Wednesday 26 September 2018

Andre Delorme Blanc de Blancs Brut Reserve, Burgundy

Andre Delorme Blanc de Blancs Brut Reserve, Burgundy

Andre Delorme Blanc de Blancs Brut Reserve, Burgundy

Shopping  for wine in Pennsylvania can be tough. It’s not just the sluggish bureaucracy. It’s not just the on-average-higher prices. It not just the communist-era florescent lighting. It’s the fact that the PA Wine & Spirits stores don’t hire much wine talent. One of the rare gems is the wine specialist Max, whose store is featured in our Top Wine Shops In Philly page.

With this wine, he’s managed to do something no other wine store in the state has managed to do: offer a $10 bottle of bubbles that drinks like a decent bottle of Champagne, in a modern  Moët & Chandon style. Made in Burgundy, this Blanc de Blanc is a blend of Chardonnay and Aligote.  Fresh flavors of ripe peaches and hazelnuts, the pin-point bubbles bring a fine mousse and an pretty honeysuckle aroma to the the experience.

This is the bottle I’ll be drinking on Sunday afternoon, possibly with Oysters Rockefeller.

 

The post Andre Delorme Blanc de Blancs Brut Reserve, Burgundy appeared first on Wine School of Philadelphia.



source https://www.vinology.com/andre-delorme-blanc-de-blancs-brut-reserve-burgundy/

Home Sweet Home (The Irony Of Barbera At MyNameIsBarbera.com)

Home Sweet Home Crue

My latest article looking back on my Monferrato gig is now live over at MyNameIsBarbera.com, and it’s my next-to-last for that gig. The fact that the phrase “Home, Sweet Home” appears in the post, and yet the article entirely lacks and references to Mötley Crüe is, admittedly, a severe and egregious oversight, but otherwise I think that the writing is solid (both mine and that of Nikki Sixx, I mean).

In this penultimate piece, I talk about a strange irony of the well-traveled Barbera grape variety; to wit (and if you’ll at least temporarily forgive the douchebaggery of quoting myself):

“In having this true sense of place, there’s an endearing irony in Barbera d’Asti. Few red wine grapes have seen as much globe-trotting expansion as It, and yet its best and most versatile incarnations and intimately tied to just a single, special place.”

Click on the link below to check it out (preferably while drinking some Barbera d’Asti).

LOOKING BACK ON BARBERA

Cheers!

Grab The 1WineDude.com Tasting Guide and start getting more out of every glass of wine today!

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Copyright © 2016. Originally at Home Sweet Home (The Irony Of Barbera At MyNameIsBarbera.com) from 1WineDude.com - for personal, non-commercial use only. Cheers!

source http://www.1winedude.com/barbera-irony-mynameisbarbera-com/

Tuesday 25 September 2018

Eleven Wine Blogs to Follow

The wine industry just wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for some of the fantastic blogs we had access to today. Whether it is to inform us about serious wine matters or to relate better to new-wine-lovers, there is something out there for everyone.

We’ve put together a list of 11 wine blogs to definitely keep track of: For informative news and for a little drinking humor! That said, if you are looking for wine reviews and recommendations and you live in the Philly region, make sure to check out our wine ratings and reviews. 

wine folly

Wine Folly

Wine Folly is one of the most well-known and loved blogs; with good reason. This blog created by 3 wine-lovers has just about anything you can possibly imagine: From simple guides and How to videos to a comprehensible break-down of wines and pairings.

Their vivid illustrations draw you in – and their knack for writing keeps you intrigued throughout.

our hope is that more people see wine not just as an adult beverage, but as a way to explore the world and themselves.

For any newbies, this blog is the one to check out. https://winefolly.com/blog/

sip on this juice

Sip on this Juice

A widely popular wine enthusiast, Amy Lieberfarb’s blog has over a hundred thousand followers. Amy covers topics around food, wine, travel, facts, tips, reviews and digs deep into the production of wine.

Her style is great because she writes informatively and straight to the point without adding unnecessary fluff. She was also in the Top 25 Wine Influencers in 2016 & 2017. Her blog should be at the top of your radar if you want to seriously follow wine. http://siponthisjuice.com/

Tim Atkin

Tim Atkin

Considering how big the ‘Tim Atkin’ brand is, it would be scandalous not to mention his blog here. Although most would imagine his blog to be indigestible by the ordinary wine-lover, Tim has an extremely light, easy manner in which he writes.

