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Home > Blogs > Uncorked > Archives > 2008 > January
January 2008
A wintry mix — of wines!
Some great juice on tap at the local wine tastings this weekend and beyond, and thanks to the Dayton-based listserv that compiles this comprehensive wine-tastings-and-events list for its members and for Uncorked, you can view the entire list with the mere click of a mouse on “continue reading” below. And for more on Cincinnati-area wine tastings, visit my colleague Michelle’s My Wine Education blog.
I’m tellin’ ya, one look at this tastings list makes even Dayton winters seem tolerable … Cheers!
Jay’s Kitchen Door Friday, February 1, 2008 4-8 pm NV Duval Leroy Lady Rose 2005 Gary Farrell Russian River Pinot Noir 2005 Daniel Bocquenet Echezeaux 2002 Newton Le Puzzle
Saturday, February 2, 2008 1-6 pm NV Duval Leroy Blanc de Chardonnay 2003 Domain Charvin Cote du Rhone 2004 St. Clement Oroppas 2003 Chateau Pichon-Longueville
Saturday, February 16, 2008 12:30 pm $75 Jay’s 32nd Anniversary Bordeaux Luncheon Braised Pheasant Breast with Brunoise Vegetables and Crispy Potatoes Sautéed Bass with Turnip Puree, Spinach and Saffron-Vanilla Sauce Petite Salad of Apple Wood Smoked Bacon and Caramelized Fennel Veal Roast with Apricot-Thyme Chutney, Roasted Potatoes and Root Vegetables Chocolate Bing Cherry Cake with Bing Cherry Sauce
Arrow Wine & Spirits Far Hills — Kettering Saturday, February 2, 2008 11-4 pm 2004 Columbia Crest “Two Vines” Chardonnay 2006 Slip Stream Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Altos De Luzon 2005 Green Lion Napa Valley Merlot 2004 Kamen Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Talley Rosemary’s Vineyard Pinot Noir Fonseca Bin No. 27 Port
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood Friday, February 1, 2008 5-8pm Duval-Leroy Blanc de Blanc 1998 First Love White 2006 Rocca Barbera 2006 Wakefield Shiraz 2006 Luca Malbec 2005 Brown Bag
Saturday, February 2, 2008 1-6 pm Rive Prosecco NV Shooting Star Sauvignon Blanc 2005 Argyle Nut House Pinot Noir 2004 Clos De Siete 2006 Cave De Tain Hermitage 2003 Pahlmeyer Red 2003 Bonus Bottle
Beers: Weyerbacher Oak-Aged Imperial Stout, Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine
Wednesday, Feb 20, 2008 5:30 - 8:30 pm in the Oakwood upstairs café. Beer Tasting - British ales, porters, stouts and barleywines
DLM Washington Square Thursday, January 31, 2008 5-8 pm 2005 Stonecap Chardonnay 2005 Luca Pinot Noir 2006 La Posta Malbec 2001 Mellini La Selvanella Chianti Classico Riserva 2003 Mazzi Amarone Encore Wine!
Saturday, February 2, 2008 12-5 pm Fifi’s Mad for Mardi Gras NV Vin Fou Brut 2006 Folie a Deux Menage a Trois White 2006 Folie a Deux Menage a Trois Red 2005 Bonny Doon Domaine des Blageurs Syrah 2005 Two Brothers Big Tattoo Red 2005 Temptation Zinfandel 2005 Peachy Canyon Jester Meritage
Dorothy Lane Springboro Friday, February 1, 2008 3-7pm 2005 Pride Viognier 2005 La Spinetta Il Nero Di Casanova 2005 QuarterBack Red Wine 2005 Chateau Pey La Tour
Beers: 2008 Stone Guardian Barley Wine, Bell’s Hop Slam
Saturday, February 2, 2008 12-5 pm 2002 Mount Eden Chardonnay 2006 Drew Pinot Noir Carasacchi 2006 Drew Pinot Noir Gatekeeper 2003 La Spinetta Sassontino Toscana 2005 Two Hands Max’s Garden Shiraz
Beers: Weyerbacher Heresy Imperial Oak Aged Stout, Lagunitas Imperial Stout
Monday February 4, 2008 5-7 pm Italian wine tasting with winemakers Mauro Veglio and Gianfranco Alessandria at DLM Springboro
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 - 7 pm, Friday 11:30 - 8 pm Saturday 11:30 - 7 pm www.cuveewinebar.net Tasting from Friday, February 1 -Thursday, February 7, 2008 Willamette Valley Vineyards 2006 Riesling Argiolas 2005 Vermentino Firriato 2006 Grillo Peirano 2006 Red Shorts Red Mazzocco Stone Ranch 2004 Zinfandel Le Cadeau Vineyard 2005 Cote Est Pinot Noir
Beer: Bell’s Double Bock Food: Lambwich and Toulousean Peasant Stew Saturday, massage will be here 12:30-3:30 providing10 minute chair massages.
New! Every Wednesday night Chef Chris will be making a hearty soup or stew! Wednesday, February 6, 2008 Soup Night! 4-7 pm Rhode Island Seafood Chowder
Arrow Centerville 937-433-6778 615 Lyons Rd Centerville Friday, February 1, 2008 5-7 pm Sierra Nevada ESB… Boulder Brewing Co. Mojo Risin’ Double IPA… Weihenstephaner Vitus Weizen-bock… Kwak Belgian Special Ale… Rogue Mocha Porter
Saturday, February 2, 2008 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting 2006 A to Z Pinot Gris… 2004 Marques de Caceras Crianza… 2006 Marquis Philips Shiraz… 2004 Paoletti Malbec… 2006 Tres Picos Garnacha
The Wine Gallery and Cafe, Corner of 3rd and Wayne Wednesday February 6, 2008 5:30PM to 8:30PM Shiraz Tasting 2005 Schild Sparkling Shiraz 2006 L Bernard Cotes du Rhone 2003 Paraiso Spring Syrah 2002 Finca Flichman Shiraz Reserve 2000 Warwick Estate Reserve 2003 Moorooroo Shiraz
February 14, 2008 5:30PM to 8:30PM. Special Valentines Day Wine Tasting benefiting The Gays Men Chorus of Dayton. $25.00 for the tasting and appetizer buffet.
