Well, that summer flew by. These days, with all the fires and political unrest, the faster the better, right? Only three more mayhem seasons before we enter even more mayhem, so godspeed—I guess … But let’s not forget to take care of ourselves along the way. Read more of something that’s not on your phone or computer. Study a new...[ read more ]
We live in an incredible time, a statement that remains true as long as we acknowledge that the word doesn’t always connote good things–take the current state of global power dynamics. But in the wine world, incredible things are happening that are fun to watch and be a part of. There’s so much beauty in the diversity of European wine...[ read more ]
I just returned from a month in the States. With jet lag finally in the rearview (I think), I’m finally clear-headed enough (I hope) to write without tossing everything out at the end of the day and starting this over tomorrow, or the next day. TBD. New York was the first stop. Five sleepless, full-throttle days of cooking, pounding pavement...[ read more ]
In last month’s newsletter, I wrote about my visit with Vincent Bergeron during my 41-day bender with Remy Giannico, our New York-based gaucho, and this month, three of his 2022 Chenin Blanc wines are arriving. Since tasting them for the first time in bottle last spring with our Los Angeles tastemaker, JD Plotnick (and a couple times out of barrel...[ read more ]
2022: Defying the sun Is there anything but strange happenings lately? The last decade produced some memorable moments for all of us as the wine import business, restaurants and retailers have constantly teetered between epic meltdowns and nearly irreparable disasters. Nothing has been easy and current events keep throwing more wrenches into the works. So then, what do you get...[ read more ]
The French leg of my December trip with Remy would start with cassoulet, and it would end with cassoulet. At Sonya’s Provençal farmhouse, Mas la Fabrique, where I have for decades taken refuge during my European gallivants, I began writing this newsletter mid-February as she and I started our three-day cassoulet marathon. Sonya specializes in rustic French classics, sometimes with...[ read more ]
“Please send me some good news, buddy!” This was our Barbaresco producer Dave Fletcher’s response to a market update email sent to our growers, one that outlined some potential pitfalls we might experience in 2025. In the face of recent surreal events, the concept of “good news” feels almost detached from reality, even though we all know there’s always something...[ read more ]
Our first encounter with Martin Muthenthaler in 2014 was at the same Vie Vinum table as our friend and Austrian wine wizard, Peter Veyder-Malberg. All who attended this wonderful biennial event had the fortune to taste the 2013 vintage from every top grower’s Austrian Riesling and Grüner Veltliner. 2013 remains a favorite since I started drinking Austrian wines in the...[ read more ]
As I begin to write this in the middle of September, the leaves of Catalonia’s Costa Brava have started to show the first signs of color change. The sun’s angle is noticeably lower and the sky has a hazy cast softened by feathery cirrus and stratus clouds. The temperature? Perfecto. It’s easy to miss the fall when the summer is...[ read more ]
