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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One of Life’s Great Pleasures
Filed Under Food & Wine
The Wine School is pouring a garnacha these days that is flat-out charming me: The Las Rocas de San Alejandro 2005 from Catalyud, Spain. Not only is it fabulously fresh with notes of ripe cherries–a classic quaffing wine–but it also finds a sense of varietally-accurate depth with waves of dried Mediterranean herbs. What really strikes me, though, is what an excellent pairing partner it makes for pizza. Sprinkle a bit of oregano on your pie and you’ll be taken aback; order it with some sort of herb sausage and your life may never be the same. And if there’s anything better than a wine that’s equally delicious on its own as it is paired with pizza, then I haven’t found it yet.
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Wine 101: Intro to Wine, April 5th
Filed Under Wine Tastings
First Flight
1. Gunderloch 2005 Dry Riesling, Rheinhessen (GR)
Second Flight
1. Spy Valley 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough (NZ)
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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Why Wine 101?
Filed Under The Wine World
It’s a legitimate question, really. Why, after all, is an understanding of wine so important? No one ever really thinks of increasing their Brussel’s sprout knowledge, or whole milk tasting abilities, or aptitude in teasing out all the complex nuances in spearmint chewing gum. So why wine–and why Wine 101?
Because it’s all around us. Because it is one of the very few things in life that can provide both infinite immediate pleasure and a direct link to our past. Because the range of experience possible in a single glass of wine is so great that you owe it to yourself to do everything you can to extract as much pleasure from it as you deserve.
Plus, the more you know about wine, the more adeptly you can wade through all those “myths that are too often bandied about”–in other words, wine pretense. A solid understanding of the major grape varieties, of their aroma and flavor characteristics, of what to pair them with and why we do all those strange rituals like swirling and slurping–all of this will ultimately enrich your life in ways you likely never imagined, because it will make your wine-drinking more enjoyable.
An item posted today in the excellent Din’s World blog addresses a number of questions that I suspect most people have about wine. Which, it seems to me, is itself a good answer to the question. So: Why Wine 101? Because the amount of pleasure a solid understanding of wine will bring to your life, and the way it will make every sip that much better, is nothing short of miraculous.
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Wine School and Di Bruno Bros. French Wine and Cheese Class, March 26th
Filed Under Wine Tastings
Triple Crème—Barthe René 2005 Muscat, Alsace (FR)
Selles sur Chere—Marc Deschamps 2005 Pouilly-Fumé “Les Porcheronnes,” Loire Valley (FR)
Morbier—Saint Cosme 2006 Cotes-du-Rhone Blanc, Rhone Valley (FR)
Beaufort—Faiveley 2003 Bourgogne Blanc, Burgundy (FR)
Roquefort—Chateau Bastor-Lamontagne 2003 Sauternes (FR)
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Wines by Region Series: French Wine for Less, March 28th
Filed Under Wine Tastings
First Flight
1. Etienne Daulny 2005 Sancerre “Le Clos de Chaudennay,” Loire Valley (FR)
2. Domaine Philippe Gilbert 2005 Menetou-Salon, Loire Valley (FR)
Second Flight
1. Chateau La Garde 2001 Pessac-Leognan, Graves (FR)
2. Chateau Haut Nadeau 2005 Bordeaux Superieur (FR)
Third Flight
1. Cave de Saumur 2005 Saumur Champigny “Lieu-dit Les Vignoles,” Loire Valley (FR)
2. Domaine de Nizas 2004 Carignan “Vieilles Vignes,” Vin de Pays de Caux (FR)
Fourth Flight
1. Chapelle-St.-Arnoux 2003 Gigondas “Cuvee Non Filtree,” Rhone Valley (FR)
2. Heart of Darkness 2003 Madiran (FR)
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Wine 101: Intro to Wine, March 27th
Filed Under Wine Tastings
First Flight
1. Gunderloch 2005 Dry Riesling, Rheinhessen (GR)
Second Flight
1. Spy Valley 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough (NZ)
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. Graham Beck 2001 Syrah “The Ridge,” Robertson (SA)
Fifth Flight
1. Falesco 2005 Merlot, Umbria (IT)
2. Jardin 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch (SA)
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Wine 101: Intro to Wine, March 14th
Filed Under Wine Tastings
First Flight
1. Meulenhof 2005 Riesling Kabinett, Mosel (GR)
Second Flight
1. Beyond 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Coastal Region (SA)
2. Flora Springs 2006 Chardonnay, Napa Valley (CA)
Third Flight
1. Hill of Content 2004 Pinot Noir, Victoria (AS)
2. La Carraia 2005 Sangiovese, Umbria (IT)
Fourth Flight
1. Atteca 2005 Garnacha “Old Vines,” Catalyud (SP)
2. Craneford 2005 Shiraz, Barossa Valley (AS)
Fifth Flight
1. Gonzaga 2002 Merlot di San Lorenzo (IT)
2. Earthworks 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley (AS)
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Wine 101: Intro to Wine, March 22nd
Filed Under Wine Tastings
First Flight
1. Meulenhof 2005 Riesling Kabinett, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer (GR)
Second Flight
1. Beyond 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Coastal Region (SA)
2. Step Road 2005 Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills (AS)
Third Flight
1. Kim Crawford 2006 Pinot Noir, Marlborough (NZ)
2. Di Majo Norante 2005 Sangiovese, Molise (IT)
Fourth Flight
1. Atteca 2005 Garnacha “Old Vines,” Catalyud (SP)
2. Craneford 2005 Shiraz, Barossa Valley (AS)
Fifth Flight
1. Gonzaga 2002 Merlot di San Lorenzo (IT)
2. Earthworks 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley (AS)
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Wine 101: Intro to Wine, March 12th
Filed Under Wine Tastings
First Flight
1. Meulenhof 2005 Riesling Kabinett, Mosel (GR)
Second Flight
1. Sauvignon Republic 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley (CA)
2. Flora Springs 2006 Chardonnay, Napa Valley (CA)
Third Flight
1. Hill of Content 2004 Pinot Noir, Victoria (AS)
2. La Carraia 2005 Sangiovese, Umbria (IT)
Fourth Flight
1. Yonna 2004 Garnacha, Campo de Borja (SP)
2. Craneford 2005 Shiraz, Barossa Valley (AS)
Fifth Flight
1. Chateau Haut Nadeau 2005 Bordeaux Superieur (FR)
2. Earthworks 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley (AS)
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