Winery #
CLIF Gary's Improv Syrah 2006 Napa Valley $35
Ohhhh I've seen these wines all over and always wanted to try them. Sarah Gott is their winemaker. Coolio. Syrah's are one of my favorite varietals...this is great. I like how it's not kicking me in the booty, but just a light tap. It's round and complex, full and bright. It likes me, I can tell. I like it. They're opening a tasting room soon in Saint Helena...sweet.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Ahhhh one from the city
Winery #
Foggy Bridge Chardonnay 2007 San Francisco Bay $18
San Francisco Bay? Sooooo....where? It's so loud in here I can't hear.... Snuck a look at the bottle - Livermore Valley. Citrus/Fruit on the nose, but creamy on the palate. Interesting...they were striving for something different...they acheived that but it's a little...interesting...Hm.
Foggy Bridge Chardonnay 2007 San Francisco Bay $18
San Francisco Bay? Sooooo....where? It's so loud in here I can't hear.... Snuck a look at the bottle - Livermore Valley. Citrus/Fruit on the nose, but creamy on the palate. Interesting...they were striving for something different...they acheived that but it's a little...interesting...Hm.
On to a white
Winery #
Tandem Chardonnay 2007 $54
Honestly- Chard is tough for me. What can I say, I'm a red person. I do like that the winemaker is in overalls - that rocks. Tasting...Ok, maybe I just haven't had a fancy pants Chard before...that's a good wine. Oaky, smoky and karaoke. Ok, kidding. I couldn't think of anything else that rhymed with "oaky." Do you like Chard? Do you not like Chard? Try this. It's good.
Tandem Chardonnay 2007 $54
Honestly- Chard is tough for me. What can I say, I'm a red person. I do like that the winemaker is in overalls - that rocks. Tasting...Ok, maybe I just haven't had a fancy pants Chard before...that's a good wine. Oaky, smoky and karaoke. Ok, kidding. I couldn't think of anything else that rhymed with "oaky." Do you like Chard? Do you not like Chard? Try this. It's good.
Next...
Winery #
Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre 2007 $16
I started at Cline at the tender age of 24...I have extremely good memories of all of my visits to Cline. Now on to the wine...wow that's smooth. Again, not what I expected from a Mourvedre...I like. At $16 that's a smokin' deal. Time to go back to Cline!
PS - I used to live for those messages on their marquis - they kicked off my day on my commute. I've always wanted my name on that marquis.
Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre 2007 $16
I started at Cline at the tender age of 24...I have extremely good memories of all of my visits to Cline. Now on to the wine...wow that's smooth. Again, not what I expected from a Mourvedre...I like. At $16 that's a smokin' deal. Time to go back to Cline!
PS - I used to live for those messages on their marquis - they kicked off my day on my commute. I've always wanted my name on that marquis.
Line 39
Winery # something - Line 39 '07 Petite Sirah $10
Lake County representin! Bam. Not what I expected, but based on the packaging and the varietal I expected a $30+ bottle. Nope - 10 bucks. I'm very impressed. Easy on the palate given that it's a PS, if I can find this locally, it'll be my shock-'em-at-dinner wine!
Lake County representin! Bam. Not what I expected, but based on the packaging and the varietal I expected a $30+ bottle. Nope - 10 bucks. I'm very impressed. Easy on the palate given that it's a PS, if I can find this locally, it'll be my shock-'em-at-dinner wine!
Drink me.
Winery 7 - Snow's Lake Vineyard - Cloverdale
'05 72% Cab & 28% Cab Franc (I should like this one) $45
Thanks to David Honig again for this - "needs another 5 years" - I'm learning a ton!!
'05 72% Cab & 28% Cab Franc (I should like this one) $45
Thanks to David Honig again for this - "needs another 5 years" - I'm learning a ton!!
Please Rotate
Winery 6 - Cupcake Vineyards
07 Cab $13.99
65% Monterey (Wild Horse vineyards) 35% Livermore
Director of Marketing said "want our wines to be creamy" - let's see if it is...
Not bad for the retail - Recommend for an every-day-Cabernet.
PS - They bring cupcakes every year. You had me at cupcake.
07 Cab $13.99
65% Monterey (Wild Horse vineyards) 35% Livermore
Director of Marketing said "want our wines to be creamy" - let's see if it is...
Not bad for the retail - Recommend for an every-day-Cabernet.
