbs originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/RLsXsgc_9wI/

Roussanne Marsanne Albariño Pinot Blanc Cabernet Sauvignon

A Wine for Tonight: 2013 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc

Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won?t break your budget and is widely available? If so, you might want to check out the 2013 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc from Clarksburg in California. Our selection criteria include: A very good Quality rating of […]

A Wine for Tonight: 2013 Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WinePeeps/~3/rb6DstjzD4s/

Field Stone Firestone Fisher Foxen Girard

Review of the 3Divas White Wine Blend from Montemaggiore winery

3Divas, Montemaggiore Appellation: Russian River Valley Price: $25 Haydn gives it: 92pts You can buy this wine: at montemaggiore.com Montemaggiore continues to defy conventional varietals when it comes to its location in Dry Creek. Their red wine portfolio is missing a Zinfandel, but instead showcases what Syrahs and Cabernet Sauvignons can do in the valley. [...]

Source: http://www.beyondnapavalley.com/blog/review-of-the-3divas-white-blend-from-montemaggiore-winery/

Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pinot Noir Syrah or Shiraz Zinfandel

Bear market for Russian wine imports

Sanctions and the declining price of oil have slowed Russia’s economy, which is forecast to fall into recession next year. (A real bear market–rimshot.) And, in a nasty triple whammy, the ruble has declined precipitously as well, which is forcing up the price of imports. Consider the case of Apple, which just boosted the price […]

The post Bear market for Russian wine imports appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/GuSC/~3/wsWZ97ABEr0/

Buehler David Bruce Buena Vista Cain Cuvee Castoro

Weekly Roundup for December 6th: When We Got Wet, Learned How to Drink, and Chose Wine over Beer

Source: http://tablascreek.typepad.com/tablas/2014/12/weekly-roundup-for-december-6th-when-we-got-wet-learned-how-to-drink-and-chose-wine-over-beer.html

David Bruce Buena Vista Cain Cuvee Castoro Caymus

Five Fun Things to Do in Winter in the Napa Valley

December and January are certainly the quietest times in the Napa Valley. Fewer tourists come at this time of the year, so everything is much less crowded. Yes, we do have rainy days in these two months, but more than likely there will many sunny and crisp days to enjoy the greatest wine region in the world. Here are five fun things to do in Winter in the Napa Valley.

The post Five Fun Things to Do in Winter in the Napa Valley appeared first on Wine Country Getaways.

Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/five-fun-things-to-do-in-winter-napa-valley/

Talley Whitehall Lane Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc Riesling

Sonoma Valley in Winter

Sonoma Valley in Winter The Sonoma Valley, like most of California, is getting a very good dose of rain. Much more is needed. In between storms, there are many nice days to travel to the Sonoma Valley. The good thing is that, if you are in San Francisco or Oakland, it is usually less than […]

The post Sonoma Valley in Winter appeared first on Wine Country Getaways.

Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/sonoma-valley-winter/

Laetitia Lagier Meredith La Jota Loring Lyeth

Friends of Eater Name Their Top Restaurant Standbys of 2014

Source: http://la.eater.com/2014/12/29/7463277/top-restaurant-standbys-2014-eater-la-roundups

Keenan Chard Kenwood Laetitia Lagier Meredith

Fermenting egg revisited

Concrete�fermenting egg revisited We spotted these concrete�fermenting eggs in the cellars of the Quintessa Winery in the Rutherford AVA of the Napa Valley. This is not the first time we have seen these fermenting and aging cement eggs in California wineries. We have seen them at the Andis Winery in the Sierra Foothills and the […]

The post Fermenting egg revisited appeared first on Wine Country Getaways.

Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/fermenting-egg-revisited/

Lagier Meredith La Jota Loring Lyeth Markham

Food FYI: Actors reading Yelp reviews

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2012/07/food-fyi-actors-reading-yelp-reviews.html

White Wine Champagne Sparkling White Wine Rose Alex. Vall. Vyds

The new blog name and logo

Source: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2011/06/baltimore_diner.html

Keenan Chard Kenwood Laetitia Lagier Meredith La Jota

Monday, 29 December 2014

Trader Joe's Dishes up Amazing $14.99 California Pinot Noir Value

When we were down in Orlando visiting Disney World last month we had dinner one night at Il Mulino in the Swan hotel. A group of six of us started off the night with a sparkling brut ros�, then enjoyed a bottle of Crognolo. We were right on the edge of whether we should order a third bottle.

