July 2008
Posted: Jul 31, 2008 4:41am ET
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
Posted: Jul 29, 2008 12:57pm ET
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
Posted: Jul 22, 2008 2:53pm ET
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.
Read More
Posted: Jul 21, 2008 5:11pm ET
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
Posted: Jul 17, 2008 1:51pm ET
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.
Read More
Posted: Jul 16, 2008 12:50pm ET
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
Posted: Jul 15, 2008 5:02pm ET
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
Posted: Jul 14, 2008 5:32pm ET
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.
Read More
Posted: Jul 10, 2008 5:27pm ET
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
Posted: Jul 8, 2008 5:22pm ET
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
Posted: Jul 7, 2008 2:38pm ET
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.
Read More
