Archive for the ‘Rating Wine’ Category
Just how average (or below average) is California Sauvignon Blanc? I was thinking about this today when I opened what turned out to be a really beautiful SB from Dry Creek Valley. Nice grassy component, citrus, pear, slightest hint of melon, zero wood, great backbone. I loved it. Now there was a time when Dry Creek Valley in Northern Sonoma was considered a great place to plant Sauvignon Blanc. But you don’t hear that much anymore. In fact, it seems…
I am absolutely fascinated by the initial discussions that have resulted from Rodney Strong Winery’s program of sending samples of a new wine to a selection of wine bloggers. The PR initiative is described here by Dr. Debs, here by Tim Elliot of ACAN Media, and here by Jeff at The Good Grape, and here by Mike Duffy of Winery Website Report. What appears to be different or unique about Rodney Strong sending samples of its new Rockaway wine to…
It’s the quadrennial political convention time and my thoughts run to the political. The first presidential election that engrossed me from start to finish was 1984 (my guy got slaughtered). I couldn’t get enough of the debate, speeches, political strategy, platform development, etc. I’m watching it all now, again, and as always it is great theater. But what I’m wondering is this: What if the nation elected a Wine President every four years. What if this president represented the American…
I hope I’ll be forgiven, in this case, of trying to figure out what utility an "Electronic Tongue" able to identify a wine and it’s chemical make up has for my own life and career. As it turns out, I can already identify what’s in a wine pretty much by looking at the label on the wine. So what’s in it for me, a lowly wine PR dude and wine drinker? To be sure, I understand what the scientists find…
One of Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s many great roles was his brilliant and intimate portrayal of the uncool Cream Magazine Editor and writer Lester Bangs in the Cameron Crowe film "Almost Famous". Hoffman portrays the perennially uncool Bangs who, in 1973, believes Rock n Roll is in its death throws due to the "swill merchants" that have taken over the business of rock n roll and only care about business. There is a wonderful line in the film where Bangs is…
