tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57811082693678068842024-02-07T04:43:11.534-05:00Wine Talk BostonCurrent, up to date information and recommendations on wines available in the Boston area.Steve Kerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431244631530450051noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781108269367806884.post-88989263170623722672015-08-26T09:38:00.000-04:002015-08-26T09:38:33.780-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUy1HVbmTPWNZIQE1AkNVbTaPsGZ-KP7BmivowCPjKM-LxcPQaYIurJYNtYjFAHxwjruuCIyQkx9TUUExnwQwQkG_4Qk8eETXRAUAe2U8Wh8qIiLvUzPriihsyfmRVPB5j6Vo-e1mdlp-/s1600/stelvin+1+%2528640x360%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUy1HVbmTPWNZIQE1AkNVbTaPsGZ-KP7BmivowCPjKM-LxcPQaYIurJYNtYjFAHxwjruuCIyQkx9TUUExnwQwQkG_4Qk8eETXRAUAe2U8Wh8qIiLvUzPriihsyfmRVPB5j6Vo-e1mdlp-/s400/stelvin+1+%2528640x360%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />Stelvin Closures and the Spirit of Approachability</span><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is probably nothing more off-putting to a wine connoisseur
than to see an expensive, hard-to-come-by wine sporting a screw cap. And back in 2001, even most wine professionals were shocked when they heard that Plumpjack Winery, a Napa Valley producer of decadent Cabernet Sauvignons had decided to bottle half of their
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon production under Stelvin closures, the most
respected and highest quality screw cap in the industry. The uproar was
significant considering the fact that most wine buyers associated screw caps
with cheap wine. Still, to this day,
consumers are reluctant to accept them despite over three decades of research
and testing that has shown them to consistently deliver wines in perfect
condition.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Cork, a natural and increasingly limited resource
unfortunately, continues to decline </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">its ability to guarantee a quality wine
every time. Corks fail on a consistent basis by </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">either allowing too much
oxidation or by tainting the wine with a contaminant called Trichloroanisole.
Corks are not perfect 100% of the time and they will typically fail when </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you
least want them to – at an important dinner party when you’ve finally decided
to </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">open a prized bottle. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cork is still
the preferred closure for those wines that require considerable aging, but with
very convincing research that shows that approximately </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">95% of all wine gets
consumed within a week of its purchase, it just makes good sense </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to look for
wines that feature a Stelvin closure.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />And this is why an increasing number of the more progressive
wine producing </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">regions </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">are moving away from cork and adopting Stelvin closures.
The more wine consumers </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">know about this technology, the more confident they will
become; knowing </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">t</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">hat </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">winemakers are so determined to deliver
their wines in the best possible condition </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">– that they’re bottling with “screw
caps”. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there’s Plumpjack’s
rationale …that Stelvin closures convey a “spirit of approachability” </span></div>