PS - They bring cupcakes every year. You had me at cupcake.
Next!
Winery 5 - Pinot Evil
3L B-I-B
Always wanted to try that...not the greatest nose, ok on the palate. I do have to say that it's cool they're promoting bag-in-box - let's get Americans off the I'm-too-good-for-box mentality!
3L B-I-B
Always wanted to try that...not the greatest nose, ok on the palate. I do have to say that it's cool they're promoting bag-in-box - let's get Americans off the I'm-too-good-for-box mentality!
Numero Quattro
Winery 4 - Fish Eye
08 Pinot Grigio
Again - not too much of a fan of PG so I'm a tad biased. It's a bit to sweet for me...though the nose makes my mouth water. Seems like it'd be great for my backyard on a hot summer day with friends and the BBQ fired up...
(Sidenote - I'm getting a little hot...I should probably start spitting!)
08 Pinot Grigio
Again - not too much of a fan of PG so I'm a tad biased. It's a bit to sweet for me...though the nose makes my mouth water. Seems like it'd be great for my backyard on a hot summer day with friends and the BBQ fired up...
(Sidenote - I'm getting a little hot...I should probably start spitting!)
Bring it #3
Winery 3 - Schramsberg
YUMMY! 06 Blanc de Blancs - I had this at a wedding this weekend and I HEART IT. The only bubbles I can drink without insta-headache! I have to idea how to describe sparkling...I don't drink it much after an unfortunate incident in college with Cook's. This is so far beyond Cook's they're not even in the same world. The folks next to me are loving this one! I heard "fresh baked French bread and magnolias" from David Honig - loving it :)
YUMMY! 06 Blanc de Blancs - I had this at a wedding this weekend and I HEART IT. The only bubbles I can drink without insta-headache! I have to idea how to describe sparkling...I don't drink it much after an unfortunate incident in college with Cook's. This is so far beyond Cook's they're not even in the same world. The folks next to me are loving this one! I heard "fresh baked French bread and magnolias" from David Honig - loving it :)
Next...
Winery 2: Twisted Oak
River of Skulls - 88% mouvedre 12% syrah
I'm diggin this....I like that it's soft yet bold (does that even make sense??) but I really like Mourvedre :)
River of Skulls - 88% mouvedre 12% syrah
I'm diggin this....I like that it's soft yet bold (does that even make sense??) but I really like Mourvedre :)
All Wineries are Waiting in the Wings...
Here they come!
Winery 1 - Bella
One of my favorite wineries in Dry Creek, we're kickin it off with Bella! Joe, the winemaker, is starting us off...Lily Hill Zin 07....6 blocks (30 y/o - 60 y/o)...retail $38
Tastes like a perfect Dry Creek Zin...spicy, sexy and fruity...somedays I feel like that.
Winery 1 - Bella
One of my favorite wineries in Dry Creek, we're kickin it off with Bella! Joe, the winemaker, is starting us off...Lily Hill Zin 07....6 blocks (30 y/o - 60 y/o)...retail $38
Tastes like a perfect Dry Creek Zin...spicy, sexy and fruity...somedays I feel like that.
And the Live Wine Blogging Begins...
I've been speed dating twice since last WBC...I should be better than last year!
Back Again!
I'm at the 2nd annual Wine Bloggers Conference in Santa Rosa and prepping my phalanges for some mad blogging/twittering over the next 2.5 days. I'm stoked to be here and can't wait to meet people and be immersed in the social-media-meets-vino world!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Chronic Cellars
On my recent trip to Santa Barbara, my friend and I stopped in Cambria to get lunch and visit a wine shop there. In the deli, we saw some interesting and new labels...one of which is this one: Chronic Cellars. My first thought when I saw this was - how the heckfire did they get this past the TTB??? Hilarious.Congratulations, Hardy Wallace!
Murphy-Goode's "A Really Goode Job" winner has been chosen: Hardy Wallace from Hotlanta. Nice work, Mr. Wallace! Diggin' your entry video too :)
Article on SFGate
Hardy Wallace's Blog: Dirty South Wine
Article on SFGate
Hardy Wallace's Blog: Dirty South Wine
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Constellation
Just read an interesting article from the Spectator about Constellation. I had read last week about how much they've slipped this quarter over last, and how they've been restructuring. I've heard first hand what is happening over there and I'm definitely happy to be where I am.