Market Wine Imports, Second Street Public Market Friday, February 1, 2008 5PM to 11PM Mardi Gras Party
Saturday, February 2, 2008 8AM to 1PM. Last Chance on great value wines!
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 937-320-9548 Wine Wednesdays 5pm to 8pm in the bar. Wednesday, February 6, 2008
A Taste of Wine 90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 This week featuring: Stone Cap Chardonnay,Terra D’Oro Moscato, January 31 Desert Wind Washington Wines 7pm. February 6 - South American Wine Tasting 7pm February 13 - Organic Wine Tasting 7pm February 14 - Dinner & A Show rsvp to Chimneys 937-304-9468
Savona Restaurant, Centerville Wednesday, February 13, 2008 5-7 pm Dievole wines
Trader Joe’s in Kettering. Tastings Thursday 6:00 to 8:00 and Sunday 4:00 to 7:00. Vinas Chilenas Reserve Chardonnay (2007) Central Valley, Chile. Black Mountain Gravel Bar Chardonnay (2005) California. Rosenblum Appellation Series Zinfandel: Paso Robles (2005) AVA Paso Robles, California.
Plus beer! BrouCzech handmade beers from Nova Paka, Czech Republic: Pils Lager Dark
American Institute of Wine and Food Big Reds Tasting Friday, February 15th, 7:00-9:30 Wright Patterson Club, WPAFB $80 Members, $90 Non-members RSVP by February 8th 937-434-9539 for more details!
Cork-n-Vine Wine Cellar in Troy, Ohio February 1, 2008 at 5 pm - February 8, 2008 Burgans Albarino-MonteVina Terrado’oro- St. Clement Chardonnay-Penfolds Koonunga Hill- Goose Ridge Red-Souverain Cabernet
Friday, Feb. 1 6pm-9pm Beer Tasting at Dagwoods Deli(next door) Left Hand Haystack Wheat Breckenridge Avalanche Ale Left Hand Sawtooth Ale Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA Breckenridge Vanilla Porter Left Hand Milk Stout
Miami Valley Wine & Spirits 943 West Main St., Tipp City, Oh. 45371 Friday, February 1, 2008 5-9 pm 8 3 oz. pours of unique and new beers
Bella Vino, Wine Merchant & Bar, Springboro, OH 45066 Thursday , January 31, 2008 5:30-7:30pm. William Fevre Champs Wine by Joe Pinot Gris Toad Hollow “Erik the Red” Woop Woop Cabernet Sauvignon Anne Amis Cuvee A Pinot Noir
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com La Petite France http://www.lapetitefrance.biz/ Reservations 513-733-8383 February 1st, 7 pm Best of The Wine of the Month Club and appetizers. Reservations recommended.
Sat, February 2nd, 3-6 pm Bistro Wines with Pizza
The Winery at Versailles (937) 526-3232 6572 St Rte 47 Versailles, Ohio 45380 JAN 25th and 26th - Wine Flight Night. 7 to 9 p.m. “Sampler” with snack pairing. Reservations requested. Feb 8th and 9th - Wine and Chocolate Night. Reservations required. Feb 16th - Annual Valentine Gourmet Dinner. 4 course event, 7:30 p.m., make your reservations now. Cost is $50 per person PLUS tax and gratuity.
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‘Pink Port’ is the latest wine marketing folly
First, a note: keep an eye on Uncorked later today or Wednesday for your chance to comment on Restaurant Week, and read about others’ experiences. Now, on with the show.
Granted, I haven’t tasted the wine yet, and granted, my chromosomes disqualify me from its “target audience,” but I’ll go out on a limb anyway: “Pink port” just ain’t gonna cut it.
What focus group dreamed this up?
I’m talking about “Ladies Port,” a sugary, fortified concoction dreamt up in a lab somewhere, no doubt by the enological equivalent of Dr. Frankenstein. The folks at Decanter.com tipped us off to this charade this morning, and Decanter tasting panel members sampled the new product, and found it to be overly sweet and alcoholic, if not downright odd.
One of Decanter’s editors said, “This doesn’t taste like any port I know — it’s more like vodka and cranberry juice.”
Oh joy, that’s what the world needs. A modern-day Bartles & James, with a more powerful punch.
The news item has already prompted this response from one female reader of Decanter: “Please don’t generalize when it comes to ‘women’. I love a full bodied, concentrated, complex wine …”
God bless niche marketers and their silly ideas.
Of course, six months from now, when the women of the world are sucking down their pink ports like so many sodas and the producers are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing demand, y’all can laugh at my short-sightedness.
And the sun will rise in the west and set in the east that day.
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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Virginia wine law makes it the laughingstock of the nation
Gee, there ARE states with more ridiculous wine laws than Ohio. Who knew?
Check out this USA Today story entitled “Frustration over liquor laws brewing”. It throws the rather embarrassing spotlight on a Prohibition-era law still on the books in Virginia that makes it against the law to mix wine and spirits.
That means an authentic Mexican restaurant cannot serve authentic sangria, which calls for brandy or some other spirit to be mixed with wine and fruit. Can you imagine the fine local restaurant El Meson, whose owners travel the globe searching for and ensuring authenticity in their dishes, being forced by such a silly law to dumb down their excellent sangria recipes?
Virginia regulators should have stopped actively enforcing this antiquated, stupid law years ago, but the eager beavers in the alcohol beverage control department never got that memo. Instead, they not only cited a Mexican restaurant for the heinous crime of blending — they also forced the restaurant’s employees to pour the sangria — about 40 liters of it — down the drain.