Steve Kerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431244631530450051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781108269367806884.post-45943660011782967842013-09-18T22:34:00.001-04:002013-09-18T22:34:35.121-04:00<h3>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Montecucco, Napa Valley and Lake Seneca - Wine Country</span></span></span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_k0LB7AIwilce37apfqnNtIaR89W7J5qiUL0Ep3-cYZ2j3nSyJTi3zod93UTGOsKu18aNEG4I8nhb-0zyafkVk7MWIeNLsKQQgnHUh1A_eBvbroeURwAFkttC5mWLiYJ5pHs9jiQRm-8/s1600/poggio+anima.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA_k0LB7AIwilce37apfqnNtIaR89W7J5qiUL0Ep3-cYZ2j3nSyJTi3zod93UTGOsKu18aNEG4I8nhb-0zyafkVk7MWIeNLsKQQgnHUh1A_eBvbroeURwAFkttC5mWLiYJ5pHs9jiQRm-8/s320/poggio+anima.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Poggio Anima "Belial", Montecucco</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tuscany is covered in vines and you will find dozens of DOC wine regions, but for me, the rarest and one of the newer sources of great Tuscan wine is <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Montecucco</span></b>. Just northeast of Grosseto, directly south of Siena and most importantly right up against the vineyards of Montalcino, this is where you'll find very sturdy, deeply flavored sangiovese wines that are WAY under the radar. I recommend looking for <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Poggio Anima "Belial"</span></b> to experience for yourself just how full flavored Tuscan sangiovese can get. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">More info: <a href="http://www.vsimports.com/wine.php?id=588" target="_blank">click here</a> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Having spent so much time in <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Napa Valley </span></b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjvxl0l2pjGEZcb9_2GVQUa8P4WYB6WX2cUShnXdJ9TpR24wxFppClenAujz5gHrclzZhJd6Nd23rpurDXC3MEUg2WSC2-W9VHsH3si5at2fnd8RF0JqAX5IpoaX1oJGgf9zs_3Rxb1cN/s1600/sequoia+chard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjvxl0l2pjGEZcb9_2GVQUa8P4WYB6WX2cUShnXdJ9TpR24wxFppClenAujz5gHrclzZhJd6Nd23rpurDXC3MEUg2WSC2-W9VHsH3si5at2fnd8RF0JqAX5IpoaX1oJGgf9zs_3Rxb1cN/s320/sequoia+chard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seqouia Grove Chardonnay, Napa Valley</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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back in the late 1980's, witnessing the birth of what would become "Classic Napa Chardonnay", I periodically have flashbacks</span>. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it was just that kind of jolt when I tasted the current release of <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Sequoia Grove's Chardonnay</b></span> - I was transported back to the days when chardonnay was richly textured with silky layers of buttercream, vanilla and a sweet, sweet purity. Well, if your feeling a bit nostalgic, I would recommend seeking out this Chardonnay - and pair it up with several of the biggest richest flavored crabcakes you can find.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More info: <a href="http://www.sequoiagrove.com/index.cfm?method=pages.showPage&pageid=76ad0819-c653-0b72-8e64-edf274da9f39" target="_blank">click here</a></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3uf-R0UCT4CO1N9Yyx-yche4RZz1ULfXw5GfRO5dO9B4pbbREoYeTDYNd_fYQvyuprIWAVSQQAfSJBfqj8KSzpfWVM95ALpXanIScZZAgSpKFAsztH6IwRW6QsvijbyqM5O5j640I0Ro/s1600/stone+vidal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf3uf-R0UCT4CO1N9Yyx-yche4RZz1ULfXw5GfRO5dO9B4pbbREoYeTDYNd_fYQvyuprIWAVSQQAfSJBfqj8KSzpfWVM95ALpXanIScZZAgSpKFAsztH6IwRW6QsvijbyqM5O5j640I0Ro/s320/stone+vidal.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Standing Stone Dry Vidal</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From way out in left field, and a complete shocker for me was this New York State wine produced on the eastern banks of <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Lake Seneca</b></span>. Vidal is a hybrid grape variety planted mostly because it tolerates very cold climates and can produce exquisite ice wines. But it can also be fermented dry...and this is one of the most extraordinary bottlings I've tasted. The <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Standing Stone Vineyard Dry Vidal</b></span> has a lushness, an incredible rich array of pear-like fruit flavors and a balancing tangy acidity that will make you swear you've been treated to an Alsace Grand Cru Pinot Gris.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">More info: <a href="http://selectsellars.com/wines/standing-stone-dry-vidal/" target="_blank">click here</a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>Steve Kerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431244631530450051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781108269367806884.post-69176877195446174842013-09-16T10:41:00.000-04:002013-09-17T11:26:51.328-04:00Alsace - Where purity of expression reigns.If there is a French wine region that Americans can feel comfortable exploring - it's Alsace! You'll find this narrow stretch of vineyards in the far eastern part of the country, snug up against Germany. The proximity to Germany has influenced the wines quite a bit. The Germanic names of the vintners and the tall slender shaped bottles, resembling Mosel wines, both work to make the wine consumer think that these wines are more like German wines with a slight sweetness.<br />
