Sunday 30 November 2014
Haydn?s Review of the Hard Row to Hoe Shameless Hussy Sangiovese Dry Rose
OTBN 13: A Night of Regret & Discovery
OTBN 13: A Night of Regret & Discovery originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/FUsu7Y9Hwbo/
Art and Wine Country
Art and Wine Country There are many wineries where wine country travelers can view “Art in the Wine Country.” The Clos Pegase Winery in the Napa Valley, in this photo, is just one. However, it is one of our favorites for these reasons. First and foremost, the architecture, which is a Postmodern design. It is […]
The post Art and Wine Country appeared first on Wine Country Getaways.
Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/art-wine-country/
2007 Medoc 5. Grand Cru Class�
Source: http://www.wine4freaks.com/33/2007-medoc-5-grand-cru-classe/
Saturday 29 November 2014
?A glass of wine a day will not harm your baby and may actually be good for a child?s development, researchers have found?
“A glass of wine a day will not harm your baby and may actually be good for a child?s development, researchers have found” originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
St. Clement Staglin Stag\\\'s Leap Stags\\\' Leap Santa Barbara
Time to Sniff, Swirl, Spit
A Wine for Tonight: 2013 Julia?s Dazzle Ros�
A Wine for Tonight: 2013 Julia?s Dazzle Ros� 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/~3/81LiaKW71zc/
The Lifestyle of An A-List Wine Critic
The Lifestyle of An A-List Wine Critic originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/r0JKYBK5oFQ/
Naked Wines? Latest Marketing Campaign a bit See-Through?
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheWineConversation/~3/k39pkvJkEaM/
Wine Event Announces Winners
Naked Wines? Latest Marketing Campaign a bit See-Through?
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheWineConversation/~3/k39pkvJkEaM/
Bistro Don Giovanni for lunch in the Napa Valley
Bistro Don Giovanni for lunch After a tour and tasting at Truchard Vineyards in Carneros on Thursday, we headed down to Bistro Don Giovanni for lunch. The Bistro is located near the town of Napa, just off Highway 29 on Howard Lane. Bistro Don Giovanni has been a fixture on the Napa Valley restaurant scene […]
The post Bistro Don Giovanni for lunch in the Napa Valley appeared first on Wine Country Getaways.
Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/bistro-don-giovanni-for-lunch/
Friday 28 November 2014
?A glass of wine a day will not harm your baby and may actually be good for a child?s development, researchers have found?
“A glass of wine a day will not harm your baby and may actually be good for a child?s development, researchers have found” originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
20% Off Yellow Dot Sale at Yankee Spirits [MA Only]
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?
Naked Wines? Latest Marketing Campaign a bit See-Through?
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheWineConversation/~3/k39pkvJkEaM/
Haydn?s Review of the Hard Row to Hoe Shameless Hussy Sangiovese Dry Rose
ALT Hotel :: Toronto
It’s a boutique no frills hotel, but still has the bells and whistles. ALT boasts of individuality, as expected of a boutique hotel. If you are stopping over for a night in Toronto this is the perfect place. You easily get into the shuttle train and after a quick ride walk across and right into […]
The post ALT Hotel :: Toronto appeared first on Vagablond.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vagablond/ysSN/~3/oUNKKY4353M/
Ways for Wine Consumers and Retailers to Maximize AmEx Small Business Saturday
Here's how it works:
First, you have to register each American Express card you have in order to take advantage of the offer. Do this now because registration will fill up before the 29th.
Once registered, each American Express card can receive a $10 statement credit for up to 3 in-store transactions of $10 or more at qualified small businesses on November 29th. That's a total of $30 per card.
Keep in mind that each American Express card can and needs to be registered. This is where this can potentially be quite a bonanza. Authorized user cards qualify. And certain prepaid cards (like Serve and Bluebird) qualify. I just registered 10 cards so I'm positioned to spend (and receive statement credits for) $300.
Once you've got your cards registered, search for qualified retailers near you.
 |
| Make sure you confirm retailer participation Not all wine retailers are small businesses! |
Wine retailers: This is where you come in!