There is a tiny glimmer of sanity. There is a bill pending in the Virginia legislature that would, if passed, overturn the 1934 law.. About 74 years too late.
Meanwhile, the Mexican restaurant in Virginia faces a potential fine of $2,500 and could lose its liquor license.
So for now, let’s all of us in the other 49 states pause a moment to affix our collective gaze upon the fine commonwealth of Virginia, point our fingers, and proclaim:
HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW HAW!!
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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Bargain meals beckon during Restaurant Week
In Friday’s Dayton Daily News, I tried to tell you everything you need to know about Restaurant Week. But I only succeeded in part. We didn’t have room in the DDN Go! section to show you perhaps the most important thing: the menus. Once again, Uncorked readers get the VIP treatment …
Between the two links in the paragraph above, you should have everything you need to take full advantage of one of the best across-the-board dining bargains around. Make your reservations now so you won’t be shut out — then next week, let us know about your Restaurant Week experiences (and read about others) right here in Uncorked.
Now that’s an offer that’s hard to refuse ….
Mark Fisher
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U.S., France at polar opposite extremes when it comes to marketing wine
These two stories, taken together, neatly capture the polar opposite extremes — the alternate damn universes — that the U.S. and France occupy when it comes to marketing wine.
First, this story from Decanter.com on a French court slapping a healthy fine on Champagne producer Moet & Chandon for … an advertisement. Because it linked pink Champagne with the good life.
The evidence against Moet? Well, the ad showed a bottle of pink champagne on a black background surrounded by pink flower petals. And some French judge ruled that, “the association between Champagne and ‘la vie en rose’ - which in common language suggests a euphoric approach to life - was accentuated by the colors used,” the Decanter story says.
Gosh, if such standards were applied to wine (and beer and spirits) ad campaigns in the U.S., how many fines do you think would be levied?
On the other end of the spectrum, we have a press release forwarded to me that originated with Atmosphere Wines that is headlined:
Quality Wine and Style Makes Glow in the Dark Not Just for kids Anymore: Former Mondavi partner announces new solo project, Atmosphere Wines, with innovative glow-in-the-dark packaging.
The press release quotes the partner as saying, “Having worked in all facets of the wine business over the past 16 years, I know the importance of packaging and presentation … I have always felt that a wine’s presentation should reflect the quality in the bottle.” More from the press release:
To create this unique packaging experience, Hoffman worked with an award-winning artist and silkscreen experts at Bergin Glass to create a unique label design that actually glows in the dark. Every part of the front and back label obtains a green glow after being exposed to light. “Now people have another great reason to talk about my wine while they are enjoying it with friends or family”, said Hoffman.
In America, glow-in-the-dark wine bottles, because glow in the dark, after all, is “not just for kids anymore.” In France, a prominent company is fined for showing wine with … rose petals.
The world’s an amazing place, is it not?
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Wines to accompany a slow thaw
Did you ever wonder what wines we crazy folks here in the heartland of America that is Dayton, Ohio sample on a weekend of knocking the icicles off our noses?
Wonder no further. Thanks to the Dayton-based listserv that compiles an exhaustive wine-tastings-and-events list for its members and Uncorked, you can find out with the mere click of a mouse on “continue reading” below. And for more on Cincinnati-area wine tastings, visit my colleague Michelle’s My Wine Education blog.
Cheers, and enjoy!
Mark Fisher
The Science of Wine - A Benefit for the Boonshoft Museum’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Programs. Saturday, January 26, 7:30 - 11:30 p.m. $75 per person ($35 is tax deductible.) Includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, creative wine selections, presentations, live music and Laser Shows. 937/275-7431 x 142
The Stivers School for the Arts Jazz Orchestra wine tasting fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27, at The Wine Gallery and Cafe, including a variety of wines and a buffet of hors d’oeuvres. $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Tickets are available at The Wine Gallery and Cafe or by contacting Stivers Jazz Orchestra parent volunteers Tracy Foskuhl at 937-371-1025 or tfoskuhl@woh.rr.com, or Kristen Wicker at 937-238-4121 or kmwicker@hotmail.com.
Jays Kitchen Door Friday, January 25, 2008 4-8 pm 2005 Chateau Thieully Blanc 2004 Laura Catena Luca Pinot Noir 2004 Chateau D’Aiguilhe 2004 Chateau Le Petit Mouton Rothschild
Saturday, January 26, 2008 1-6 pm NV Taittinger Brut La Francaise 2003 Chateau Malleret 2003 Dievole Plenum Quartus Chianti 2002 Banfi Summus
Saturday, February 16, 2008 12:30 pm $75 Jay’s 32nd Anniversary Bordeaux Luncheon Braised Pheasant Breast with Brunoise Vegetables and Crispy Potatoes Sautéed Bass with Turnip Puree, Spinach and Saffron-Vanilla Sauce Petite Salad of Apple Wood Smoked Bacon and Caramelized Fennel Veal Roast with Apricot-Thyme Chutney, Roasted Potatoes and Root Vegetables Chocolate Bing Cherry Cake with Bing Cherry Sauce
Arrow Far Hills - Kettering Saturday, January 26, 2008 11-4 pm 2006 Chateau De Parenchere Bordeaux Blanc 2006 Tormaresca Chardonnay 2004 Wellington Syrah 2002 Avvoltore Toscana Red 2006 Patricia Green Croft Pinot Noir 2004 Cedro Do Noval Douro 2003 Vieux Mas Des Papes Chateauneuf Du Pape
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood Friday, January 25, 2008 5-8pm Moet White Star Champagne NV Verget Macon Village 2006 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir 2005 Chateau de Pierreaux Brouilly 2003 Nelms Road Cabernet 2005 Brown Bag
Saturday, January 26, 2008 1-6 pm Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc 2004 Willamette Valley Vineyards Riesling 2005 Panther Creek Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir 2004 Chateau La Rogue Red 2001 Pinord Mas +7 Priorat 2004 Pine Ridge Stags Leap Cabernet 2002 Bonus Bottle (1999 Freemark Boche)
Beers: TBA
DLM Washington Square Thursday, January 24, 2008 5-8 pm 2006 Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett 2006 Groth Chardonnay 2005 Les Cailloux Chateauneuf du Pape 2005 Castillo des Monte la Riena 2001 Santadi Rocca Rubia Encore Wine!
