Category Archives: BY VARIETAL

Ready To Read Another Dull ‘En Primeur’ Column? Good, Because I’m Not Ready To Write One

Posted on April 12, 2012 by intoxreport

American wine people love to pronounce French words—especially those that they actually can pronounce. That’s why they’re always talking about lieu-dit, cépage and egrappage when they could be talking about ‘vineyard’, ‘kind of grape’ and ‘yanking the friggin’ stems off’. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bordeaux, Cab/Merlot, Cabernet Franc, FRANCE, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

A Long Languid Lope Down The Loire

Posted on April 5, 2012 by intoxreport

Part I:  How White is My Valley? The wild Loire is the longest river in France, and its associated winemaking  ward covers a whoppin’ 185,000 acres.  Originating in the deep south—virtually in the Rhône appellation—it scrambles up through Orléans (Jeanne … Continue reading →

Posted in Loire, Melon de Bourgogne, Sauvignon Blanc | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Chianti Chronology: Pouri Some Mori Antinori

Posted on April 3, 2012 by intoxreport

As defined by the Dalmasso Commission in 1932, the seven zones of Chianti have enjoyed more ups-and-downs among the fickle American public than Newt Gingrich—although unlike Newt, the Touchstone of Tuscany actually has something of value to offer. First gaining … Continue reading →

Posted in Chianti, ITALY, Sangiovese | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brown-Nosing in Paso Robles: Red Zeppelin Winery

Posted on March 31, 2012 by intoxreport

Of my forty-three thousand Facebook friends, I know approximately four of them personally—the rest I solicited over the years so that I could make smarmy rejoinders to their heartfelt postings in the firm belief that I would become the Oscar … Continue reading →

Posted in CALIFORNIA, Central Coast, Grenache, Syrah/Shiraz | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Velvety ‘Veleta’: A Big Cheese In Tiny Contraviesa-Alpujarra

Posted on March 29, 2012 by intoxreport

Q.: What does Veleta have in common with Velveeta? A.: Neither are made out of cheese. * Okay, now that the inevitable and idiotic processed cheese-food reference has been laid to rest, I turn my focus toward a series of … Continue reading →

Posted in SPAIN, Tempraillo, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Stryker Sonoma Petit Verdot: The Golden Ticket

Posted on March 26, 2012 by intoxreport

My buddy Roger Bonga makes a sinfully serious chocolate wine out in Grand Rapids; Oregon’s Shallon Winery makes ‘a rich chocolate and orange whey* wine’; and of course, there’s that inexplicably weird and awful Dutch mess called Chocovine, a blend … Continue reading →

Posted in Petit Verdot, Sonoma | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Hestan Vineyards: Picture Perfect Picks From The Sultan of Saucepans

Posted on March 8, 2012 by intoxreport

When a well-heeled businessman decides to open a winery—and plenty do—we can but hope that they possess at least one of the Big Three: A sense of taste, a love of the land or winemaking savvy. If somebody around the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cab/Merlot, CALIFORNIA, Chardonnay, Napa | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Certainly Maceration Is Normal For Boys, Ben. But…

Posted on January 29, 2012 by intoxreport

…not during Algebra.  Now, wash your hands and finish your polynomials. Yesterday I had my wine tasting acumen publically mocked by Ben Fawcett because I dared to suggest that I am a fan of Beaujolais—or rather, because  I like the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beaujolais, FRANCE, Gamay | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Iberian Intoxicants for New Year’s Day (And Beyond)

Posted on January 1, 2012 by intoxreport

What’s the with-it Spaniard imbibing on this frosty January Sunday?  Something from Torres, no doubt. Founded in 1870 by Jaime Torres, the family now controls the largest winery in Spain along with the most extensive vineyards in  Penedès and can … Continue reading →

Posted in Grenache, Penedès, Priorat, SPAIN | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Vintage 2008: Donati Delivers A Digest of Doozies

Posted on December 28, 2011 by intoxreport

It has been said (by Italians mostly) that there are only two kinds of people in the world: Italians and people who wish they were Italian. Whether or not you accept this, the fact is, in terms of cool, Italians … Continue reading →

Posted in Cab/Merlot, Paicines | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment