Thursday, 29 August 2019
Monday, 26 August 2019
Wine and Food Pairing
Okay, so John McKeever reached out to me a while back. Remember Delco Proper on Comedy Central? He was the director and star of that show. Apparently, he and his wife attended a class at the Wine School and had an idea. He wanted to do a food and wine show and wanted to do the pilot at the Wine School. He introduced me to the star of the show, Mary DeAngelis, and we hit it off. I think that’s pretty obvious from when you watch. This is a QVC2 show, so they are hawking wine. After this was made, I did get an offer to be a guest host on QVC proper(seriously!). That would be a crazy career change, so I’ll stick with teaching and writing.
It was a blast working with John and Mary. They really put together an amazing TV show.
The post Wine and Food Pairing appeared first on Wine School of Philadelphia.
source https://www.vinology.com/wine-and-food-pairing/
Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For August 26, 2019
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!
- 2015 Moshin Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (Sonoma County): Hitting a lively stride, with juiciness on the one foot, and earthiness on the other. $42 A-
- 2016 Iris Vineyards Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley): Busting out more smoked meat than a Slim Jim commercial. $23 B+
- 2018 Wente Vineyards Niki’s Pinot Noir Rose (Arroyo Seco): Deep in all of the places that it counts – color, flavor, zest, and tastiness. $30 B+
- 2015 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon (Oakville): Plummy promise peeking out from behind a jumble of leather and wood. $63 A-
- NV Bruno Paillard Premiere Cuvee Brut (Champagne): If this isn’t your first-pick, go-to NV Champers, you miiiiiiight need to get yourself some help… $58 A-
- 2016 Ferraton Pere & Fils Cotes du Rhone Samorens (Rhone): Who said that nobody likes a show-off? Cuz they were dead wrong. $17 B+
- 2017 Martinshof “Lobster” Grüner Veltliner (Niederösterreich): You probably wouldn’t kick it out of bed when you’re eating oyster crackers. $15 B
- 2015 Podere Rocche dei Manzoni Vigna Cappella di Santo Stefano (Barolo): There’s beauty to behold in the boldness of its powerful, burly frame. $100 A-
- 2018 Femar Vini Epicuro Nero d’Avola (Sicilia): Smooth talking character, trying to convince you to grill some inexpensive burgers. $7 B-
- NV Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava Magnum (Catalonia): Two tons of big, elegant fun for more-or-less small change. $24 B
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source http://www.1winedude.com/wine-reviews-weekly-mini-round-up-for-august-26-2019/
Friday, 23 August 2019
Wednesday, 21 August 2019
Monday, 19 August 2019
Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For August 19, 2019
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!
- 2017 Domaine des Bosquets Cheval Long Cotes du Rhone Blanc (Rhone): Floral and serious, eschewing edginess for round, supple, delicious comfort. $NA B+
- 2016 Famille Brechet Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas (Rhone): A bargain in the waiting for those who like their beef jerky with plenty of plums. $29 A-
- 2017 Yaffo Winery Sauvage Rose (Israel): Doing its best French impersonation, and succeeding splendidly. $NA B+
- 2015 Yaffo Winery ‘Hommage’ Syrah – Merlot (Ella Valley): Where graphite, pepper, leather, and blackberries hang out. $NA B+
- 2016 Gva’ot Winery ‘Gofna’ Reserve (Israel): Indigenous grape meets ingenuity, with tropical, floral, promising results. $NA B+
- 2016 Gva’ot Winery Shomron Region Gewurztraminer (Israel): Lychee wonder, floral splendor, zesty spiciness, and what’s not to love here again? $NA B+
- 2014 Gvaot Winery ‘Masada’ Red (Shomron): Muscular, deep, and challenging Bordeaux’s Right Bank to a boxing match. $83 A-
- 2014 Domaine Seror Claude Seror L’Or Rouge (Israel): Refined, and needs time for you to fully appreciate all of that thyme, among other things. $40 A-
- 2017 Domaine Seror Claude Seror L’Or Rose (Israel): Gris-style Grenache, with garrigue, grit, and a gentle, lovely kiss of flowers. $NA B+
- 2018 Dry Creek Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (Dry Creek Valley): This may trigger my cut grass allergy… not that I’m complaining! $20 B+
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source http://www.1winedude.com/wine-reviews-weekly-mini-round-up-for-august-19-2019/
Friday, 16 August 2019
Monday, 12 August 2019
Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For August 12, 2019
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!