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Nothing could be farther from the truth. Most Alsace wine is fermented dry. The natural sugars are reduced through fermentation to a level where the average palate will not be able to detect any sweetness. But - the real beauty of these wines is that there is a very pronounced fruit component. In fact, vintners here seem to put almost all the emphasis on this aspect of wine production: fruit identity of their grape varieties.<br />
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Of all the French wine regions only in Alsace will you see the grape variety clearly displayed on the label. There is very little blending going on here. Typically wines are 100% of the grape variety stated on the label. And this is exactly why it is so easy for Americans to understand these wines. Americans are trained to buy wines by grape variety and have been slow to learn the European system of buying by region.<br />
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Each grape variety has it's own set of fruit aromas and flavors and in Alsace this is nurtured, amplified and emphasized. It seems like every aspect of winemaking is done to protect this precious part of the wine. Fermentations take place in stainless steel tanks where the temperatures can be kept cool; a technique that preserves the freshness of the fruit flavors. You won't see oak barrels stacked to the ceilings here. Oak barrels whether used for fermentation or aging diminish and/or distract from the pure fruit expression of the grape variety.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcFHB0IWLqISWryk5ht3G9_X4jr0SrXZFWtL8Ld9OM8Al-edvwkpeuGaZFcppaoZQSCGSLA_TW8ZmMXYug7XiORv0VchvX6AnOM2EtGcg-pDTmp5E7g0JuqG58RnctHcqsdvt_GRNOLXF/s1600/trimbach-photos-06-600x338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcFHB0IWLqISWryk5ht3G9_X4jr0SrXZFWtL8Ld9OM8Al-edvwkpeuGaZFcppaoZQSCGSLA_TW8ZmMXYug7XiORv0VchvX6AnOM2EtGcg-pDTmp5E7g0JuqG58RnctHcqsdvt_GRNOLXF/s320/trimbach-photos-06-600x338.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I recently tasted my way through the wines of <b>Trimbach</b> and <b>Gustave Lorentz</b>, both great wine producers with a long history of making some of Alsace's best wines. Their wines would be a great place to start exploring the beauty and purity of the wines from this region<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMY6sYwl2phZym449Tq3l2dAs4FLX2GIh7r1dKEZyWvcp4V-eLrU2Qg4SnzQiewveJlwbdUz_Gvm8FrHz8N8SXeZ5w42NwIqxNRrYcW9IoWUyo2l5mvo73DRSVfWWuu6my38HQ4GBj1R9/s1600/lorentz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMY6sYwl2phZym449Tq3l2dAs4FLX2GIh7r1dKEZyWvcp4V-eLrU2Qg4SnzQiewveJlwbdUz_Gvm8FrHz8N8SXeZ5w42NwIqxNRrYcW9IoWUyo2l5mvo73DRSVfWWuu6my38HQ4GBj1R9/s320/lorentz.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>Wines to seek out:</b><br />
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Trimbach Pinot Blanc<br />
Gustave Lorentz Pinot Blanc<br />
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Trimbach Riesling<br />
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Trimbach Pinot Gris<br />
Gustave Lorentz Pinot Gris<br />
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Gustave Lorentz GewurztraminerSteve Kerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431244631530450051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781108269367806884.post-90475217947175772382012-07-03T16:40:00.000-04:002012-07-03T16:40:06.414-04:00Top Twelve Wines for Under $10I had a fellow call me from France a couple of days ago. He wanted to have a case of wine delivered to an old friend who lives nearby. I asked him what his budget was and he said that he wanted to spend $100. I started to ask him some general questions about what this person's taste in wine was, trying to get a feel for what types of wine to include in the case and was then handed over to "The Wife" who, he mumbled, knows more about wine. After asking just a few basic questions of her she sighed and said "you seem to know quite a bit about this" and "why don't you just pick out something nice". The quick math on this is that twelve bottles of wine costing $8.99 a bottle would yield a case of wine costing just over $97.<br />
