Archive for the ‘Wine Media’ Category

Feb 24, 2006

Taking On Wine Cliches

Frank Prial, the venerable and former head wine writer for the New York Times, has an article running about the Internet that takes on the issue of Cliches in wine writing. To take his poke at the ever overused phrases that populate the wine writing genre he channels "Mr. Arbuthnot", the persnickety creation of Frank Sullivan who wrote for the New Yorker in the 1930s. As Mr. Prial explains, the creation of the cliche expert Mr. Arbuthnot was done to…

Feb 24, 2006

The RE-Judgement of Paris

We’ve all known it would happen some time. Thirty years hence is as good a time as any, I suppose. Yet, I can’t help but think it’s being undertaken as a form of vengeance, rather than what it’s being called: "A Celebration". Decanter Magazine reports that the famed Paris Tasting of 1976 will be recreated, this time simultaneously on two continents and hooked together via video link. The original tasting, when French tasters choose California wines over French wines in…

Feb 21, 2006

Top 2005 Pinot Noirs

I think it’s fair to say that Pinot Noir is the most exciting area of winemaking in California today. The Pinot Noir category is churning up new producers. Newer Pinot producing regions are strutting their stuff. And, various styles of Pinot Noir are lining the shelves, one next to the other, from the more elegantly styled to the blockbuster powerhouses. It’s really a time of great experimentation and change when it comes to Pinot. This is why it’s so exciting…

Feb 9, 2006

Reviewing Wine in the Lion’s Den

Where would you least want to write a wine tasting column? It has always occurred to me that reviewing wine in a newspaper in the heart of a well known wine producing region would be the worst possible scenario. Everyone reads the local paper, including the vintners whose wines are being reviewed and everyone knows everyone reads the papers. The problem would be you are criticizing (or worse, saying nothing about) your neighbor. So, the worst gig would have to…

Feb 9, 2006

Author James Gabler: Interview with the Wine Historian

James Gabler has carved out a somewhat unique niche within the wine writing genre. His books and words do not describe wines or regions, but rather have focused more on the historical context of wine. Gabler is best known for his writing about Thomas Jefferson and his relationship to wine. This subject was fully exposed in his award winning book "Passions: The Wines & Travels of Thomas Jefferson." Gabler’s latest book (earlier reviewed here) remains focused on icons of America’s…