Wine Review Weekly
December 13, 2010
In the New York Times, columnist Eric Asimov goes looking for some bargain Bourgogne wines, and finds more than just a few to like. Columnist Bill St John, writing in the Chicago Tribune, offers tasting notes on many grower and small-production Champagnes. And wine blogger Joe Roberts (1WineDude) reports from Porto on the Wines of Portugal International Conference 2010, and the many fine wines he has encountered. JG
Important note: members of the Wine Opinions trade panel who have not already done so are urged to take the new survey on imported wines. All who do are entered into a drawing for three $500 cash awards. Please take the survey at THIS LINK.
Baltimore Sun: Wine writer Michael Dresser picks TrefethenDry Riesling 2009. (Link)
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Staff writer Donald Rosenberg picks DomaineCarneros Brut 2006. (Link)
Los Angeles Times: Wine writer Irene Virbila picks GulfiNero d'Avola 'Neroibleo' 2006. (Link)
Business Week: Wine writer Nick Passmore recommends Pol Roger Cuvee Winston Churchill 1999. (Link)
Las Vegas Review-Journal: Wine writer Gil Lempert-Schwarz chooses Painter Bridge Zinfandel 2008. (Link)
Philadelphia Inquirer: Staff writer Craig LaBan suggests Esporao Quatro Castas 2005 and 2007. (Link)
Denver Post: Wine columnist Douglas Brown recommends VinaZaco Rioja 2007. (Link)
Dallas Morning News: Wine columnist Rebecca Murphy picks BorsaoTres Picos Garnacha 2008. (Link)
New York Times: Wine columnist Eric Asimov on inexpensive wines from Burgundy. Top choice among white wines is FichetBourgogne Blanc Vieilles Vignes 2008, while Thierry & Pascal Matrot Bourgogne Blanc 2008 is noted as a good value. For the red entries, Billard-Gonnet Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes 2008 is both the top choice and best value. (Link)
Wall Street Journal: Wine columnist Jay McInerney on vintner Piero Incisa (of Sassicaia fame) and his wine venture in Patagonia - Chacra Pinot Noir. (Link) Wine columnist LettieTeague writes about Lambrusco wines this week. Tasting notes on several, including wines from TenutaPederzana, Lini, and others. (Link) On another page, she interviews wine retailer Gary Fisch. Along the way, praise for Round Pond Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. (Link) On yet another page, she recounts a lunch meeting with wine importer Christina Mariani May, of Banfi Vintners. (Link) And finally, Teague offers a few thoughts on the partners in Long Shadows, and a few of their wines. (Link)
Bloomberg News Service: Wine columnist Elin McCoy on high technology applications that guarantee the authenticity of top Bordeaux wines. Mentions for several of the first growth wines. (Link)
Financial Times: Wine columnist Jancis Robinson on white wines for holiday entertaining. A long and eclectic list, including offerings from Chapoutier, Conchay Toro, Bodegas Ontanon, JJ Prum, Rochioli, and others. (Link)
Newark Star-Ledger: Wine writer John Foy on gifts for wine lovers. Notable is gift box set by Perrier Jouet for the PresitgeCuvee Champagne 2002. (Link)
San Francisco Chronicle: The Chronicle tasting panel reviews Extra Brut Champagnes. Recommendations for those from Veuve Fourny, Philippe Gonet, Coquillette, Varnier-Fanniere, Egly-Ouriet, Renaudin, Lenoble, Gonet-Medeville, and Marc Hebrart. (Link)
San Francisco Chronicle: Wine editor Jon Bonne on lesser-known Champagnes. Praise for several smaller production wines such as Clos des Goisses and Royale Reserve from Philipponnat, as well as Barnaut, Agrapart, and others. (Link)
