I just read a blog post that turned my stomach sour, and after reading it, have come to the realization that some have forgotten their place in the world of wine. And, no, I'm not speaking of the author, but of the winery leardership. Kissack's calm account of the incident says it all. They don't … Read more
This image shows a red wine glass. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Over the last few days friends here in Cascais and Lisbon have been on a kick of drinking wines from all over the country, north to the Douro and South into Setubal, Alentajo and even from the hillsides surrounding Lisbon. While this is not meant … Read more
Back in the 90s when I was authoring a series of email messages called "Road Reports" I was directed by an Alsatian region wine sales rep to try the wine of Vaquer when I was in Banyuls over my birthday that year. Over the years whenever I found a bottle of any of the exceptional … Read more
Image via CrunchBase Ever since some friends got me into the wine world I've been a BYOB type. Why? It's all about the collection baby. Once you assemble a wine collection, you don't just have it to look at. You want to enjoy and share it. Well, over at SNOOTH, one of the trendy, what's … Read more
I now know how famed Parisian, well actually worldwide, chef Guy Savoy felt when he earned his first every three stars and broke down and cried. I felt the same way this morning after former client and friend Ray Haddow of Nokia forwarded me a link to the first ever review of the 2009 Comunicano … Read more
Image of Domaine du Cayron via Snooth The other night I had drinks and appetizers with a few new and old friends at the Pamplemousse Grille, the local spot I can walk to (and from) that just happens to have the best food around. I pulled a few old gems from the cellar– 1999 Gigondas' … Read more
Image via Wikipedia Last night I dropped by my local watering hole, that just happens to be one, if not the best restaurants in San Diego's North County area. Chef pal Jeffrey Strauss for many years has set the high water mark in the Del Mar, Solana Beach area and is widely regarded as the … Read more
It started up in SF, or maybe in Los Angeles. Then again, some would say that back in the day when I was a student at Temple University it may have started there. But the Gourmet Lunch Truck movement is alive and well, and really, something that is clearly part of the mobile enterprise in … Read more
Recently my wife bought two bottles of Big House Red at Trader Joes in Sacramento. It was the most recent vintage, likely 2009 and they were in her words, "horrible" with the second bottle worse than the first. What I didn't realize was that Bonny Doon had in the past few years sold off the … Read more
Image via Wikipedia My trip down Languedoc lane continues with this nice nine year old St. Chinian red. As a fan of Mas Champart, it's nice to see other producers making wines of memorable quality from a region that's not very well known on the west coast and where we see so little diversity in … Read more
