January 2012
11 posts
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[LINK] A Tasting of Hipster Wines [Dr. Vino] →
How many of Dr Vino’s hipster wines have you had?
I’ll keep my number to myself
Read more: http://www.drvino.com/2011/12/17/hipster-wine-tasting/
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Congratulations to Paul McGee, barkeep...
I have to say, I am SO excited for Paul McGee’s new venture with Lettuce Entertain You, and equally as stoked for the continued evolution of the Whistler under the capable hands of owners Rob Brenner and Billy Helmkamp (and bartender Eric Henry)!
The truth is, Chicago changed 3 1/2 years ago when the Whistler opened its doors on a desolated stretch of Milwaukee Avenue in Logan...
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Dinner at Moto in One Word: Whoa.
My New Year gift from my wonderful boyfriend Evan was dinner at Moto, the well known avant-garde restaurant/laboratory in Chicago’s West Loop/Meat Packing district.
I can’t really begin to emphasize enough what an amazing experience this was, full of “I have no idea what this is going to taste like” to “this dish is like The Jetsons” exclamations. Moto provided...
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December 2011
1 post
November 2011
17 posts
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Sonoma in November.
Inman Family Wine estate, Russian River Valley
Kathleen Inman makes one of the best Chardonnays in all of California, with a careful hand. Always 50/50 French oak and stainless steel, the purity of fruit is only lightly seasoned with hints of burnt sugar and vanilla.
Another visit to Iron Horse Vineyards in Green Valley of Russian River Valley.
Joseph Swan’s barrel fermentation....
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DECANTchicago Thanksgiving Wine Picks, 2011
There is a rule that if you are blogging about wine, you have to choose wines to pair for major food holidays like Thanksgiving. In order to keep my blog-license from getting revoked, my Thanksgiving wines have been chosen:
2010 Tenuta Roveglia ‘Wighel’, Lugana DOC [trebbiano di Lugana]; 2009 Domaine du Clos du Fief, Julienas AOC [gamay, Beaujolais-cru]; 2010 Broc Cellars,...
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Inside Scoop SF » The false promise of cheap wine →
Excellent article from John Bonne, wine editor of San Francisco Chronicle.
Last week Slate published a piece titled “Drink Cheap Wine.” Its core argument was that wine professionals are pulling one over on the public, that our usual standards of about $15 for an “everyday” (I prefer the term “weeknight,” but whatev) bottle is far too high, Instead, author Brian Palmer asserts, we should be...
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AWESOME blog: wine reviews by comic
And more by lily elaine hawk wakawaka: http://lilyelainehawkwakawaka.wordpress.com/
October 2011
17 posts
5 tags
Tasting Notes: Luis M Martini & Monte Rosso...
Monte Rosso Vineyards: The wines from this vineyard are characteristic of warm, sunny, high elevation wines. Spice, elevated acid, but bold, thick, dark fruit flavors. 2008 Rancho Zabaco “Toredore” Monte Rosso Vnyd: jammy, grape preserves, prunes, maple syrup, molasses. 2007 Louis M Martini Monte Rosso Estate Cabernet: boysenberry, coffee, earth. 2007 Louis M Martini Gnarly Vine Zinfandel:...
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Tasting Notes: Iron Horse in Green Valley of...
I was fortunate enough to visit the Iron Horse Vineyards in Green Valley of Russian River Valley last week to taste the essence of Sonoma at one of the most respected houses in California. Accompanied by Ms Christie Dufault, sommelier and wine educator extraordinaire, and my colleagues from the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, we bussed it up thru the beautiful rolling hills in the...
“Why should we enable everyone’s childish desire for things to be...”
– Terry Theise
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Link: Tempranillo →
Tempranillo
by Morgan Posted on October 11, 2011
It’s fucking huge, dog.
(via Technically Drinking)
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Pouring wine for future colleagues
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege to pour wine at Chase Family Cellars in Saint Helena for a gathering of 20 Master Sommelier candidates. The Napa Valley Vintners Association planned the four-day trip around Napa, and I am very happy I got to represent Chase, Alpha Omega, Tres Sabores, Rubissow, Storybook Mountain, Laird Family, and Cornerstone Cellars at this excellent BBQ on the Chase...
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Drugs: Have You Heard About Marijuana Wine?(via... →
Sometimes two things that you love combine to form something even more amazing—like when your best friends got married and had the cutest baby ever, or like when people started putting lots of delicious salt into already delicious caramels!
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Trefethen Estate Vineyards of Oak Knoll.
South of Saint Helena, where I’ve been living this past month, there is a place where the air is cool and the sun is warm. Where Cabernet ripens, not overripens. Where Chardonnay has great acid and Cabernet Franc tastes like herbs. This place is Oak Knoll. The vineyards to visit are those of Trefethen Estate, who for 39 years has been producing 100% Estate Wines from carefully managed...
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Read this: Unfiltered, the official Napa Valley... →
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Frog's Leap - Organic stewardship of terroir in...
Farmer John (winemaker/proprietor John Williams) of Frog’s Leap strives to be a “thoughtful steward” of the environment and his vineyards and has made that commitment by being completely sustainable and CCOF-certified, from the LEED-certified buildings and solar panels on the property, to pioneering organic viticulture in the Napa Valley region since 1988. Williams makes the very same wine...
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Hyde Vineyard / HdV Winery: tasting terroir in...
This is Mr Stephane Vivier, taking us through Hyde Vineyards . He is the winemaker of both Hyde de Villaine and Vivier in Carneros. Here, he is examining chardonnay grapes and teaching us a bit about the pros and cons of high elevation, botrytis, and millerandage.
Hyde Vineyards is one of the most treasured vineyards in California, and one reason for this is Mr Vivier, who is a purist but...
September 2011
5 posts
Blind Tasting: Classic Varietals
Blind Tasting #1 : Classic Varietals
Domaine Carneros Brut Carneros Napa Valley 2007 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Casablanca Valley Chile 2010 Talley Chardonnay Rincon Vineyard Edna Valley 2009 Dr. Loosen Riesling Erdener Treppchen Kabinett 2009 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2008 Peay Syrah Les...
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WatchWatch as the coopers at Demptos Cooperage in Napa Valley assemble a new oak barrel with nothing but hands, hammers, and metal bands.
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