Musings on Wine and Spirits by Louis Marmon

As seen in:
Washington Post, Gazette Newspapers, DC Examiner, The Wine Report
Washington Jewish Week, LA Times, Jewish Exponent, Capitol File Magazine and in other cities in the US and Canada

Latest Article

Brane-Cantenac Continues Legacy Of Perfection

June 12, 2013

Reviews of some of the outstanding wines of Chateaux Brane-Cantenac.

In 1855, Napoleon III decided that the Bordeaux wineries represented at the Exposition Universelle de Paris need to be classified. Ranging from “First Cru” (growths) to “Fifth Cru,” these rankings have endured, despite significant changes in the size of many of the vineyards, with only a few modifications — among the most famous being the elevation of Mouton-Rothschild to “First Cru” in 1973. This is no mere list because the winery’s Cru classification has a direct effect upon the prices their wines can command. The cost of a bottle of the prestigious “First Growths” (Lafite-Rothschild, Latour, Margaux, Haut-Brion, and Mouton-Rothschild) is frankly astronomical and out of reach for many wine lovers. Thankfully there are other classified wines of the Medoc whose excellent quality is associated with a more approachable price. Not to say these other Bordeaux are inexpensive. But for those who wish to experience some memorable wines, it is certainly worth collecting a few friends to buy a bottle or two to share.

A Variety Of Varietals June 4, 2013 A review of the Balma Venitia Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise 2006 and several bottlings of Bowmore Single Malt Scotch. Most casual wine drinkers are aware of only a few grape varietals such as Cabernet, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Malbec and Shiraz. Others may have tried a Riesling, Pinot Gris or Petite Sirah. But there are literally hundreds more varietals that have been made into wines that are stylistically different and extremely enjoyable. All it takes is a willingness to explore the shelves of a well-stocked store and a sense of adventure. An example is the Muscat, a floral and somewhat spicy, light-bodied varietal that is grown in nearly every wine producing country and may be the oldest domesticated grape. In Italy it becomes Moscato and it is made into Moscatel in Spain. These muscat wines are best enjoyed when young and chilled and they pair wonderfully with lunch and other light fare or as an aperitif. Read more>>		A Better Way To Arrange Wines May 29, 2013 Reviews of the Le Mourre de l’Isle 2010 and the Glenmorangie Signet and Ealanta along with a look at the new Ardbeg release: “Ardbog.” Walk into many wine stores and you will see the bottles organized by country of origin. Occasionally this will be further subdivided by varietal or, more commonly, by the color of the wine. Since many European winemaking countries refrain from listing the types of grapes utilized on the label, the result is that the cabernet sauvignon-based Bordeaux may be sharing space with pinot noir from Burgundy which is next to a bunch of red Rhones containing syrah. There is likely a very sound underlying marketing rationale for this arrangement. It is a useful system for those who have an idea of what they want to drink or, perhaps more significantly, for the wines they want to avoid. But for those uninitiated into the intricacies of regional winemaking regulations, it really isn’t very helpful and adds to both confusion and the intimidation factor. Read more>>
Drinking To A New Jewish Life May 23, 2013 A review of the Louis de Sacy Brut Rose Champagne and the Talisker 25 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled in 2005. We recently had some reasons to rejoice and, as our readers would expect, there were a few bottles opened with family and friends. With a wide range of excellent wines available at all price levels, choosing the best celebratory wines was a bit of a challenge. Read more>>		What’s Really In That Glass Of Wine? May 20, 2013 A review of the Binyamina Reserve Unoaked Chardonnay 2011 and the Highland Park Loki 15-year-old single malt Scotch Whisky. Last week we noted that a wine’s flavors are primarily the result of how and where the grapes are grown coupled with the skill of winemaker, and that wine is essentially free of additives. There are parts of the wine producing world where the nonadditive approach is simply common practice and well-established tradition, while there are other regions where this sort of nonadditive winemaking is actually regulated. Even where regulation prevails, however, there are sometimes stipulated allowances for certain invasive steps and ingredients. Read more>>
It All Depends Upon The Grapes – And The Winemaker’s Skill May 7, 2013 Review of the Soreka Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 and two single cask Kilchoman Single Malt Scotch Whiskies. One question we are periodically asked is, “How do they get all those flavors into the wine?” The thought presumably being that the winemaker is somehow like a chef, creating finished dishes from a variety of ingredients besides just the primary one – that somehow winemakers add additional elements into their fermentation vats, perhaps throwing in some black cherries and pepper into the Syrah, or mixing some gooseberries into their Sauvignon Blanc. Wine critics shoulder a fair amount of blame for this, since many of the “official” wine descriptors regularly invoked suggest a veritable pantry of ingredients. But the truth is that there are very few additives permitted in wine. What we taste is nearly entirely dependent upon the grape itself and the skill of the winemaker. Read more>>		It’s Almost Summer – Daiquiri Season May 2, 2013 A review of the Yatir Sauvignon Blanc 2010 and a look at the Daiquiri. Sauvignon Blanc is one of our favorite warm weather wines. It is produced around the winemaking world in a number of different styles ranging from dry to very sweet dessert wines. The bright flavors and balanced acidity typical of well made dry, nonsweet versions of Sauvignon Blancs pair well with lighter summer fare, including cheeses, salads and even sushi; it makes for delightful backyard deck or picnic sipping. Read more>>
Vicchiomaggio – A Destination For Wine Lovers April 25, 2013 A review of the wonderful wines from Tuscany’s Castello Vicchiomaggio. There are few places in the world more picturesque than the Tuscany hills, especially when viewed from Castello di Vicchiomaggio while sipping some of their excellent wines. Located on a commanding summit just north of Greve in Chianti, the site’s first castle was constructed in the 5th century by settlers who named the place Vicchio dei Longobardi. During the Renaissance the name was changed to its current “Village of May” and it was once visited by Leonardo Da Vinci while he was painting the Mona Lisa. Read more>>		Spluring On Fortified Wines April 18, 2013 A review of the Zion Miharmartif Port-style kosher wine and several Port-finished Whiskies. While we love a bargain wine, every so often it is fun to splurge, especially when the bottle remains drinkable for a long time after the cork has been pulled. This is the domain of the fortified wine, that middle ground between wine and spirit. Some fortified wines, such as Port and Madeira, can provide pleasure for weeks after opening while others retain their flavors only if kept refrigerated. These wines are typically costly to produce and available in limited quantities, hence the generally higher price tag. Read more>>
.......

Page 1 of 28
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
...
28
>

GrapeLines

Reviews of Kosher and Non-Kosher Wines, Spirits and Other Liquid Pleasures

Musings on Wine and Spirits by Louis Marmon

Latest Article

Brane-Cantenac Continues Legacy Of Perfection

A Variety Of Varietals

A Better Way To Arrange Wines

Drinking To A New Jewish Life

What’s Really In That Glass Of Wine?

It All Depends Upon The Grapes – And The Winemaker’s Skill

It’s Almost Summer – Daiquiri Season

Vicchiomaggio – A Destination For Wine Lovers

Spluring On Fortified Wines