I make a point to revisit favorite wine shops I patronized (read: spent too much money in) in the 80’s and early 90’s on each visit to my old home towns in New York and Long Island. This past week I stopped into discounter Bottles & Cases on East Main Street in Huntington, LI while staying with close friends in […]
Ginglinger and Mark Ryan at Poppy
My summer’s regular running from Boston to Seattle and back offers its rewards. I find myself working closer with pros in the media and luxury home design business of significant intellect and modest disposition. In addition, the burgeoned Washington State wine industry combines with a serious food scene that either dwarfs Boston’s or just seems that way from insufficient exploration. My […]
Snow, In August, by Loomis Family Vineyards
Pete Hamill captured tension, beauty in simplicity, and childhood dreams and then juxtaposed them with the racial and social complexities of a New York borough when he wrote his powerful and moving novel Snow In August. Ten years later, this all came to mind as I tasted and retasted a different Snow in August, only this time it was the newest release from Loomis Family Vineyards (LFV). […]
Reconnecting with Cotes du Ventoux in New Hampshire
With the 2006 in distribution and the 2007 releasing, stumbling across the 2005 Chateau Pesquie Terrasses at a local New Hampshire State Liquor store last week was a pleasant surprise. I grabbed the remaining 4 bottles on sale at $10.99, ignoring the half dozen 04s and asked for more 05. With the New Hampshire State Commission selling the 04, 05, […]
Quality Wine as a Primary Path to Winery Profitability
Stuffed car trunks and airplane holds of newly discovered wine being escorted home from wine regions by pleased holiday tasters is a common scene. Souveniers are pawns serving our emotional construct and consumer culture. But when it comes to tasting room visits, it just might make more sense to settle for a few photos, t-shirts, and caps […]
A Twist on Wine and Health
His laugh can cure most anything and his joie de vivre will lift all spirits. The bottled energy of Lewis Cellars Cabernets and Chardonnays combines with a legacy marquis flashing Randy’s European race car roots driving Formula Threes and his tasting experiences with local wines before returning to the US behind the wheel of Indy Cars and ultimately a successful family wine business. Feeling lucky to have spent so many magical moments sharing […]
Two Styles of Cotes du Rhone for Now and Later
I can’t have enough transforming wine in my cellar; tannins melting and fruit evolving creating advanced and sensually pleasing characteristics to be enjoyed down the line. I am hooked on it. But inventory and time is money and it makes sense to seek out efficient cellaring strategies. Buoyed by just enough concurrence from fellow Rhone fans on […]
Cote du Rhones for the Ages?
Tasting through this year’s release parade of 2007 Cote du Rhones (CDR) reflects an intensity of reward found in vintages where mother nature sets the perfect table. I have been grinning and tasting the releasing 07 CDRs acknowledging their richness, depth of fruit, aligned structure, and across the board enjoyment. They offer a value buying opportunity with only one question; Buy just enough to drink over […]
2005 Sierra Cantabria Crianza
The 2005 Sierra Cantabria Crianza rises to the top of my charts in the continuous search for world class wines in the sub $20 range. I stumbled across this Rioja last night on a restaurant list for $38 a bottle. A quick check shows it can be bought for mid teens at retail. It is a 100% Tempranillo that […]
Primofiore 2001 Bin End
It’s a name to remember and a wine to forget. First the name: Giuseppe Quintarelli. Now the wine: 2001 Primofiore. And finally, the caveats. I made a last minute stop into a local wine shop on the way to one of the two BYOB restaurants within driving distance of my home. Living in the Boston area and thinking BYOB is probably […]