All companies have been hit hard by this recession. That's an understatement, I know. I did want to just quickly comment that though re-orgs, layoffs and selling off brands may quickly change the bottom line, making shareholders happy, the long term is just a shift in thinking: back to basics. An awesome blog post on this comes from John Corcoran in his Think Wine Marketing blog. His blog is a great read and I learn a ton of new stuff every time I get the notice on Facebook.
Though companies need to make immediate changes to help their business financially, in a year, those positions that were let go will be re-posted and the team will fill in again. I weathered the storm of numerous layoffs at my last company and watched how everything came back around. The departments grew after time and were the same as they were before the layoffs had happened. Restructuring only works when you really dive deeply into how your organization is setup and try to make correct choices instead of haste ones.
Value the employees you have, assess your business REGULARLY, review your org charts, hire selectively, and even if you grow fast, really think about how you set your company up to support all that extra work from all those extra sales.
As for wine back-to-basics, this is the time to truly research wine consumers, find out what they want, what they drink, and where they're going. Invest in this. When you understand who your current and potential customers are, you're ahead of the game and have every point of differentiation needed to surpass your competitors.
All companies have been hit hard by this recession. That's an understatement, I know. I did want to just quickly comment that though re-orgs, layoffs and selling off brands may quickly change the bottom line, making shareholders happy, the long term is just a shift in thinking: back to basics. An awesome blog post on this comes from John Corcoran in his Think Wine Marketing blog. His blog is a great read and I learn a ton of new stuff every time I get the notice on Facebook.
Though companies need to make immediate changes to help their business financially, in a year, those positions that were let go will be re-posted and the team will fill in again. I weathered the storm of numerous layoffs at my last company and watched how everything came back around. The departments grew after time and were the same as they were before the layoffs had happened. Restructuring only works when you really dive deeply into how your organization is setup and try to make correct choices instead of haste ones.
Value the employees you have, assess your business REGULARLY, review your org charts, hire selectively, and even if you grow fast, really think about how you set your company up to support all that extra work from all those extra sales.
As for wine back-to-basics, this is the time to truly research wine consumers, find out what they want, what they drink, and where they're going. Invest in this. When you understand who your current and potential customers are, you're ahead of the game and have every point of differentiation needed to surpass your competitors.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Screwcaps
Wine = romance. This rings true for so many wine drinkers. Part of the romance is the pop of the cork in a white table cloth establishment.
Given that consumers are enticed by that cork pop and the pomp and circumstance that comes along with ordering a nice bottle of wine, the industry needs to address how to deal with screwcaps. Many wines are heading in this direction. Though not cheaper than corks, even at a high volume, screwcaps offer a better closure as no air will seep into the wine unless the seal has been broken.
I've followed the articles on screwcaps over the past couple of years and there have been few tools I've seen that will attempt to overcome the perception that screwcap wine = cheap.
Yesterday I saw this article about a new tool called the Vimentis.
My first impression is that it also looks cheap. What it does have going for it is its cost (low) and the chance to brand it (perfect for wineries/restaurants.) Will this help the screwcap in the on-premise world? Maybe, maybe not. Consumers are very opinionated and maybe it's just that we need to give it time to catch on. I think that tools will help in an on-premise situation, but it's up to wineries, wine bloggers, wine writers and wine conneisseurs to keep promoting screwcaps when it makes sense and highlight the fact that great wines come in screwcaps.
Given that consumers are enticed by that cork pop and the pomp and circumstance that comes along with ordering a nice bottle of wine, the industry needs to address how to deal with screwcaps. Many wines are heading in this direction. Though not cheaper than corks, even at a high volume, screwcaps offer a better closure as no air will seep into the wine unless the seal has been broken.
I've followed the articles on screwcaps over the past couple of years and there have been few tools I've seen that will attempt to overcome the perception that screwcap wine = cheap.
Yesterday I saw this article about a new tool called the Vimentis.
My first impression is that it also looks cheap. What it does have going for it is its cost (low) and the chance to brand it (perfect for wineries/restaurants.) Will this help the screwcap in the on-premise world? Maybe, maybe not. Consumers are very opinionated and maybe it's just that we need to give it time to catch on. I think that tools will help in an on-premise situation, but it's up to wineries, wine bloggers, wine writers and wine conneisseurs to keep promoting screwcaps when it makes sense and highlight the fact that great wines come in screwcaps.
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