Vinexpo in Chicago! I tried wines from all over France, Spain, Portugal, and Germany. I regret not trying some wine from Algeria, Hungary, and Israel. Some highlights: BOX WINE Speaking with the producer of Colombelle and seeing that the Colombelle will be available in a box (!) next year. You can keep the wine open [...]

Hey, I talk about the Loire a lot. But I have neglected the western-most part, right on the Atlantic. It’s Muscadet. The grape is Melon de Borgogne is or something like that, a goddamn Burgundy melon or something. But it reminds me of Chenin Blanc, very crisp, dry, and crying for seafood, especially shellfish. Some [...]

On Monday I will attending a huge wine convention in Chicago at McCormick Place. 8,000 people who love wine. I will be attending an Austrian wine tasting and then a 3 hour Burgundy tasting. I am stoked to drink some great white Burgundy.

You are in a scorching hot place, with the sun radiating off of the sea and the rocks. Fortunately, you are underneath an umbrella ocean-side in the south of France. And you are eating a bouillabaisse, full of seafood straight from the ocean, a lovely saffron broth, and a piece of toast (yea, a crouton) [...]

Recently drank two excellent red wines…and neither are from France?!?! Yes. 2000 Stag’s Leap Petite Syrah I believe 2000 was a shitty year in Cali, unlike 97 or 01. There is nothing petite about this baby (ha ha ha): it is black as pitch mouthfilling and rich 2000 Best’s Great Western Bin 0 Shiraz Tha [...]

I am firmly back to the Loire and rather than having Chenin Blanc, I have been on a big Sancerre kick. This is Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire. Right now I am drinking a Sancerre by Henri Bourgeois and it is classic. A little bit of a musty odor and some richness. It wasn’t cheap, [...]