Archive for June, 2008
Not wine but cider
I’ve been trying quite a few ciders of late. Cider is, of course, not wine, but it is nonetheless quite a serious drink (or, should I say, has the potential to be a serious drink).A few years back cider was a Loser Drink. The only folks who drank it had some sort of link with the west country, wore …
Bordeaux campaign, vintage 1934
At Fortnum & Mason today to taste a few sherries with wine buyer Tim French. Tim produced an old Fortnum’s wine list from 1938, which made brilliant reading.’It’s amazing how tight the range was in those days’, he remarked. There’s a big section on Champagne, a page of Port from the wood, a pag…
Busy day
Busy day today and lots to report on, including a remarkable cheese tasting with the Neals Yard guys and a Douro Boys workshop. But it’s late and I’m tired, so I shall just mention the brief lunch I had with fellow Man City fan and serious wine geek Hsien Min, who is by from Singapore. We met at the…
The death of Kabinett…almost
Germany’s Mosel region, which produced some of the world’s best Riesling, uses a classification known as the Prädikat system, which is a hierarchical system with six different levels based on the ripeness of the grapes. When that was introduced, in 1971, the problem was getting the Riesling gra…
Memorial Day Weekend In The Willamette Valley
Why did we go to the Willamette Valley For Memorial Day Weekend? For the rain? The mist? The fog? The clouds? The crowds? Well, for one thing, it was our semi-annual wine country rendezvous with the Toveys and I had to pick up some Pinot Noir at Ken Wright. The real reason was to taste at wineries t…
Memorial Day In The Willamette Valley
Why did we go to the Willamette Valley on Memorial Day? For the rain? The mist? The fog? The clouds? The crowds? Well, for one thing, it was our semi-annual wine country rendezvous with the Toveys and I had to pick up some Pinot Noir at Ken Wright. The real reason, though, was to taste at wineries t…
Porto Pocas Tawny Port wine review by (PB)
This inexpensive non-vintage porto has sweet raisiny aromas on a tawny hued porto. Go figure.It is fairly “hot” in the mouth with sweet vanilla and prune flavors. It is fairly shallow and even at the cheap price of $8, for $2-3 more you can find plenty of ports that are quite tasty.Even at that pr…
Rocca Delle Macie Chianti Classico 2001 wine review by (PB)
2001 was a very good year for Chianti Classico (red label) so when I saw a magnum of that wine for $14, I snatched it up. The 750ml bottle usually runs around $11 and you just don’t see the 01’s.I was not disappointed except that I should have bought up several more.This wine is perfectly peaked wi…
Bottle Shock behind the scenes
An 8 minute film going behind the scenes of the soon-to-be-released film Bottle Shock, looking at the famous Judgement of Paris tasting in 1976. Will it be any good? Unfortunately no London preview screenings are planned. Original post by Jamie
Owen Roe Sinister Hand 2005 Wine Review (NW)
Tasting notes:Rich nose of mixed berries, licorice, and spicePlush corePlum and sweet spice finishThis is a big, rich wine. The texture is plush and the fruit is ripe. It delivers with opulent fruit and spice, but might be a bit too oaky. I really like the flavors, but wonder whether it would be dif…