Saturday, January 26, 2008 12-5 pm Fifi’s one “Sheila” who loves her “Aussies” 2004 Marquis Phillips Holly’s Blend 2006 Omrah Chardonnay 2005 Evil Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Boarding pass Shiraz 2004 Dutschke Willowbend Shiraz 2005 Two Hands Brave Faces Encore Wine!
Dorothy Lane Springboro Friday, January 25, 2008 3-7pm 2005 Chappelllet Chardonnay 2006 Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Noir Mccrone Vineyards 2005 Planeta Syrah 2002 Tikal Jubilo
Saturday, January 26, 2008 12-5 pm 2005 Walter Hansel Chardonnay 2005 Ken Wright Cellar Pinot Noir Carter Vineyards 2003 La Sirena Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 MollyDooker Enchanted Path
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 - 7 pm, Friday 11:30 - 8 pm Saturday 11:30 - 7 pm www.cuveewinebar.net Tasting from Friday, January 25 -Thursday, January 31, 2008 Fritz Windisch Sparkling Riesling Maculon 2006 Pinot and Toi Vignalta 2006 Chardonnay Cartridge and Brown 2006 Pinot Noir Velletri 2001 Red Table Wine Lolonis Ladybug Red
Beer: Flying Dog Barrel Aged Gonzo Imperial Porter Food: TBA Saturday, massage will be here 12:30-3:30 providing 10 minute chair massages.
Tuesday January 29, 4:00pm-7:00pm Drop-In Tasting Pretty Sally Vineyards featuring owner, Aussie, Jim Davies Rose (of Cab), Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz and Cab/Shiraz.
Chef Chris will be featuring several small plates for your culinary delight.
Arrow Centerville 937-433-6778 615 Lyons Rd Centerville Friday, January 25, 2008 5-7 pm Double Bocks! Sam Adams Double Bock… Victory St. Victorious… Ayinger Celebrator… Spaten Optimator…
Saturday, January 26, 2008 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting 2005 Renwood Sierra Series Viognier… 2005 Coppola Claret… 2005 Beaulieu Vineyard Napa Valley Zinfandel… 2005 Travaglini Gattanara
The Wine Gallery and Cafe, Corner of 3rd and Wayne Wednesday January 30, 2008 5:30PM to 8:30PM Pinot Noir Tasting
January 24, 2008 Beer Tasting from 5:30pm to 8:30pm featuring Bell’s Hop Slam!
Market Wine Imports, Second Street Public Market Saturday, January 26Th from 8AM to 1PM. MORE Hot buys available for tasting Reifle Pinot Blanc, Hyatt Syrah, sake, Midnight Cellars Merlot to name a few.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 937-320-9548 Wine Wednesdays 5pm to 8pm in the bar. Wednesday, January 30, 2008 CAVAS SUBMARINAS, Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley, 2006 HEITZ CELAR, Grignolino, Napa Valley, 2005 L’ECOLE NO 41, Apongee, Pepper Bridge Vineyard Walla Walla Valley 2003 PANTHER CREEK, Pinot Nior, Shea Vineyard Willamette Valley, 2004
A Taste of Wine 90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 This week featuring: Stone Cap Chardonnay,Terra D’Oro Moscato, Taz Pinot Gris, Trinchero Vista Montone Pinot Noir, Columbia Winery Syrah, Melini Chianti Classico January 24 Well Kept Secret Wine tasting 7pm January 29 Wine & Wellness - Eat, Drink & Be Healthy 7 - 8:30pm January 31 Desert Wind Washington Wines 7pm. February 6 - South American Wine Tasting 7pm February 13 - Organic Wine Tasting 7pm February 14 - Dinner & A Show rsvp to Chimneys 937-304-9468
Miami Valley Wines, 6565 Brandt Pike, 937-235-2046
This Saturday from 4-7pm. Italian wines
Savona Restaurant, Centerville Wednesday, February 13, 2008 5-7 pm Dievole wines
Trader Joe’s in Kettering. Tastings Thursday 6:00 to 8:00 and Sunday 4:00 to 7:00. Tenimenti Conti Neri Ripasso (2005) DOC Valpollicella Classico Superiore, Italy. Old Moon Old Vine Zinfandel (2006) California. David Bruce Petite Sirah (2004) AVA Central Coast, California. Honey Moon Viognier (2006) California.
Winans - Dayton Mail January 26: Conundrum - California - White Table Wine Simi - Russian River - Chardonnay Luna - Napa - Sangiovese Penfolds Club - Australia - Tawny Port Folie a Deux - Menage a Trois - California - Red Table Wine
Winds Cafe in Yellow Springs. Wine 101 January 26, 2008 3 pm $90 for both classes
Cork-n-Vine Wine Cellar in Troy, Ohio Friday January 25-11, 2008 January 25, 2008 at 5 pm - February 1, 2008 Rudolph Muller Riesling Auslese - Santa Rita Sav. Blanc - Clos Du Bois Chardonnay - Cool Fish Red(blend) - Bella Novello Merlot - Piccolo Cru’ (Cab.Merlot,Cab Franc, Malbec)
Friday, Feb. 1 6pm-9pm Beer Tasting at Dagwoods Deli(next door) Left Hand Haystack Wheat Breckenridge Avalanche Ale Left Hand Sawtooth Ale Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA Breckenridge Vanilla Porter Left Hand Milk Stout
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com Friday, January 25 7 pm: Charity Vines Wines that Give Back! Part of the proceeds from the tasting will be given to Reach Out Lakota.
