Posts belonging to Category Wine Grapes

Collectible kosher wines? The thought boggles the mind. How could inky purple Manischewitz syrup with a shelf life of 20 minutes get a Parker rating? Next you’ll tell me there are “growth” Bordeaux, as in those classified in 1855, that obey Talmudic law. Every year there are more customers than there are wines for those lucky labels classified under the five levels of Bordeaux Growths: wines such as Château Léoville-Poyferré a 2nd Growth St. Julien; or Château Malartic-Lagravière an unclassified yet coveted Graves; Château Pontet-Canet a 5th Growth Pauillac; and Château Le Crock a Crus Bourgeois Pauillac. Oh yes. Each one of those highly coveted labels has a kosher “edition.” N’kidding. (more…)

It was the heavyweight showdown of the Winter season. Leonard vs Duran. Griffith vs Paret. Ali vs Foreman. Maybe more like LaMotta against Robinson?? We threw examples into the ring of the best that the two premium regions in Italy had to offer: two Baroli from Piemonte and a “classico” Tuscan blend…not a Super Tuscan or some Syrah concoction. C-L-A-S-S-I-C Tuscan. 80% Sangiovese, 10% Canaiolo and 10% Colorino. Pure Tuscan sunlight and air. The Baroli were no slouches – a 1995 from the Dean of Barolo New Wave and a 1996 IN MAG from across the road below Monforte d’Alba. Just another wet evening delaying the arrival of Dotoré and IGTY’s favored season. A night of vinos tesoros. (more…)

“This is Shotgun Tom Kelly” said the vintage KRTH 101 announcer as he loaded the Rascals “Lonely Too Long” into the queue. Shotgun followed that with Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrel and tBoW was smiling wide as he climbed his favorite bike trail – Dirt Mulholland.

Listening to radio programming from the 60s/70s cuts two ways like all nostalgia reminding us how old we are and how certain music can make us young again. Shotgun has that radio voice – full throat, between bass and treble, a “hip” knowing and cheery tone. What’s it got to do with wine?

If you do not have an aerator you should get one because it shares many qualities with the radio and 60s or 70s rock music and DJ styles. The aerator takes years off wines that are too young to be properly enjoyed [ed. or does it add several years?]. While we can enjoy wine when it is young, many wines do improve with age. The aerator makes that happen right away. BOOM! We tasted several wines recently that illustrate the benefit. Actually, we went crazy with the aerator! (more…)

Bracketology and March Madness will keep a blogger from posting on a timely basis. Early picks like Kansas State (8 seed beats 9 seed, your basic toss-up) and VCU beats Wichita State (the classic 12 seed upsetting a 5 seed) are just a setup for the next round losses like my senior big men from Vanderbilt losing to cheeseheads from Wisconsin. I had Vandy going to the the Final Four. Just saps my energy. It seems so much easier to pick wines, no? (more…)

With temps in the 80s, offshore winds and longer daysit is starting to feel like Dotoré’s favorite season. Fighting off the urge to nap we have time to hit you with some wine reviews. And the occasional observation.

What if Andrew Dice Clay reviewed wines?

The Underground Wine Letter is running a series on wine fraud. Phony DRC wines caught at auction. I saw a guy on Auction Hunters crying because he only got $55,000 for his Delorean “time machine.” It was a replica. So these wine frauds pay for empty bottles of premium Bordeaux and Burgundy. If you can get past the effete-iness it makes for interesting reading. Especially the entry where Tilson (UWL editor) goes through a multi-decade process solving a mystery about a case of very unusual 1928 St Emilion he bought at auction. (more…)