A new event is always a tricky endeavor. Take it from someone who has been involved in hundreds of events and thousands of event days through the years. But wine events, like a vintage is always full of unknowns. Will winemakers support the event? Will the trade buyers show up? Will the media care? How … Read more
The term "direct to consumer" or DTC is being bandied about the wine world more and more every day. Unfortunately, if you're not a winery shipping your wine directly to the consumer, you're not DTC. This means etailers, retailers, importers, wholesalers and brokers are not DTC as the whole idea behind direct marketing is to … Read more
I'll admit, I'm enamoured with the wine of the Ventoux region and have been for many years. A few years back I suggested to Los Angeles' Emporium Thai restaurant owner John Sungkamee that he add Even Bakke's 2012 Clos de Trias Rouge to his small wine list that I helped him assemble. One night, at … Read more
There are reviews and then there's what Lettie Teague does at the Wall Street Journal. Her column today is why I enjoy her writing more than that of most "consumer" wine reviewers. The reason is simple. Lettie is willing to go off the beaten track more and more, and helps draw attention to wines from … Read more
Here at my apartment building I have a Friday night dinner group who cook together, share what the week was like and now get to enjoy wines that I pull out of what seems to be a bottomless cellar. This past Friday I pulled some really interesting reds, all which have Syrah as part or … Read more
I'm jaded. I get to travel and eat in restaurants all over the world. No, I don't do food tourism any more though. Those days are long gone as the thrill of a three star Michelin has been replaced by discovering the new place in a town or city I've been to before. And, what … Read more
During my stay in France's Rhone Valley, Languedoc and Roussillion in early April (2017) I had the good fortune taste through many, but not all of my favorite Rose wines. Top of the heap has wines from Chateau de Roquefort's Corail, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan and Vermentino showing its usual stuff right out of … 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
The 2015 Alain Jaume Tavel Le Cretace Rose has now been in my cellar for about eight months since I purchased a mixed case of 2015 Tavel Rose's from an east coast merchant that has an early arrival pipeline with the importer, Kysela Pere et Fils. For me, the 2015 vintage of Rose wines the world over … Read more
When one thinks of Spanish wines, normally only a handful of regions come to mind. Rioja, Ribera del Duero and likely the Priorat. But true wine hunters and seekers have been also known to look out for wines from Montsant, Calatayud, Bierzo and Campo de Borja. The latter of the "hunting ground" regions is best … Read more