He does have in-depth posts about a wine of the week, tasting notes, wine regions and wine cultivars (so it does appeal to those who are wine connoisseurs) but it reads easy and leads you into a part of the industry only an expert like him could write about. One of our favorite Masters of Wine.   http://www.timatkin.com/

wine turtle

Wine Turtle

The creators of the Wine Turtle blog stated that “No good wine will come from rushing through it; much better to take your time and enjoy every last bit of it. That is why we are Wine Turtle.” The Wine Turtle covers wine tips, tricks, and ideas – and has some of the most unique and detailed topics imaginable.

Some of their articles consist of reviewing wine coolers and glasses – and elaborating on the actual need for these accessories. This blog can be enjoyed by the serious wine collectors and drinkers. They also cover Helium-infused Wine (who would have thought?)  https://www.wineturtle.com/blog/

Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator

One of the larger blogs, Wine Spectator, is better for those deeply involved in the logistics of the industry. The posts include interviews with winemakers, reviews of wineries, tasting notes and wine tips. Keep a wine dictionary handy while reading the jargon-heavy articles. It’s perfect for those who need a more serious, formal blog about the wine trade.  https://www.winespectator.com/blogs

Sediment

Sediment

CJ and PK (as they are known) are the masterminds behind this entertaining wine blog. After our diet of wine news, it’s refreshing to be immersed in their humor and relate-able stories. Their writing style is raw and honest – and their stories range from wine glasses, being fed up with white wine to rants about the industry. It is truly entertaining and a nice break from formal writing.

Here is a little snip-it from one of their most recent pieces:

These Vocalisations I make on first sampling a beverage:
– …I’m getting loose boxes…spent matches…guacamole…
– You could use it for cooking
– Shit, sorry, I’ll get a cloth

http://sedimentblog.blogspot.com/

Dr Vino

Dr. Vino

Dr. Vino won two awards in 2007 for Best Wine Blog and Best Wine Blog Writing.  Tyler Colman has been a powerhouse in the wine world every since.

Dr. Colman runs an  informative and serious blog. The content here is focused more on the pressing matters of the wine industry: Carbon footprint, wine buying tips, and wine import tax. If that is your cup of tea, be sure to check out this blog. World of Fine Wine mentioned that Mr. Vino was “One of the fresh voices taking wine journalism in new and important directions.”  http://www.drvino.com/

psyched for wine

Psyched for Wine

Written by a clinical psychologist with an Advanced Sommelier degree, this is one of our favorite blogs on this list. From the beautiful vineyard photography to the insider knowledge, this is one of the best wine-themed travelogues we’ve ever come across. http://psychedforwine.com/

1 Wine Dude

1 Wine Dude

Heading back to some humorous styles, this blog by Philly native Joe Roberts has a range of topics including a weekly review of a range of wines. His focus is on tasting notes and whether the wine listed would be worth trying. This is important for those looking for direction on wines to try in the future.
His writing, however, is clever, witty and shockingly honest; take a look for yourself:

Jané describes his wines as “unplugged” (hence the yeah-yeah-I-get-it-cleverness of his company moniker.)

http://www.1winedude.com/

Rockin Red Blog

Rockin Red Blog

Michelle Williams, who has written for a number of popular magazines, started this blog and immediately hit  the Top 100 most influential wine bloggers list. Her posts have everything from wine travels to narrowing down on specific wine cultivars and quite interesting wine pairings. This blog is also great for those seeking wine reviews and comparisons to try out!  https://rockinredblog.com/

wine explorers

Wine Explorers

Wine Explorers is a fantastic blog for anybody who enjoys the idea of wine beyond the ordinary. This team of 5 wine-lovers made it their life mission to travel the globe and taste wine from every corner. Thus far, they have tasted 4130 wines, visited 396 wineries and explored 65 countries. Their articles are informative and entertaining throughout with the most beautiful and enchanting photography. The blog explores regions and countries most would never consider, like Vietnam and Cambodia. Their posts dive deep into the regions history, culture and terroir; and lead the reader right into that “world.”
http://blog.wine-explorers.net/

So, whether you are just looking for someone to relate to your daily wine-drinking struggles, or a serious, informative blog about the industry, one of these blogs above should give you exactly what you are looking for!

