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  • 2008
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      • What is a Bordeaux Blend?
        05/22/08
        In Bordeaux, the original wines made before the 19th century were basically field blends. That is, they harvested all the grapes together without sorting by varietal and vinified the lot together. Sometimes it would result in a pale red called a clairet, which the British called claret – a term they

      • Burgundy price trends
        05/18/08
        Price and availability trends in Burgundy are of great concern. Prices of everything European have been climbing rapidly, in great part due to the falling dollar. As consumers, we face tough decisions trying to seek out top producers whose price levels have not soared so high into the stratosphere a

      • Useful links
        05/14/08
        Below are some links I find very useful. I'd love your comments on your favorite sites or your thoughts on the sites below.



        Helpful Links:



        Seattle Wine Events



        CellarTracker



        Wine Dictionary
      • Syrah or Shiraz - what is the difference?
        05/11/08
        Many people ask me about the difference between Shiraz and Syrah. Are they different grapes?



        Shiraz and Syrah are exactly the same grape. The stories about the grape’s origins are fascinating:



        • that the grape’s origins are from the city of Shiraz in anc

      • The extraordinary wines of Domaine Leroy
        05/09/08
        Monday I had the privilege of tasting an array of wines from Domaine Leroy (estate) and Maison Leroy (negotiant). As you may know, Lalou-Bize Leroy runs one of the very finest domains in Burgundy – some believe it may be the finest. Clive Coates writes of her wines in general: “The wines are magni

      • Killer red value
        05/07/08
        Below is an outstanding value in a Bordeaux red blend which I've tasted over the last two days.



        Vignalta Rosso Riserva 2004 Colli Eugani $19.99/bottle or $227.89/case



        92 Arnie points



        Wow. This wine has been open nearly 24

      • Beautiful 1995 Chianti Riserva
        05/07/08
        Tasting properly matured wine is, alas, a rare treat. All too often we consume good wine in its infancy. It may be very good - even great - but we miss out on the additional complexities and subtleties achieved by discreet ageing.



        Recently, I had the pleasure of tasting the 19

      • 98 point Syrah Hermitage from Chapoutier
        05/07/08
        "Year in and year out, one of the three greatest Hermitages made is Chapoutier's Le Pavillon."



        - Robert Parker



        We just made a terrific 'opportunity buy" of two great vintages of Michel Chapoutier's Ermitage "Le Pav

      • Classic, fine affordable red Burgundy
        05/07/08
        According to Allen Meadows of Burghound, Paul Jacqueson, "runs one of the finest domaines in all of the Côte Chalonnaise." I came upon this wine at a trade tasting recently. There were approximately 70 wines tasted. I liked this Burgundy immediately so I asked to re-taste it when I could

    • April
    • March