San Francisco Chronicle: Wine editor Jon Bonne releases the Chronicle's Top 100 Wines of 2010. (Link)
Sacramento Bee: Wine columnist Chris Macias on a vertical tasting of Shafer Vineyards 'Relentless' wine. (Link)
Napa Register: Wine columnist Dan Berger on wines for holiday entertaining. Nice mentions for wines from Kendall-Jackson, Closla Chance, Trefethen, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cupcake, Franciscan, Fetzer, Colome, Motos, Cono Sur, and McManis. Also, recommendation for J. Lohr Valdiguie 2009. (Link)
San Jose Mercury News: Wine columnist Laurie Daniel on new wine books from Matt Kramer, Oz Clarke, and Terry Theise. (Link)
Los Angeles Times: Guest writer Patrick Comiskey on wines that sommeliers bring to holiday parties. Arcane is an understatement, with entries from Leon Barral, Abreu, Hermann Donnhoff, Franck Bonville, Recaredo, and others. How Krug Champagne was included is a mystery. (Link)
Washington Post: Wine columnist Dave McIntyre on Moscato d'Asti wines from Italy. (Link) On another page, tasting notes and recommendations for several of these, with highest marks for wines from Cascino Fonda, and Massolino. (Link)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Wine writer Gil Kulers has nice things to say about Doolhof Wine Estate 'Dark Lady' Pinotage 2009. (Link)
Minneapolis Star Tribune: Wine writer Bill Ward on sweet wines. Mentions for seveeral, such as Clean Slate Riesling, and recommendation for Simonslvlei'Lifestyle' Sweet Chenin Blanc 2010. (Link)
Nashville Tennessean: Guest columnist Rob Stein on white wine varieties from Europe. Recommended are Senorio de Rubios Albarino, ShayaVerdejo, LuganaTrebbiano, and La Cala Vermentino. (Link)
Chicago Tribune: Wine columnist Bill St John on Champagne. Mentions for the big houses, but also recommendations for grower Champagnes from L. Aubry Fils, Andre Clouet, Pierre Gimonnet, and Rene Geoffroy. (Link)
The Oregonian: Wine columnist Katherine Cole on Portland restaurateur Cheryl Wakerhauser and her fondness for 'Spe
cial Club' Champagnes. (Link)
Vinography: Wine blogger Alder Yarrow offers extensive notes on Domaine Alain Gras Saint-Romain Rouge 2009. (Link)
Dr. Vino: Wine blogger Tyler Colman offer thoughts and wit on a variety of wine and wine market topics this week. (Link)
Bigger Than Your Head: Wine blogger Fredric Koeppel has nice things to say about Pinot Noir wines from Wakefield and Domaine Serene. (Link)
The Feiring Line: Wine blogger Alice Feiring on new wine books from Terry Theise, and Max Allen. (Link)
Wine Review Online: Wine writer Ed McCarthy on Champagnes from smaller houses, such as Ayala, Billecart-Salmon, Delamotte, Deutz, Gosset, Charles Heidsieck, Henriot, Bruno Paillard, and Philipponnat. (Link)
1WineDude: Wine blogger Joe Roberts reports from Porto on the Wines of Porto International Conference 2010. (Link)
Gray Market Report: Wine blogger Blake Gray offer some insightful and perhaps provacative thoughts on the success of The Prisoner wine. (Link)
Snooth: Wine blogger Gregory Dal Piaz on bargains from Bordeaux, with recommendations for several, including Chateau Poujeaux 2008, Chateau Cantemerle 2002, and Chateau Simard 1999. (Link)
Zester Daily: Wine blogger Elin McCoy recommends Mocavero 'Puteus' Salice Salentino Riserva 2005. (Link)
JancisRobinson.com: Wine blogger Jancis Robinson recommends Reichsrat von Buhl Spatburgunder 2008. (Link)
Diner's Journal: Wine blogger Eric Asimov offers more thoughts on 'Bourgogne' appellation wines, with nice mentions for Comte George de Vogue, and Domaine Leroy. (Link)