Saturday, January 26, 3-6 pm Wine Paired with Cheeses Wines & Cheeses: Benziger Chardonnay and creamy Havarti, Sauvignon Blanc with goat cheese, Marques Caceres and wne cured goat cheese from Spain, and Vina Alarba Old Vines Grenache with Parrano Cheese.
La Petite France http://www.lapetitefrance.biz/ Reservations 513-733-8383 Friday, January 25, 2008 and Saturday, January 26, 2008 Taste of Alsace-Lorraine region of France. $40 follows: Aperitif - Riesling Appetizer - Avocado crab salad Entree - Choucroute Alsacienne (delicious Alsatian sauerkraut) Dessert - Peach Melba
The Winery at Versailles (937) 526-3232 6572 St Rte 47 Versailles, Ohio 45380 JAN 25th and 26th - Wine Flight Night. 7 to 9 p.m. “Sampler” with snack pairing. Reservations requested. Feb 8th and 9th - Wine and Chocolate Night. Reservations required. Feb 16th - Annual Valentine Gourmet Dinner. 4 course event, 7:30 p.m., make your reservations now. Cost is $50 per person PLUS tax and gratuity.
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Another encouraging health study — and why wine drinkers should be wary
Active, moderate wine drinkers will find plenty to like in the conclusions of a just-released Danish wine study that found such folks suffer from less heart disease and live longer overall than those who abstain or who are heavy drinkers. But rather than simply basking in the glow of these health studies, wine drinkers should be asking questions, and reading the fine print.
The study is entitled The combined influence of leisure-time physical activity and weekly alcohol intake on fatal ischaemic heart disease and all-cause mortality, and clicking on that rather long title will take you to the published study itself. For one interpretation of the study, check out the Wine Spectator Online story entitled “Moderate Drinkers Who Also Exercise Likely to Live Longer, Study Finds”.
The study categorized “moderate” drinking as up to 14 drinks per week, or an average of two glasses of wine (or drinks or cans of beer) per day. Heavy drinkers drank 15 or more drinks per week.
Here’s what I like — and don’t like — about this study, and the limitations that the authors themselves acknowledge:
I like the fact that the study included 12,000 participants — not huge, but not tiny, either — and that it examined data for 20 years.
I don’t like the fact that the drinking pattern of the participants wasn’t established. Those who drank two glass of wine with dinner every night are in the same moderate category as those who abstain five nights a week, then go on a seven-drink binge on Friday and Saturday nights. Likewise, those who drink two-and-a-half glasses of wine with dinner every day are lumped into the heavy drinking category with those who consume a fifth of vodka a day.
Then there’s the whole chicken-or-the-egg concern: Could it be that physically active moderate drinkers are already more health-conscious in other aspects of their lives — especially in what they choose to eat — and may be better-off economically and thus have better access to high-quality health care?
The authors themselves acknowledge the diet possibility quite clearly:
The physically active potentially have a healthier diet than the inactive, and those who drink moderately potentially have a healthier diet than non-drinkers, which may have confounded our results. The preventive effect of physical activity and alcohol intake may, instead, be due to a healthier diet or to effects of diet in interaction with physical activity or alcohol intake.
So as with all health studies, take this one with a grain of sediment, and ponder it carefully — preferably, while jogging on the treadmill, with a nice bottle of Pinot Gris chilling in the fridge.
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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Where is he now? George McGovern oversees new alcohol labeling proposals
The Washington Post piece entitled “Alcohol Labeling Proposal Sets Off a Brawl” has plenty to chew on, but the part that caught my eye was this:
George McGovern, a former Democratic senator of South Dakota who worked on the first steps toward the government’s dietary guidelines, suggested that regulators include standard drink sizes — each containing the same amount of alcohol — and how many drinks there are in a container.
George McGovern? The liberal anti-war senator who won the Democratic nomination for president in 1972 only to get swamped in the general election against Richard Nixon, winning only Mass. and D.C.? The guy who I — at the age of 14, unable to vote and caring more about politics than any year since — supported with all of my teenage soul, even though I knew he was going to lose big when he came to Dayton for a late campaign stop and compared Richard Nixon to Adolf Hitler (never mind that he was right — even I knew then that wasn’t going to help him capture the undecided vote).
George McGovern? You’re kidding! Isn’t he, like, 110? What qualified him for this gig?
(**Update: My fellow DDN.com blogger, Victor Mickunas, posted a comment pointing out that Sen. McGovern “…lost a daughter to alcoholism a number of years ago. She passed out on a wintry night outdoors and died. I think he has a personal interest in alcohol from the standpoint of regulating it.” So … mea culpa on my snarky suggestion that McGovern is not qualified to do this gig, and thank you to Vick, whose blog Book Nook blog can be found here.)
What do you think of the new wine and other alcohol labeling proposals? Will it affect your decisions on what to drink?
Next up, either later today or Thursday: Dayton’s Restaurant Week! Got your reservations made yet?
Mark Fisher
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Would removal of price controls lead to cheaper, or more expensive, wine?
A robust little back-channel debate on the Uncorked entry of last week entitled Do wine retailers and wholesalers play by the rules? has got me scratching my head. How can there be such strong diversity of opinion on a question that ought to be answerable in measurable, objective ways — in this case, does the removal of price controls lead to cheaper, or more expensive, wines?
One reader accuses us wine bloggers and other Ohioans of “deluding” ourselves if we think we would pay less with the price controls gone. Is he right?
I’m going to try to alert readers in other states to get their take on this question, which is profoundly relevant to wine drinkers in the Buckeye State, where Ohio law requires a minimum markup of 33 percent at the wholesale/distributor level and a minimum markup of 50 percent at the retail level. That means that a bottle of wine a producer sells to a distributor for $5 will be sold by the distributor to the retailer for $6.67. and sold by the retailer to the consumer for $10 — assuming neither businesses adds any pennies to the minimum markup. These percentages work the same for a bottle of wine that the producer sells for $50 and the consumer ends up paying $100 for, meaning there’s certainly plenty more potential profit for retailers and wholesalers in a bottle of expensive wine in a state like Ohio.