 

 

 

The post Eleven Wine Blogs to Follow appeared first on Wine School of Philadelphia.



source https://www.vinology.com/wine-blogs/

Monday 24 September 2018

Isabella 2016 Bobal, Ribera del Jucar

Isabella 2016 Bobal, Ribera del Jucar

Isabella 2016 Bobal, Ribera del Jucar

This is a small wine region that most wine maps forget to include (I’m talking to you Wine Folly). That’s not unexpected, actually, as there are hundreds of tiny and obscure wine regions that don’t make the cut. Ribera del Jucar is next to the more famous (and that’s not saying much) Manchuela DO. The claim to fame for both of these wine regions is a local varietal, Bobal.

Bobal has always been used locally as a blending grape, but over the past decade it’s becoming more common to offer it as a single-varietal wine. This particular bottle is a great introduction to the grape. The price can’t be beat, and it’s super gulp-able. Soft tannins and medium bodied, this is a gulp-able wine with plenty of vanilla-spice and big red fruit. It’s a crowd-pleaser, to be sure.

 

 

 

 

 

The post Isabella 2016 Bobal, Ribera del Jucar appeared first on Wine School of Philadelphia.



source https://www.vinology.com/isabella-2016-bobal/

Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For September 24, 2018

I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format.

They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), and are presented links to help you find them, so that you can try them out for yourself. Cheers!

 

Grab The 1WineDude.com Tasting Guide and start getting more out of every glass of wine today!

Shop Wine Products at Amazon.com

Copyright © 2016. Originally at Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For September 24, 2018 from 1WineDude.com - for personal, non-commercial use only. Cheers!

source http://www.1winedude.com/wine-reviews-weekly-mini-round-up-for-september-24-2018/

Thursday 20 September 2018

Matetic 2014 Corralillo Syrah, San Antonio Valley, Chile

Matetic 2014 Corralillo Syrah

Matetic 2014 Corralillo Syrah

 

I’ve never really cared much about an artist’s life. If their work inspires me, I don’t need to be weighted down with their ideas on religion or politics. I feel the same way about fellow artisans. If another chef or winemaker is making delicious things, I really don’t care if they are a libertarian or a pastafarian. If they produce the goods, then pass the Parmesan.

Would an artist stop using the color blue if it was against his philosophy? It’s a silly question, but for us artisans, it really isn’t. Many of us have beliefs that change how we make things. A carpenter that doesn’t believe in using glue, a chef that believes all food should be local, a winemaker who believes in organic agriculture. The end result may not be changed, but how we get there does.

At the end of the day, people will need to sit on, wear, eat, or drink our creations. If they don’t, we are out of a job. It’s impressive when a winemaker can stick to their philosophy and make great wine. That’s why I love bio-dynamic wines. Be awesome, you bio-dynamic horoscope-believing lunatics.

The Matetic  is an organic-on-steroids bottle of Syrah from a sub-region of Casablanca on the Chilean coast. Aromas of fresh fig and beef jerky kick off the party. Textually, this bottle is dynamic. A full bodied, layered tannins, with an edge of sauvage. Smoked flavors roll into blackberry and a mineral-laced finish. An incredible value.

 

 

 

 

The post Matetic 2014 Corralillo Syrah, San Antonio Valley, Chile appeared first on Wine School of Philadelphia.



source https://www.vinology.com/matetic-2014-corralillo-syrah-san-antonio-valley-chile/

Wednesday 19 September 2018

This Time, It’s Personal (September 2018 Wine Product Roundup)

Personal Wine 2018 1

Dude!

For this month’s edition of the Wine Product Review Roundup, I’m taking a break from the not-really-getting-any-smaller pile of yet-to-be-reviewed wine books, and instead tackling the wears of wine products that don’t come with bindings and covers.

Personal Wine 2018 2First up is a customized, 1WD-themed package of goodies sent to me by Personal Wine, longtime purveyors of personalized wine labels and etchings. The PW folks decided to take the 1WD logo and work some of their magic on a wine box, as well as four bottles showcasing the possibilities with their labels and bottle etching.

PW has a fairly wide assortment of wines available at multiple price tiers, from $14 all the way up to about a grand (labeling is included, etching runs ab out $15 extra per bottle); from my sample package, I enjoyed the Wildcatter Cab (think dark and silky) and the Conde Laurel Cava Brut (admirably piquant for the price). The box is, well, basically a standard wooden wine box, but the etching is clean and the wood quality quite good. Overall, PW seems like a solid option if you’re considering personalized gifts for the wine-obsessed this holiday season….

VinoPlease 1

image: amazon.com

Next on the sample list this month is a pair of wine-themed gift ideas from VinoPlease, purveyors of accessories (bags, stoppers, coasters, and the like) printed with pithy, humorous wine-related quips. My care package from VP included a set of three Wine Jute draw-string burlap bags, and four reusable silicone wine stoppers.

VinoPlease 2

image: amazon.com

The bags are well-constructed and will fit most standard 750 ml bottles, and the stoppers do a great job of covering up open wine bottles (without having to deal with 3/4 of a cork sticking out), and I plan on making use of those suckers when bringing bottles outside (at least until the weather gets chilly in these parts).

While the printing on both the stoppers and the bags are high quality, the issue I have with the VP items is that the sayings printed on them are at best mildly amusing (“rough day”), more often a bit trite (“wine not?”), and at worst are mildly offensive (“Wineorexia?” really?… sorry, but I just don’t find mocking anorexia to be funny). YMMV, so be cautious with these, particularly if the person on the receiving end of these gifts is easily offended.

Cheers!

Grab The 1WineDude.com Tasting Guide and start getting more out of every glass of wine today!

Shop Wine Products at Amazon.com

Copyright © 2016. Originally at This Time, It’s Personal (September 2018 Wine Product Roundup) from 1WineDude.com - for personal, non-commercial use only. Cheers!

source http://www.1winedude.com/this-time-its-personal-september-2018-wine-product-roundup/

Monday 17 September 2018

Shannon Ridge “Vigilance” 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Red Hills

Shannon Ridge “Vigilance” 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Red Hills

Shannon Ridge “Vigilance” 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Red Hills

 

Shannon Ridge is becoming a favorite in Pennsylvania. It’s wines have showed up in so many Chairman Selection offerings, that it’s becoming a annual tradition to review a bottle or two of their wines. This bottling is quite a pleasant surprise, exceeding their very good 2016 Sauvignon Blanc.

I was recently talking to a student in our  Wine Instructor Training Program  about his upcoming presentation. I suggested a geeky bit of history, one that this wine is directly  connected to. The  Sauvignon Blanc clone that is planted across California is called the Wente clone. However, it’s real lineage can be traced back to the famous Chateau d’Yquem in Bordeaux, France. It was “imported” into the USA in 1880, and has been growing here ever since.

The story doesn’t end there, because the vine, know with the name FPS 01 was exported to New Zealand in 1965. It is now the core of the very successful NZ wine trade. Not bad for a 19th century stowaway, eh?

So this bottle is exactly what an SB drinker wants. Bright fresh grapefruit flavors, a touch of exotic citrus, and a touch of snipped chive and strawberry leaf on the nose.

 

 

 

The post Shannon Ridge “Vigilance” 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Red Hills appeared first on Wine School of Philadelphia.



source https://www.vinology.com/shannon-ridge-vigilance-2017-sauvignon-blanc-red-hills/

Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For September 17, 2018

I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format.

They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), and are presented links to help you find them, so that you can try them out for yourself. Cheers!

 

Grab The 1WineDude.com Tasting Guide and start getting more out of every glass of wine today!

Shop Wine Products at Amazon.com

Copyright © 2016. Originally at Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For September 17, 2018 from 1WineDude.com - for personal, non-commercial use only. Cheers!

source http://www.1winedude.com/wine-reviews-weekly-mini-round-up-for-september-17-2018/

Saturday 15 September 2018

September Newsletter 2018

Wine Newsletter

50% OFF ALL CLASSES!

50% OFF BOGO SALE

For the rest of September, get a 50% off coupon for any class, up to $250 in value. Purchase any upcoming class or course, and the 50% off coupon code will be emailed to you immediately. This is the best sale we’ve ever put on in a long time, so I’d suggest jumping on it ASAP!

Their are only three caveats: the discount is valid for up purchases up to $250 in value, only one coupon per person, and the code is only valid for 7 days once it’s sent.

Are we insta-famous yet?

We aren’t all that great at social media, but a year ago a student (thank you, Sarah!) encouraged us to sign up for Instagram. People seem to love our feed –almost 7K followers at this point! We make a point of following all our students, too:  it’s a great way to keep in touch. Check us out here: https://www.instagram.com/phillywine/

Geek Alert: Swiss Wines

There are a few nice quotes about the Wine School in this month’s Condé Nast Traveler. It’s an article on Swiss wines, and it’s worth a read: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-swiss-wine-vacation-we-all-need-to-take

Suggested Classes

A few upcoming classes at the school that you should consider attending.

