Yearly Archives: 2018
Vermouth is Aromatized, Fortified, and Ready For Prime Time
What’s up with martinis that are like 99.9% booze? It’s really a chilled glass of vodka/gin. Give me vermouth, I say! I’m a big fan of the 50/50 martini and the reverse martini. The former is equal parts spirits and vermouth, while the latter is big on the vermouth with a tiny amount of spirits. [More]
Why are Rosé Bottles Crazy with Shapes and Packaging?
I read Tamlyn Currin’s “On a pink soap box” from Jancis Robinson’s site with great interest. It focuses on the trend of rosé wine bottles coming in all kinds of shapes and sizes. As well as labels you might charitably define as whimsical but more likely garish. Currin brings up many important points regarding this [More]
Provence Rosé Podcast
Living that lavender lovin’ life. That’s what drinking Provence rosé should be all about. A chilled glass transports you to a specific time and place. It’s the “Calgon, Take Me Away” of wine. Wow, the beginning of this commercial is very intense. And, conversely, the calming properties of a bath with Calgon are prodigious. Also, [More]
Rodney Strong Vineyards Rosé is Pinot Noir Pleasure
I constantly drink pink wine. But most of those bottles are blends, particularly in the style of Provence. Lots of Grenache, Carignan, Syrah,Mourvèdre, and/or Cinsault in various percentages. (And other grapes, too.) But I want to focus on Pinot Noir and particularly the Rodney Strong Vineyards Rosé. The winery sent me a sample bottle along [More]
Thoughts on Chile Inspired by Winemaker Rodrigo Soto
I met Rodrigo Soto back in 2012 when I was visiting the Veramonte winery in Chile. (Sidebar: they have a really cool antique corkscrew collection there.) He’s been at the forefront of converting vineyards to organic farming for the Ritual, Neyen, Primus, and Veramonte labels. Recently I had a chance to reconnect with him for [More]
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc Podcast
Hard to think of any grape that blew up in popularity like New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Certainly, no white wine has had the kind of spectacular success and continued growth as NZ SB. But is it a little one-note, samey-same? This is an issue I explore on the latest episode of the What We’re Tasting [More]
Get to Know Central Coast Syrah
Hello. Here’s the second episode of the podcast I’m hosting for Wine Enthusiast, What We’re Tasting. It’s a look into Central Coast Syrah. Now when you think of California wine, of course Napa and its iconic Cabernet get the lion’s share of praise. So it was great to speak with Matt Kettmann, who is a [More]