We were on vacation, the kids were at Camp Dolphin [great deal - 2 hours of childcare for 2 entrees!] and nobody was driving so I felt confident we could collectively polish off a third bottle. I had a look a the list and, wanting to go with something that would readily enjoyable by all I ordered a 2012 Laetetia Estate Pinot Noir.

See also: Four Seasons Orlando Review

Especially since the wine was featured as part of a resort-wide Food & Wine Festival selection I was fairly certain it would be a solid play. However, unfortunately, the wine took forever to show up. Evidently they didn't have any in-house and they needed to fetch it from another restaurant.

By the time it arrived at the table we were almost entirely done with our meal. In restaurant wine service gaffes this ranks pretty high on the list of no-nos. No wine with the entire entree course? For shame!

Oh well. When the bottle arrived I declined it since we were done eating and avoided the typical resort restaurant mark-up on the bottle. I think they offer it for around $75.

I'd mostly forgotten about the wine (heck I can't even pronounce the producer) until I saw it today at Trader Joe's in Framingham for $14.99. $15 vs. $75 in-restaurant certainly seemed like favorable terms. And I figured if the sommeliers at the Dolphin/Swan felt it good enough to feature it would be a solid bottle of wine. And it is.

Here are my thoughts...

2012 Laetitia Estate Pinot Noir Arroyo Grande
$25 Release Price
$14.99 at Trader Joe's
13.9% Alcohol

Brilliant translucent ruby red. Medium bodied. Nose of sweet cherries and an appealing hint of dusty briar patch. Satisfying plush fruit flavors on the palate with a round disposition and silky tannic structure. Totally legit California Pinot Noir. Very very good.

89/100 WWP: Very Good

CellarTracker
Find it on Wine-Searcher

We can all use some enjoyable daily drinkers at a more affordable price point. And this one, for me, fits the bill. Compared to nationwide averages this one is being offered at a terrific price point at Massachusetts Trader Joe's. Consider tossing a couple of these [at least!] in your cart next time you're at TJ's.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/r9Fly6bPZjU/trader-joes-dishes-up-amazing-1499.html

Dolcetto Malbec Red Wine White Wine Champagne

12 Great Wine Values for Gifting Available Now at Empire Wine

I've been doing some holiday gift basket shopping online the past couple weeks. While I like the idea of a [hopefully] polished presentation there's undeniable uplift in the cost of most gift baskets and wine is no exception.

For one family in particular I just wanted to get them a tasty case of red wine. And especially since they live in New York, Empire Wine came to mind. Their inventory was fresh in my mind after stopping in for a visit to their Albany store front on the way back from Cooperstown with our boys last month.

I was thinking if there was a Wine Deal Hall of Fame, Empire Wine would be a first ballot shoe in. They just consistently carry great wines at great prices, ship quickly, and get it done.

I perused their site and put together what I think is a nice mixed case of reds. Here's what I bought...

What to Buy



This more affordable Veraton botting from Alto Moncayo has been an absolute breakthrough for me this past year. Whereas Alto Moncayo proper is a spectacular blockbuster of a wine, it can come off a bit boozy and just a bit too much on a weeknight. The Veraton is more moderate in every way. Lower alcohol, more affordable (around $25 vs. $40), and more balanced. A terrific guilt-free indulgence the closer you can find it to $20. Read more...


I was really impressed with this while tasting it at the winery in Tuscany, and it wasn't just a matter of being "under the ether"while on vacation. I bought a few bottles of them at a great price once we got back and cranked through them quickly. And I enjoyed it with family at Il Mulino at Walt Disney World while on vacation. What I like about it is its new world fruit while being undeniably an old world wine. Love the price point too, especially compared to Sette Ponti's flagship Oreno bottling. Read more...

Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva 2010

Along with Rancia this was one of my two favoites while tasting at Fontalloro this summer. It's pure class but it needs time to show well. Lay this down for a while and enjoy it with a meal.  Read more...

Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

I don't think I've ever specifically highlighted this wine here on the blog but I do pick it up regularly when I find it under $20 and I'm looking for a rich yet affordable Napa Cab. I like the label and it's just a joy to drink. Empire tends to run the price pretty lean on this one in particular so I think it's a nice add.

Laetitia Pinot Noir 2012

They had this for $14.99 at Trader Joe's in Framingham last month. I mentioned it to a friend and he noticed they'd been cleared out of it. WWP effect? ;) They've still got the 2012 at Empire, with a slightly higher price, and they've reloaded at TJ's with the 2013. Haven't tried it yet. Read more...

Orin Swift Locations 'E-2' Spanish Red Blend 2012

A rich and juicy red that's a crowd-pleasing no brainer to pop open and enjoy. Read more...