 

Natural Wine Class

The Natural Wines Class

Thursday, November 1st at 7:30 pm

Natural wines, organic wine, and bio-dynamic wines have been a controversial topic since the school was founded in 2001. It’s a topic we love, and our advocacy of natural wines has permeated every wine class we’ve taught for the last 20 years. Come learn more about the brave new world of winemaking. https://www.vinology.com/class/natural-wines/

east coast wines

First Growths of the East Coast

Thursday, November 15th at 7:30 pm

There are hundreds of wineries scattered from Virginia to Maine. Over the last few years, a quiet revolution has begun in their vineyards. Visionary winemakers are making exceptional wines and doing so without much fanfare. https://www.vinology.com/class/east-coast-wine/

world atlas of wine

World Atlas of Wine

November 16th at 7:30 pm

The World Atlas of Wine is an essential and authoritative wine class for beginners. Philadelphia’s increasing appetite for wine is matched by a growing thirst for knowledge; which this class will amply satisfy. Learn about the essential wine regions around the world in a single two-hour wine tasting class. https://www.vinology.com/class/world-atlas-wine/

food and wine pairing

Food & Wine Scholar™

Mondays, March 11th to May 9th from 7:30 to 9:30 pm

This wine course qualifies for the NWS Advanced Sommelier Certification Program. Demystify the challenge of food and beverage pairings. This wine course presents a practical, user-friendly approach grounded in understanding the direct relationships and reactions between food and wine components, flavors, and textures.    https://www.vinology.com/class/advanced-wine-course-food-wine-pairing/

 

Wine Reviews

All wines are available at the PA Wine & Spirits Stores. To find bottles near you, we suggest using our Wine Finder App: https://www.vinology.com/winefinder/

 

Mark Herold 2014 “Collide” Red, California

Mark Herold 2014 “Collide” Red, California

Despite drinking like a luxury Napa wine, this is something very different. Exactly where the grapes come from is unclear. It’s a blend of Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, Graciano, Carignan, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet, so probably much of the fruit comes from older vineyards in Sonoma and the Central Coast.

The style is pure fruit, with bursts of blackberry, cola, and sweet vanilla. The voluptuous richness is balanced with milk chocolate and hawthorn. I’d say this bottle under-represents it’s ABV on the label. I would be surprised if it wasn’t 16.1% alcohol.

Price: $16.99  | Wine Rating: 91 Points | Availability: Wine & Spirits Stores in PA

 

 

Matetic 2014 Corralillo Syrah

Matetic 2014 Corralillo Syrah

The Matetic is an organic-wine-on-steroids bottle of Syrah from a sub-region of Casablanca on the Chilean coast. Aromas of fresh fig and beef jerky kick off the party. Textually, this bottle is dynamic. A full bodied, layered tannins, with an edge of sauvage. Smoked flavors roll into blackberry and a mineral-laced finish. An incredible value.

Price: $14.99  | Wine Rating: 91 Points | Availability: Wine & Spirits Stores in PA

 

 

 

Isabella 2016 Bobal, Ribera del Jucar

Isabella 2016 Bobal, Ribera del Jucar

Bobal has always been used locally as a blending grape, but over the past decade it’s becoming more common to offer it as a single-varietal wine. This particular bottle is a great introduction to the grape. The price can’t be beat, and it’s super gulp-able. Soft tannins and medium bodied, this is a gulp-able wine with plenty of vanilla-spice and big red fruit. It’s a crowd-pleaser, to be sure.

Price: $7.99  | Wine Rating: 89 Points | Availability: Wine & Spirits Stores in PA

Carden Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2013

Carden  2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

This winery may be on it’s last vintage, but I’m just glad to have access to this monster Cabernet. Like some other Columbia Valley Cabernet we’ve reviewed recently, this is made by an Oregon winemaker: this time by the brilliant Tony Rynders, formerly of Domaine Serene.

Masterful in execution, has a beauty that is rare in such powerful wines. Layered aromas of licorice, cigar box, and smoked tea. The lush palate is buttressed with dense tannins and enough acidity to keep the whole affair intact. The reference here is clearly Chateau Margaux.

