A communication tool for the wine trade

I’ve been given the chance to test a new tool that could be of interest to those in the wine business, the ASUS Eee Pad Transformer. The idea is to road test it in my daily work and family life and see how I get on, and the timing is very good, because we will [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheWineConversation/~3/DYQtyqSjM24/

shiraz syrah cabernet sauvignon pinot gris pinot blanc

Newport Winefest Coming in August


The 2nd annual Newport Winefest is coming to Rhode Island August 20th and 21st 2011. Tickets for the Grand Tasting range between $45 and $65 when purchased in advance. BuyWithMe has a deal running for the next few days with tickets starting from $25: 
Check it out here


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/lWODZZH9W7E/newport-winefest-coming-in-august.html

Pinot Grigio Barbaresco Semillon Viognier Chenin Blanc

Bordeaux Tasting Reveals Affordable Gems

Sandwiched between the heralded 2005 and 2009 Bordeaux vintages lie three years I've bought very little of. Not so much because they're not good, but just because there's been so much positive hype about the '05s and '09s. A guy only has some much attention to devote to a region.

Vintage variation is a tricky thing for me on a number of levels. More experienced folks will tell you it's not a matter of good and bad - it's more a matter of appreciating vintage variation. Further, the way Bordeaux is priced, better vintages fetch higher prices. This is different than domestic wines and different from most regions. This presents an opportunity to pick up wines from quality producers in "off" vintages at a good price.

Bordeaux is a tricky thing to publicize and market. In one sense it's the noblest of wine regions, but in another I rarely find myself with a taste for Bordeaux on a weeknight - or even a weekend night for that matter. It's this quirky quandary - brand recognition many regions wish they had yet too fancy for many occasions and relegated to high holidays. Too much tradition for its own good?

Below high flying names costing $50 and up are Bordeaux Superieur wines costing $20 or less. As part of an live online tasting through TasteLive, Planet Bordeaux offered up five 2006-2008 Bordeaux to wine bloggers across the United States to get together online and concurrently share their thoughts.

Here are my notes:

2006 Chateau La Gatte La Butte
$15
13.5% Alcohol

100% Merlot from old vines. Light magenta. Cherries and earth on the nose. A little Leuden's cough drop action. Earth too with undeniable Bordeaux markings. On first sip I get a twinge of acidity in my cheeks and even my ears. Comes together really nicely. Well balanced. Great start.

http://chateaulagatte.com
88+/100 WWP: Very Good

2008 Chateau Lugagnac
$16
13% Alcohol

On the nose I get burnt earth, cocoa, some fruit. Grippy tannins. Surprisingly hot for only 13.5%. Needs some time to settle down, but still a pretty nice wine.

http://chateaulugagnac.com
87/100 WWP: Very Good

2008 Chateau de Terrefort-Quancard
$14
13% Alcohol

Tightly wound with tart cherry fruit and harsh tannins. Should improve with time but for now it's one of the more challenging wines in the lineup.

http://chevalquancard.com 
84/100 Good

2007 Chateau de Parenchere Cuvee Raphel
$15
13.5% Alcohol

Medium-full bodied with a really enticing nose. A nice combination of fruity and savory components. Velvety mouthfeel. Low-medium acidity. Doesn't beg for food the way the others do but I think it's versatile enough to play well in a lot of settings. My wine of the night.

http://parenchere.com 
90/100 WWP: Outstanding


2008 Chateau Penin Tradition
$15
13% Alcohol

Made in a soft, easy drinking style. Limited aromatically.

http://chateaupenin.com
82/100 WWP: Good

My thanks to the folks from Planet Bordeaux for supporting wine bloggers with this tasting!

Samples for review.


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/b179Djo0dI0/bordeaux-tasting-reveals-affordable.html

riesling Zinfandel Tempranillo Sangiovese Rioja

Signs of the Apocalypse #2036

Forget the incongruity of having an elephant garbed in an Indian motif representative of a California Riesling.  No, that’s the least of the situation.

It’s the trunk that jumps out mostly … the elephant trunk that is about 2/3’s longer in proportion than it should be with a snout that looks like a hand from a dead body being dragged by a zombie.

Then, the name throws off the entire thing.  Longhurschlong—faux German enough to throw off Aunt Millie, but cheeky enough to draw snickers.

The web site has user quotes along the lines of, “A surprisingly explosive finish.”

I ask you reader:  Brilliant or despicable?

image

Source: http://goodgrape.com/index.php/site/signs_of_the_apocalypse_2036/

Semillon Viognier Chenin Blanc Gewurztraminer Muscat

Tasting notes - Berlin Tasting

Here follows my tasting notes from The Berlin Tasting in Copenhagen. No. 1 - 2005 Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (Bordeaux) Dark colour with intense smell of pencil, cigar, currant and spicy wood. It’s full-bodied, rich and concentrated but also with an upfront softness. 96/100. No. 2 - 2004 Sassicaia (Tuscany) Not so intense in the nose - a little cherry. The [...]

Source: http://www.wine4freaks.com/40/tasting-notes-berlin-tasting/

Rioja Primitivo Petite Sirah Merlot Chianti