Saturday, January 27, 2007

Free Wine Barrels


If you need some free wine barrels for your home winemaking efforts, jump a jet to England to pick up some loot. Not sure whether the barrels are light or heavy toast, but beggars can't be choosers.

Seems that the barrels were headed to South Africa until they took a wrong turn on the beach. I guess we will be drinking a lot of un-oaked Chardonnay next year!

Friday, January 26, 2007

Lunch Wine

Domaine de l' Oratoire St. Martin, Cairanne, Réserve des Seigneurs ($19) -- Cote du Rhone. Imported by Vintner Select in Cincinnati. I missed the vintage on the wine list today at lunch but enjoyed this pleasant full-bodied wine. Subtle nose, full fruit, medium finish with no sharp edges. Good acidity for food. I will be bringing this one into the shop.

The label here is from a different vintage. The wine list said it was a Syrah, Grenache blend. (But, they also listed the producer as Cairanne, which is the village.) One website suggested that it is a Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah blend (60/30/10) from 50 year-old vines with 9 to 12 months aging in tanks, but each vintage is probably different.

The owners have passed down the property, which is 200 meters from Rasteau, from father to son for 300 years. Yields are low and there is no fining or filtering for the wines, and they use no pesticides or fertilizer in the vineyards. Enough data already, just enjoy the wine!

Purple Liquid visited the property in 2005.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Row Eleven Pinot


2003 Row Eleven, Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir -- California. I stumbled onto this bottle last Saturday at the Port Dinner. Big, muscular Pinot with a long complex finish. I want more!

800 cases made in 2004 using the Dijon and Pommard clones from the Bien Nacido vineyard, whose client list is a who's who of winemakers. Long cold soaking and cool, immersed cap fermentation. Aged in French oak.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Posh Waiter -- A Classic!



I got this from Waiter Rant. What a hoot!

"Now take your gaudy, but gratifyingly mute girlfriend, and get out!"