Category: Ramblings and Rants
Dead Fish Lead to Good Wine
As if the famously untranslatable French concept of terroir wasn’t complicated enough. Harrumph. We wine lovers have enough on our
The Return of the Wine Cooler
I’m in fifth grade. Michael Jackson and George Michael are forces of nature. Hair is big, and so are socks.
Those Arrogant Frogs
I’m not sure to whether to file the latest news from France under Tragically Hip or It’s About Damn Time.
Note to Self: Don’t Send Wine to Tony Blair
International diplomacy is a tough business. Apparently you need to go around walking on eggshells all the time — never
The Spectator Grand Award Wizard Speaks
No system of awards and ratings for restaurants can ever be perfect. From Zagat to Michelin to the James Beard
Vinography Profiled
Occasionally I get asked how this whole Vinography thing got started, and there certainly is a story (though, I’ll warn
The Blogger and The Critic’s Golden Tastebuds
When I was a kid, I didn’t have a television, but whenever I got the chance at a friend’s or
Wine Writers, Polish Your Résumés
Serious applicants only please. It has come to me through the top-secret grapevine that Linda Murphy, long-time wine editor at
Familiar Bedfellows Now Go Commercial
In the category of “it’s about time” comes a recent announcement that seems to make perfect sense. At least to
Messages In a Bottle: The Cook’s Wine Cellar
Whenever people find out that I write about wine, the first question is always “Wow. Do you make a living
Wine Dinner of The Century or a Waste of Great Wine?
There’s an extravagance that’s hard to avoid among wine lovers. The more experience people get with wine, and the deeper
British Pensioners to Rescue France?
Surely you’ve heard of the “wine lake” ? This lovely phrase refers to the millions of gallons of wine produced
Fallout From The Second Paris Tasting
May marked the 30th anniversary of the famous 1976 Paris Tasting in which French wine experts selected California wines over
At Least You Don’t Live in Russia
Sometimes when American kids complain about the smallest things, parents say “at least you don’t live in [insert downtrodden, usually
A Deep Look Into The Glossy Wine Mags
We all (wine writers included) like to bitch about the glossy wine magazines in some way or another. I, for
Weird Wine Questions
Last night Ruth and I met some friends at a local taqueria for dinner. As we were munching on chips,
Warm Milk or Red Wine. It’s a tough call.
My jewish grandmother had cures for everything, most of which involved matzoh ball soup. One of them which I tended
Much Ado About Bubbles
I’ve remarked here more than once about the oddly strong relationship between rappers and champagne. It’s been one of those
Why Community Tasting Note Sites Will Fail
A lot of you are going to disagree with what follows. Especially if you use one of these services or,