Belle Glos 'Meiomi' Pinot Noir 2013

Winemaker Joe Wagner is reliably delivering vintage after vintage with this ubiquitous fruit-forward California Pinot Noir. The Wagner Family is behind Caymus and other well-regarded wine brands. Read more...

14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

I've never had this wine that I recall but a very good friend with a sharp palate has a theory about finding a certain kind of value wines: Attend high end functions at places like the Ritz and the Four Seasons and see what they're pouring. He says you'll see 14 Hands being poured a lot. They don't want to tarnish their brand by pouring junk and they want a nice looking label that pleases the well-heeled crowd. I like the approach. Give it a whirl!

Columbia Crest 'H3' Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

I've long been a fan of Columbia Crest, and their H3 lineup hits a real value sweet spot. With their 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon raking in a 92 Spectator rating this seems to be a high point for the label. I've had it. I like it. I'm buying a lot of it. Makes a great gift for colleagues and friends. Super solid ~$10 Cab? We could use more of those. Read more...

Bodegas Borsao Garnacha Tres Picos 2012

I first tasted this at The Capital Grille and have since grown to love pretty much everything Borsao does. They're adjacently responsible for the Alto Moncayo wines and it's sometimes hard to immediately discern which wines they're responsible for. Besides Tres Picos another to check out is Monte Oton. Every one of these wines are reliable mind-bending values.

Ramsay Pinot Noir 2013

A reader asked earlier this year what I'd recommend for a sub-$10 Pinot Noir for a wedding pour. This wine doesn't quite hit that price point but it does delivery significantly more enjoyment than it costs. Read more...

Columbia Crest 'Grand Estates' Merlot 2012

This is an old favorite I've rarely gone wrong with. The 2003 bottling was one of the first wines I went out and bought a case of after reading a 90+ point review in Spectator and loving the first bottle I bought of it. If you're looking for a reliably delicous sub-$10 wine remember Columbia Crest Grand Estates.

Bonus Wine!

Juan Gil Silver Label 2012

Somehow I forgot to add this ever-reliable QPR king. I opened a bottle of this 4 nights ago, and enjoyed a pour from it over the course of several nights. I only sealed it with a simple $1.99 stopper and it got better and better each night. It's surprising that such an affordable wine behaves this way but it bodes well for its quality. Back up the truck at the prices Empire dishes this one out.


Question of the Day: What are some of your favorite wine shops for gifting? What are some of your favorite wines to give as gifts this holiday season?

I hope you have a terrific holiday season. Cheers!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/JmeU-nmqvrQ/12-great-wine-values-for-gifting.html

Gamay Nebbiolo Barbera Tempranillo Dolcetto

Napa Valley Rain Water

The Napa Valley needs water! California needs water! This is a�welcome sight in the Napa Valley wine country. Recent rains have dumped several inches of water on Napa Valley vineyards and elsewhere in California. Some of this vital rainwater is captured and directed into wells for use later in the vineyard growing season. Later this […]

The post Napa Valley Rain Water appeared first on Wine Country Getaways.

Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/napa-valley-rain-water/

Stags\\\' Leap Santa Barbara Shafer Shafer Firebreak Sinskey

SEE-LA hires new executive director

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2012/07/see-la-executive-director-hollywood-farmers-market.html

Talley Whitehall Lane Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc Riesling

Wine Blogging Wednesday #70: 2009 Bodega Bernabeleva Camino de Navaherreros Garnacha

Gabriella and Ryan’s post inspiring wine bloggers to get creative and seek out a unique Spanish wine or one from an unheard of region for the comeback edition of New York Cork Report Executive Editor Lenn Thompson’s Wine Blogging Wednesday, fueled my determination to get my hands on a bottle or two that would expand […]

Source: https://familylovewine.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/wine-blogging-wednesday-70/

Andrew Murray Arrowood Beckmen Benziger Beringer, KV

Rockin? at Wine & Cars

Everyone had a great time at Wine & Cars Under the Stars last weekend. Don’t believe me? Check out the video: The evening was a great success, netting nearly $50,000 for the foundations at Fairplex and their programs. If you missed Wine & Cars, you can taste the award-winning wines of the Los Angeles International [...]