Price: $24.99  | Wine Rating: 94 Points | Availability: Wine & Spirits Stores in PA

 

 

North by Northwest 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

North by Northwest 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

North by Northwest is the Columbia Valley brand owned by King Estate, best known for it’s Oregon Pinot Noirs. The brand has been kicking around since 2005, but it’s making inroads into the East Coast only recently. Like many Columbia Cabernet, it’s got amazing fruit in the bottle and equally attractive price on the label.

This wine sports an attractive bouquet of cocoa, graphite, and toasted apple wood. The palate is deeply extracted with dense boysenberry notes followed by Asian five spice and a finish that turns up the sweet vanilla and plum notes. Under $20, this is a steal.

Price: $15.99  | Wine Rating: 90 Points | Availability: Wine & Spirits Stores in PA

 

Shannon Ridge “Vigilance” 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Red Hills

Shannon Ridge “Vigilance” 2017 Sauvignon Blanc, Red Hills

Shannon Ridge is becoming a favorite in Pennsylvania. It’s wines have showed up in so many Chairman Selection offerings, that it’s becoming a annual tradition to review a bottle or two of their wines. This bottling is quite a pleasant surprise, exceeding their very good 2016 Sauvignon Blanc.

This bottle is exactly what an SB drinker wants. Bright fresh grapefruit flavors, a touch of exotic citrus, and a touch of snipped chive and strawberry leaf on the nose.

Price: $10.99  | Wine Rating:88 Points | Availability: Wine & Spirits Stores in PA

 

Andre Delorme Blanc de Blancs Brut Reserve, Burgundy

Andre Delorme Blanc de Blancs Brut Reserve, Burgundy

A $10 bottle of bubbles that drinks like a decent bottle of Champagne? Say it isn’t so! This bottle of bubbles is crafted in a modern Moët & Chandon style. This is the bottle I’ll be drinking on Sunday afternoon, possibly with Oysters Rockefeller.

Made in Burgundy, this Blanc de Blanc is a blend of Chardonnay and Aligote. Fresh flavors of ripe peaches and hazelnuts, the pin-point bubbles bring a fine mousse and an pretty honeysuckle aroma to the the experience.

Price: $9.99  | Wine Rating: 89 Points | Availability: Wine & Spirits Stores in PA

 

Wine School of Philadelphia
109 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
www.vinology.com

 

 

The post September Newsletter 2018 appeared first on Wine School of Philadelphia.



source https://www.vinology.com/september-newsletter-2018/

Thursday 13 September 2018

Mark Herold 2014 “Collide” Red, California

Mark Herold 2014 “Collide” Red, California

Mark Herold 2014 “Collide” Red, California

 

Mark’s new tasting room just opened in Napa –just down from the Oxbow Public Market– a scant three months before I reviewed his wines. I loved the room –super fun and modern– but another journalist gently pointed out that it was geared towards Millennial wine drinkers, not us old cranks. Thanks, man. Thanks.

That begs the question: what the *#&#E is a millennial wine? Is “Collide” the harbinger of Millennial vino? A  new paradigm? Cool decor aside, I’m not convinced. Mark Herold’s wines are delicious in that Napa-esque way Gen-Xers have been slurping up for years. He earned his stripes at the Joseph Phelps winery, he ran a custom crush facility for a while, then went on to become the  winemaker for Sonoma’s Kamen Estate.

The real difference with Collide is that, despite being sold in Napa and tasting very much like a luxury Napa wine, it doesn’t have any Napa fruit, nor is it actually made in Napa, either. Exactly where the grapes come from is unclear. It’s a blend of Tempranillo, Petite Sirah, Graciano, Carignan, Syrah and Alicante Bouschet, so probably much of the fruit comes from older vineyards in Sonoma and the Central Coast.

The style is pure fruit, with bursts of blackberry, cola, and sweet vanilla. The voluptuous richness is balanced with milk chocolate and hawthorn. I’d say this bottle under-represents it’s ABV on the label. I would be surprised if it wasn’t 16.1% alcohol.

 

The post Mark Herold 2014 “Collide” Red, California appeared first on Wine School of Philadelphia.



source https://www.vinology.com/mark-herold-2014-collide-red-california/

The Good Sh*t (Biodynamic Preparations At Troon Vineyard)

Troon vineyard 1

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), who founded the farming practices now known under the certification of Biodynamics, was largely full of sh*t.

