Michel Smith started his career as a journalist in Paris and began to write about wine. His well storied career has led to his being one of the leading proponents of wines from both the Languedoc and Roussillion regions, and unquestionably is one of the most well informed and witty wine and food writer/critics around. … Read more
Long time friend of more than 20 years Sylvain Fadat of Domaine du Aupilhac rewarded himself and his friends after a long day of work at the annual Montpeyroux Toutes Caves Ouvertes, which loosely translated means "All cellars open." For a Sunday in April, let alone Easter Sunday, the wine producing town in the hills … Read more
It has been a long time since I did a deep dive into any one wine region. Back in the day I would spend a week or more going from village to village tasting many different producers. Other times it would be at massive wine events like Vinisud and Decouvertes du Rhone where I had … Read more
This week I've stayed in three Accor brand hotels, a Mercure and two Ibis Styles. Granted they are not my usual type of accommodations, but when it comes to traveling along the wine route for Decouvertes du Rhone, they are conveniently located and value priced. What they don't have though is functioning Wi-Fi and never … Read more
After many months of planning, the event of all events for the Grenache Association is tonight in Avignon. All the Grenachistas will be out in force so if you're in the neighborhood come join up for the fun. Maison Nani at 29 rue Théodore Aubanel, 84000 Avignon, France
On my first day of deep diving educational training, after a delightful lunch in Beaumes de Venise I ventured up to the hillside town of Suzette to try wines from three producers. Of the three, Charles Redortier, Domaine Saint Amant and La Ferme Saint-Martin, the latter two were standouts, while Redortier showed me some wines that are … Read more
It's not often I taste wines and feel stopped dead in my tracks. I remember when I met Sylvain Fadat and had that feeling. The same with David Corey and the first taste of pal Cris Cherry's wines back in 2003. It's the feeling that that there's more here than you can see or taste. … Read more
Over the past few years I've had the good fortune to get to know Walter McKinley and his son in law Hugo, the minds behind the wonderful Rhone wine property, Domaine du Mourchon. As a result I'm a regular buyer of their wines that find their way to the USA. Last summer it was a delight … Read more
Last night dinner I went through three Rasteau different wines, two from Domaine la Soumade and one from Les Halos de Jupiter, Philippe Cambie's own label. The 2009 Les Halos de Jupiter was a fantastic red wine which likely could be enjoyed for many years to come. But why wait when friends who enjoy wine … Read more
Wrestlemania is less than a week away in Orlando, and you would think that in the battle for enterprise communications market share that at Enterprise Connect there would be more rumbling. But the news isn't from the challengers as much as it is from the established heavyweights…..HMMM. YAWN…That's why what was done at TadHack Mini … Read more
