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September 2006
Red Wine in the Middle of Nowhere
Posted: 08:40 AM ET, September 29, 2006
I am leaving in 30 minutes for Pinar del Rio, the tobacco region of Cuba, to visit the world’s greatest tobacco grower, Alejandro Robania. The 84-year-old is to tobacco what Robert Mondavi is to California wine. And he is a salty old man, who makes me feel like I am spending time with my late grandfather. Read more
2005 Merlot Madness in Bordeaux
Posted: 03:45 PM ET, September 26, 2006
The dusty streets of Havana are a long way from the vineyards and cellars of Bordeaux, but I was thinking this morning over a café con leche about the Merlots I tasted from barrel last week while in France. I am on assignment for Cigar Aficionado, a sister publication for Wine Spectator, for which I am also European editor. Read more
Guess Who Came to Dinner?
Posted: 10:07 AM ET, September 25, 2006
My buddy and colleague James Laube came to my house for dinner last night with some of his friends. They are in Tuscany for a couple of weeks to chase the Tuscan sun. Unfortunately, it was raining this morning as I poured myself into my car to drive to the Rome airport for a trip to North America. Read more
Pétrus Unplugged and the Bordeaux Machine
Posted: 11:45 AM ET, September 22, 2006
I never thought I would be dancing shirtless at Château Pétrus. Mykonos or St. Tropez, yes..but Pétrus?
I went to the harvesters’ party last night at the famous Pomerol estate, and the 50 pickers, along with the owners, were rocking. Read more
Great Vintages and Growers’ Vintages
Posted: 01:32 PM ET, September 21, 2006
I just finished tasting the 2005 Mouton-Rothschild at the château, and I am impressed. The wine is much better than when I tasted it in late March. It has serious concentration of fruit and super well-integrated tannins. It’s what it should be -- classic quality. Read more
A Foggy Crystal Ball on 2006 Bordeaux
Posted: 02:22 PM ET, September 20, 2006
I had a winemaker in Bordeaux ask me today if I felt that the expensive prices for 2005 were my fault? I laughed. But I was slightly annoyed too.
“Don’t shoot the messenger,” I told him.
I tasted the wines. I rated them. Read more
Agony and Ecstasy in Bordeaux
Posted: 04:54 AM ET, September 19, 2006
The weather is not looking good for the harvest in Bordeaux. It’s been raining on and off since I arrived here on Saturday, and it just started raining again as I sit here and write this blog this morning and begin to blind taste a range of 1996 and 1995 Bordeaux. Read more
A Perfect Day in Bordeaux
Posted: 11:46 AM ET, September 17, 2006
I sat this morning in my hotel in Bordeaux, Les Sources de Caudalie, and tasted a range of 1996 and 1995 reds. It was a perfect day for tasting. I was in a good mood. The weather was sunny and bright after three days of cold and very wet weather. And the wines were cool and decanted. Read more
1996 Clarets and How to Avoid Pocketbook Pain
Posted: 10:55 AM ET, September 15, 2006
Went to a friend's house for dinner last night in Arezzo, and in addition to inviting a beautiful leggy brunette from Atlanta for the evening, he also pulled out two pretty 1996s for dinner – La Mission and Latour.
The Latour was the star, with intense aromas of raspberries, mint and flowers. Read more
Brunello, Brunello and More Brunello
Posted: 05:23 AM ET, September 14, 2006
I had dinner last night at Osteria Le Logge Restaurant in Siena with Roberto Guerrini and two other friends. Roberto runs his family’s winery, Eredi Fuligni in Montalcino, and it’s one of the best in the region. He brought to dinner a bottle of his 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, which will not be on the market until early next year. Read more
Pichon-Lalande in London and 1996 Versus '95
Posted: 05:14 PM ET, September 11, 2006
I am sitting at Zafferano, the best Italian restaurant in London, with Gildas d’Ollone, general manager of Château Pichon-Longueville-Lalande. We just finished tasting 14 vintages of Pichon-Lalande during a Farr Vintners' tasting. (Stay tuned for a report later. Read more
Ten Years On With 1996 Bordeaux
Posted: 02:10 PM ET, September 08, 2006
Just got done evaluating 65 Left Bank Bordeaux from the 1996 vintage in a blind tasting organized in London by wine merchants Farr Vintners. All I can say is that I am not surprised with the results. There were some exciting wines, such as the first growths, Cos-d’Estournel and Léoville-Las-Cases, but in general, it was not a great day of tasting. Read more
Asking Questions about Piedmont in Tuscany
Posted: 05:06 PM ET, September 06, 2006
It’s really hot here in Tuscany. It’s still in the high 70s tonight, and it was in the mid-90s today. Thank God for the air-conditioning in my office. It’s really strange. It’s humid as well. My assistant Rosanne said it reminded her of Australia in the summer, and she grew up near the seaside. Read more
Home Sweet Home
Posted: 05:34 PM ET, September 05, 2006
I'm back at home after a couple of weeks on the road. I was happy my two dogs, Archie and Annie, still remembered me. The cat, Monty, was meowing at my door at 6 a.m. for food. I guess my local restaurant wasn’t throwing him tidbits.
I spent the day catching up on e-mails and trying to finish a column, as well as tasting 30 reds and 10 whites from Piedmont. Read more
Not a Wedding Crasher in Brussels
Posted: 04:29 AM ET, September 05, 2006
Went to a Jewish wedding in Brussels over the weekend. I felt like an actor in Wedding Crashers! From the moment the bride and groom arrived at the reception from the synagogue, it was a non-stop party. As soon as they arrived at the ballroom of the Conrad Hotel, they were hoisted above the crowd on chairs and paraded around the room with everyone dancing and clapping to music. Read more
Never Sleeping in Israel
Posted: 01:55 PM ET, September 01, 2006
Tel Aviv never sleeps. I left a subterranean club called Breakfast at 4 this morning, and it was just getting started. When I reached outside, the streets in town were gridlocked with people and automobiles. Neon signs and loud music shook my senses. Read more
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