For example, Steiner was all about making wild claims based on anonymous sources long before it became the new standard of presidential tweeting in the U.S.; just check out a handful of the claims he made in his The Submerged Continents of Atlantis and Lemuria:

“As to the sources of the information to be given here, I am for the present obliged to be silent. He who knows anything at all about such sources will understand why this must be so…”

“…it was only in the course of time that the forms of man and woman arose from an earlier, original form in which the human being was neither the one nor the other, but both at the same time.”

Troon biod 1

Working the good sh*t at Troon in Oregon

“Just as we have contrivances for transforming the latent force of coal into the power to propel our engines, so had the Atlanteans devices for heating by the use of plant-seeds in which the life-force was changed into a power applicable to technical purposes. In this way were propelled the air-ships of the Atlanteans, which soared a little above the earth. These air-ships sailed at a height rather below that of the mountains of Atlantean times, and they had steering appliances, by means of which they could be raised above these mountains.” 

So we’ve got, with literally no evidence, Steiner on the record challenging how humans evolved, and claiming that ancient Atlanteans had airplanes powered by seed oil. So if you’re not at least a little bit skeptical of the guy’s take on farming, then you have deep issues with how you handle facts, logic, and the scientific method.

This doesn’t mean, of course, that with Biodynamics he didn’t stumble upon something incredibly useful for coalescing several centuries-old, tried-and-true farming practices that turned out to be great for fine wine vineyards. But it does mean that we need to approach anything that Steiner wrote with healthy (and probably substantial) levels of skepticism. We’ve tackled this topic before on these virtual pages, giving equal “air time” to both prominent Pro and Con voices regarding BioD, and more or less ended up not that much farther from our starting point (or, at least, I didn’t).

And so it was with a sort of mixed fascination and trepidation that I recently observed firsthand Troon Vineyard‘s Biodynamic compost preparations (#502-507) in the gorgeous (but, at the time, quite smokey) Applegate Valley, to literally see “the good sh*t”…

Troon BioD 2

I was in town at the time to take part in the 2018 Oregon Wine Experience wine competition, and took up an invitation to visit from my friend and Troon GM Craig Camp. 2018 will be Troon’s first 100% certified Biodynamic vintage, and the thinking behind it has nothing to do with smoking the other “good sh*t” big agricultural crop (marijuana) in Troon’s neck of the woods; the plan is that Biodynamic farming can help the resiliency of the vines, and therefore allow for more dry-farming, less water usage, and increasingly better and better vineyard fruit. Combined with six full-time vineyard staff, “you get a different level of care in the vineyard” according to Camp.

Troon biod 2

Troon’s assistant winemaker Nate Wall surveys the day’s Biodynamic prep efforts

Thankfully, Troon’s application of Biodynamics isn’t moon-phase-chasing, ganjas-smokin’ BS; they are measuring the impact both in terms of soil impacts, vine health, and resulting wine quality. Over seventy soil pits have been dug and analyzed on the property – along with genetic sequencing of the microorganisms contained therin – to get a microbiome baseline. Early results are promising (more on the liquid results of all of that work to come in later articles here), and I got to measure some of the vine health myself by tagging along with assistant winemaker Nate Wall to perform leaf pressure-bomb analysis (the TLDR summary of that excursion: things are looking very good).

Troon vineyard 2

Anyway, back to the literal good sh*t…

During my visit, Troon was working over (e.g., turning, moistening, and adding BioD preparations such as dandelion, Valerian, yarrow, chamomile, and nettle) some of the most appealing compost I’ve ever seen. While there are way too many references to things like “cosmic forces” in the BioD prep. directions, there’s also some scientific method to the madness of adding in these elements to make for effective compost. For example, oak bark (#505) is probably acting as an antiseptic; Valerian might stimulate phosphorus and earthworm activity (the latter being essential for composting); yarrow might interact with potassium and sulfur to aid in plant nutrient intake.

BioD compost prep

What really blew me away about the results of the compost was how incredible it smelled; or, I should say, didn’t smell. It was aromatic (think woodsy and slightly sweet), not stinky. Parts of it felt almost like potting soil. It just about screamed (in so much as earth can scream) healthy.

I mean, this was seriously, seriously good sh*t. I immediately wanted to steal some and throw it all over my yard, which I suppose is one of the higher compliments one can pay to an enormous pile of compost.

Cheers!

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Copyright © 2016. Originally at The Good Sh*t (Biodynamic Preparations At Troon Vineyard) from 1WineDude.com - for personal, non-commercial use only. Cheers!

source http://www.1winedude.com/the-good-sht-biodynamic-preparations-at-troon-vineyard/

Monday 10 September 2018

Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For September 10, 2018

I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format.