Some of the states bordering Ohio — Indiana, Kentucky — do not have the same system of minimum markups. Ohio retailers contend that while wine shops and grocers in those states often advertise “loss leaders” to lure customers to make a run for the border, but that across the board, the prices aren’t much different, or can even be more expensive, in the non-price-controlled states.
Perhaps a randomly selected “grocery list” of wines will be in order sometime soon, to test that theory. But until then, let’s see if we can gather some opinions from the wine community both inside and outside Ohio on the question, which was triggered by the following exchange between Uncorked readers Tony and “Wineman.” First, here’s Tony:
Mark, as usual most of the time when you start a blog about the wine/liquor laws in Ohio, we see wholesalers, distributors and retailers trying to protect and justify their turf and margins. Rarely do we see somebody who is trying to defend the people who pay their salary: the consumer who is forced to pay the high prices because the antiquated and protectionist laws!!
Wineman:
To Tony and others who feel like him, I am as eager to pay lower prices as you are, since I am also a consumer and a purchaser of wine at retail. … but if you think you are “on average” paying lower prices out of state or direct from the winery you are deluding yourself. I have done a little study and yes, some wines are below Ohio prices, but the majority are above Factor in the 8 percent of corked bottles you would need credit for (Have you tried to gain credit from an out-of-state retailer, an internet service or a west coast winery?) Dealing with a local wine retailer that specialiizes in fine wine is still the way to go, and with a 10 percent discount for case purchasing you are out way ahead. Continue deluding yourself (like all of the wine columnists and wine bloggers in the state do) that it will be different when the laws change (and they will) and you will see very little difference and, in fact, you’ll be complaining that you are paying MORE.
Tony again:
Dear Wineman, I happen to have the good fortune to live both in Ohio and in California. So I have first hand experience in comparing wine prices and variety in offerings in a regulated environment and a more liberal one. In some cases(especially French Champagne) there is a huge difference. In addition to the lower prices there is also more variety. You mention the 10 percent discount by the case. Some stores give that after 6 bottles. It all is a question of competition. I just bought Mouton ‘04 for $167. Piper Heidsieck for $23.Veuve Clicquot for $34. You may say that these are loss leaders or weekly/monthly specials. But that’s the beauty of an open market environment. Granted as a consumer I have to do some of my own research to find out who has the best prices. But I don’t mind that. It is fun and very interesting to see the special market niches that each store tries to carve with their prices and selections. I have nothing against the three tier system in Ohio. As far as I am concerned there could be more tiers if each of them bring value to the market. I have a major problem that the distribution system is controlled, that the three tier is mandatory(as well as territory controlled) and that the mark-ups between tiers are also fixed by the state. This opinion applies to liquor as well. Why can we not buy e.g. Cognac in a supermarket or any wine store? The laws are promoting protectionism. If this were the case in other consumer goods e.g. cars, electronics, groceries, etc, you would see a major uprising. What’s different with wine and alcohol?
Thoughts? Opinions? Hard data? Please “post a comment.”
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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Life after tobacco: the Meranda-Nixon Winery
Transitioning away from tobacco as a cash crop can be a wrenching experience, as many farm families across southern Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia and other states can attest.
Seth Meranda found an alternative to tobacco for his great-grandfather’s farm, which is located north of Ripley in southern Ohio, near the banks of the Ohio River.
He planted wine grapes and launched the Meranda-Nixon Winery (his wife Tina brought the “Nixon” half of the name).
This very young enterprise somehow escaped my attention when I was driving through the back roads of Brown County last year, but its wines have started showing up on the shelves of Dayton-area wine shops, and yesterday (1-19-08), Seth and Tina poured four of their wines at the Arrow Wine & Spirits regular Saturday tasting.
There were some pleasant surprises in the lineup, starting with Meranda-Nixon’s Catawba ($8.99), made from grapes Seth brings in from the Lake Erie growing region in northern Ohio (he’ll have his own estate-grown Catawba a couple of years down the road). It was simply the best version of this wine I’ve tasted from Ohio. This pink wine is not cloyingly sweet, nor overtly foxy, but is instead a clean, refreshing sipper. Meranda credits some advice and guidance from Nick Ferrante of Ferrante Vineyards, who suggested early picking to preserve acidity and hold down the foxiness quotient. The advice worked like a charm.
Who knew Catawba could produce wine like this? (Answer: I should have known, but didn’t.)
Meranda-Nixon’s estate-grown Traminette ($12.99), a fruity white wine with zesty acidity, also impressed, as did the red wine made from DeChaunac grapes and labeled Red Oak Creek ($9.99).
The winery is still a work in progress, with new vineyards coming on line within the next few years. Located not far from the high-achieving Kinkead Ridge winery, which we profiled last August, Meranda-Nixon will be one Ohio winery to keep an eye on.
Because the world could probably use a few less cigarettes — and a few more bottles of wine.
Mark Fisher
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Mysteries revealed: Boonshoft Museum to explore the Science of Wine
This week’s wine-tastings list is chock-full of the usual fun, sure, but it also contains some special upcoming events that deserve a specific shout-out, to wit:
— the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery will host The Science of Wine on Saturday, January 26, 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (see the museum’s press release in greater detail below).
— the Stivers School for the Arts Jazz Orchestra wine tasting fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27, at The Wine Gallery and Cafe. (More details on the list that you can see upon clicking on “continue reading”).
— and THIS Saturday (1-19, tomorrow), Seth Meranda, Owner-Winemaker of Meranda-Nixon Winery near Ripley, Ohio, will pour his wines from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Arrow Wine & Spirits’ Centerville store. I did a whole spread on Ripley and the surrounding area last year in the Dayton Daily News and failed to make it to this winery (my bad), so I’m looking forward to trying Seth’s wines.
