Posts belonging to Category Vermentino



Truffles, Baroli and Sonoma’s Oldest “Old Vines Port”

TahoewestshoreWEB wine grapes vermentino sparkling sonoma port paso robles northern italy nebbiolo la culture kenwood guadalupe valley chardonnay champagne barolo northern italy barbaresco northern italy barbaresco If you’re talking wine and truffles 2013 has gotten off to a fine start. Forget the sequester, the Lakers and the Oscars. The truffle season in Oregon is in its final throes. The Eno Merchant is about to go live. tBoW just feels good all over. Let’s talk about truffles and Barolo wines! (more…)

BEST of Weird Wines and Weirder Golf

MTEtna1WEB wine grapes vermentino value value value u20 trebbiano sparkling sicily rose riesling paso robles mourvedre mosel saar ruwer ligurian coast liguria languedoc grenache gascony counoise chenic blanc Eighty degrees on a summer evening with a crowd of weird tasters and weird wines serving grilled food is a recipe for entertainment. Weird wines AND weird foods crosses the line. The extra WEIRD was delivered by the US Open golf tournament held at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, hosted by the USGA. These regulatory sourpusses provided more than enough weirdness for a national audience. I will make this brief but it must be said. The USGA is beyond starchy. These guardians of the ancient game make it plain that shooting par is a good score to win the national open tournament. To put it in wine terms this is like Robert Parker saying wines should strive to taste the same. Wait. He does say that…big and fruity and alcoholic. (more…)

Summertime wines…where’s the heat?

renomural2WEB wine grapes vermentino value value value southern italy russian river valley rose pinot noir piemonte northern italy lodi barolo The weather has been fussier than a sommelier looking at a bottle of Two Buck Chuck a customer brought in. 90 degrees this week; 60 the next. Perfect Spring weather in the mid-70s last week then drizzling today. Late Spring should be when you put together Ros√©s and bright acidic fun White wines for the long hot summer haul just around the corner. But no. Make the most of every day. This is the perfect time to clear out the wine reviews that have not been transferred to the blogosphere. The odd lot wines for an odd lot late Spring include some pink wines from late last summer to get us all in the mood. (more…)

Minutes from the Wine Bored: Is It Just Me?

hotel marques de riscalWEB wine grapes vermentino pinot noir paso robles oregon napa importers i m h o carlton cabernet sauvignon burgundy bourdeaux barbera All of a sudden I am totally bored with wine. All I think about when it comes to wine is how I do not want to think about it at all. I still like drinking wine. I am just out of gas when it comes to describing the experience or even caring about it.

Maybe it is because we are at the end of a summer that hardly got started. Maybe it is because I have decided to drink less for health reasons. Before I get an email about the French Paradox let me make my position clear right now…who cares. Wait…it gets worse. (more…)

Christmas with the Chipmunks 2009

chipmunks vermentino syrah riesling pinot noir paso robles mourvedre languedoc grenache gamay cotes de nuits burgundy beaujolais austria carttree1 vermentino syrah riesling pinot noir paso robles mourvedre languedoc grenache gamay cotes de nuits burgundy beaujolais austria Me I want a hoola hoop! The holidays are coming and going in a blur this year (thankfully). 2009 has been tortuous for most of us given the ubiquitous economic “recovery”. Tanks Gott the recession is over according to Bernanke and Supreme Blowhard Larry Kudlow!! This does not mean we cannot enjoy being with friends and family while we resist the urge to purchase items that demonstrate our supreme affection for members of both groups [ed. how tender]. However, rest assured the occasion for gathering is always going to be enhanced if the host pours some decent wines. We certainly found this to be the case in the Christmas week and will probably find the same truth to hold for the New Year. The usual gatherings at Casa tBoW featured most of the blog blowhards and they were clamoring for wine wine and more wine. Please excuse the fuzz tones on photos. Here is what got pulled. We hope your holiday party was equally filled with family, good friends, the Singing Chipmunks, and, if not good value, at least good wines. (more…)