• Updated Review and Rating: **** 2006 State Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville, Napa, CA

    Updated: 2012-12-31 23:03:00
    : : , , , skip to main skip to sidebar Chez Ray Winemaking Trials , tribulations and . tips Monday , December 31, 2012 Updated Review and Rating : 2006 State Lane Cabernet Sauvignon , Yountville , Napa , CA Original , Review November , 2008 : The 2006 State Lane Cabernet Sauvignon from Yountville , Napa , CA , is from a batch of frozen grapes from Brehm , fermented cool In the glass , this is medium ruby red . Aromas are bold and fragrant , well-perfumed of a deep fruit , hints of inky purple . On the palate , a pleasant front and middle the tannins tap the front and roof of your mouth . Clean , fresh , bright , but no real acid bite at all . Light , fresh , subdued red cherry finish . Three stars out of five , using the Spirit of Wine . scale Updated Review , two years later November ,

  • Some Bordeaux blends I liked in 2012

    Updated: 2012-12-31 07:10:14
    There is not and cannot be an answer to the question, “Which is better, Cabernet Sauvignon or a Bordeaux blend?”, because the question is meaningless. One might say that the nearer a wine approaches 100% Cabernet the more tannic it is, and the more its flavors approach those of classic blackberries and cassis; it also [...]

  • December 29 ~ Anniversaries ~ I’ll drink to that

    Updated: 2012-12-29 19:10:11
    December 29, 1992, I moved from Maine blueberry and lobsta country to wine country. December 29, 2005, I began my wine blog. I’ll drink to that… Nothing profound here, we can all move on for the day…

  • Some Cabernets I liked in 2012

    Updated: 2012-12-28 15:06:22
    I’m not going to do a full-blown “Best of” or “Top 100” list, but I will spend the next few days going through some of the wines I thought highly of, for various reasons, by variety or varietal family. We’ll start with a selection of Cabernet Sauvignons. Most of the best Cabernets released in 2012 [...]

  • The Smoking Loon ~ A Contest from Don Sebastiani & Sons is a fun marketing effort

    Updated: 2012-12-28 11:00:01
    It was a dark and stormy night, and the Smoking Loon was on the prowl… PRESS RELEASE: The “Smoking Loon, that’s what they called him. Nobody quite knew who he worked for, or where his loyalties lie, but he was undeniably good at what he did. As the namesake of Don Sebastiani & Sons’ most [...]

  • “Intriguing blemishes” a factor in good wine?

    Updated: 2012-12-27 07:10:40
    Randy Caparosa, in the December, 2012 issue of The Tasting Panel, writes: You do not go to Mendocino in search of “perfectly balanced” wines. What you can find are wines with intriguing blemishes: strong earth tones, prickling acidity, stringy tannins, strange or exotic aromas, seemingly from another planet. But at least they are real—distinctly “Mendocino”—which [...]

  • Wine Market Council 2013 Conference ~ January 18 (CA), and January 29 (NYC), 2013

    Updated: 2012-12-26 14:35:38
    FROM A PRESS RELEASE: The Wine Market Council is going to be hosting two consumer research conferences each year, that highlight wine trends and their annual research results. The conferences uncover the latest behaviors and attitudes among U.S. wine consumers, allowing attendees to better understand their target markets. The 2013 conferences will be held on [...]

  • It’s snowing, it’s snowing… the children will soon be glowing, as drifts of snow are blowing…

    Updated: 2012-12-25 11:00:50
    A Christmas story for my children… that I’m also sharing with yours… One day, a long, long time ago, a little bit of water in a very small puddle by the side of the road evaporated and floated up to the sky. That is what we call “water vapor.” It was a warm, sunny day [...]

  • Shedding a little light on The Wine Advocate’s new mystery man

    Updated: 2012-12-24 07:10:32
    There’s been something weirdly mysterious about Soo Hoo Khoon Peng, the Shangain businessman who bought Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, for a reputed $15 million. While Mr. Soo’s company (or ex-company, depending on which account you read], Hermitage Wines, is usually described as a “fine wine retailer,” it’s virtually impossible, especially for a western reporter, to [...]

