Bordoverview Blog (Free subscription) | 11/29/2009
Dwayne Perreault − There were plenty of corks popping, and that is always a happy sound. Proef Champagne en Sprankelend (Taste Champagne and Sparkling), Holland's largest sparkling wine trade show, took place at the Mövenpick Hotel in Amsterdam on November 22nd. This event used to be called "Champagne aan Zee" and indeed used to be held on the beach at Noordwijk. The reason for...
Accidental Hedonist (Free subscription) | 11/25/2009
I realize now that most of my reviews are essentially pleas to those of you mired in the swamps of the MillerCoors and InBev/Anheuser-Busch to TRY SOMETHING ELSE. This review is no different. From strictly an appearance perspective, Belgian Golden Strong Ales look remarkably similar to the lagers we all know and consume, at least at first glance. Yes, there are some differences, especially in the head...
Purple Liquid (Free subscription) | 11/19/2009
It's dark and cold outside and I have a bottle of wine that should warm me up: a 2006 St. Francis RED that was recently sent to me by Kobrand Corporation . The wine, made by St. Francis Winery , is a proprietary blend of 48% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Syrah, 3% Zinfandel and 6 % Mixed Blacks (Cabernet Franc, Grenache, Alicante, Malbec), from Sonoma County. “RED is for all red wine lovers...
Benito's Wine Reviews (Free subscription) | 11/11/2009
Recently I've been craving okra, but the season for fresh pods from the farm is over. It's time to turn to the preserved variety, and I felt like a bit of spice as well. Fortunately in the South, okra can be found in many forms, so I procured a jar of Trappey's Hot Cocktail Okra . You can eat these straight, slice them and add them to a sandwich or creamy salad of some sort, or you can take that "cocktail"...
Repository of Useless Information (Free subscription) | 11/07/2009
I have for some time been quite fascinated by Las Alpujarras - largely because I haven't really been able to find out much about the area! Arabic Spain has for almost half a century been one of the passions of my Arabic teacher, and apparently some of that interest has been contagious. But still, even the etymology of the name "Alpujarra" (or Las Alpujarras or Alpuxarra) is uncertain. I think...
Benito's Wine Reviews (Free subscription) | 11/04/2009
I stared at a group of random ingredients in the kitchen and thought, "I could make a Peruvian Dinner with this." It was a rare flash of inspiration, as opposed to the usual observations of "that lettuce has gone sideways", "I need to write about those sardines eventually", and "why do I own so much mustard?" This dinner needed an authentic cocktail, and the...
The Economist (Free subscription) | 10/29/2009
An old rule of cuisine is explained by chemistry THAT red wine is not to be paired with seafood is nearly a religious dogma among connoisseurs. Their reason is that the combination usually results in a strong and unpleasant fishy aftertaste. The traditional explanation for the bad pairing is based on the presence of tannins—the chemicals that make red wines taste dry and cause the mouth to pucker....
Purple Liquid (Free subscription) | 10/28/2009
If a good friend of yours has a 17-year-old bottle of wine and is unsure whether he should open it or not, don't linger any longer, invite him for dinner, cook something good to accompany the wine, and savor the moment! In the case of my friend, the bottle was a 1982 Côtes du Jura Vin Jaune Fruitière Agricole de Château-Chalon , a wine from the Jura , a mountain range located between...
Vinography (Free subscription) | 10/23/2009
I am often approached (in person and online) by budding wine lovers looking for guidance navigating what they see as the treacherous waters of wine and food pairing. That these folks feel the need to seek out expert guidance at all makes me a little sad. The fear, uncertainty and doubt that exists in the minds of the public when it comes to wine and food pairing remains for me one of the greatest...
Crave RSS (Free subscription) | 10/15/2009
404 dear friend and marketing expert Rana Sobhany is back on The 404 Podcast today in lieu of Jeff taking a day off from his hard video game reviewing work. Rana always brings us something when she comes on the show, last time she brought cupcakes so we definitely owe her a batch, but this time she brings us exciting news that she's currently unemployed! Hooray! After building Medialets up into the...
3iLinG (Free subscription) | 10/13/2009
COGNAC TESSERON LOT N°29 X.O. EXCEPTION Would really love to share this wonderful bottle of cognac with all my friends. This bottle of Tesseron Lot N°29 X.O. Exception is indeed a rare jewel of the Tesseron collection of cognacs. With a high-end portfolio of numbered ‘lot’ cognacs, Tesseron has been described as one of the most exciting players in this luxury cognac category. Now...
Good Wine Under $20 (Free subscription) | 10/08/2009
I was reminded last week of why I love Malbec. It's got the richness of Syrah, with some of the tannic structure of Cabernet. While the former can sometimes be too jammy, and the latter too austere, Malbecs are just right for pairing with a wide variety of foods. And with many of us turning off our grills and heating up our ovens, it's worth pointing out that Malbecs are great with autumn stews and...
Luxist (Free subscription) | 10/07/2009
New York-based Dreyfus, Ashby & Co. , a national independent importer and marketer of fine wine and spirits , has put together a list of great fall wines from around the globe, ideal for various cuisines and all priced under $25. France 's Château de Campuget "1753" stems from an 18th century document mentioning the historic property. The 100% Syrah is aged in stainless steel,...
Barrels & Bottles Wine Blog (Free subscription) | 09/30/2009
Tasting notes from Wine Spectator :Score : 88 pointsAromas of graphite and ginger pick up citrus note on the palate. This is soft and rich, with a honeyed accent on the finish. Drink now.Tasting notes from Robert Parker :Some more creaminess on the nose this time [compared to the Brut], a hint of yeast and nutty aromas, the palate shows more fruit, a touch of honey on the aftertaste, some more
Good Wine Under $20 (Free subscription) | 09/30/2009
I've been fighting the good fight to bring you Pinot Noirs under $20, but it's not getting any easier. If you like this delicate, silky grape you are not alone. And if you are struggling to find a wine you like for under $20, well, you're not alone there, either. Here are my favorites among the new fall Pinot Noirs I've tasted thus far. And--miracles do happen--one is actually under $20. And I'm seeing...
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