- 2018 Dutton-Goldfield Dutton Ranch Shop Block Pinot Blanc (Green Valley): Uhmm…. somebody had better warn Alsace that they have competition… $30 A-
- 2017 Tongue Dancer Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast): Save the last of this skillful, vibrant dance for yourself; you’re worth it. $49 A-
- 2017 Tongue Dancer Pratt Vineyard Chardonnay (Russian River Valley): An intimate tango between sultry richness and masterful, energetic movement. $39 A-
- 2014 Addendum Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley): Only for those rich in their blood, their tastes, and their bank accounts. $95 A-
- 2015 Mount Peak Winery Sentinel Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa County): Helllooooooo there Sexehhhhhhhh……. $59 A-
- 2014 Christine Mouton Bertoli Domaine de Sainte Cecile du Parc Notes d’Orphee (Coteaux du Languedoc): Chewy, dark, supple, and the years have been kind. $20 B+
- 2018 Weingut St. Urbans-Hof Nik Weis ‘From Old Vines’ Estate Riesling (Mosel): Forward, fruity, and fastidious in the knowledge that its off-dryness was done right. $15 B+
- NV Cantina di Carpi e Sorbara Lambrusco Salamino di Santacroce (Emilia-Romagna): Don’t let that deep color fool you, this one is all fun and games. $14 B
- 2015 Prosper Maufoux Bourgogne Pinot Noir (Burgundy): Still kicking up its heels, much to our delight. $22 B+
- 2015 Familia Zuccardi ‘Zuccardi Q’ Malbec (Mendoza): When you like your S. American fare both handsome and friendly. $20 B
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source http://www.1winedude.com/wine-reviews-weekly-mini-round-up-for-august-12-2019/
Friday, 9 August 2019
Monday, 5 August 2019
Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For August 5, 2019
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!
- 2016 Bells Up “Titan” Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley): Not living up to its namesake, but that’s okay; more lovely than powerful, more light on its feet than boorish. $40 B+
- 2018 Troon Vineyard Cotes du Kubli Blanc (Applegate Valley): Its memory are as its spice notes: both will linger in very pleasant ways. $25 A-
- 2017 Halter Ranch Grenache Blanc (Paso Robles): Both curvy and svelte, and in all of the right places. $34 B+
- 2017 Eberle Steinbeck Vineyard Syrah (Paso Robles): Why go to the smokehouse, when the smokehouse can come to you? $30 B+
- 2015 McIntyre “Per Ardua” (Arroyo Seco): Yumminess this potent is not to be trifled with, son. $60 A-
- NV J Vineyards & Winery Cuvee California (California): Well, now, that was a hoot… and floral-fresh lovely, to boot. $28 B+
- 2018 Gaia ’14-18 h’ Agiorgitiko Rose (Peloponnese): Fun, fun, fun, until the bottle’s empty; then it’s sad, sad, sad. $17 B
- NV Cantina di Carpi Piazza Grande Lambrusco Spumanti Rosato Brut (Lambrusco di Modena): Your salad entree needs a shot of elegance, and I know just the bubbly to do it. $14 B
- NV Delamotte Brut (Champagne): Apples, white flowers, and a sense of superiority. $40 B+
- NV W & J Graham’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port (Portugal): No sins so great that the god of Caramel Heaven wouldn’t let it through the gates. $65 A-
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source http://www.1winedude.com/wine-reviews-weekly-mini-round-up-for-august-5-2019/
Thursday, 1 August 2019
Blah Blah Blah, More Natural Wine, Blah Blah Blah
Ok, folks, calm down please.
I knew that I was stirring the pot a bit with my recent commentary regarding what is often referred to as the Natural Wine Movement, but I didn’t expect quite so many personal responses.
Quite a few of you pinged me out of concern that I’d finally succumbed to my consternation and became an old fart (nope – I think that ship has sailed, maybe with the exception of the “old” part); or offering long, thoughtful treatises on why I was wrong in my conclusion that the term “natural wine” is all but meaningless and therefore more of a bane of confusion for consumers than a helpful tag upon which they could hang their hat in terms of better understanding wine in general. Still others worried that I was doing nothing more than bitching about the terminology (guilty!); and then there was the hate mail… because apparently if I have a beef with the term “natural wine,” it means that I hate all things having to do with the movement (uhm… just… NO).
Allow me to offer a more cojent explanation on my position:
I. DO. NOT. HATE. NATURAL. WINES.
I have had many wines that may or may not fit into the Natural Wine camp that I have dearly loved, and many that I thought smelled and/or tasted like rancid donkey ass. I have nothing against making wines in a minimally interventionist style.
The problem is that there is no one who can tell you, me, or anyone else whether or not a wine is “natural.” As I argued at length, the term is simply too vague, and it’s passed time for us in the wine biz to try to rectify that, for the sake of curious consumers everywhere.
Let’s look at the situation another way:
You. Don’t. Have. A. Movement. When. You. Cannot. Define. The. Movement.
Without at least a semblance of an agreed definition/aim/goal, you don’t really have a movement at all; you have vague shared hopes. I’m NOT saying that those hopes don’t have merit (they do), or that they are wrong (they’re probably not). But I am saying that we can’t have our wine cake and eat it, too. “Natural Wine” needs a new moniker, clearer leadership, and better guidelines beyond the pornography definition of “I know when I see it” (or, in this case, smell it).
Cheers!
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source http://www.1winedude.com/blah-blah-blah-more-natural-wine-blah-blah-blah/