Posts belonging to Category Languedoc



2009 holiday odds and ends, part 1

Santa Clarita hills 2 08 syrah riesling paso robles mourvedre mosel saar ruwer languedoc grenache The NFL playoffs is a good mark for looking back on the holiday season. Like the San Fernando Valley from the Top of Topanga after a big wind, the holiday wine landscape is suddenly brilliantly clear. Landmarks stand out so much better once the air clears. So much wine flows during the Christmas-New Year there just is not enough room to cover it all in one post. Here is the first of two. (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…)

Becky Wasserman pours; tBoW and Dotoré oblige

becky1 sparkling rose pinot noir mourvedre languedoc importers grenache chardonnay champagne carignane burgundy aligote This is the way it is supposed to be. Hanging out at the local wine haunt – Woodland Hills Wine Company – tasting 13 wines imported by tBoW’s top Burgundy importer – Becky Wasserman – on a late Friday afternoon.
The Divine Ms. W showed of 7 white wines (including a couple Rose’s and three sparklers) and 6 reds. We present the white flight in this post. Saving the red post for next week. If you are chagrined or disappointed please find solace in knowing Paul Smith, aka Mr. WHWC, did admonish the tBoW tasting Team for not heading straight to the good stuff. (more…)

Independence Day wine report plus Hawaii

sunset bch in June syrah sparkling russian river valley pinot noir piemonte monterey mendocino languedoc grenache cotes de beaune champagne carignane burgundy Independence Day produces the usual parties, BBQs and libations. July 4th is not necessarily a wine event like, for example, Thanksgiving. Burgers, dogs and potato salad call for robust reds so tBoW expects to see plenty of Cabernets while hoping to encounter some Rhone style wines as well. And if someone should pop the cork on some frothy fruity high acid white wines, well, that makes blowing off fireworks even better. Here is what we tasted over the holiday. (more…)

Summer wine time

sunflowerrs psychedelic willamette valley torrontes syrah rose provence pinot noir mendoza languedoc grenache cabernet sauvignon Ros√©, Moscato d’Asti, fresh fruity bracingly acidic and low alcohol white wines. These are summer wines we have learned to adore. And every summer brings a new batch. What is it about summer wines that seem so fresh and new soon as the weather gets hot? As Dotor√© might say these are the best days of the year. (more…)