Archive for May, 2010

Rednecks and Red Rhones 2010

I came to see Danica Nekked, but all I see is the Geico Pothole

The run up to Rednecks and Red Rhones seemed particularly long this year. It’s hard to say what the reason for it is really. The genesis of my rural ennui could have likely come about from any number of events that Southern Man just don’t usually encounter, like the bone-chill’n cold winter, or four (count ‘em, FOUR) heavy snow storms and the ach’n backs that came with shovel’n out the gravel drive of the mobile home park to get to the Post Office to pick up the ol’ lady’s alimony check. But then, perhaps the strain of hav’n she-who-must-be-obeyed in tow and her forcing me to drive sober for three whole hours made my blood too cold. But then again, it could be that I was exhausted from having the sh*! shocked out of me every time I touch metal because of all the freak’n layers of wool I’m wear’n during Al Gore’s global warming meltdown just to ward off hypothermia here in the friendly, freak’n hospitable, used-to-be-sunny South – I dunno, but the usual trip to High Point for the annual gearhead and grape-must fest had a distinctly heavy feel to it this year. As I slipped and slid the SUV over hidden black ice that gave me a distinct sensation that I now had enough experience for driv’n a rig across Alaska’s ice highway, all I want to know is: Who in the hell ever thought this sticky Yankee white stuff was “lovely,” “dark” and “deep? Read the rest of this entry »

The wines of Burgundy are the principal feature of this release and in readiness for the approach of warmer summer months; there are several Rose wines from various regions around the globe available too. I also tasted a couple of wines from Bordeaux that are really tasty and will reward the patient collector. Do read on. Read the rest of this entry »

Our friends Shannon and Cortney Casey at MichiganByTheBottle are teaming up with four Lake Michigan Shore wineries, including St. Julian, Domaine Berrien, Round Barn Winery, and Warner Vineyards for the third Tweet & Taste Michigan event, and we’ll be right there twittering along with them. The first two virtual tastings were great successes, and this one should be every bit as much fun. Read the rest of this entry »

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When you consider wine growing in the Russian River Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are hardly the first two varieties that come to mind; Pinot Noir is the obvious first choice, with Syrah, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc vying for runner-up positions. So, when Allan Bree opened these two with dinner a few nights ago, I was more than a little intrigued to taste what they had to offer. Allan has shared more than a few Dehlinger Pinot Noirs and Syrahs with us over the years, but we’ve never tried any of their Bordeaux varieties, and these two selections, now at 13 years old, acquitted themselves admirably. Read the rest of this entry »

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Steve Edmunds’ reds aren’t the only wines he makes that are remarkably “Euro” in personality. Give them a few years in the cellar and some of his whites take on characteristics that might allow them to pass for white Rhones in a blind tasting. The two selections noted here, opened for us by Allan Bree over the past few nights, are perfect examples. Read the rest of this entry »