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 10,2014
I found my older tasting notes for some good and bad older wines. Here are some of my review notes.
1970 Grand Puy Lacoste-Pauilllac,Bordeaux
On the nose there was plummy raspberry jammy notes with some tobacco. On the palate there was more of faded dried fruits than jam with lots of acidity. The wine was alive with its great acidity in it;s long finish with the dried fruits. Past its maturity. Tasted October 2011.
1968 Batailley-Pauillac,Bordeaux
On the nose there was black cassis and notes of dried leather. On the palate, there was hints of faded fruit. The high acidity in the finish was all the wine had left to offer.Past its drinking life. Tasted October 2011.
1995 Chateau la Graviere Tirecul Vendage Tardive Cuvee Madame-Monbazillac,Bergerac,South West France
On the nose honey and caramel were flowing from the glass. On the palate, it was full bodied, rich and cloying. But the finish had the right acidity to balance the sweetness. Average Retail Price is $175 for 500 ml bottle.Tasted October 2011
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.
Santorini Cycladlic Architecture
Due to early bud break the 2013 harvest has turned out to be one of the earliest harvest in recent yeears.
2013 was a good year weatherwise. The winter was mild with appropriate amounts of rainfall.Spring was warm with little rain. Summer was typical. There were no extreme high temperatures and the long Etesian northern winds provided cooling and low humidity.Other than a strong wind storm on April 18, 2012 the vines were in good shape.The wind storm destroyed young buds resulting in a 20% decrease in grape production. The vines produced grapes with moderate level of sugars resulting in moderate alcohol levels.
January 2, 2014
Rose
2012 Domaine Houchart Rose from Cotes de Provence
Champagne
1998 Piper Heidsieck Rare Champagne
Spanish
2011 Bodegas Mauro
Argentina
2010 Valle de la Puerta Ichanka Bonarda
France-White Bordeaux
2011 Chateau Bonnet-White Bordeaux
France-Red
2004 Chateau Malescot St. Exupery