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After selecting four red wines, putting in three bottles of each, I began to see this as something that people all over, at least Massachusetts, would do. Especially those folks packing up their car for a Cape Cod getaway. The problem is that I think most folks would think the task of finding really good tasting, more than just palatable wines for under $10 would be impossible. It's not. The fact is that there have always been great wines to be discovered in this "price-challenged" category. For the past 32 years, as long as I have been tasting, buying and helping customers select wines, I have been able to find very nice, if not damn tasty, wines in this price category:<br />
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So for the current, up-to-date recommendations on<br />
the very best wines that you can find for well under $10:<br /><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Some Whites!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Castillo de Jumilla Blanco<br /><br />Pacifico Sur Sauvignon Blanc<br /><br />Ponte Vinho Verde<br /><br />Oracle Chardonnay<br /><br />Ca Stella Pinot Grigio<br /><br />Norton Torrontes<br /><br /><br /><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">Some Reds!</span><br /><br /><br />Santa Ema Carmenere<br /><br />De Bortoli Petite Sirah<br /><br />Minini Cabernet Sauvignon<br /><br />Protocolo<br /><br />Chat en Ouf<br /><br />La Fiera Montepulciano d'Abruzzo</span><br />
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Assort any twelve bottles and most stores will discount the case by at least 10%<br />
You'll have twelve nice, dependable, easy drinking wines to serve even the fussiest<br />
guests who may pop in. <br />
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<br />Steve Kerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431244631530450051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781108269367806884.post-85679922957051877902012-06-13T22:16:00.000-04:002012-06-14T08:07:23.292-04:00Gordon Russell: Esk Valley Winery<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">People often ask me how often I travel to the vineyards, to wine country. I think I always disappoint them when I tell them "rarely". The fact is, after living in San Francisco for 15 years and obsessively visiting almost every winery in northern California, I don't think I ever need to see another bladder press, crusher/de-stemmer or barrel room for as long as I live. I do miss the vineyard dogs who typically come racing up to the car as you creep slowly down the dusty entrance roads, trying not to kick up as much dust as possible. With their slobber covered tennis balls moving from side to side in their mouths and their ears laid back in the always familiar "come play with me" expression, I know that I'm in the right place. Life at the winery is always laid back and never hurried. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But that was then and now it's different. Now, winemakers come to me and that's just fine with me. Chatting with winemakers is the "real deal". There's no fluff, no pretense - just straight up wine talk. Stuff that would probably make most people bored out of their brain. As long as I've been doing this I still like to "feel" a winemaker. These are the guys who are so intimately involved in the process of crafting their wines that you can just feel the passion for what they're doing. I've had the great pleasure of meeting and hanging out with hundreds of winemakers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So today it was a great pleasure to meet with Gordon Russell, the Senior Winemaker as Esk Valley Winery of Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy157ptDUFMic6mqMBMvRc7vK4ye8xzV8UKd2_wFoaCM2V4kv_rp8dU8rnVWtW3AyyYBJH7T6drFkIaFJ_FaKFm34ayHeE4opWIK_6jzb9OszTM8tjRnGFNpRaEl7aYXRApibaLQ8q8RHh/s1600/IMG_0155+%28800x600%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy157ptDUFMic6mqMBMvRc7vK4ye8xzV8UKd2_wFoaCM2V4kv_rp8dU8rnVWtW3AyyYBJH7T6drFkIaFJ_FaKFm34ayHeE4opWIK_6jzb9OszTM8tjRnGFNpRaEl7aYXRApibaLQ8q8RHh/s400/IMG_0155+%28800x600%29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gordon couldn't have been more "down to earth" and comfortable talking about his wines. We started off with his Sauvignon Blanc which is a stunning example of a rare style of sauvignon blanc not frequently encountered in the Marlborough vineyards of New Zealand. The overt, aggressive grapefruit/citrus character of most Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is nowhere to be seen in this wine and that's just fine with me. This wine had more minerality, river stone and snap pea flavors to make me think of Pessac-Leognan wines. Gordon actually admitted to making a White Bordeaux styled sauvignon blanc for their own consumption - not for sale. While this Sauvignon Blanc is surely Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, it definitely suggests to me that there is some inspiration from Bordeaux. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next up was a beautiful Chardonnay that is produced from grapes grown in the Hawkes Bay area. Using partial barrel fermentation with "neutral" oak and partial malo-lactic fermentation, this chardonnay exhibits pristine, pure fruit flavors and pleasant tongue teasing acidity. Sadly, chardonnays are being passed over these days, but this effort is worth checking out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As nice as these two whites were, the show stopper for me was a red wine that was so nicely done I couldn't stop thinking about the wine long after Gordon had left. I see lots of Pinot Noir from New Zealand, but rarely have I tasted a Bordeaux-style red from this part of the world. Gordon described the unique vineyard site, the Gimblett Gravels vineyard parcels, that had very unique soils and drainage that favored Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. This blend was striking on so many levels: there was a wonderful array of fruit flavors with each varietal seamlessly combining and creating a harmonious center to the wine; the tannins and structure of the wine were just firm enough, avoiding any drying astringency, and the finish on this wine was persistent, with long lingering notes suggesting grapes that were truly picked at perfect ripeness. All I can say is - Wow! You got to go out and get some. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.eskvalley.co.nz/esk-valley-range/view-the-full-range-of-wines/sauvignon-blanc" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tech Sheet for Sauvignon Blanc</span></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.eskvalley.co.nz/esk-valley-range/view-the-full-range-of-wines/chardonnay" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tech Sheet for Chardonnay</span></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.eskvalley.co.nz/esk-valley-range/view-the-full-range-of-wines/merlot-cabernet-sauvignon-malbec" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tech Sheet for Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Malbec </span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span>Steve Kerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431244631530450051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781108269367806884.post-14918193197665430022012-05-24T14:37:00.001-04:002012-05-24T14:37:27.335-04:00Great, Affordable Petite Chateau Bordeaux<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Who doesn't like a great deal on tasty Bordeaux! Well, I just tasted the new releases of Chateau Nicot moments ago and I just absolutely loved them. The labels have been updated. The red no longer has the crazy Halloween orange label. It now carries a very stylish, understated label, a really nice change. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This property is in the Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux a spot that produces lovely, crisp delightful whites and soft, plummy enjoyable reds. These two are excellent examples. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVljpQlu5zTQuij21vM__sWWVyOkvhfKm0v_OHypmOx84RYDhUdLUjK2XLI8G0tr3VZk9pdLjSRz2boQA1VZW8Dy0Hg0WBIRrfbNYnU1lwxgOzn31gpDzl43hLPdxa1_CUWuc6-5nOXwUn/s1600/wtbmay24+007+%28600x800%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVljpQlu5zTQuij21vM__sWWVyOkvhfKm0v_OHypmOx84RYDhUdLUjK2XLI8G0tr3VZk9pdLjSRz2boQA1VZW8Dy0Hg0WBIRrfbNYnU1lwxgOzn31gpDzl43hLPdxa1_CUWuc6-5nOXwUn/s320/wtbmay24+007+%28600x800%29.