Updated: 2009-12-30 07:10:46
Of my 32 highest-scoring wines of 2009, all but one were red (the sole exception was Iron Horse’s appropriately named Joy! brut) and of those, 18 were Cabernet Sauvignon or a Bordeaux blend. Except for two of those (Rodney Strong’s 2006 Rockaway, from Alexander Valley, and Kendall-Jackson’s ‘06 Trace Ridge, from Knights Valley), all the [...]
Updated: 2009-12-29 23:41:20
Shooting for a little subliminal New Years humor as we prepare to POP THE CORKS of bubbly or whatever alcoholic beverage you will be imbibing in this New Years.
This picture was taken while enjoying some special wines with good friends while on a business trip in Israel. Although the differences may appear to be small, [...]
Updated: 2009-12-28 07:10:45
We had a lot of wine at the old groaning board on Christmas Day: Zinfandel, Gewurztraminer, sparkling, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc. But no Syrah. I know, because I brought all the wine, and there was no Syrah.
Of all the major varieties grown in California, Syrah’s the poor cousin. Nobody wants it. Winemakers tell me [...]
Updated: 2009-12-24 16:15:03
Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. And in times like this, when consumers are loathe to spend money, it becomes more necessary than ever for wineries to figure out ways to encourage them to do so.
As a critic I’ve seen almost every way there is for wineries to attract attention to themselves. They’ll [...]
Updated: 2009-12-23 07:10:40
I blogged two days ago about how the Sonomans are trying to promote their county’s name by passing a new “conjunctive labeling” law that would append the words “Sonoma County” to all the county’s sub-appellations. Yesterday the Center for Wine Origins (CWO) launched or rather relaunched its ongoing campaign to prevent purloined place names like [...]
Updated: 2009-12-23 04:05:02
Ahhh….the holiday season is upon us (as is the COLD in NYC). Which means lots of partying. Lots of partying means lots of drinking. And lots of drinking means the likelihood of the infamous HANGOVER.
But is there a way to avoid a hangover? I think when it comes down to it, if you drink too [...]
Updated: 2009-12-18 07:10:02
WineMakingGuy just twittered: Episode 10 of "Help! My Wine Making" Video Podcast Now Available! http://aweber.com/b/RKfE.
Updated: 2009-12-17 06:47:58
Melgab International CC Importers of Fine Italian Wine Navigation AccessKey:2 Search AccessKey:4 Home blogs Lorenzo's blog Casanova di Neri avoids legal action in Brunellogate' scandal John Abbott decanter.com : writes Casanova di Neri has escaped legal action over the Brunellogate' . scandal The winery was informed of the decision in July , but requested additional official documentation before making a . statement The document , issued by the Minister of Justice , confirms that no legal action has been taken against the . winery Casanova di Neri was one of the seven wineries investigated as part of Operation Mixed Wine' over the alleged adulteration of wines produced in Montalcino and Chianti Classico in 2003. In a statement , estate owner Giacomo Neri said Casanova di Neri had been removed from the list in the course of the investigations . As one of the more important wineries in the zone , Casanova di Neri was checked and controlled by the required authorities . We inform our clients that the wines of Casanova di Neri are even more guaranteed post-investigation than before , having completed the analyses that were requested by the authorities for the commercialistion of
Updated: 2009-12-16 04:11:47
When is it worth spending more than $30 for a bottle of wine? I would contend NEVER. OK, maybe not never, but for 90+% of purchases I think it is silly.
Let me begin by saying that I am referring to wines bought at a wine shop, not in a restaurant. Restaurants generally charge more, so [...]
Updated: 2009-12-13 23:25:12
WineMakingGuy has bookmarked: Help My Wine Making! #10 Scott "The Wine Making Guy".
Updated: 2009-12-13 23:25:11
WineMakingGuy just twittered: Posted 'Help My Wine Making! #10 Scott "The Wine Making Guy"' to blip.tv: http://blip.tv/file/2959916.
Updated: 2009-12-08 04:02:44
When you go to a bar/restaurant, do you ask the waiter if a dish/drink/wine is any good?
I mean seriously, what server/waiter/waitress worth half their weight in plonk (low grade wine) would actually answer NO, that dish/wine is bad. I mean seriously…
But WTG, what if I am curious about a dish and want to know if [...]
Updated: 2009-12-07 12:37:44
Melgab International CC Importers of Fine Italian Wine Navigation AccessKey:2 Search AccessKey:4 Home blogs Lorenzo's blog Amarone Promoted to DOCG David Furer decanter.com : writes Amarone has been promoted to the highest possible quality . level Italian DOCs Amarone della Valpolicella and Recioto della Valpolicella have been promoted to the status of Denominazione Origine Controllata e Garantita DOCG Italy's Agriculture Minister has . announced DOCG is the highest quality level allowed by both Italy and the EU , with the move understood by many to be a step to define Amarone's status to its most important export market , the . USA Carlo Boscaini , of his eponymous estate said it is unfortunate that it arrives after 15 years of battles between producers . Sabrina Tedeschi , too , has been waiting the promotion for many years saying that it is very important on for our economy as it is one of the best Italian wines sold abroad . She argued that this should be the first step in a review of the zone to define a limited area of hilly vineyards over flat vineyards as deserving of DOCG . status Retroactive to the 2008 harvest , the move was preceded by the Ripasso style of Valpolicella
Updated: 2009-12-05 22:36:00
: , skip to main skip to sidebar Chez Ray Winemaking Trials , tribulations and . tips Saturday , December 05, 2009 2005 Windsor Russian River Cabernet Franc F5 Sonoma County , CA Review and Rating Original Review , August , 2008 : This is second sampling of the 2005 Windsor Russian River Cabernet Franc , Sonoma County , CA . Grapes were frozen from Brehm Vineyards . First tasting was during our 2005 vintage blending party in the fall of 2006. Let's see how it's doing with a bit of age . In the glass , this is quite light and translucent , with colors of brick and red . Aroma is fruity , moderately bright , with a blast of medium-toasty oak . On the palate , the first note is a sweet blast of bright fruit in the middle of your mouth . That sweet friendliness slides along your tongue and to the sides of your mouth . There it delivers just a pinch of cheek-tightening acid . Flavors are rich , ripe blackberry and red cherries . Tannins seem mild , but moderate additional aging certainly seems possible . Three stars out of five on the Spirit of Wine scale , with an additional plus for friendly . approachability During the blending party , we said : fruit , light aroma , nice tannin
Updated: 2009-12-04 22:55:00
: : , skip to main skip to sidebar Chez Ray Winemaking Trials , tribulations and . tips Friday , December 04, 2009 Rating : 2005 Chez Ray Wine Kit Woodbridge Ranch 11 Cabernet Sauvignon Central Valley , CA Original Review May , 2007 : This is wine made from a bag of grape juice It is called the Selection Estate Woodbridge Ranch 11 Cabernet Sauvignon . I made it more or less following Winexpert instructions I did not use the bentonite for clearing and I made it to about 5.5 gallons rather than 6 gallons . The major change I made was to add a bunch of skins from my own Lodi and Napa fermentation to potentially give this a bit more aromatic and tannin punch We'll see what came of all this . Color is an even deep red . While swirling , grape juice aromas jump out of the glass . On closer examination , aroma is a mild liquor-like cherry , maybe like smelling the inside of a chocolate-covered cherry , but without the chocolate . The favor fills the mouth with a round , smooth touch , no complexity , no aromas , but big and round in the middle . Just a touch of cherry around the edges . And a finish that flits past you before you even . notice In total , this is like some kind of mixture