The way this offer is set it up conjures up images of families strolling down main street visiting one little shop after another, spending $50-$100 or more at each with their precious American Express card. And earning $10 statement credits for each of these larger purchases.
But that's not the best way to play it. What I'd like to do is spend all of the money at a single retailer that I really like rather than driving all over town. To do that I need retailers to make it easy.
First, be willing to split a transactions across multiple cards. For example, if I bought $32.40 worth of wine I'd like to split it up into 2 $10 transactions and one $12.40 transaction, effectively paying just $2.40 for $32.40 worth of wine after statement credits.
But even better than allowing split transactions is if a retailer sells $10 gift cards that can be combined on future orders. Set up a cash register or two just to process gift card sales. If a retailer I like is willing to do that (many are!) I'd drive straight there and swipe my 10 cards 3 times each for $300 worth of gift cards I could use on future transactions.
And wouldn't it be nice if retailers offered some sales to coincide with this deal? Like for example having a bunch of wine for sale at exactly $10? With no tax in Massachusetts this could be a terrific way to optimize the deal.
Here are the terms:
https://www.americanexpress.com/us/content/small-business/pdf/shop-small/offerterms.pdf
Note that the terms say the purchases need to be in-store (not online).
Two Questions of the Day...
Consumers: Where/how are you shopping on the 29th?
Retailers: What are you doing to make it easy for consumers to shop with you this Small Business Saturday?
Sauvignon Blanc Riesling Chenin Blanc Pinot Grigio Sémillon
Announcing Wine Blogging Wednesday 80, Dry Ros�
Announcing Wine Blogging Wednesday 80, Dry Rosé originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/X__cXo3Az7A/
Tenuta Sette Ponti Wine Dinner at Tresca North End Boston
This event provides an opportunity to taste a few wines from each producer's portfolio, including the famous Sette Ponti Oreno.
See also: Visiting Tenuta Sette Ponti
Tresca
233 Hanover St
Boston, MA 02113
$85 plus tax and gratuity
Guest Speakers:
Giovanna Moretti (Tenuta Sette Ponti)
Sebastiano Rosa (Agricola Punica)
?Chance has a great deal to do with the awards that wines win.?
“Chance has a great deal to do with the awards that wines win.” originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/DF_h_5ZFrMk/wine-tasting-junk-science-analysis
Thursday 27 November 2014
Deal Alert: 5% off Gift Cards at Table & Vine
5% may not seem like a ton (and in reality it isn't enough to go out of your way for). But here's why I might consider this and how I'd maximize its value...
First, the gift cards don't expire now so you can order them now (for yourself of course!) then use them later when you see they have a deal on a wine you're looking for.
Second, since they're gift cards you can stack the 5% with other savings like 10% off a straight case. Table & Vine's pricing model doesn't employ case discounts as significantly as other retailers because they don't mark up base prices as much as other retailers.
Third, since Table & Vine is owned by Big Y (a grocery store) purchases at Table & Vine code as grocery which can get you 5% or more if you've got a credit card that bonuses grocery spending. You can use this nifty utility to see which category specific retailers code as for Visa. I see Table & Vine coding as a grocery store. Nice!
Here's an example if you roll this all together...
Take the 2011 Clio they have in stock for $39.99/btl.
First, buy enough gift cards to cover the majority of your purchase. This saves you 5% on the gift card purchase and another 5% if you've got a credit card that bonuses grocery spend.
To be fair the 5% advantage depends on your current credit card profile and should be compared to the best card you could use at a wine shop. So it's not a full 5% better than your next-best card. But it is beneficial to generally consider the advantage of buying wine from retailers that code as grocery I think.
Later, once the gift card has arrived, buy a straight case of a wine you want they've got at a good price and cover the overshoot with the same credit card that bonuses grocery spend.
This brings the per-bottle price down to $32.48/btl - theoretically cheaper than the amazingly-low $33.33/btl price I mentioned a couple days ago.
Then, pick up the wine in-store next time you're passing through Springfield. Like on your way to Cooperstown or while visiting the Basketball Hall of Fame. They do ship in-state at not-so-terrible prices but that diminishes the savings and Table & Vine is a fun place to visit (trip report) anyway.
