Chardonnay gets a bad rep. Some people seem to find it too mundane. Others complain about the over-oaked Chards that used to dominate the domestic market. You know things are really bad when somewhere along the way a “group” called the ABC’s came into being (Anything BUT Chardonnay). But such hate is not just unbecoming, it’s also unnecessary. Pop over to Wicked Local today to get a fresh take on this highly "controversial" varietal!
Are you a Chard lover - or hater?
It's amazing what happens when you have 30 minutes to catch up on your Google reader feed! I found some gems in the wine bloggosphere and newsfeed I can't help but share. Good Friday, indeed! I've narrowed the playing field to just 3.5 for you to soak up:
1. A new take on the "nature" of wine - click! For all of my photographer and scientist/nerd friends and followers out there, I bring to you this very cool concept for a wine book... Seeing is believing!
2. The "Ick Factor": smoke taint in wine. I found the timing of this article too perfect as just a couple of weeks ago my colleague and I had the chance to meet Dianna Lee of Siduri; she had been lamenting the challenge she and her husband faced making great Pinot Noir in a year inundated with forest fire. She said they ended up tossing wine made from certain vineyards where they source fruit (so you don't have to worry about any of the Siduri gems tasting like an ashtray as they'll never hit the market). Check out this WSJ article... Something for you to bare in mind when shopping for 2008 Anderson Valley Pinots this year!
3. Trader Joe's latest "wine trick", lol. I'm a bit cynical, it's true, when it comes to national chains taking on such large scale wine projects to pass on great "value". (Shop local, people! You'll find great value, smaller production, artisan wines if you have a great wine shop.) But I am legitimately interested to hear if you've tasted this wine - and your impressions. (And yes, next time I land at TJ's I'm going to see if there's still a bottle on the shelf for me to bring home.) In the meantime, weigh in using the comments thread below!
Easter is a holiday that not everyone celebrates – nor in the same ways. Traditions are a bit more fluid somehow here in the United States. Maybe your family prefers a delicious Easter brunch after a morning visit to church and an Easter Egg Hunt for the kiddies. Maybe you do your own thing with your family in the morning, then visit with friends in the afternoon over a mid-afternoon dinner of baked ham or a leg of lamb. But one thing is certain: such a lack of specific tradition can cause some level of Easter week “panic.” Of course, there's no need to stress when a little advice is at the ready. Pop over to Wicked Local today to get some ideas for your celebration!
Will wine have a place at your Easter table this year? What will you uncork?
This Friday I have a bit of a treat for you! Rather than sticking to our usual format of wine news/trends article links today, I urge you to pop over to Ball Square Fine Wines' blog to learn a bit more about Argentine viticulture, winemaking and the impact of the Chilean earthquakes not just domestically, but among their neighbors just over the Andes. There you'll find a bit of video to stimulate your senses as Senor Benegas, the 4th generation grandson of the man known as the Father of Argentine winemaking, visited us in Somerville last week with his wares and his knowledge both at the ready. Enjoy! Are you a fan of the Benegas collection? Have you tasted the latest releases yet?
Have you ever saved a fine bottle of wine, one you don’t quite want to open for the sake of holding onto the dream of what lies within? Have you ever then had the overwhelming desire to just uncork it, pour a glass and then sip and savor it for as long as humanly possible?
For the better part of a year I’ve been “sipping and savoring” Kermit Lynch’s acclaimed Adventures on the Wine Route. It’s true.... Pop over to Wicked Local today to find out why I've been compelled to do such a thing!
Have you read this famous wine story? What were your impressions?
I have a healthier than normal appetite, I'm told. But it seems South African baboons do, too! Check out this hilarious (but costly) piece on these "Thieving Baboons". The age-old question "does stemware really matter?" has a simple answer: yes. It's because a good glass can really help display aromas and flavors by channeling them in a precise way to your senses. Riedel is the company that has set the bar on this technology. And so they took their a competitor to the mattresses recently when Eisch advertised a breathable glass. Read all about the outcome here.
Speaking of glass, looks like the Champagne Bureau is getting greener! Each bottle of Champagne will now weigh 2oz less than before. Discover the full implications of this move here.
Last but not least, I had the pleasure of meeting the famed Randall Graham of Bonny Doon vineyards a couple of weeks ago at a local trade event. Looks like I had the opportunity right before his celebrity really took off! Graham was just inducted into the Vintners Hall of Fame. Cool stuff.
Which wine headline caught your attention this week?
Today we're concluding our series on Port in the only really appropriate way, by ringing the bell on the official Port "showdown". LBVs and Vintage Ports are no doubt the two Port styles that most confuse consumers. Here's a tip: if you don't get caught up in the semantics of LBVs you'll be better off! Pop on over to Wicked Local today to get the full scoop to navigating these two lovely beasts with greater ease.
(Today's image is c/o 2007 Vintage Port, which also provides more info about the latest vintage to be declared.)
Are you in favor of LBVs? Which properly aged Vintage Ports have you enjoyed?
I'm not sure I will ever fully understand why some known wines get a make-over largely in name only. A few years ago it was Moet doing away with their White Star Champagne bottling and replacing it with a slightly different iteration (in terms of the style of wine itself) and calling it Moet Imperial Brut. White Star was a really recognized name in the marketplace and today it is still a point of confusion for many looking for the White Star, and being handed the Imperial Brut. Is the wine different? Yes, a bit. But why not roll with the old name? Now it looks like La Mission Haut Brion is making a similar name shift. Check out this brief Decanter article on why the change. Then tell us, as a consumer, does the reasoning make sense to you? Do you care?
Next up we have an article that three different friends sent to me (from two different sources), to ensure I didn't miss it: the latest in wine health news reports suggests that women who drink have a better chance of avoiding obseity. Egad, will these studies ever cease? An entertaining read if you, like me, don't mind another guilt-free reason to keep pouring your nightly glass of wine.
Last but not least, we have a fun Old World vs. New World showdown on The Tasting Docit! On Friday March 19 you and other foodie nerds at WGBH can enjoy the fun for a mere $25. And there will be music to further enrich your tasting experience. Check it out!
Three big earthquakes now in so short a time. It’s a lot to digest. And with the biggest one having hit Chile, the 5th largest exporter of wine to the United States, it seems only right to feature four of Chile’s most Wicked Wines this March.
For many wine drinkers, Chilean wines are an acquired taste. But if you have a little guidance, you can surely find some tremendously delicious and often fabulously priced wines. Pay respect to Chile (and to the many quake victims worldwide) by popping over to Wicked Local to see what deliciousness is in store for you this March!
What is your impression of Chilean wines?
It's probably no surprise that all news on the Pour Favor blog this Friday - one week after the Chilean earthquake - is dedicated exclusively to Chilean wine. Ironically, I had the pleasure of meeting winemaker Jean-Pascal Lacaze just last Thursday in the early evening, just before he headed back to New York to catch his flight home - and resume business as usual (harvesting) after the weekend, the unofficial end to summer. I haven't heard if he's made it home yet or what impact the quake had on his lot. No doubt agriculture and wine are an important part of the Chilean economy and will play a role as the country gets it's bearings again. Check out these few articles to learn more, then pop back this Monday for some great wines to seek out as we unleash March's Wicked Wines, Chilean style....
Prior to the quake, the skinny on Chilean wine exports via the LA Times.
A more humanized view of how things looked last Friday, Feb. 28th via my old fav, Dr. Vino.
And an updated, trade-oriented snapshot of where we are a week later via Decanter.
Generally speaking, do you think the buzz around the magnitude of this quake will generate new or even greater interest in Chilean wines?