Source: http://blogs.fairplex.com/blog/wine/?p=100

Albariño Pinot Blanc Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pinot Noir

Food FYI: Actors reading Yelp reviews

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2012/07/food-fyi-actors-reading-yelp-reviews.html

Castoro Caymus Ch. St. Jean Ch. Souverain Dehlinger

Wine Tasting Dinner: Sauvignon Blanc from Around the World

Sauvignon Blanc has been one of our favorite white varieties for years. We have a soft spot for Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of New Zealand, which was solidified on our trip to the region in 2005. Ever since, we have made it a point to try Sauvignon Blanc from other countries/regions when we […]

Wine Tasting Dinner: Sauvignon Blanc from Around the World was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WinePeeps/~3/nx9gJo2FTTU/

Malbec Red Wine White Wine Champagne Sparkling White Wine

A Wine for Tonight: 2013 Cune Monopole Rioja Blanco

Would you like a quick suggestion for a good wine to drink tonight (or this weekend) that won?t break your budget and is widely available? If so, you might want to check out the 2013 Cune Monopole Rioja Blanco from the Rioja Alta appellation in Spain. Our selection criteria include: A very good Quality rating […]

A Wine for Tonight: 2013 Cune Monopole Rioja Blanco was originally posted on Wine Peeps. Wine Peeps - Your link to great QPR wines from Washington State and beyond.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WinePeeps/~3/YS1WZrYVX0M/

Sémillon Gewürztraminer Muscat Viognier Roussanne

The Boiling Crab Will Soon Draw Insane Lines When It Opens in Westwood

Source: http://la.eater.com/2014/12/23/7443813/the-boiling-crab-lines-westwood-tracking-hiring

Ch. St. Jean Ch. Souverain Dehlinger Eno Far Niente

Value Alert: 2012 Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet 92 WS/$15

Something I tend to lose sight of as I'm thinking about wines in the $15-$30 price range that deliver a good amount of enjoyment and excitement is how universally interesting an outstanding $10 bottle of Cabernet is.

Some time back a reader sent me a link to a retirement speech from NASA Astronaut Michael Collins. At the end of the speech he says that these days he spends his spare time "worrying about the stock market" and "searching for a really good bottle of cabernet under ten dollars."

A lot of people will tell you it's impossible to find a compelling bottle of wine for $10. Don't even waste your time. And a lot of people would say the same after tasting the 2012 Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon. It's overly oaked. Too rich. Manipulated. Whatever.

I've enjoyed wines from Columbia Crest over the years a great deal. I remember the first time I went out and bought a case of wine based on a Wine Spectator rating. It was for a Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot Harvey Steiman rated 90 points. You could find it for like $7. I bought a bottle and loved it. I then went back to Marty's in Newton and bought a case. I felt like such a mega deal hound!

More recently Columbia Crest has introduced this H3 tier of wines above their Grand Estates offering. It's been a reliably nice buy for me as well - consistently in the 87-90 point range. The H3 bottling has a release price of $15 but you can find it for as little as $9.99.

Today, Wine Spectator released (subscription required) a 92-point rating for the 2012 Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon. That's an insane QPR for a very popular category.

A really good bottle of Cabernet for under $10? Could be.

If you're sleuthing around for this wine online be aware that a lot of retailers will list this without a vintage due to its massive 160,000 case production.

Subscribe to Wine Spectator
Search for it on Wine-Searcher
Buy it on Wine.com
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Question of the Day: Have you tried this wine or prior vintages of Columbia Crest H3? What did you think?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/8sJUWASvSn0/value-alert-2012-columbia-crest-h3.html

Syrah or Shiraz Zinfandel Grenache Sangiovese Gamay

Coming Soon: Cliff Lede Wine Dinner at Del Frisco's Boston

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House in Boston is offering a paired wine dinner featuring the wines of Cliff Lede Vineyards.

Related Reading:
Cliff Lede Vineyards? finest wines perfectly paired with delicious seasonal dishes in five course dinner

WHAT: Del Frisco?s Double Eagle Steak House, one of Boston?s premiere steakhouse destinations know for it?s juicy, prime steaks, exquisite wines and exceptional service, invites guest to explore the bold and flavorful wines of Napa Valley winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards. Cliff Lede General Manager, Lee Abraham will be onsite to meet with guests.

Guests will enjoy a five-course seasonal dinner perfectly paired with a selection of the vineyard?s finest wines.

To make a reservation, please call (617) 951-1368. For more information, please
visit www.delfriscos.com.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 17th - 6:30 p.m.

