Director’s Cut: Legendary Wines of Italy and France, May 9th
Filed Under Wine Tastings
First Flight
1. Louis Latour 2001 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru “Sous les Puits,” Burgundy (FR)
2. Francois Chidaine 2005 Montluis sur Loire “Les Tuffeaux,” Loire Valley (FR)
Second Flight
1. Az. Ag. Elvio Cogno 1999 Langhe “Montegrilli,” Piedmont (IT)
2. Hastae 2000 Barbera d’Asti “Quorum,” Piedmont (IT)
Third Flight
1. Chateau Larmande 2001 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux (FR)
2. Montirius 2004 Gigondas, Rhone Valley (FR)
Fourth Flight
1. Guido Porro 2003 Barolo “Vigna Lazzairasco,” Piedmont (IT)
2. Cantine Martinelli 2003 Sagrantino di Montefalco, Umbria (IT)
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Albarino Season!
Filed Under Food & Wine
With the warm weather upon us and the season of root veggies and all things braised blissfully put away for another year, this time has come to break out those bottles of peachy-keen Spanish goodness. Now, don’t get me wrong here: Francophile that I am, I’d be more than thrilled to celebrate the season with a bottle or eight of Condrieu. There is, after all, just something about Rhone viognier’s addictive, eye-rolling-to-the-back-of-the-skull perfume that gets my day going better than any shot of espresso ever could. But sometimes, all you really need are simpler (and blissfully cheaper) pleasures. Which is exactly where albarino comes in.
For less than $15, you can find yourself sipping nothing less than a glass of springtime sunshine. It’s got great acid, a stone-fruit perfume that’s just this side of addictive, and the ability to pair as well as anything else with crab meat. And if peaches and crab meat don’t make you excited about the cruelest month’s merciful departure, then I’d consider moving to colder climes. And getting used to the idea of root vegetables year-round.
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The Wide World of Beer: The Barley & Hops Series, May 2nd
Filed Under Wine Tastings
First Flight: Lager vs. Ale
1. Philadelphia Brewing Company “Kenzinger,” Philadelphia (PA)
2. Köstriker Schwarzbier, Thuringia (GR)
Second Flight: Hops
1. Pilsner Urquell, Plzen (CZ)
2. Founders Brewing Company “Centennial” India Pale Ale, Grand Rapids (MI)
Third Flight: Caramel and Melanoidin
1. Orkney Brewery “Skull Splitter” Scotch Ale, Orkney (SC)
2. Weihenstephaner “Korbinian” Doppelbock, Freising (GR)
Fourth Flight: Bubblegum and Clove
1. Maredsous Triple Belgian Abbey Ale, Denée (BE)
2. Ayinger “Ur-Weisse” Dunkel Weizen, Aying (GR)
Fifth Flight: Conditioning
1. Brasserie DuPont “Forêt” Bottle-Conditioned Saison Ale, Tourpes (BE)
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Wine 101: Intro to Wine, April 22nd
Filed Under Wine Tastings
First Flight
1. Gunderloch 2005 Dry Riesling, Rheinhessen (GR)
Second Flight
1. Beyond 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Constantia (SA)
2. Cousiño-Macul 2006 Chardonnay “Antiguas Reservas,” Maipo Valley (CH)
Third Flight
1. Coldstream Hills 2006 Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley (AS)
2. Falesco 2006 Sangiovese, Umbria (IT)
Fourth Flight
1. Las Rocas de San Alejandro 2005 Garnacha, Catalyud (SP)
2. Craneford 2005 Shiraz, Barossa Valley (AS)
Fifth Flight
1. Falesco 2005 Merlot, Umbria (IT)
2. Jardin 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch (SA)
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Warm-Weather Wines: Wines for Spring, April 25th
Filed Under Wine Tastings
First Flight
1. Aminea 2005 Fiano di Avellino, Montemarano (IT)
2. Helfrich 2001 Gewurztraminer Grand Cru “Steinklotz,” Alsace (FR)
Second Flight
1. Kir-Yianni Estate 2006 Xinomavro, Naoussa (GR)
Third Flight
1. Mont St. John 2005 Pinot Noir “Madonna Estate,” Carneros (CA)
2. Fritsch 2005 Zweigelt “Red Soil,” Donauland (AU)
Fourth Flight
1. Ognissole 2005 Primitivo, Manduria (IT)
2. Tenute Rubino 2002 “Marmorelle,” Salento (IT)
Fifth Flight
1. Réserve des Vignerons 2005 Saumur, Loire Valley (FR)
2. Chateau Bouscassé 2003 Madiran, South West France (FR)
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Eddie Feraud 2005 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge
Filed Under Wine Reviews
What a polished, silky, modern wine, amazingly appealing now but with years of evolution ahead of it. The nose is rich with deeply stewed fruit, cigar tobacco, and an underlying note of black peppercorn. Yet despite its silky texture and sweet ripe red-berry fruit on the palate, the tannins maintain a real sense of grip. This wine embodies what makes 2005 such a benchmark year: The ripeness and generosity of fruit is held in check by gorgeous acidity–a rarity in such a hot vintage.