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The white is rather unusual in that it is produced with 20% Muscadelle, 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 40% Semillon. Typically the Muscadelle portion would be lower, but this effort seems perfectly balanced. I found lots of really nice sweet grassy flavors and the perfect amount of acidity. I first discovered this white at 80 Thoreau, the Concord, MA eatery that had it offered by the glass. I got back to my store and made inquiries and was told that I would not be able buy any. The distributor needed to protect the restaurant - the restaurant was pouring it like water. I can see why. With the new vintage there's more available, so get some before they cut us off again. Approx retail $12</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6iHFIAZjLZXMVMRSioA78dfxEy5vwg8dIjp7zoT1QXSBfWJbzbk9fqdDAfQT1oErQOyi8l2EJ91-HpNpZbp1ATqH8U9s5UeiZST6PDIMtY9XG-K6gKB1xIBlk7nu5FfD6bbDUDS7nT3o/s1600/wtbmay24+009+%28600x800%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6iHFIAZjLZXMVMRSioA78dfxEy5vwg8dIjp7zoT1QXSBfWJbzbk9fqdDAfQT1oErQOyi8l2EJ91-HpNpZbp1ATqH8U9s5UeiZST6PDIMtY9XG-K6gKB1xIBlk7nu5FfD6bbDUDS7nT3o/s320/wtbmay24+009+%28600x800%29.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The red is equally enjoyable and is built using just 80% Merlot with the balance being Cabernet Sauvignon. I loved the lush, soft, concentrated black raspberry fruit flavors with a touch of that cedar spice that only Bordeaux reds have. There's enough body to give that nice mouth-filling sensation, but enough elegance to make it very food friendly. I think it has enough up-front appeal to be a great cocktail wine. It's so crazy good you'll just have one glass after the next. Approx retail $12</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You should be able to find these easily - so go out and get some!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For all the wine geeks who want more specific info here's a link to a site that does the best job.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.wine-searcher.com/wine-138572-0001-vignobles-dubourg-chateau-nicot-entre-deux-mers-france" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">click here </span></a>Steve Kerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431244631530450051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781108269367806884.post-32949793170253998702012-05-22T16:27:00.000-04:002012-05-22T16:27:26.038-04:00Wine Blogging - Why?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why blog? Does anyone really read this stuff? Granted it's way easier than updating and maintaining a website, but am I reaching the right bunch of people to make it worthwhile. Am I just doing it as therapy? Am I just stroking my ego, convincing myself that I know something about this stuff. This must be a phase that all bloggers must go through. Whatever the phase I'm going through is called, I think I'm over it. It's time to get back to it and see what I can accomplish here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, to all of the 497 people who have taken a look here - thank you. I hope you'll come back from time to time. </span>Steve Kerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431244631530450051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781108269367806884.post-57741842225442536222011-12-01T16:57:00.000-05:002011-12-01T16:57:43.146-05:00Back to the Classroom<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After a long hiatus, I'm back! </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not much news tonight. I am getting ready to begin my weekly Thursday night wine tasting at the Broadway Marketplace in Cambridge. Wines on the slate are three of the best organic wines in the market right now. I'm starting with Yorkville Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, a beautiful, pristine sauvignon blanc with terrific citrus/grapefruit character. In the middle is the Blue Quail Chardonnay, a lively, pure chardonnay from McFadden Vineyards, Potter Valley, Mendocino, California. I'm finishing with a rare vin de pays from the Minervois. The producer is Domaine des Homs and their La Tersande is a delicious blend of Syrah and Carignane. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last but not least, I have just signed on to teach a class on Piedmontese wines at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. If you're interested contact www.ccae.org. This class will fill up quick, so do it right now.