Fine Wine, health and reality TV

This week Decanter "wins" for the most captivating wine news. Tune into these fast-paced articles over your morning coffee. These headlines are sure to get you sailing right into your weekend! Here's a preview:

Reservatrol, the compound found in red wines that often gets plugged for its health cache has made headlines once again - as having anti-inflammatory properties. But does everyone agree? Find out here.

I'm more likely to be watching the Red Sox or Sports Center than any mainstream TV program. But I am a sucker for Top Chef and Project Runway, and this fall I may have to add another one to my list of "must-sees": The Winemakers!

Last but not least, as we continue to watch Aussie wine sales dwindle at the shop (it seems the public might be over "it" and onto South America for cheap, satisfying wine finds) some wines from down under are proving quite tasty, albethem at a higher price point. Now it seems a concerted effort will be made by top wineries to establish Australia as something much more than plonk-worthy. Read more here.

Will you be tuning in to "The Winemakers" this fall? What's your take on Aussie wines these days?

The fine art of... Chardonnay

Yes, there are the ABC wine drinkers of America - "Anything But Chardonnay". And their club was probably worth forming back in the day given the prolific amount of lackluster Chard on the market, practically flowing with splinters from over-oaking. Before I "officially" became part of the wine world (professionally) I may have even been an "unofficial" member.... What I learned quickly is there is a lot of juice on the market. Some of it is good. Some is ok. Some of it is just plain undrinkable. And, of course, everything in between and beyond! It is not right to discriminate against a grape - or even a style - entirely. You have to be on the lookout for the exception to the rule, the producer who is going above and beyond to let the grape's natural fruit flavors emerge, or the terroir shine through. We've said it time and again: wine making is both an art and a science.

Hamilton Russell Vineyards is the diamond in the rough. Arguably they have a few advantages working for them. They are a South African winery - one of the Southern most in fact, located on the Cape of Good Hope in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley appellation. South Africa also has it's own unique terroir - vineyard site to vineyard site, of course, but also in broader terms than, say California. South Africa's location and aspect on the globe, let alone its unique soil types, maritime influence and the like, will bring to bear additional nuance to a wine you might otherwise think you've "tried". The Russell family is savvy, too, focusing their efforts exclusively on producing exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

I had no extraordinary cause to pop the cork on the 2007 Hamilton Russell Chardonnay (which retails for about $26) other than the end to a gorgeous weekend, and the start of a tremendously delicious meal. I served up a plate of grilled pineapple and veggies - summer squash, zucchini, plumb tomatoes, vidalia onions, and snow peas - dressed in a touch of garlic and a soy/honey marinade.  I threw in a helping of grilled shrimp, seasoned with a touch of red pepper and Old Bay spice.

Enter the Hamilton Russell Chard, a gorgeous wine that happily continues to change and evolve at first sip, with food, and again after you've finished your plate.  As you continue to retaste it, various components tackle your tastebuds. The flavors? Imagine a bowl of apricots, a ring of freshly cut pineapple, and juicy, ripe pear slices all squeezed with lemon juice and then tossed with a great helping of taught minerality. Its backbone of minerality is most intriguing, almost forcing you to question whether you had in fact opened the Chard. But then its satisfyingly rich texture brings you back home again - you know all too well Chard is more of a sultry, curvy broad, like Joan from Mad Men. And this wine is absolutely that.

Most memorably, the Hamilton Russell was an absolutely stunning complement to my meal. It proved to be The Perfect Pairing, as the wine and the food both showed even BETTER when partnered up.  We all strive for such an experience; yet it is a rare treat when a wine and a dish don't just go well together, but each gets better in the company of the other.

This one really is one to behold - and one that's so dynamic even my description leaves room for you to add your own insights. This wine is that good - and that good at defying "the odds".

What wine made you a believer in the "exceptions to the rule" caveat?

The wonderful world of rose

Rose is one of my all time favorite wine genres. Seriously. I met a woman over the weekend who had just discovered it for the first time - and she was absolutely exhilarated by the find. She and a group had been out to eat at Dante in Cambridge. The wine guru there who I've mentioned before, Chas Boyton, recommended a Californian take on rose: the Sutton Cellars Rose. She couldn't get enough and had popped into the shop to see if we stocked it. We don't, as it turns out, but I happily chatted with her about the wonderful world of rose and helped her choose another. I was pleased she had already learned a lot from her one jaunt with the stuff (and no doubt at the tutelage of Mr. Boyton):  no matter if everyone at your table is enjoying different cuisine, it pairs wonderfully; it is lively and refreshing on a hot day; it is NOT sweet; and it is a terrific way to spice up an otherwise non-celebratory night out.

