“Happy anniversary!” I say to Bruce Cakebread, who is in Manhattan to showcase his family’s wines and also celebrate a wedding anniversary with his wife. I had met his brother Dennis a few years before so I already knew the quality of the wine. This year, Cakebread Cellars is celebrating its 40 year anniversary, founded [...]
Bernard Portet’s Heritance Bernard Portet “There’s still a pioneer spirit in the Napa Valley,” proclaims Bernard Portet, Owner and Winemaker for Polaris Wines. Of course, this charming French-born co-founder of Clos du Val would know – especially since he had the exalted position of Chairman of the Napa Valley Wine Auction in [...]
Very excited to spend Sunday morning in Napa with David Graves, co-founder of Saintsbury in Carneros along with his partner, co-founder Richard Ward. David tells me the story of his winery (you can read it here) which was established in 1981. Their idea was to create quality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and from the international [...]
Very interesting lunch today with Mark McWilliams, co-owner with his brother Ben of Arista Winery, which his parents bought in 2002. Perhaps the story best begins with his parents Al and Janis McWilliams of Texarkana, who loved the French culture and visited Sonoma so often they decided they’d like to start a winery and [...]
What a great session hosted by Erath (‘the art of Pinot’) here at the Wine Bloggers Conference 2012. We arrived in the room to find four Pinots from Erath Winery 2009 Prince Hill (all in elegant and expensive Pinot glasses) with the first being the 115 Clone (softer, floral) and the second Clone 777 (spicier). [...]
Really fabulous wine for any occasion … gorgeous rose color, charred bread on the nose … Elegant sparkler in the french style with crisp acidity, a long finish, and gorgeous color and aroma.
Very excited to visit Schloss Schonborn again this week as a student in the Masters of Wine education program. The first time I went was on a trip sponsored by the German Wine Institute and the European Union for its Destination Riesling program. I remember being very impressed by the Schloss and our host [...]
markus schneider belvini … so on the trip, our group will also be stopping at the winery of Weingut Markus Schneider. According to the web site (a rather creative and loose Google translation) Schneider likes to make fresh, concentrated wine with more mineral than fruit and works on the principle (“less is more.) Red wine [...]
What can you say about an excellently turned out Chardonnay? I am sitting at a table in the elegant Lambs Club with Mr. Jose Antonio Galante, Chief Winemaker at Salentein Family of Wines. Mr. Galante has an extensive history as a winemaker, having started at Catena Zapata which is credited for the currant quality [...]
“Roasting a barrel is like roasting coffee,” says colorfully-spoken winemaker and GM of Bouchaine Vineyards, Michael Richmond. We are talking about the influence of French oak on the 2008 Pinot Noir, and as is the case when wine geeks get together, the conversation turns to toast (not the kind you have at breakfast) and [...]
Joshua Greene with Movia owner/winemaker pointing … topic: natural wine movement Wow, talk about a wine education! While everyone else was enjoying the delicious wine at the Top of the List Tasting, I was attending three fabulous seminars with the luminaries in the wine world. Santorini Beyond Greece W&S senior editor Tara Q. Thomas lead [...]
Greg La Follette of La Follette Wines Porterhouse was the elegant venue for a tutored tasting of La Follette wine lead by winemaker Greg La Follette (formerly of Flowers, de Loach) who recently launched a new winery last year called La Follette. The morning began with an introduction by vivacious Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein — [...]
Kim Crawford Wine Bar Lincoln Center was the place to be for Manhattan fashionista’s … and wine afficianados. For the second season in a row, Kim Crawford Wine will be the exclusive wine sponsor for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week at Lincoln Center. The brand, known for celebrating individual style, is hosting the Kim Crawford Wine [...]
Have you tried a themed tasting? In studying for my MW (Master of Wine) program, I typically ask wine stores to send wine blind (wrapped in bags) to try them with a friend before dinner and deduce what they are. Just recently, I decided to ask the stores to create "themed" tastings, which is [...]
Quick! When you think ‘Carneros’ what varietal comes to mind? The appellation was officially created in 1983, as its cool climate is excellent for creating Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with a Burgundian tone of delicacy and finesse. Recently I’ve tried the 2009 Saintsbury Pinot Noir which is dark purple with a bit of violet [...]
Elyssia Pinot Noir Did you realize that rose-colored sparklers is the trend of the moment? Freixenet has a new pink sparkler called Elyssia made from the Pinot Noir grape. It is a gorgeous color as you can see from the picture, and goes even better with a bouquet of valentine’s day flowers. Pinot Noir, it [...]
Jean Marie de Champs with her Rose Guy Charlemagne Champagne On a recent visit to Burgundy for the Hospice du Beaune I was so delighted to meet one of its top negociants, Jean-Marie de Champs of Domaines et Saveurs Collection. If you love fine wine – yet have never been to Burgundy – your [...]
Celebrations surround Hospice de Beaune in Burgundy, France, quite possibly the longest running wine auction in the history of the world. Funds raised are used to support the hospital (known as the Hôtel-Dieu) which received its first patient on 1st January 1452. In the last sixty years, however, the level of bidding is seen as an indicator of the prices growers and negociants can get for their wine.
Today marks my first day in the Jura, a remote and very historical area of France known for its famed Vin Jaune wines. Like Burgundy, Jura offers the international Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, yet it also offers the white Savagnin and two delicious red grapes, Trousseau and Poulsard. As the region is just two hours’ [...]
…. so by now, you’ve seen the film Sideways, tasted Pinot Noir, and count yourself as one of the varietal’s many fans. Yet do you like Pinot Noir from around the world, or just certain locations? Have you taught yourself to tell the difference between a Pinot from New Zealand and Burgundy? The [...]