All in all, it's a bit complicated and involves buying a straight case (and visiting in-store) to maximize. But hey - if you're in the area and have your eye on a straight case of wine they stock at a reasonable price I say go for it.
Go here to take advantage of the deal
Offer ends December 1st, 2014
Subscribe to the WWP for future deal alerts!
Domaine Pierre Usseglio
But I [...]
Source: http://www.wine4freaks.com/42/domaine-pierre-usseglio/
Let?s Get Fizzacle!
Source: http://www.beyondnapavalley.com/blog/lets-get-fizzacle/
Wednesday 26 November 2014
Rockin? at Wine & Cars
Pontotoc,Texas the next Texas Wine destination
Source: http://thegrapesaroundtexas.com/2013/05/29/pontotoctexas-the-next-texas-wine-destination/
Stags\\\' Leap Santa Barbara Shafer Shafer Firebreak Sinskey
Vacation Tasting Report: Bachelor Ben's Envolve Winery Pinot Noir
 |
| 2011 Envolve Winery Lennox Vineyard Pinot Noir |
The best shop in town for wine is The Depot. Every time I go in there I'm amazed at the quality and assortment they offer in such a tiny shop in such a small town. The prices aren't bad either. I like to pick up a few summer beers here too but it's always nice to have some red wine on hand for relaxing evening consumption.
See also: Beer's Inherent Summer Advantage
The wine that jumped out at me this year was a bottle of 2011 Envolve Winery Lennox Vineyard Pinot Noir. You might recognize the Envolve name from Bachelor Ben Flajnik's involvement. Ben always struck me as a likable regular guy on the show so I made a mental note to pick up a bottle of his wine if I ever saw it around. Curious what Ben is up to these days? This article provides a nice little summary.
Especially after visiting Sonoma last week (Kosta Browne, CIRQ, Radio-Coteau) I was going through California Pinot Noir withdrawal so this bottle hit the spot.
Envolve Winery is a collaboration between childhood friends Ben Flajnik, Danny Fay and Mike Benzinger (yes the Benzinger wine family). Just so there's no confusion: This isn't a winery that Bachelor Ben started to leverage his fame. Winemaking was his thing when he showed up for the show.
Leveraging his fame from The Bachelor to increase the visibility of his wines must be a tricky proposition. Wine Spectator has done a few articles about Flajnik over the yeras. They've rated the Envolve wines mostly in the 86-89 point range. However, I was surprised to find not a single tasting note for their 2011 Lennox Pinot on CellarTracker. That's unusual even for a low production wine.
I was glad I grabbed it for $35 since it carries a retail price of $59. After tasting the wine I was even more pleased. Here's my note:
2011 Envolve Winery Lennox Vineyard Pinot Noir
14.8% Alcohol
$59 Release Price
Appealing black cherry, cola, and dried herbs on the nose. The mouthfeel oscillates between round viscosity and ultra-fine tannins. Long, powerful finish. Very nice stuff.
91/100 WWP: Outstanding
Check 'em out:
Envolve Winery
http://envolvewinery.com
@EnvolveWinery
Question of the Day: Have you tasted the Envolve wines? Visited them? If so, what did you think?
Wine Tasting Dinner: Sauvignon Blanc from Around the World
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/
TasteCamp East: Voracious Wine Bloggers Taste Throughout the Finger�Lakes
The Lifestyle of An A-List Wine Critic
The Lifestyle of An A-List Wine Critic originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/r0JKYBK5oFQ/
Decoding Orin Swift Winemaker Dave Phinney's "E" Spanish Red
Reading a bit more about it, it sounds like these are old world grapes made in a new world style. This particular bottling, E-2 (the E is for Esapana, and this is their second non-vintage bottling from Spain), is comprised of red grapes from some of Spain's most desirable regions: Priorat, Jumilla, Toro, Rioja, and Ribera del Duero.
For me, Spain is the next best place to look if you've gotten into wine through California and you're looking to branch out. The wines have a similar flavor profile and are more wallet-friendly. You can't just throw darts but it doesn't take much sleuthing to find tremendous value wines from Spain.
