January 23, 2014
If you are going to California in the near future, bring your own bottled water and do not expect to take long showers.
On January 17, 2014 Gov. Jerry Brown officially declared a drought emergency. He is asking Californians to reduce their water usage by 20%.
Hear that all you grapes, 20% less.
January 23, 2014
The weather is always a strong determining factor as to how the wines will turn out to be.
Bordeaux had a warm and dry spring into June. July brought lower than normal temperatures and plenty of rain. The temperatures in August dropped to cooler than normal.
With the moist conditions remaining from the heavy rain from July and the cooler temperatures in August, this set the stage for potentially more than usual vine diseases at this time of the year. At harvest time in September, an early rain made the Chateaus decide to pick early or at their normal time.
The warm dry spring created small berries with sun beat thick skins. The cool August slowed down the maturation and created uneven ripening of the berries throughout the bunches. The coolness also brought some more acidity in the berries. Time spent sorting out the uneven ripened berries was critical in this vintage.
Each winery had their own way of dealing with the weather and their more than normal adjustments in their vinification process.
So overall it should be considered a classic Bordeaux vintage. It is also a vintage to taste before you buy with all the inconsistencies amongst the Chateaus final products.
January 21, 2014
Union Des Grand Crus De Bordeaux 2014 Tour of the 2011 Vintage
On January 20, 2014 the Union Des Grand Crus De Bordeaux came to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in NYC to show many of their member’s 2011 vintage.
Chateaux owners showing over 110 wines from the following regions of Bordeaux were present:
Graves, Pessac-Leognan, Saint Emilion Grand Cru,Pomerol,Listrac Medoc,Moulis-En-Medoc, Haut Medoc, Medoc, Margaux, Saint Julien, Pauillac, Saint Estephe, Barsac and Sauternes.
Here is a quick summary of the wines
Red Bordeaux
I have found that the outstanding region in this 2011 vintage belongs to Saint Emilion Grand Cru. All of the other regions had their standout wines but you needed to taste each to find the surprise winners.
White Bordeaux
Graves and Pessac Leognan are the main regions that produce White Bordeaux with blends of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Pinot Gris and Muscadel. There were only about a dozen being shown. Similar to the red wines there are inconsistencies.
This is a vintage to be tasted prior to buying each Chateau’s wines due to the lack of consistent quality production.
Review notes of the standouts to follow.
January 17, 2014
Yesterday January 16, 2014 the Publisher and Editor of Wine and Spirits Magazine 
released his selection of 50 Great Portuguese Wines. His selection came from tasting different grape varieties and from different wine regions throughout Portugal.
Click here for Reviews of Portuguese Wines
Here is his list.
January 9,2014
In celebrating the new year we are Champagne focused.
Let’s consider everday in January a day to celebrate.(if you require a celebration to drink champagne)
The Favorite Wine selections for January 2014 are:
1999 Champagne de Meric Cuvee Prestige Catherine de Medici Grand Cru Brut
Non Vintage Eric Rodez Cuvee des Crayeres Champagne
January 8,2014
Amarone is a great pairing for the freezing cold weather or a good excuse to open that warm thought provoking bottle. The colder you feel the younger the vintage should be.
In the younger vintages, the higher alcohol content can be more easliy felt with the delicious dark dried sweet cherries.
The cold does not bother me that much. So I am keeping warm with a 1988 Zenato Amarone Classico.
It is drinking with all the powerful fruit mellowed out to be pleasant and elegant. The warming pleasure that it presents hides any of the 14.5% ABV.