COST: $195 per person + tax and gratuity

WHERE: Del Frisco?s Double Eagle Steak House, 250 Northern Avenue, Boston

2014 Cliff Lede Wine Dinner 

Passed Appetizers

2013 FEL Pinot Gris

Beer Battered Alaskan King Crab Bites
Sam Adam Noble Pils Beer Batter, Blood Orange Remoulade
Oysters on The Half Shell
Melon Gastrique

Second Course

Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc
Cirtus Poached Sea Bass
Sea Bass poached in a citrus broth, White Peach Salsa

Third Course

Cliff Lede Pinot Noir
Three Season Lamb Lollipops
Black Cherry Compote, Wild Mushroom and Thyme Demi, Pomegranate Cola Syrup 

Dinner Course

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon
Bone-in Filet
Bone Marrow and Foie Gras Reduction, Smashed Potatoes, Glazed Baby Brussel Sprouts

Finale

Moondance Dream Cabernet Sauvignon
Chocolate Tasting
Truffles, mousse, mini chocolate pastries

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/FqUhljCISuo/cliff-lede-wine-dinner-at-del-friscos.html

Pinot Blanc Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pinot Noir Syrah or Shiraz

Sunday, 28 December 2014

Happy Holidays, from Our Flock to Yours!

Source: http://tablascreek.typepad.com/tablas/2014/12/happy-holidays-from-our-flock-to-yours.html

Nebbiolo Barbera Tempranillo Dolcetto

10% Off at Liquid Discount with code "columbus10wwp"

Liquid Discount is running a sale this weekend for WWP readers.

Get 10% off site-wide with code: columbus10wwp

Considering using this as an opportunity to stock up on cellar defending daily drinkers -or- an early opportunity to pick up some special wines for the holidays.

I've been wanting to try the 2012 Elk Cove Pinot Noir for some time. It's always been one of my favorite Oregon Pinot Noirs and 2012 is a great vintage.

The 2012 Domaine St.-Prefert August Favier Chateauneuf du Pape is a nice play as well. At 94WS and a great track record from a fine vintage this is a winner.

Or the 2012 Bedrock Old Vine Zinfandel. People go crazy for this wine. Give it a whirl and see if you agree.

Offer expire at midnight on Columbus Day.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/kUrOxn0xk8c/10-off-at-liquid-discount-with-code.html

Dehlinger Eno Far Niente Field Stone Firestone

Reader mail: what are half bottles good for?

Question: What are half bottles good for? Answer: In the south of France, half bottles are called “bed-wetter bottles” and are frequently chosen by people who don’t want to get up too many times at night. People who choose half bottles also must sit at the kiddie table if there is one. Okay, I made […]

The post Reader mail: what are half bottles good for? appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/GuSC/~3/KycVu3Sf1eo/

Castoro Caymus Ch. St. Jean Ch. Souverain Dehlinger

Coming Soon: Cliff Lede Wine Dinner at Del Frisco's Boston

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House in Boston is offering a paired wine dinner featuring the wines of Cliff Lede Vineyards.

Related Reading:
Cliff Lede Vineyards? finest wines perfectly paired with delicious seasonal dishes in five course dinner

WHAT: Del Frisco?s Double Eagle Steak House, one of Boston?s premiere steakhouse destinations know for it?s juicy, prime steaks, exquisite wines and exceptional service, invites guest to explore the bold and flavorful wines of Napa Valley winery, Cliff Lede Vineyards. Cliff Lede General Manager, Lee Abraham will be onsite to meet with guests.

Guests will enjoy a five-course seasonal dinner perfectly paired with a selection of the vineyard?s finest wines.

To make a reservation, please call (617) 951-1368. For more information, please
visit www.delfriscos.com.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 17th - 6:30 p.m.

COST: $195 per person + tax and gratuity

WHERE: Del Frisco?s Double Eagle Steak House, 250 Northern Avenue, Boston

2014 Cliff Lede Wine Dinner 

Passed Appetizers

2013 FEL Pinot Gris

Beer Battered Alaskan King Crab Bites
Sam Adam Noble Pils Beer Batter, Blood Orange Remoulade
Oysters on The Half Shell
Melon Gastrique

Second Course

Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc
Cirtus Poached Sea Bass
Sea Bass poached in a citrus broth, White Peach Salsa

Third Course

Cliff Lede Pinot Noir
Three Season Lamb Lollipops
Black Cherry Compote, Wild Mushroom and Thyme Demi, Pomegranate Cola Syrup 

Dinner Course

Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon
Bone-in Filet
Bone Marrow and Foie Gras Reduction, Smashed Potatoes, Glazed Baby Brussel Sprouts

Finale

Moondance Dream Cabernet Sauvignon
Chocolate Tasting
Truffles, mousse, mini chocolate pastries

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/FqUhljCISuo/cliff-lede-wine-dinner-at-del-friscos.html

Pine Ridge Phelps Pastiche Ritchie Creek Rochioli Rosenblum

Examining Antonio Galloni's Palate

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FermentationTheDailyWineBlog/~3/hJu6F05TS4M/examining-antonio-gallonis-palate.html

Sinskey Smith Madrone Tablas Creek Talley Whitehall Lane

Examining Wine Blogging: Responsibility

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/FermentationTheDailyWineBlog/~3/Vh9DCgdAY1M/examining-wine-blogging-responsibility.html

Stags\\\' Leap Santa Barbara Shafer Shafer Firebreak Sinskey

TasteLive Participants: How Are You Engaging and Posting to #TTL ?