Tra-la! Pop on over to Wicked Local today to learn a bit more about this DRY wine and how to find one to suit your palate. I focus on my favorite style (French) providing but a general overview of one is likely to encounter, but there really is something for everyone on the market. That's part of its magic.

Which rose is your favorite this summer?

Pairings, Tasting Rooms, and a Special Treat...

This week has certainly been an "are we there, yet?" week.  With a perfect beach weekend on tap, I imagine I'm not the only one clamoring for the end of the work week. So entertain yourself today with these two tidbits from Wine Enthusiast Magazine, or their "UnReserved" on-line bits of juicy ramblings about this, that and the other of the wine world. Then be sure to pop back for info on a cool Greater Boston event that will make your weekend feel like a long one; it's sure to be the icing on your (Monday) cake! The value of food/wine combination experimentation: BBQ and... Riesling!

From the wine trail: summer get-a-ways for sipping and !@#$!?? Tasting Room Fun?

And last but certainly not least....

If you're looking for an incredible way to prolong your weekend (at least mentally), add a "Summer Highlight" to your list and enjoy the freshest of fresh seasonal, local goodies around town, head over to Gibbet Hill on Monday night.... Check it out!

What tales from the wine trail do you have to tell this summer? Or do you have any intriguing wine pairings you care to share?

Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc

It's not often I talk about what I consider "main stream" wine: wine you can get just about anywhere, no matter how large or small the shop.  In our case, we are so small every wine slot counts. We have to be even more choosey when it comes to our selection. We are equally careful not to pack our shelves with things you CAN, in fact, get anywhere; our brand is built around finding unique, harder to find, boutique selections. Except when it comes to the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc. This is a wine I have no issue 'giving up' a slot to. I think it is absolutely delicious. The fact that the price came down a couple of dollars this year makes me even more gleeful about it - it was pushing my limits previously at $19.99.

I had the pleasure of meeting the man behind the magic, Mr. Crawford himself, just about a year ago. I tasted through every wine available in the MA market. And there are a LOT. I could appreciate and enjoy most, with a couple of rare exceptions that were just a bit too weird, honestly. Yet at the end of the day, for the value, I still think the basic level Sauvi is the way to go.

It offers up a beautiful bouquet of gooseberries, sunflowers and freshly cut grass. The palate is rich for a Saugivnon Blanc - maybe at a 4 on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being water and 10 being a glass milk. The gooseberry, pink grapefruit, lemon-lime and grassy flavors coalesce in your mouth. I particularly enjoy the somewhat briney, sea-like and deliciously long finish.

Try pairing this bad boy with any kind of fish, summer salad or... grilled chicken. Just a couple of days ago I whipped up a quick, off-the-cuff recipe of grilled chicken (marinated in plain yogurt, paprika and a dash of red pepper), topped with a soft nectarine salsa. Stupendous.

This is a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with flare. Lots of it.

How does the Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc stack up in your wine world?

Wicked August Wines uncorked!

I have now been to the beach a total of 4 days this summer - all of which have been during the month of August. So yes. It's official! Summer weather has finally arrived here in New England. And I just can't help myself! I am happily sipping from all categories of wine: red, white and... rosé! It’s time to make hay while the sun shines, and try something uniquely delicious and satisfying at the end of a sticky, summer day. Head over to Wicked Local to check out which Wicked August Wines you might just want to give a s-whirl!

Have you had the pleasure of tasting any of these offerings? What are your tasting notes?

Wine heist and other wine banter...

Summer is a sultry, nap-worthy, beach-loving time of year. So it's not often you go away for a long weekend and come home to find out about one of the biggest wine heists in recent New England news! Right here in Hopkinton, MA - better known as the starting line for the Boston Marathon - a bottle of 1945 Chateau Mouton Rothschild was swiped from a liquor store. I dunno, I guess I always thought such heists would have much more elaborate planning, much more intrigue, like that depicted in the Thomas Crown Affair. Then again, if we could just walk on out of a fine wines shop with a $20K bottle of wine, we'd probably be harder to find thereafter.... For the full report, check out this Globe article!

