Blog Index

James Suckling

A French View of Tuscany and Merlot

Posted: 10:21 PM ET, 02/24/08

I mentioned last Friday that Francois Thienpont of the well-known Bordeaux clan had been hanging with me for a few days in Tuscany. It's fun to get a well-regarded French vintner's view of the Tuscan wine scene. So, over two days he tasted a few dozen wines and met a dozen or so wine producers. Read more

Kim Marcus

In the Wilds of Israel

Posted: 01:16 PM ET, 02/24/08

Back in contact.

Sorry for the delay since my last post, but the Israelis have been keeping me busy and the internet connections been a bit sparse. In fact, I’ve been in some pretty wild places; just the other night, I was serenaded by at first jackals (the local version of coyotes) and then by their domestic cousins in a small village called Agur, between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Read more

James Laube

Eureka For Wine Lovers And A Perfect Pancake

Posted: 05:28 PM ET, 02/22/08

Ambiance and company are part of most dining experiences -- and sometimes they are crucial elements. So is one’s hunger level. When you’re famished or thirsty, most things – even simple fare and ordinary wines -- taste pretty good. Read more

James Suckling

Hello, Hello … 2007 Bordeaux

Posted: 04:03 PM ET, 02/22/08

Does anyone out there care that I tasted a couple of 2007 barrel samples from Bordeaux? Yes. I tasted them in my kitchen Wednesday morning. It was about 30 minutes after my cappuccino and sweet roll at my local bar called Bar Marisa. No problem there. Read more

Richard Betts

Shades of Red in Montalcino: Part Two

Posted: 01:00 PM ET, 02/22/08

Continuing on with my Brunello trip: According to the Consorzio del Brunello, the territory of the appellation is roughly circular, with a diameter of 16 kilometers. This is a pretty big area, and after walking and driving all over its hills and valleys and viewing the variety of altitudes and expositions, I became convinced that it is a very diverse place—one that cannot be defined simply as Montalcino. Read more

Harvey Steiman

Mercer Redux

Posted: 08:38 AM ET, 02/22/08

Two old Washington hands, Mike Hogue and Bud Mercer, have joined forces for a new winery. It's called Mercer Estates.

Hogue sold the winery he owned with his brother Gary to Vincor in 2001, but now he's ready to roll out some new wines, which are being made by his longtime winemaker, David Forsyth. Read more

James Laube

Two Great Estates with Room to Grow

Posted: 03:40 PM ET, 02/21/08

When a winery loses a “driver” vineyard, or changes grape sources, it’s bound to change the quality of the wine.

Yesterday’s blog touched on wineries that used to buy a small portion of the Scarecrow Cabernet grapes, which is but one small and recent example. Read more

Harvey Steiman

Big Guns Finally Firing at Palazzo

Posted: 09:46 AM ET, 02/21/08

More than a month after its grand opening, Palazzo Las Vegas will finally have all of its star-chef restaurants in place by the end of the month. Construction delays forced the hotel to put Charlie Trotter, Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse on hold during the festivities in January. Read more

James Laube

Tasting the 2005 Scarecrow (But Beware the Ghost)

Posted: 05:22 PM ET, 02/20/08

Yesterday Celia Welch Masyczek poured me the new Scarecrow Cabernets, including the bottled 2005, a barrel sample of 2006 and several vineyard blocks of the 2007, which has just finished malolactic.

Masyczek (who also makes wines under the Corra label) makes Scarecrow for owners Bret Lopez and Mimi DeBlasio from their property in Rutherford. Read more

Kim Marcus

Israel, Day 2: North to Netanya

Posted: 05:04 PM ET, 02/20/08

It’s obvious there is a building boom in Israel. Since the early 1990s, nearly one million immigrants from the old Soviet Union have flooded into the country, invigorating and transforming its culture—and bringing a new appreciation for wine. Read more

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