So this wine sounds right in my wheelhouse. And tasting it - it is. Rich, juicy fruit - it presents itself with more "sweetness" (a term I hesitate to use as it implies residual sugar, but I don't know how else to say it) than Alto Moncayo Veraton for example. Where Alto Moncayo (Veraton and proper) differentiate themselves compared to this E bottling is that Alto Moncayo brings more savory notes, which I find tremendously appealing when combined with rich fruit and vibrant acidity.
I'd rate the E-2 in the 88-89 point range.
According to Wine.com Robert Parker went nuts for these wines:
If you judge wines on how they taste and the degree of pleasure they offer, they are all incredible efforts. The three new cuvees I tasted are among the finest wine values one could hope to find. Moreover, there are 50,000 cases of each, no easy feat given the grapes Phinney has accessed and the quality he has turned out. As of now, Dave Phinney might be my ?value winemaker of the year? candidate. P.S. It?s too expensive for this report, but I am including it as an hommage to what Dave Phinney has achieved. If there are better wines for under $20 a bottle in the world today, please share that information with The Wine Advocate.You can buy this at Wine.com using code AMEX30 to get $30 off $100. Use it to round out a purchase at just over $100. At $17.99 in Massachusetts with 30% off, free shipping and no tax that would bring the price down to ~$12.59 a bottle. More info on how to maximize the Wine.com deal here.
93 Points The Wine Advocate
Click here to shop for this on Wine.com (affiliate link):
Locations by Dave Phinney E on Wine.com
Question of the Day: Have you had any of these Locations wines from Dave Phinney? If so, what did you think?
Tempranillo Dolcetto Malbec Red Wine White Wine
WBW80: Dry Ros�
WBW80: Dry Rosé originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/AGQhCma5w0w/
Tuesday 25 November 2014
Quick Deal: $50 Zachys Gift Card for $250 Purchase
I think the best way to play this would be to find well-priced wines like the 2012 Rivers-Marie Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir to get to $250. Then use the $50 gift card at some point in the future when they're running a free shipping promo.
They've also got some of the Wine Spectator Top 10/100 wines that are being revealed this week at fair prices.
Offer runs November 10-13 2014.
Like wine deals? Check out WWP advertiser WineNabber that makes it easy to find the kind of wine deals you're interested without flooding your inbox.
St. Clement Staglin Stag\\\'s Leap Stags\\\' Leap Santa Barbara
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.
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.
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.
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/
Monday 24 November 2014
Kate Moss makes a Champagne A-cup
Kate Moss has launched a new line of champagne stemware taken from a mold of her breast. The model famously displayed her skin-and-bone frame (topless) in ads for Calvin Klein’s Obsession. Which might lead one to think the champagne coupe is called the A-cup? But apparently not. The coupe was purportedly modeled on Marie Antoinette’s […]
The post Kate Moss makes a Champagne A-cup appeared first on Dr Vino's wine blog.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/GuSC/~3/Y2csqoS3G6o/
A Wine for Tonight: 2013 Julia?s Dazzle Ros�
A Wine for Tonight: 2013 Julia?s Dazzle Ros� 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/~3/81LiaKW71zc/
Viognier Theme for WBW78
Viognier Theme for WBW78 originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/SaN6i1INvI8/
A Wine for Tonight: 2013 Julia?s Dazzle Ros�
A Wine for Tonight: 2013 Julia?s Dazzle Ros� 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/~3/81LiaKW71zc/
Thank You From the Bottom of My Heart
Source: http://familylovewine.wordpress.com/2010/08/13/thank-you-from-the-bottom-of-my-heart/
?Chance has a great deal to do with the awards that wines win.?
“Chance has a great deal to do with the awards that wines win.” originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Winecast/~3/DF_h_5ZFrMk/wine-tasting-junk-science-analysis
Calistoga Inn is looking good
Calistoga Inn The Calistoga Inn is looking good these days. It has been open about a year and half since a fire had forced it to close down. All is good these days and the Inn portion of the property and been re-done. �The restaurant still looks the same old quaint and cozy spot and […]
The post Calistoga Inn is looking good appeared first on Wine Country Getaways.
Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/calistoga-inn-looking-good/
Tom Colicchio`s Heritage Steak :: Las Vegas
This is my Vegas go-to restaurant. The menu is not overdone, i.e. good selection but not so large that the kitchen is in mass production mode. We ordered a 8oz A5 Wagyu strip to share as an app. One bite and it ruined any other steak I will ever eat again. Recommend any of the […]
The post Tom Colicchio`s Heritage Steak :: Las Vegas appeared first on Vagablond.
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vagablond/ysSN/~3/QPeFGsFg1Vo/
Sunday 23 November 2014
Domaine Pierre Usseglio
But I [...]
Source: http://www.wine4freaks.com/42/domaine-pierre-usseglio/
Tablas Creek Talley Whitehall Lane Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc
Field Notes from a Wine Life ? Power Structure Edition
Odds and ends from a life lived through the prism of the wine glass…
Naked Wine and Occupy Wall Street
It’s not hard to notice the parallels between the natural wine movement and Occupy Wall Street - both are valid causes sorely lacking coherence and a rallying point that would move them from fringe head-scratcher to mainstream momentum.
• Natural wine is about purity of wine expression—shepherding grapes grown without chemicals to the bottle with as little human manipulation as possible, representing the place where they came from in the process.
• Occupy Wall Street is about re-calibrating the world’s best economic system – capitalism—to preserve the middle-class, the labor force that has allowed the U.S. to create the most productive economy in the world.
Neither movement represents fringe radicalism as some would have you believe. I look at both as being valid inflection points and, at their core, about keeping a balance between big and small, allowing every man and woman an equal opportunity at pursuing success around their particular truth.
What reasonable person would deny the validity of either if not clouded by confusion?
One idea well-conceived and well-communicated can change the world, but, unfortunately, both the natural wine movement and Occupy Wall Street are prevaricating from their essential truth, rendering them both toothless and feckless.
No need to crib from Che Guevara, but appealing to base logic and the common denominator would do both movements some good.
Just one man’s opinion…
On the Aussies, Redux
A few weeks back, I noted how the Australian wine industry was poised for a rebound in public perception due in part to two things happening in concert – public backlash to Yellow Tail wine, what I call the, “Derision Decision,” and an unspoken coalition of influencers recognizing Australia’s artisanal wine production – the antithesis of Yellow Tail. I cited recent sympathetic mentions from Jay McInerney in the Wall Street Journal and Dan Berger, wine writing’s current patriarch, as proof points.
You can add to the list of sympathetic mentions about artisanal Australia with recent mentions from Jancis Robinson and James Suckling.
Don’t sleep on Australia. It’s making a comeback slowly, but surely in public perception.
Tim Mondavi and Wine Spectator
Thomas Matthews, the Executive Editor for Wine Spectator magazine (WS), has commented on my site a few times. Each of these instances has been to protect or project Wine Spectator around its editorial goals.
Good on Thomas for not being afraid to get in the ring. Certainly, WS takes its fair share of shots from the wine chatterati, mostly with grace and aplomb.
Lest I cast myself as anything but objective, I should note that James Laube’s article on Tim Mondavi and Continuum in the current issue of WS (November 15th issue) is everything right about what mainstream wine media can offer wine consumers that online wine writing (mostly) doesn’t –long-form, depth, first-person access and an effort that takes weeks and not hours.
Laube’s piece is excellent - well-written and balanced; acknowledgement thereof is in order.
Besides the Wine
Jordan winery has two wines – a Cabernet and Chardonnay, but they really have a triumvirate in terms of things to buy. Jordan focuses on food and wine as being partners at the table and, to that end, any purchase from Jordan should also include their olive oil. Wow!
The Jordan olive oil makes Trader Joe’s EVOO seem like Two Buck Chuck, comparatively speaking. A little whole wheat Barilla pasta, some homemade pesto using the Jordan olive oil and some artisan bread in five minutes a day and you’re assuredly living the good life. The rub is I wouldn’t pour the round Jordan Chard with the pesto, probably a Sauvignon Blanc, but don’t let that dissuade you from picking up their olive oil – it’s good stuff.
Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/field_notes_from_a_wine_life_power_structure_edition/