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Wine 101: Intro to Wine, April 16th
Filed Under Wine Tastings
First Flight
1. Gunderloch 2005 Dry Riesling, Rheinhessen (GR)
Second Flight
1. Beyond 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Constantia (SA)
2. Cousiño-Macul 2006 Chardonnay “Antiguas Reservas,” Maipo Valley (CH)
Third Flight
1. Coldstream Hills 2006 Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley (AS)
2. Falesco 2006 Sangiovese, Umbria (IT)
Fourth Flight
1. Las Rocas de San Alejandro 2005 Garnacha, Catalyud (SP)
2. Craneford 2005 Shiraz, Barossa Valley (AS)
Fifth Flight
1. Falesco 2005 Merlot, Umbria (IT)
2. Jardin 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch (SA)
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Sauvignon Blanc Season
Filed Under The Wine World
Finally, it seems, winter has loosened its grip on us. Or, to be more accurate, we’ve finally been treated to something resembling springtime weather: Yes, this past week, we experienced not one but two sunny, warm days. And, in fact, as yesterday was the first truly springlike day of the year so far, I marked it in my traditional way: With hard-shell crabs and sauvignon blanc. The only thing that could have made the pairing better would have been..well, someone else to pay for the wine. But barring the opportunity to drink on someone else’s bill, there is no better way to ring in the springtime than with a cool, bracing bottle of the Loire Valley’s finest. Now is the time for it. Finally.
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Wine 101: Intro to Wine, April 11th
Filed Under Wine Tastings
First Flight
1. Gunderloch 2005 Dry Riesling, Rheinhessen (GR)
Second Flight
1. Beyond 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Coastal Region (SA)
2. Cousino Macul 2006 Chardonnay, Maipo Valley (CH)
Third Flight
1. Coldstream Hills 2006 Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley (AS)
2. Falesco 2006 Sangiovese, Umbria (IT)
Fourth Flight
1. Las Rocas de San Alejandro 2005 Garnacha, Catalyud (SP)
2. Craneford 2005 Shiraz, Barossa Valley (AS)
Fifth Flight
1. Falesco 2005 Merlot, Umbria (IT)
2. Jardin 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch (SA)
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Director’s Cut: Wines of the Chairman’s Selection, April 4th
Filed Under Wine Tastings
First Flight
1. Marc Kreydenweiss 2004 Kritt Pinot Blanc, Alsace (FR)
2. Bramare 2005 Chardonnay “Marchiori Vineyard,” Mendoza (AR)
Second Flight
1. Gloria Ferrer 2003 Pinot Noir “Jose S. Ferrer Selection,” Carneros (CA)
2. La Cuvee du Pere Leonce 2005 Chinon, Loire Valley (FR)
Third Flight
1. Solanes 2003 Priorat (SP)
2. Las Pizarras del Jalon 2005 Garnacha “Old Vines,” Catalunya (SP)
Fourth Flight
1. Graham Beck 2001 Syrah “The Ridge,” Robertson (SA)
2. Journey’s End 2002 Shiraz “The Arrival,” McLaren Vale (AU)
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