The September Newsletter

Check out the wine buys after the jump…

 

 

The Semester Begins

All three sections of the Diploma Oeontropae are beginning this week! I will be teaching the Thursday Foundation Program.

We have only a sparse number of seats left, so please follow this link to register immediately if you want to attend our wine courses.

If you wanted to attend, but could not, don’t worry. The winter calendar will be available online on October 1st.

Eric Arnold’s First Big Crush

 

by Beth Case

Eric Arnold is in love.

Not simply with wine, or New Zealand wines, or the people who grow and create those wines. No, Eric is in love with the whole damn mess of it all.

First Big Crush is a book about a man with a lot of passion, not necessarily a lot of sense, and a whole year to give in to his obsession in hot pursuit of experience and a love affair that he will certainly never forget. And as love has proved since time began, romance is pretty much out the window from the beginning. Then the real work begins.

 

Read more

The Beth of Both Worlds

Yes, I am that corny. Its time to introduce the newest member of the Wine School staff! Beth Case is teaching private wine classes, manning the phones, reviewing wine books, introducing a concept named “organization” to our offices, and generally keeping the fun spirit of the school alive. Say hi to her the next time you call us up.

Beth comes to us from the Wagner Museum of Science. Of course, she was a Wine School diploma student prior to joining the team.

New Website and Features!

As many of you probably know, we unveiled a brand new website this summer. Here’s a recap of many of the new goodies.

We are now selling our new lead crystal wine classes! Designed by an Italian glass designer, the glasses are the finest we have ever seen or used. We are selling them in a set of two in a wooden box tas a wine tasting kit.

 

An old favorite has returned

 

in a snazzy new web 2.0 format!

 

 

If you don’t need to be able to reschedule you classes wily-nilly then you can save a bit. On the flip-side, our Premium tickets allow for same-day rescheduling. Say good-bye to having to reschedule two weeks in advance!

 

We have launched our blog after a long beta stage, and now you can get your fill of wine ratings and reviews every week.

 

 

  • Google Calendar!

 

Just in case you forgot where or when your class is, we now have an integrated Google calendar on our front page.

Upcoming Classes.

Hearty Wine and Mountain Cheese Tasting - Part of the Monthly Wine and Cheese Series with Di Bruno Bros.

Wednesday, October 10th

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

From the Alps of France and Switzerland to the Green Mountains of Vermont and all kinds of high-altitude places in between, we will be pairing some truly remarkable cheeses with bold, flavorful wines that are perfect for this time of year. This event is a must for anyone with a sense of adventure and the desire to treat their tastebuds right. Tasting held at Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

List price: $80.00 Our price: $65.00 Purchase.
How to Begin a Wine Collection - Part of the New How-To Series

Saturday, October 13, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Building a wine collection is one of the most rewarding things a wine lover can do. But how to begin with such a wide variety offered on wine store shelves these days? This class sets out to demystify wine collecting. We will discuss several basic principles you can use to start collecting and taste the wines every collector should have. This class is a must for anyone who is serious - or hoping to become more serious - about wine collecting.

Class held at the Wine School of Philadelphia, Classroom 101, 2008 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia.

List price: $53.99 Our price: $37.99 Purchase.

Director’s Cut: French Wines - A Special Director’s Cut Class

Saturday, October 27, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

From Champagne and Burgundy to Bordeaux and the Rhone, France produces some of the best, most sought after wines anywhere. In this special Director’s Cut class, we will taste bottles from deep inside the Wine School’s cellar, opening the wines we’ve been staring at for years. This is a rare opportunity to experience some of the most remarkable wines you can find, and even some you won’t be able to find again.

Class held at the Wine School of Philadelphia, Classroom 101, 2008 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia.

List price: $73.99 Our price: $53.99 Purchase.

Thanksgiving Wine and Cheese Tasting - Part of the Monthly Wine and Cheese Series with Di Bruno Bros.