  • Merry Christmas to all… and to all a good bottle of wine (and an even better laugh)

    Updated: 2012-12-23 16:54:24
    A Christmas story for my children… that I’m also sharing with yours… One day, a long, long time ago, a little bit of water in a very small puddle by the side of the road evaporated and floated up to the sky. That is what we call “water vapor.” It was a warm, sunny day [...]

  • An indispensible resource for wine media

    Updated: 2012-12-23 11:00:55
    AmericanWineryGuide.com’s Website is an indispensable resource for wine media, as well as wine lovers. As a wine travel writer, in order to begin your story, what if you had only one website resource that delivers all of the following: A comprehensive list of wineries from all across the U.S. In-depth information about each winery Visitor [...]

  • Petite Sirah: a consideration

    Updated: 2012-12-21 15:38:00
    Fifteen years ago researchers at the University of California, Davis, determined that Syrah and Peloursin, a minor grape variety from the Rhône-Alpes region, crossed to create Dourif [or Durif], also known as Petite Sirah. One wonders why they even bothered to investigate Petite Sirah in 1997. The grape and wine had lingered on the outer [...]

  • One Hope Wines + Lots of visual statistics

    Updated: 2012-12-20 11:00:53
    The graphic designer of this image below came to me and shared his work. When I looked at it, all I could think was, “Wow”… There’s tons of information here, and this picture is worth a lot more than “a thousand words.” This work was created for OneHopeWine.com, where they donate 50 percent of their [...]

  • The sexiest wine glass of the season isn’t even a wine glass, but it sure is sweet

    Updated: 2012-12-18 11:00:35
    [This image with tea and tea glasses is borrowed from The Republic of Tea's Website.] Sitting in a meeting with Ron Rubin, who owns both The Republic of Tea and River Road Family Vineyards and Winery, regardless of the subject, tea is always part of his initial hospitality. Who better to present delicious teas, honestly, [...]

  • Writing has to do with and be filled with inspiration, regardless of the topic, wine included

    Updated: 2012-12-16 16:32:33
    For much of my wine blog writings, I write over the weekend, honestly.  During the week, I’m too busy living what I’m doing, and taking care of clients’ writing needs. I reserve my weekends for reflection and sharing. This keeps me journaling about being a wine publicist. There are times when I read something, and [...]

  • Chez Ray Red Meritage, 2008

    Updated: 2012-12-16 16:31:00
    Here is the blend that I believe comprises Chez Ray Red Meritage, 2008:  8, M8, CL8, SG8A, MS8.

  • Books for Wine Lovers ~ 2012 Holiday Gift Giving Ideas

    Updated: 2012-12-14 11:00:10
    Each year, I get to expand my (book) wine library, from the best of the last 12 months of publishing. Reading is a passion, as is sharing, or this blog wouldn’t exist. I’m going to alphabetically list what I’ve enjoyed this past year, and why I enjoyed each book. Perhaps you’ll find something you’d like [...]

  • Review: **** J&S Applejack

    Updated: 2012-12-07 03:17:00
    : : skip to main skip to sidebar Chez Ray Winemaking Trials , tribulations and . tips Thursday , December 06, 2012 Review : J Applejack By way of background , opening : thoughts Applejack is a little-known apple-based liquor , dating back to the days of Colonial America , traditionally brewed by freeze distillation , but in recent days more often manufactured with traditional liquor brewing techniques accompanied by flavorings . Today we are sampling J S Applejack , brewed by a proprietary freeze-distillation process , harking back to the more traditional . processes Original tasting and review This is J S Applejack , finished at an unspecified , but estimated 30-35 . alcohol In the : glass A clear , light scotch color , quite clean and elegant . On the : nose Poured cold and swirled

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