They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), and are presented links to help you find them, so that you can try them out for yourself. Cheers!

 

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Copyright © 2016. Originally at Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For September 10, 2018 from 1WineDude.com - for personal, non-commercial use only. Cheers!

source http://www.1winedude.com/wine-reviews-weekly-mini-round-up-for-september-10-2018/

Wednesday 5 September 2018

Fumbling The Ball At Goal-line (Thoughts On The 2018 Lancet Alcohol Study)

Recently, an examination of a rather large data set of studies (we’re talking nearly 200 countries, and over 690 pieces of work involving millions of people) was published in Lancet, and most of my alcohol-loving friends just about lost their sh*t.

The reason for the theoretical emergency bowel-vacating stemmed from media coverage of one of the Lancet study’s late conclusions, and the one harpooned by the media and shared pretty much everywhere (emphasis mine):

“Alcohol use is a leading risk factor for disease burden worldwide, accounting for nearly 10% of global deaths among populations aged 15–49 years, and poses dire ramifications for future population health in the absence of policy action today. The widely held view of the health benefits of alcohol needs revising, particularly as improved methods and analyses continue to show how much alcohol use contributes to global death and disability. Our results show that the safest level of drinking is none.”

That pithy little emphasized sentence above is the scientific equivalent of constructing a late-game, come-from-behind, potentially-game-winning NFL drive that started on your team’s own ten-yard line, culminating in a 3rd-and-long breakout run during which your guys fumble the f*cking ball at the goal-line and emerge with a heartbreaking loss. This is because there is a wealth of health-related insight that could come out of the Lancet study, and they chose to focus on the one aspect that the data don’t actually support directly; that conclusion is controversial at best, and is only loosely inferred from the analysis, based on the facts and results cited in the very study itself.

Bear in mind that alcohol constitutes an inordinate amount of the professional and leisure portions of my existence on this planet, which is why instead of trying to make that case myself in my own (not-so-)potentially biased way, I’ll instead refer you to Vox, who have already (splendidly) done that for me

Vox’s Julia Belluz has executed a well-researched and thoughtfully-entertaining takedown of the recent Lancet study, and it’s well worth a read, especially if you’re among the paints-soiling numbers who kind of freaked out about not being able to drink ever again.

This quote in particular from the Vox article needs a spotlight, as it brings a statistical numbers focus to the results and effectively acts as the article’s TLDR summary:

“…statistician David Spiegelhalter estimated that 25,000 people would need to drink 400,000 bottles of gin to experience one extra health problem compared to non-drinkers, ‘which indicates a rather low level of harm in these occasional drinkers.’

…the difference in health risk between those who drink nothing and those who have one daily drink is tiny — and, given the weak observational research it’s based on, potentially not meaningful.”

My slightly longer, but still abbreviated take involves this little summary results graph from the Lancet study (again, emphasis is mine):

Lancet study graph 2018

Jump to conclusions, much? (image: TheLancet.com)

As you can see above, the difference in cumulative relative health risks between having zero drinks and having one drink daily is reeeeeaaaalllly small. In fact, statistically it could be argued that the difference is within error margins; in other words, it’s almost zero.

Are you technically safer having no alcohol? Based on the Lancet study, yes, technically you are. Just like you’re technically safer not having any sun exposure whatsoever, never crossing the street, never driving a car, never taking a plane flight, never doing weed…

But if you want to play the statistical numbers, all things being equal health-wise you’re no worse off drinking in moderation than you are not drinking at all. And that conclusion is more-or-less just as valid based on the findings of the Lancet study as their conclusion that you should never drink if you want to reduce your overall health risk.

What this study does do a great job of underscoring, in my not-so-humble opinion, is the relative health danger of regular, immoderate/excessive drinking, which is undeniably a major worldwide issue right now and a substantial burden on our global economy and mental, social, and physical well-being. But focusing on moderate, responsible drinking as a problem – based on these data – is a bit like saying that we need to be careful about our water intake because too much of it can kill you…

Cheers!

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Copyright © 2016. Originally at Fumbling The Ball At Goal-line (Thoughts On The 2018 Lancet Alcohol Study) from 1WineDude.com - for personal, non-commercial use only. Cheers!

source http://www.1winedude.com/fumbling-the-ball-at-goal-line-thoughts-on-the-2018-lancet-alcohol-study/