Yearly Archives: 2019
Sex, Lees, and Social Media
I assiduously avoid reading (fiction) reviews on Goodreads prior to cracking open a book so as not to be prejudiced/predisposed to like or loathe it. I’d rather peruse the back cover teaser and a handwritten note from a bookstore employee. Also I find reviews to be spoiler-y. Not in a “The butler did it!” kind [More]
Another Great Red Wine to Chill: Field Recordings Freddo
Hats off again to a wine shop in my neighborhood, Dandelion Wine, for offering chilled reds in their cold box(es). Previously I spotted the Prà Morandina Valpolicella. Now, meet the Field Recordings Freddo Sangiovese. Let’s get to know this chillable red. Field Recordings Freddo Sangiovese 2018 ($25) This first thing you notice about the bottle is [More]
How do people feel about the fact that red wine is partly bitter?
I’ve been answering wine queries on the question and answer site Quora. I’ll share some of the most interesting questions I’ve been asked and, of course, my answers. I limit myself to spending a couple minutes on each response, not doing any research or “cheating.” I rely on my experience and opinion, which is probably not [More]
Champagne, Doritos, and Sand
The best non-fiction books can open up a captivating world existing right under your nose. The World in a Grain: The Story of Sand and How it Transformed Civilization by Vince Beiser falls into this category. I’ll get to the meat of the book but there’s a short passage explaining the title of this post [More]
What’s the best process for tasting wine?
I’ve been answering wine queries on the question and answer site Quora. I’ll share some of the most interesting questions I’ve been asked and, of course, my answers. I limit myself to spending a couple minutes on each response, not doing any research or “cheating.” I rely on my experience and opinion, which is probably not [More]
Fantastic White Wines and Sparkling from Lucien Albrecht
Back in May I joined Lucien Albrecht winemaker Jėrȏme Keller for some wine (duh) and snacks at a small media get-together. I said “yes” because many of these wines are like old friends, particularly the sparkling and Pinot Blanc. It was an impressive set of bottles, and here are my favorites of the lot. Lucien Albrecht Sparkling [More]
Can experts really judge the quality of wines accurately? What’s the science behind the tasting process?
I’ve been answering wine queries on the question and answer site Quora. I’ll share some of the most interesting questions I’ve been asked and, of course, my answers. I limit myself to spending a couple minutes on each response, not doing any research or “cheating.” I rely on my experience and opinion, which is probably not [More]
Traveling 54 Years in One Evening with Two Wines
A duo of bottles serving as bookends to a media event sponsored by Barton & Guestier practically told the story of French wine, how the industry has developed, and how tastes have evolved. Yep, over five decades of change distilled (fermented, rather) into one short, yet memorable, evening. Let’s start from the end, which is [More]