</span></span>Steve Kerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431244631530450051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781108269367806884.post-399011538409523502010-08-20T13:55:00.000-04:002010-08-20T13:55:51.881-04:00Three "Must Try" Italian Whites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftV8J2knOW64-plNQ3kR_3yOLfvtYtboOEC84RWlcJ7QVbo1WtmBGRKSZ8BBrXQih3DFVyRLk9dD0Mbp1AgJJvkxFaw9msdBHIK__hyqjZA-uEWvY70TpOfEJ10sH9V9mVKx7sm8jolJS/s1600/arneis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftV8J2knOW64-plNQ3kR_3yOLfvtYtboOEC84RWlcJ7QVbo1WtmBGRKSZ8BBrXQih3DFVyRLk9dD0Mbp1AgJJvkxFaw9msdBHIK__hyqjZA-uEWvY70TpOfEJ10sH9V9mVKx7sm8jolJS/s320/arneis.jpg" /></a></div>Easily the least well known white grape variety to completely surprise you, <b>Arneis</b> has been quietly grown in northern Italy, in the Piedmont region, for centuries. It was once blended into Barolo to soften the tannins and harshness of the nebbiolo grape. Now that Barolo producers have switched to 100% nebbiolo wines Arneis has been bottled on it's own. The best examples seem to come from the Roero Hills, northwest of the town of Alba.<br />
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<b>Guidobono</b> has been one of my best kept secrets for a few years now. This winery produces excellent Barbera, and Nebbiolo, but their Arneis is the star!. Arneis is often described as being highly aromatic with forward <b>pear</b> and <b>apricot</b> aromas; palate stimulating with it's generous, <b>refreshing acidity</b>; and also mouth-filling with aromas that pass straight into the flavor profile. This is an outstanding example of this grape variety and compares to wines costing much, much more...a terrific value!<br />
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<b>2009 Guidobono Arneis:</b> <b>under $17</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietJpaxW8IuA38Mne-Ix9qbYOlNWjoAfDXM9U30MPGCgdbHln1k8EVFCxht1kdiut2v83oazlmIJEHJyiU7blyJ0Le-lOqbgGggVWMfjGrMwWnYRiaSMlryiyd46N1t96OXSUyw5AaNk8q/s1600/vernaccia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietJpaxW8IuA38Mne-Ix9qbYOlNWjoAfDXM9U30MPGCgdbHln1k8EVFCxht1kdiut2v83oazlmIJEHJyiU7blyJ0Le-lOqbgGggVWMfjGrMwWnYRiaSMlryiyd46N1t96OXSUyw5AaNk8q/s320/vernaccia.jpg" /></a></div>Most of visitors to the small medieval town of San Gimignano rarely realize that a delicious white wine is produced here. The vineyards are planted to vernaccia grapes and, from my experience, finding good examples can be very difficult. The trick is always buying as fresh as possible, the wine should not spend any more than a year in the bottle. <br />
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This is a 2009 vintage from <b>Palagetto</b> and it blew me away the first time I sampled it. Rarely does this varietal come packed with this much flavor and body. Typically, I find them bland, thin and lacking, but this one had exceptional flavors: great, <b>tangy acidity</b> and a nice array of <b>Golden Delicious</b> and <b>Granny Smith</b>.apple flavors. <br />
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<b>2009 Palagetto Vernaccia di San Gimignano</b>: <b>under $13</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81GerPv9seJRf2zGmr5CuJTpgR5KoiNIHx_hW4yoWyT4Og5dL04cA0COTVArAJGDEao1EyhQlhMOiRMbImyy9ABFIBqzKnxUmA9hILUhPX7OvMvarHOtODggGxqgH_wa2GRPe5U8Y5r86/s1600/verd_verm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81GerPv9seJRf2zGmr5CuJTpgR5KoiNIHx_hW4yoWyT4Og5dL04cA0COTVArAJGDEao1EyhQlhMOiRMbImyy9ABFIBqzKnxUmA9hILUhPX7OvMvarHOtODggGxqgH_wa2GRPe5U8Y5r86/s320/verd_verm.jpg" /></a></div>This blended white is a new project for the Cotarella brothers, Renzo and Riccardo, enologists and owners of the Falesco Winery. Falesco acquired a hillside vineyard site just south of Orvieto and found it an ideal region to grow both <b>Vermentino</b> and <b>Verdicchio.</b> <br />
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These two two grape varieties are perfectly suited to blending together. Vermentino typically suffers from underwhelming acidity with ripe <b>Meyer Lemon</b>-like fruit flavors and Verdicchio can often have an abundance of puckering acidity with <b>green apple</b>-like fruit flavors. Together, these varietals fold into each other to produce a very complex wine. This is a 50/50 blend and has not been barrel fermented.<br />
