February 2012
5 posts
4 tags
Feb 7th
2 notes
“I don’t even think about harmony. It just comes. You learn where to put...”
–  - Miles Davis, 1958
Feb 4th
Feb 4th
Feb 4th
Feb 1st
1 note
January 2012
14 posts
Downton Abbey in Tasting Notes: #1
“Dowager Countess of Grantham” was my tasting note for the 2007 Les Angles 1er Cru Volnay from Dme Lucien Boillot. Aging yet ageless, lifted elegance and loads of spice.
Jan 30th
4 tags
2012 #Zinfest: Zinfandel Grand Tasting, San...
2012 ZAP Zinfandel Festival. January 28, 2012. San Francisco, California.   There is no better way to spend a Saturday morning than tasting wine, so why not go to the biggest Zinfandel tasting in one of the most beautiful cities in the world? The 2012 ZAP (Zinfandel Advocate & Producers) Grand Tasting was incredible and full of flavor. The Concourse was packed but luckily there was plenty...
Jan 30th
Jan 28th
22 notes
Jan 24th
Jan 24th
Jan 23rd
3 tags
Jan 22nd
Jan 19th
1 note
3 tags
[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/
Jan 11th
4 tags
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...
Jan 6th
2 notes
3 tags
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...
Jan 5th
11 notes
Jan 5th
Jan 4th
1 tag
Jan 3rd
December 2011
1 post
Dec 20th
November 2011
17 posts
2 tags
Nov 29th
7 notes
4 tags
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....
Nov 29th
3 notes
Nov 27th
7 tags
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,...
Nov 22nd
8 notes
Nov 22nd
Nov 21st
Nov 21st
Nov 21st
2 tags
Nov 21st
Nov 21st
Nov 21st
Nov 20th
Nov 20th
Nov 20th
Nov 18th
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...
Nov 14th
2 tags
AWESOME blog: wine reviews by comic
And more by lily elaine hawk wakawaka: http://lilyelainehawkwakawaka.wordpress.com/
Nov 11th
1 note
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:...
Oct 25th
3 notes
7 tags
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...
Oct 24th
4 notes
Oct 23rd
“Why should we enable everyone’s childish desire for things to be...”
– Terry Theise
Oct 23rd
Oct 22nd
1 tag
Link: Tempranillo  →
Tempranillo by Morgan Posted on October 11, 2011 It’s fucking huge, dog. (via Technically Drinking)
Oct 21st
1 tag
Oct 21st
4 tags
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...
Oct 17th
Oct 17th
Oct 16th
Oct 16th
3 tags
Oct 8th
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!
Oct 7th