June 2010
Good for consumers, tough for some producers
Posted: Jun 28, 2010 11:07am ET
This is a good time for consumers who know Australian wine well. The field is wide open for those who know how good the wines can be, and prices have eased somewhat. While that is happening more and more, most producers and importers are still tacking against an economic headwind. On the other hand, the blind resistance described in my magazine story to anything Australian seems to be easing. Two Australian producers, from Brothers in Arms and Kangarilla Road, sounded optimistic when they visited me in San Francisco recently.
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Oregon tries to prove ageability for other varieties
Posted: Jun 22, 2010 12:59pm ET
Oregon Pinot Noirs age well, but how well do Rieslings, Chardonnays and warm-climate varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah do? My tasting of 30 Oregon wines dating from 1979 to 2005 explores the possibilities.
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When is it too much?
Posted: Jun 16, 2010 12:49pm ET
Brettanomyces is a spoilage organism, but many wine experts actually like it. Am I missing something?
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Changes coming to chef Michael Mina's San Francisco restaurants
Posted: Jun 11, 2010 10:59am ET
I ran into Michael Mina on the streets of San Francisco and took advantage of a chance to get caught up on his plans to move his signature restaurant. In our conversation/interview on Beale Street, he expanded on the sketchy information that surrounded his taking over the lease at the former Aqua.
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The big reds he likes reflect John Relyea himself
Posted: Jun 8, 2010 11:31am ET
Which wine do you suppose captured the dark-voiced John Relyea's interest and made him into a big wine fan? Hint: It's Italian and packs a punch.
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Tasting Evening Land with Mark Tarlov
Posted: Jun 2, 2010 12:01pm ET
I talked to film producer Mark Tarlov, who is bringing a new approach to the business of wine with his label, Evening Land. He produces Chardonnay and Pinot from Oregon, California and Burgundy, in France.
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