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<b>2008 Falesco Vitiano Bianco: under $12 </b>Steve Kerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431244631530450051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781108269367806884.post-90716736713020943562010-08-18T15:31:00.000-04:002010-08-18T15:31:14.108-04:00Break a leg!Normally a good luck wish, this phrase has taken on a new meaning for me lately. Sadly and more accurately, tragically, I fractured both my Tibia and Fibula in a fall on a golf course in May. Three long months have passed and I am just now able to get back to enjoying a glass of wine and contributing to this blog.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQYM7-o0EITLCXkzXJOnWuq2VGCoH89U_4AA1xnCSXCpK7EoxnI_Hi3QTNSNGWmh4cjz56m4oJPKWHLU7ckY2iSEWyPOOeQNBCCYfUQ0BiGRlFdF2_7Gf9Rbsz1ghLgQ_J8777lg8t2vV/s1600/cassagnoles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQYM7-o0EITLCXkzXJOnWuq2VGCoH89U_4AA1xnCSXCpK7EoxnI_Hi3QTNSNGWmh4cjz56m4oJPKWHLU7ckY2iSEWyPOOeQNBCCYfUQ0BiGRlFdF2_7Gf9Rbsz1ghLgQ_J8777lg8t2vV/s320/cassagnoles.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>The painkillers served their purpose, but the price of their use meant not being able to enjoy wine with my meals. Once the pain became discomfort I was able to "Say No to Drugs" and pour something fun and friendly into my wine glass. My choice was made easy one afternoon when my eye caught sight of a stack of one of my favorite Gascogne whites: <b>Domaine de Cassagnoles. </b><br />
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This wonderfully<b> </b>refreshing white was the perfect antidote to several heat waves that New England was suffering through this summer. While the "Phridge Photo" to the left shows just one bottle, I recommend having at least one other bottle just behind it.<br />
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If you search for this wine you will see two labels: the normal bottling and their Reserve. For close to five years these wines were a regular feature at my store, Caruso Wine & Spirits in San Francisco. While I do enjoy the Reserve bottling, a wine created entirely from <b>Gros Monseng</b> grapes, I drank the less expensive and more casually styled normal bottling more often, a classic blend of <b>Ugni Blanc</b> and <b>Colombard</b> grapes. These varieties of grape may not seem familiar to you but their flavors are. The subtle, delicate herbaceous aromas and flavors will make you think of a light bodied, citrusy sauvignon blanc. <br />
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The bottles I found came with a convenient Stelvin Closure, those new screw caps, making it easy to just re-seal it and put it back in the fridge and enjoy it over several days. Look for it to sell for <b>under $10.</b>Steve Kerrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431244631530450051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5781108269367806884.post-36682697572583940282010-03-26T09:59:00.001-04:002010-08-18T21:14:10.654-04:00Leaving Framingham<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">A new chapter begins! After spending 6 and a half years in the Framingham, MA area buying wines for and managing <span style="font-weight: bold;">Warehouse Wine & Spirits</span>, it's time to go back to what I think I do best... the smaller scale, more customer oriented wine world. <br />
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</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">I've joined a great group of people who are committed to creating an exciting and fun food and wine shopping experience right in </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-weight: bold;">Harvard Square, Cambridge</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">. I will be personally selecting all of the wine, beer and spirits starting in April 2010. And when I say personally I am referring to the old fashioned way of wine buying where ALL wines are tasted first to assure all our customers that the quality and value is in every bottle and that customers can ask questions and get straightforward answers without condescension or snobby attitudes.<br />
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The<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-weight: bold;">Broadway Marketplace</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;"> will become a place where winelovers can expand there interest in wine, experience more fully the relationship food has with wine and not feel like they're getting ripped off with over-rated selections. Wine does not have to be expensive to be good.<br />
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My posts from this point forward will come from my experiences at the new </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small; font-weight: bold;">Broadway Marketplace</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: small;">...as I discover and uncover all that is delicious and affordable in the Boston area.</span><br />
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