Feb 29, 2012
What is the meaning of the "Natural Wine" movement? Why is here with us and why now? How has it slipped up? What kind of opposition does it face? How much support does it have? These are the questions I've been pondering recently as I prepare to go down to World of Pinot Noir this weekend to attend that annual festival of all things Pinot Noir and, in particular, listen to a debate/discussion about Natural Wines. What I'm hoping for…
Feb 21, 2012
When it comes to wine appreciation, so little, perhaps nothing, is set in stone. This is true for the simple reason that no two brains are alike. The brain, that focal point for interpreting and translating what flows over our taste buds, is as unique as a fingerprint. This was brought home once again upon drinking an oldish Sauterne the other night. The 1981 Rieussec is the product of a vintage in that French region that ranks for many as…
Feb 16, 2012
I love Pinot Noir events primarily because I love Pinot Noir. There is something about the Pinot producer too that sets them apart from other winemakers. There is an arrogance I like. Maybe it comes from them working with one of the more difficult grapes to control. Maybe it's because there seems to be an additional air of intellectualism behind the grape. It's often more subtle and it takes a keener vocabulary and sharper set of senses to really wrap…
Feb 13, 2012
One of the defining aspects of on-line wine content today is that it has become increasingly difficult to track what is available on the Internet, whether you are a consumer or a member of the trade. This is as much so for myself—who has a job that requires tracking of wine content—as it is for the average (or even above average) wine consumer. And so when I come across new sources of wine content and information that arouse my interest…
Feb 1, 2012
In 1991 "60 Minutes" reported on the "French Paradox", a study that showed that the French, who eat a diet higher in saturated fats, nonetheless had fewer instances of coronary heart disease. The high intake of wine was identified as a significant reason for this. The result: A huge increase in the consumption of red wine among Americans. It was a groundbreaking event akin to the Paris Tasting that put American wines on the map in the 1970s. Today, we…