Back when I was a 9-5 office rat on a lovely summer Friday, sometimes I took a few extra minutes to get into the swing of my workday, or daydream at lunch. Here are a two wine blog columns worthy of such web-perusing this week:

Dr. Vino on Labels Worthy of...Banning?

Lenndevours: A trip to Seneca Lake to chat with an 80-year-old Matriarch...

Which other wine tidbits did you find particularly entertaining this week?

Wine fun on vacation!

With the MA wine tax kicking off last weekend and summer vacation fully underway this week, one of the most "popular" questions we've received is: which wine(s) will "do" when embarking on vacation. Even if you're not heading out to wine country per se, be sure to get the inside scoop on how to seamlessly integrate wine into your vacation - and unwind without second thought here. Too much fun to be missed! Which wines have you discovered (however inadvertently) this summer?

MA Wine Tax Imminent: Shop Today or Bust!

So... did you miss me?? In the next couple of weeks we'll be circling around to some topics that popped up over the course of my vacation -which wasn't specifically wine related, but, well, you know me! Wine is a big part of my life. Before we can get to all that, however, we have to get down to business. Immediately. For Massachusetts residents like myself, there's only one wine news item to be discussed today: the MA State Wine Tax.

As of tomorrow - Saturday, August 1 - this much anticipated, much debated, (much hated) tax goes into play. That's right! When your office doors close early today, get yourself moving on over to your local shop to take advantage of the many discounts available in the final hours before we go from the blissful world of NO tax on wine to a whopping 6.25%! No joke.

Many stores are offering ridiculously good discounts to help customers stay ahead of the curve, for at least as long as your purchases hold out anyway. ;) Here's a brief list of folks working to better serve you; if your local shop isn't on here, be sure to give them a call! I'd be willing to bet their anteing up the discounts, too.

Ball Square Fine Wines in Somerville ~ 20% off twelve bottles ~ Any assortment of 750 ml bottles, sale items excluded

Bermans Wine and Spirits in Lexington ~ 20% off twelve bottles

Lower Falls Wine, Co. in Newton ~ 10% off twelve bottles, 20% off 36 bottles

Shubie's Marketplace in Marblehead ~ 20% off twelve bottles, 10% off six bottles ~ Any assortment, current inventory of 750 ml bottles, sale items excluded

What other stores are offering deals you know about?

WHO: Wine-Sense in Andover WHEN: Thursday, July 30 WHAT: 15% discount all day long, plus tasting from 5 p.m. to closing

WHO: South Liquor Mart in Plainville WHAT: 15% off six bottles of wine WHAT ELSE: Beer and alcohol specials too

WHO: Shubie's Marketplace in Marblehead WHAT: 20% off twelve bottles, 10% off six bottles SPECS: Any assortment, current inventory of 750 ml bottles, sale items excluded

WHO: Bermans Wine and Spirits in Lexington WHAT: 20% off twelve bottles

Wine events in 200 words or less...

200 words or less? Sheesh. I don't know WHY I initiated this idea.... This week we're gearing up for several cool events here in Boston, and a bit beyond. Buckle your seatbelt! Please note, I'm issuing these must-attend wine events today, rather than my usual Friday, because the fun begins TONIGHT (and I'm heading out of town for some R & R Friday and don't want you to miss out!)! Boston Sommelier Society makes it's debut! I'm a proud member of this elite crew of fun-loving wine aficionados here in Beantown. And even though we've been kick'n around for about a year and a half, our ambition to make Boston a better-appreciated wine community and share the love with the public is great. Join us this Wednesday, July 15, at OM Restaurant in Cambridge. Tix are $40 in advance or $50 at the door  - if any remain, that is. Jump on the wine-loving bandwagon!

Mystic River Music Fest, July 18th.This is a great event promoting green awareness. Check out their website to see the list of bands, sponsors and learn more about the beergarten.

Divas Uncork The Cure. These fabulous, wine lovelies are celebrating their 10th anniversary by producing their annual Martha's Vineyard Food & Wine festival in support of Susan B. Komen for the Cure and the Island Grown Initiative. August 6-9. Don't miss out!