Wednesday, November 14, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

This wine and cheese tasting will show you how to treat your palate right this holiday season. We will pair wines and cheese that not only go well with each other, but that will also compliment a whole range of holiday foods. This event is perfect for both hosts of holiday feasts and those who want to make the most of it on their own while having a tasty time in the process. Tasting held at Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.

List price: $80.00 Our price: $53.99 Purchase.

  
WineBuys|September07

Primo Estate 2006 La Biondina, Adelaide $12

Grotto fresh! A simple and fun wine without any pretense. Think of your glass as one giant melon-baller and the wine is a big ripe… you get the idea.

To add to the “its so trashy its cool” vibe of this wine, it is made from Colombard (you’d typically find the grape in a $5 gallon jug, not in a fine wine.) The aromatics of cilantro and nectarine vault this wine and its quick zig-zag of minerality really turns this into great pleasure.

Villa Mt. Eden 2001 “Grand Reserve” Zinfandel, Sierra Foothills $12

In our never-ending search for a great $10 Zin, we turn our attention to Villa Mt. Eden. While this notable producer is mostly notable for not being notable in recent years, they certainly have produced a fantastic bottle for under $15.

This is a Chairman’s Selection here in Pennsylvania, so the price is right. We wouldn’t recommend this wine if it retails for more than $14 in your neck of the woods.

A nose-full of raisin and vanilla launches into a cloud of alcoholic berries that trail off into a disturbingly piquant finish. From a technical side, I would say this wine was acidified post-fermentation. Tartaric extract, anyone?

William Estate 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley $13

Who can say no to a solid Napa Cab for under $15? Sure, its a connect-the-dots style of wine, like most of the national brands are.

However. However. However.

When a Cabernet connects the graphite-bell pepper-cola dots together, it is a Cabernet worthy of your attention. Its built on a structure that is both vague and rich, much like Prince Charles of Wales. Enjoy it as such, Camilla.

Meulenhof 2005er Erdener Treppchen Riesling Spatlese, MSR $17

A good bit of balance of acidity and sweetness is a pleasure I recommend seeking out. A good Spatlese from Germany is one of the few places it can still be found, but they often demand a high price tag.

Anytime a lovely one comes in under $20, I make sure everyone knows about it. Make sure to grab a bottle or two.

A flash of white pepper and fire on the nose which cedes to a more general citrus aroma. On the palate the push-and-pull of ripeness-versus-freshness is invigorating. The best of these will feel like an ice cube exploding into blue flames on your tongue. This isn’t nearly that intense, but quite a bit of fun.

Mollydooker 2006 “The Boxer” Shiraz, South Australia $20

I was arguing with a one of my students (who is now working with the great Steven Tanzer), who vehemently hates this wine.

Honestly, I think he may hate it more than pan-roasted bunions for breakfast. I understand the sentiment. Anyone who looks to Europe as the template for wine must recognize this as a heresy. There really isn’t much that seems like wine here.

It is an empty shell, gutted of terroir and varietal character, into which is filled with a torrent of viticultural techniques. It takes the Yellow-Tail model and pushes it into the height of fine-wine-making. Soulless but endlessly delightful.

It’s a reverse-osmosis left-handed Dorian Grey, if you will.

Caves des Saumur 2005 Reserve Saumur $8

For those of you who were horrified of “The Boxer” this will be your salvation. A very pretty Cabernet Franc with a gentle perfume of rosemary and bell pepper.

Light and fresh and gentle, this Saumur evokes bing cherries and rhubarb with just a whisper of herbs.

Chateau Fuisse 2003 VV Pouilly Fuisse $30

If you are a Burgundy fan with a wine cellar, make sure to buy six for your cellar. This is a classic that will have a minimum of a 10-year lifespan.

The Pennsylvania price is about $20 less than anywhere else in the world.

Peique 2005 Tinto Mencia, Bierzo $13

A true delight, Mencia is an old relative in the Cabernet family. It sports dark fruit and saddle wood notes, but is also delicate and earthen. This wine sees no oak, so it retains a youthful (perhaps joven?) personality despite its moderately tannic framework. Completing this pleasure cruise is a preponderance of creamy blackberries on the attack and the finish.
 
 



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