Thanks to the Dayton-based listserv that compiled the wine-tastings-and-events list that is available to you with the mere click of a mouse on “continue reading” that you’ll find beneath the Boonshoft press release below. And for more on Cincinnati-area wine tastings, visit my colleague Michelle’s My Wine Education blog.
2600 DeWeese Parkway Dayton, Ohio 45414 www.BoonshoftMuseum.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AN EVENING OF TASTING, ENJOYING, LISTENING AND LEARNING
An educational wine-tasting event to benefit the Boonshoft Museum’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs
(Dayton, OH) - The Boonshoft Museum of Discovery will host The Science of Wine, an evening of tasting, enjoying, listening and learning, Saturday, January 26, 7:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. “The Boonshoft Museum provides fun and interactive science learning for people of all ages everyday. Now, we have an opportunity to support those important educational experiences by creating a casual evening for adults to explore the science behind the wine-making process,” said Lynn Denka, Chair of the event and Volunteer Associate Board Member.
The Science of Wine will feature five distinct tasting and learning stations with presentations by industry experts, and wine selected by Heidelberg Distributing. “Everything from the soil type and the balance of all life forms in a vineyard, to the material of the barrel in which the wine ages, effects the taste and complexity of the resulting wine,” said Diane Farrell, Vice President, External Relations at the Boonshoft Museum. “With the help of industry experts, our guests will have the opportunity to understand why the scientific components of wine-making have such a significant impact on wine.”
At the tasting and learning stations located throughout the Museum, guests will explore topics including biodynamic wines, geology and wine, maritime influences, the aging process and dessert wines. Guests will also enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres provided by Kohler Catering, live music, Laser Shows and unforgettable Museum activities.
All proceeds from The Science of Wine will benefit the Boonshoft Museum’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs. Tickets are $75 per person. For more information about The Science of Wine and to reserve your tickets, contact Jacque Begin at 937-275-7431 ext. 136 or order on-line at www.BoonshoftMuseum.org. Presented by National City.
The Stivers School for the Arts Jazz Orchestra wine tasting fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 27, at The Wine Gallery and Cafe, including a variety of wines and a buffet of hors d’oeuvres. $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Tickets are available at The Wine Gallery and Cafe or by contacting Tracy Foskuhl at 937-371-1025 or tfoskuhl@woh.rr.com, or Kristen Wicker at 937-238-4121 or kmwicker@hotmail.com.
Jay’s Kitchen Door Friday, January 18, 2008 4-8 pm 2004 William Fevre Fourchaume Chablis Premier Cru 2003 Paolo Scavino Barolo 2006 Giorgio Meletti Cavallari 2005 Chateau Mont-Parat Bordeaux 2002 Pinino Brunello Di Montalcino
Saturday, January 19, 2008 1-6 pm 2006 Francis Blanchet Pouilly Fume 2004 Robert Groffier Chambolle-Musigny les Haut-Doix 2000 Chateau Paveil du Luz (Margeaux) 2000 Chateau La Croix St Georges
Saturday, February 16, 2008 12:30 pm Jay’s 32nd Anniversary Bordeaux Luncheon
Arrow Wine & Spirits Far Hills — Kettering Saturday, January 19, 2008 11-4 pm 2005 Le Bine Soave NV Lady Bug White 2006 Montevevoso Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2006 SUXX Shiraz 2006 Clos De Los Siete 2006 Drew Potbelly Block Pinot Noir
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood Friday, January 18, 2008 5-8pm Jules Bertier Brut NV Sparkling Wine Perry Creek Chardonnay 2005 Alessandria Barbera d’Alba 2006 Paoletti Piccolo Cru 2005 J Lohr Cuvee POM 2001 Brown Bag
Saturday, January 19, 2008 1-6 pm Cancave NV Brut Champagne Boeger Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Paoletti Malbec 2004 Alessandria Langhe Nebbiolo 2004 Chateau St Jeam Cinq Cepages 2004 Alessandria Barolo 2003 Bonus Bottles!
Beers: TBA
DLM Washington Square Thursday, January 17, 2008 5-8 pm 2004 Marc Bredif Vouvray 2005 Louis Jadot Santenay “Clos de Malte” 2005 Domaine Serene Yamhill Cuvee Pinot Noir 2005 Las Rocas Garnacha 2005 Paoletti Piccolo Cru Encore Wine!
Saturday, January 19, 2008 12-5 pm “Don’s Dandy South American Picks” 2006 Root 1 Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Viento Sur Torrontes 2006 Colonia los Liebres Bonarda 2005 Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2005 Finca Flichman Tupungato 2005 Cocodrillo Cabernet Sauvignon Encore Wine!
Dorothy Lane Springboro Friday, January 18, 2008 3-7pm 2003 Arcadian Chardonnay 2002 Domaine Charles Audoin Marsannay Rouge 2003 Qupe Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyards 2003 Epiphany Revelation Red
Saturday, January 19, 2008 12-5 pm 2006 Contrarian Roussanne, Viognier 2002 Gerad Raphet Morey-Saints-Denis 1er Cru 2001 Dominio De Duero Ribera Del Deuro 2001 Corison Kronos Cabernet
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 - 7 pm, Friday 11:30 - 8 pm Saturday 11:30 - 7 pm www.cuveewinebar.net Tasting from Friday, January 18 -Thursday, January 24, 2008 Robert Hall 2006 Orange Muscat Chateau Les Eymeries Blanc 2006 Holy Cow Chardonnay 2006 Caterina Zardini 2004 Valpolicella Cocina La Posta Justin Cabernet 2005
Beer: Flying Dog Barrel Aged Gonzo Imperial Porter
Food: Mystery Stew Saturday, massage will be here 12:30-3:30 providing10 minute chair massages.