Source: https://familylovewine.wordpress.com/2010/08/03/tastelive-participants-how-are-you-engaging-and-posting-to-ttl/

Markham Meeker Mondavi Pine Ridge Phelps Pastiche

Tales of the Cocktail 2012: The Varnish wins Best American Cocktail Bar

Source: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2012/07/tales-of-the-cocktail-2012-the-varnish-wins-best-american-cocktail-bar.html

Mondavi Pine Ridge Phelps Pastiche Ritchie Creek Rochioli

Dining@Large is closed

Source: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2011/06/dininglarge_is_closed.html

Pinot Blanc Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pinot Noir Syrah or Shiraz

Wine Blogging Wednesday #70: 2009 Bodega Bernabeleva Camino de Navaherreros Garnacha

Gabriella and Ryan’s post inspiring wine bloggers to get creative and seek out a unique Spanish wine or one from an unheard of region for the comeback edition of New York Cork Report Executive Editor Lenn Thompson’s Wine Blogging Wednesday, fueled my determination to get my hands on a bottle or two that would expand […]

Source: https://familylovewine.wordpress.com/2011/02/16/wine-blogging-wednesday-70/

Pine Ridge Phelps Pastiche Ritchie Creek Rochioli Rosenblum

Source: http://thecaveman.blogspot.com/2009/03/hey-dude-that-wine-stinks-i-vividly.html

Smith Madrone Tablas Creek Talley Whitehall Lane Chardonnay

Saturday, 27 December 2014

Red Wings and a Red Rh�ne QPR All Star

2012 Caves Saint-Pierre Vacqueyras, 11-14% alc., $12.99: I was quite impressed with the 2011 version of this wine when I happened upon it at our local Trader Joe?s last spring, so when I saw this one, I didn?t hesitate in picking a few up and bringing them home. I?m not sure that this new vintage [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gangofpour/uncZ/~3/-MlnUU_kn3c/red-wings-and-red-rhone-qpr-all-star

Fisher Foxen Girard Groth Keenan Cab

Rockin? at Wine & Cars

Everyone had a great time at Wine & Cars Under the Stars last weekend. Don’t believe me? Check out the video: The evening was a great success, netting nearly $50,000 for the foundations at Fairplex and their programs. If you missed Wine & Cars, you can taste the award-winning wines of the Los Angeles International [...]

Source: http://blogs.fairplex.com/blog/wine/?p=100

Groth Keenan Cab Keenan Chard Kenwood Laetitia

Field Notes from a Wine Life ? Story Edition

Odds and ends from a life lived through the prism of the wine glass…

Words aren’t enough

I give to thee…the worst wine ad of all-time and that’s without delving into the ponderous name of the wine or, why, inexplicably, the back of the laptop in the photo has a big sticker for Ass Kisser ales

…In the main visual, three people are huddled around the boss giving him “Ass Kisser” wine…Isn’t the point of being a brown-noser to do it subtly?  Who randomly gifts their boss right before their employee review? 

image

Even if you view this ad as schlocky hipster irony, it’s still bad and makes you wonder if the advertising sales guy at Wine Enthusiast couldn’t do a solid for his client and suggest creative that, well, actually makes sense.

Or, maybe being horrible was the plan – like a movie that becomes a cult hit a decade hence…so bad that it becomes a lofty ideal for bad, enjoying a following because of its campy nature. 

Bad Week for Eric Asimov?

On both Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, Eric Asimov, the New York Times chief wine critic was taken to task for different reasons by Matt Kramer at Winespectator.com and Steve Heimoff at his blog of the same name.

This is interesting because wine writers of a certain stature very carefully call their shots amongst their peers.

Normally the shots are fired up (Parker) or down (bloggers), but usually never sideways amongst writers in the same strata. 

To watch Asimov, as seemingly decent of a guy as you’ll find, called onto the rug by two notable wine writers, to me, speaks to something much bigger.

