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July 2008
Trefethen Builds Greater Richness into Its Napa Wines
Posted: 04:41 AM ET, July 31, 2008
Last week I tasted a cross section of Trefethen varietals, chosen by owner Janet Trefethen, as means of showing how the wines from the winery in the Oak Knoll District of Napa have evolved in style.
The 1987 Riesling was amazingly fresh and vibrant, with tangy nectarine flavors. Read more
Tom Shelton: A Classy Guy
Posted: 12:57 PM ET, July 29, 2008
You think you know things about people, but of course you can only know so much.
I knew the severity of Tom Shelton’s health in the past week, since so many of his friends kept me in the loop out of their love and concern for him and his family. Read more
Reviving Montelena Will Be a Challenge
Posted: 02:53 PM ET, July 22, 2008
Chateau Montelena is a marquee name among Napa Valley Cabernets, but from a bygone era. The winery, which had been rumored to be for sale, was purchased this past weekend by Michel Reybier of Château Cos-d'Estournel.
It still has fans who admire its sturdy, distinctive, ageworthy style, but most of them are old-guard collectors. Read more
Contrasting Wine Styles Demands Attention
Posted: 05:11 PM ET, July 21, 2008
Batman or ABBA?
Contrasting cinema styles did battle last week when two potential blockbusters opened in movie theaters. I was amused this past weekend to hear about all the excitement and anticipation for the newest Batman film, The Dark Knight, which seemed to win out with movie fans (and their money), although the feel-good musical Mamma Mia! drew well, too. Read more
Name That Brand: Now That's an Odd Bird
Posted: 01:51 PM ET, July 17, 2008
You might think it’s easy to name a wine brand. I know many people right now who are wrestling with what to call their new wine. Some have common last names already in use, and therefore can't use them. Others are seeking a deeper, more meaningful expression or extension of their ego, passion or mission, and that makes finding the perfect name a challenge. Read more
Presidential Advice: Hail To The Grape
Posted: 12:50 PM ET, July 16, 2008
President Bush is scheduled to visit Napa Valley on Thursday to tour California and assess damages caused by this summer’s wildfires.
Here’s a piece of friendly, non-partisan advice: embrace California wine, or for that matter, American wine and include all the states. Read more
Bottle Shock or Not, the Movie Is Due Soon
Posted: 05:02 PM ET, July 15, 2008
I completely missed Sideways. By the time I saw the film it had been a box-office hit for months. And having not seen the movie early on (and Miles’ trashing of Merlot and the subsequent Pinot Noir craze), I couldn’t anticipate the impact those two wine themes had on the wine market. Read more
Warm Weather Brings Out the Best in Rosé
Posted: 05:32 PM ET, July 14, 2008
Hot weather has arrived, and it’s rosé time.
I had just returned from the market and started unpacking the groceries, with ingredients for a tomato-watermelon-mozzarella salad, when my neighbor stopped by.
Chuck eyed the fixings and asked what I was planning to do with the tomatoes, watermelon, etc. Read more
When Wine Prices Should Come Down
Posted: 05:27 PM ET, July 10, 2008
Almost lost in the discussion (and a good one at that) about selling what could be wines of marginal quality is the whole matter of pricing older wines.
It seems to me that in many restaurants, wines are priced by age, or scarcity, and not necessarily quality. Read more
Restaurants Shouldn't Charge for Dead Wines
Posted: 05:22 PM ET, July 08, 2008
Some time ago I encountered a half-bottle of 1968 Beaulieu Vineyard Burgundy Napa Valley on a great wine list at a fancy restaurant.
I was tempted to buy it, since this wine—a blend of mostly Cabernet, but also I believe some Pinot Noir and perhaps Gamay—in its youth was a delicious cuvée. Read more
Back to a Separate Wine Reality
Posted: 02:38 PM ET, July 07, 2008
Returning to the gym this a.m. reminded me that taking time off from any routine requires—no, make that forces—a re-entry reality.
Vacations are supposed to be a relaxing break from the norm. Mine was. I got plenty of exercise hiking along the North Coast of Mendocino and wrestling fish off the bottom of the ocean. Read more
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