For best-of lists, most people get all well, well, well look at the old amazing wines I drank, 1000’s of dollars worth, and say stuff like “it’s drinking well now.” That’s not really grapefriend though. Partly because I don’t have the money, partly because you probably don’t either, partly because sometimes I love non-expensive wine. … Continue reading
For those of you travelling out of DC today, here’s a little silver lining: the Starbucks at Dulles now serves wine (and reportedly LAX is getting one next year). In non-airport land, these “Starbucks Evenings” places are now in LA, Atlanta, Portland, and Chicago. The variety is actually really good; they all have one sparkling, … Continue reading
grape: Pinot Noir producer: Wrath, named after the wrath of Juno that sent Aeneas wandering the Mediterranean in Vergil’s Aeneid. They say, “One can argue that we see such fury in both the might of nature and the passion of art.” And there’s passion in this wine for sure. country: USA region: Monterey year: 2009 yum factors: Whoa! Great dried cranberry … Continue reading
We made it! 12 Days of Fizzmas officially ends tonight (at least for this year) and we’re ringing it out amazingly, with this Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle. This Champagne’s half Chardonnay and half Pinot Noir and all from Grand Cru villages. It’s uniquely made from three great vintages (rather than just the normal single vintage), so it doesn’t … Continue reading
It’s the 7th day of Fizzmas, and I thought we’d celebrate a lesser-known fizz. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir get all the attention, but can you name the third grape allowed in Champagne? Pinot Meunier. It’s the one that adds a lot of the perfumey aroma as well as freshness and liveliness to a sparkling wine. … Continue reading
Why is it the most wonderful time of year? Because you can get wine presents! If you’ve already picked out your case of actual wine to give everyone (see yesterday’s Who What Wine), top it off with some great grape-related gifts. roaming aromas If you love smelling wine as much as I do, these are … Continue reading
I always get asked what wine people should give as gifts. I’m no fool, I realize people just want these for themselves. But at holiday time I’m more prone to believing people when they ask, so here are grapes for everyone on your list. Including yourself. party hostess Nothing says party like the pop of a … Continue reading
Hitchcock just opened today, and apparently Alfred was a huge grapefriend. Just a few examples: • In 1928, he made a silent film called Champagne. • When Mel Brooks came out with High Anxiety, a parody of Hitchcock movies, Hitchcock actually loved it and sent him a case of 1961 Château Haut-Brion magnums. (Note: I’ll happily spoof … Continue reading
Huge month of everyone getting their grape on! We had a lot of grapefriends drinking some good grapes with their turkey, but holiday drinking is never included in the Grapefriend of the Month competition. So here’s what everyone drank every other day in November, at least the ones they tagged me in… Stephanie in Aurora, … Continue reading
“My father was a classic gentleman.” This is what Bernard Portet said about his dad, who was the technical director at Château Lafite in Bordeaux back int he day, while we tasted his wines. Well, the grape doesn’t fall far from the vine. Bernard is French, charming (obviously), and a Napa legend who has made amazing … Continue reading