With Parker stepping aside and Antonio Galloni receiving glancing admiration for hitting a stand-up triple by dint of his current position at the Wine Advocate, at the same time that the wheat and chaff are separating with wine bloggers, somebody has to step into the fray as a public foil for other wine writers to target.

Unwittingly, it might be Asimov for reasons entirely opposite of Parker’s hegemony.  Asimov’s palate for wine seems food-friendly and balanced; he takes an egalitarian approach to wine for the people without pretense and he doesn’t score wines.

In other words, Asimov is bizarro Superman to Parker’s swashbuckling empiricism and, perhaps, even a greater danger to the Ivory Tower of legacy wine media than the mere jealousy that passed for poking at Parker.

Just a thought…

It’s all about the story

The wine business has always been excellent at storytelling.  Virtually every winery has their origin story and that of their dirt down pat, even if not very compelling.

So, it is with interest that I’ve been watching Facebook’s recent changes keeping in mind that founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has emphasized emotional resonance, narrative and storytelling – factors that extend well beyond consumers using Facebook to “Tell the story of their life,” as Zuckerberg noted.  This will be inclusive of the brands that use Facebook for engagement, as well.

I was further intrigued after reading parallel news reports that Randall Rothenberg, President and CEO of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), is singing the same song.

He notes in an article in Advertising Age, “Technology innovations are irrelevant to the future of advertising and marketing unless a more fundamental activity is understood, honored and advanced: the craft of storytelling.”

A quick Google search for “Mark Zuckerberg F8 Keynote” and “Randall Rothenberg MIXX Keynote” will yield a number of stories all occurring in September.  There’s no question about Facebook’s influence and the IAB is the thought-leader for digital advertising.  Between the two of them, they present an imposing shadow of influence on digital marketing.

If I were a winery with an understanding that digital marketing is a tsunami of change that is important, I might start revisiting my winery story for some fine-tuning…

Two books that I recommend to bone-up on the elements of good business storytelling are:  The Story Factor and Made to Stick.

On Sweet Wines

In an article this week from the San Francisco Chronicle called “Beginner drinkers get a crush on sweet red wines,”  E.&J. Gallo VP of Marketing, Stephanie Gallo, noted:  “There is a major shift going on in the U.S. wine drinking culture.  First, we noticed that regional sweet red blends were doing particularly well in Indiana, Texas and North Carolina. Second, our consumers were asking if we produced a sweet red wine after tasting our Moscato at events.”

Good Grape readers had the scoop on this months ago when I wrote:

How Sweet it is – The Growing Sweet Wine Trend in early October, 2010

And

Move over Moscato and Make Way for Sweet Reds in February of this year

Just saying…

Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/field_notes_from_a_wine_life_story_edition/

Rosenblum St. Clement Staglin Stag\\\'s Leap Stags\\\' Leap

20% Off Yellow Dot Sale at Yankee Spirits [MA Only]

Massachusetts wine retailer Yankee Spirits is running a 20% off sale on "Yellow Dot" bottles of wine.  With locations in Attleboro, Swansea, and Sturbridge they're a retailer I've heard good things about but have never personally visited.

I noticed the Yellow Dot sale on their e-commerce site while poking around Wine-Searcher looking for a great price on Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova. After being blown away by the 2006 Tenuta Nuova and then visiting them this past summer I was interested in picking up some more of that specific bottling. But I didn't want to the ~$80 release price the wine comes with.

So I was thrilled to see the 2008 Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova for just $49.98 (with no tax in Massachusetts).

As is often the case - procuring this wine becomes a tricky proposition. If you buy just one bottle the per-bottle shipping costs will wreck the QPR. If you buy too many bottles of the same wine you might not find enough occasions in the next few years to justify the financial outlay. And if you buy too many other "filler" bottles to round out the order you might end up buying more wine than you really wanted.

If you're like me you've got more wine on hand than you really need or want. Yet you find yourself lacking compelling wines at guilt-free price points you can open and enjoy and enjoy any time. So my strategy here would be to secure a bottle or two of the target bottle (for me the Tenuta Nuova) while replenishing my stock of reliable favorites and exploring a bit in a new area of interest.

The way this Yellow Dot sale works is you get 20% off qualifying bottles so long as you buy a total of 12 or more assorted bottles. Their regular 12 bottle case discount is 10%. And some items (like the Tenuta Nuova) are not eligible for further discounts. Given these parameters I'd recommend searching their website in categories of interest and putting together a mixed case based on your areas of interest.

For me at the moment that's new world Pinot Noir, California Sauvignon Blanc, and some favorites and continued exploration from recent travels to Spain and Italy. With that in mind here are 12 picks from their store to get you started...

2008 Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova $49.98 (no further discounts on this one)

This is the best price currently available for any vintage of Tenuta Nuova anywhere in the US on Wine-Searcher. 94 points Wine Spectator. Great stuff, great buy.

Losada ($14.99 - $19.99)

I've been on the prowl for these Spanish reds since tasting them on our flight back from Europe. The $19.99 is only eligible for 10% off but it's the one I liked. The $14.99 one is eligible for 20% off. I'd be willing to try some of both.

Honig ($14.99 - $89.99)

Honig's bread & butter is their reliably delicious and affordable Sauvignon Blanc and their terrific Napa Cab. They've got these at favorable prices as well as some more rare bottlings.

2010 Domaine Serene Evenstad $59.98 (no further discounts available)

This is the best Oregon Pinot Noir I've ever had and after it landed in Wine Spectator's Top 10 last year it's been hard to find it around.

2012 Ponzi Tavola Pinot Noir $24.99 (eligible for 20% off)

Contrary to my preference for California Pinot Noir over Oregon Pinot Noir, I've been having better luck with 2012s from Oregon. This one got 91 points for Spectator. I've enjoyed prior vintages. Good QPR here.

Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir $49.99 (eligible for 20% off)

The vintage isn't mentioned here but you know what? Doesn't matter. This is a solid bottle of wine year in and year out and I can never seem to keep it on hand.

2009 Brewer-Clifton Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir $29.99 (eligible for 20% off)

Now this is what I'm talking about. I've been really enjoying Melville and Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noirs lately and this one goes back to the 2009 vintage which was so reliably delicous. 92 Wine Advocate for this one. At 20% off that drops it down to $24/btl + ~$3 for shipping which lands it at an attractive price point for the quality.

Banshee Pinot Noir $19.99 (eligible for 20% off)

Banshee wines have been a reliable friend over the years. At $16 plus shipping this is sure to go quickly through the rotation.

Felsina Rancia $44.99 (eligible for 20% off)

I went into our visit to Fattoria di Felsina looking to see what else they had besides Fontalloro and discovered I like Rancia as much or more. And it's a bit cheaper.

Juan Gil Monastrell $13.99 (eligible for 20% off)

Since discovering this one at The Capital Grille a couple years ago then going absolutely crazy for it while visiting in person I still can't seem to keep this wine on hand. The best I've seen this for is around $12/btl. So as a filler to get to $13.99 before discounts - without having to leave the house - this is a solid addition to a mixed case.

2012 Castano Solanera $12.99 (eligible for 20% off)

94 points Wine Advocate? For $12.99? Don't be afraid to search under $15 when you're looking at Spanish wines. The QPR sets the standard for the world. The Castano family is the real deal. I love their $6.99 bottling. Although I tasted this on their property I was probably distracted by how good their entry level bottling was. I've got to go back and taste this one on my home turf.

2010 Tridente Mencia $10.99 (eligible for 20% off)

Another Spanish red from Gil Family Estates I've wanted to try. Love the QPR of these Spanish wines.


Shipping costs about $36 for a case to MA addresses (and like all MA retailers they can't ship out of state) so be sure to add $3 to each price in your head to see if it's a good deal. More affordable wines might be better to buy at a store you can drive to.

This Yankee Spirits Yellow Dot offer valid in October 2014.

If you like hearing about wine deals but don't want to spend time wading through junk check out new WWP advertiser Wine Nabber (read more). I wrote about them last year and I'm pleased to now have them as a site sponsor.

Retailers: If you're running a sale and would like me to peruse it to surface up some great deals drop me an email and I'll have a look.

Question of the Day: What are some of the best deals you see at Yankee Spirits right now?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/oZlHlfvbNOA/20-off-yellow-dot-sale-at-yankee.html

Keenan Cab Keenan Chard Kenwood Laetitia Lagier Meredith

TasteCamp East: Voracious Wine Bloggers Taste Throughout the Finger�Lakes

This past weekend, I was among a group of wine bloggers who participated in the 2nd TasteCamp East, this year in the Finger Lakes.� The local wine industry is the inspiration for this blog and my business as I’ve mentioned to you before.� I had nothing to do with the selection of our region as […]

Source: https://familylovewine.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/tastecamp-east-voracious-wine-bloggers-taste-throughout-the-finger-lakes/

Cain Cuvee Castoro Caymus Ch. St. Jean Ch. Souverain

Farmers' Market is ON for Labor Day

Source: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/dining/reviews/blog/2011/06/farmers_market_is_on_for_labor.html

Ch. Souverain Dehlinger Eno Far Niente