Arrow Centerville 937-433-6778 615 Lyons Rd Centerville Friday, January 18, 2008 5-7 pm Straub Brewery Lager… Straub Brewery Dark… North Coast Brewing Company Old Rasputin Imperial Stout… North Coast Brewing Company Red Seal Ale… Bells Hop Slam Ale
Saturday, January 19, 2008 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting Meet Seth Meranda, Owner-Winemaker of Meranda-Nixon Winery, located in Ripley, Ohio. Seth will be pouring his wines 2006 Estate Traminette… 2006 Red Oak Creek … 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon… 2006 Lake Erie Catawba
The Wine Gallery and Cafe, Corner of 3rd and Wayne Wednesday January 23, 2008 5:30PM to 8:30PM 2006 Slipstream Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Chimiky Trump Shiraz 2005 Moonlight Run 2005 Exumbris Syrah (No. 69 on WS Top 100) 2006 Old Ball and Chain Special 2003 Rocche Castamagna Dell Annunziata Barolo
January 24, 2008 Beer Tasting from 5:30pm to 8:30pm Bells Hop Slam Abita Mardis Gras Lion Stout Amarcono Special Blond
Market Wine Imports, Second Street Public Market Saturday, January 19, 2008 from 8am to 1pm HOT Tasting - Sampling a variety of wines for the value wine shopper!
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 937-320-9548 Wine Wednesdays 5pm to 8pm in the bar. Wednesday, January 23, 2008 SANTA BARBARA WINERY Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County,2005 CLOUDLINE Pinot Noir, Oregon, 2006 SHOO FLY Shiraz, Australia, 2005 LA POSTA Concina Blend, Mendoza Argentina, 2005
FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2008 PENFOLD’S WINE DINNER $95 PENFOLDS, Chardonnay Koonunga Hill South Australia, 2006, Tuna Tartar on a Fingerling Potato Chip finished with Basil Wasabi , Carmilized Onion Risotto Cake with Mango Chutney PENFOLDS, Shiraz Mourvedre South Australia Bin 2, 2003 , Baby Arugula salad in a Parmesan Basket with Pulled Duck and Warm Shitake Mushroom Smoked Bacon Dressing PENFOLDS, Shiraz Australia ST. Henri, 2002 , Pepper crusted NY Strip and Augutin Flair Potatoes with a Blackberry Gastrigue PENFOLDS, Shiraz Australia Grange Bin 95, 2002, Seared Porcini dusted Rack of Lamb with Tobacco Onions and finished with a Dark Cherry red wine reduction PENFOLDS, Grand Old Liqueur Tawny Great Grandfather, NV, Macadamia Nut Turtle Pie
A Taste of Wine 90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 This week’s featured wines: Debonne Riesling, Holy Cow Chardonnay, Ironstone Cab Franc, Queensland GSM, Curious Beagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Noval Porto Special Reserve. January 17 - Blind Wine Tasting 7:30 pm February 6 - South American Wine Tasting 7pm February 13 - Organic Wine Tasting 7pm February 14 - Dinner & A Show rsvp to Chimneys 937-304-9468
Savona Restaurant, Centerville Wednesday, February 13, 2008 5-7 pm Dievole wines
Winans - Dayton Mail January 26: Conundrum - California - White Table Wine Simi - Russian River - Chardonnay Luna - Napa - Sangiovese Penfolds Club - Australia - Tawny Port
Winds Cafe in Yellow Springs. Wine 101 January 19 and January 26, 2008 3 pm $90 for both classes
Cork-n-Vine Wine Cellar in Troy, Ohio Friday January 18-11, 2008 January 18th at 5 pm - January 25th. Valleduco Pinot Gris-Menage y Trois White(Blend)- Tierra del Fuego(Argentina)-Santi Solane Valpolicella Ripasso-Biltmore Century Red- Clos Du Bois reserve Chardonnay Russian River
Bella Vino, Wine Merchant & Bar, Springboro, OH 45066 Thursday January 17, 2008 5:30pm - 7:30pm - A taste of Chile, featuring wines from Casa Silva.
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com This Weekend: Zinfandels Friday, January 18, 2008 7 pm Zinfest! Seated Tasting - Reservations are required
Saturday, January 19, 2008 3-6 pm Everyday Zinfandels Drop-in tasting
La Petite France http://www.lapetitefrance.biz/ Reservations 513-733-8383 Friday, January 18, 2008 6:30 pm Taste of Bourgogne Wine and French Dinner aperitif JJ Vincent, Bourgogne Blanc
first course Latour Montagny “La Grande Roche” lcr trout with hazelnuts, escargots lemon and parsley brown butter
second course Nicolas Potel, Cote de Nuits Villages veal chop and risotto cake with wild mushrooms and pancetta
third course Chanson, Bourgogne Rouge french cheese plate
fourth course Simmonet Febure, Cremant de Bourgogne strawberry tiramisu
The Winery at Versailles (937) 526-3232 6572 St Rte 47 Versailles, Ohio 45380 JAN 25th and 26th - Wine Flight Night. 7 to 9 p.m. “Sampler” with snack pairing. Reservations requested. Feb 8th and 9th - Wine and Chocolate Night. Reservations required. Feb 16th - Annual Valentine Gourmet Dinner. 4 course event, 7:30 p.m., make your reservations now. Cost is $50 per person PLUS tax and gratuity.
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Do wine retailers and wholesalers play by the rules?
Are all wine shops and distributors following the laws?
Since we shared the comment from Chiefwino about his experience as a wine retailer, a couple of other thought-provoking comments have slipped in under the radar on previous Uncorked entries, including one from Ann, who suggested that, “the biggest threat to independent retailers in Ohio comes from wholesalers willing to sell thousands of dollars of collectible wine to non-permit holders.” Here’s the full text of her comment, followed by another viewpoint entirely:
We definitely have a problem with businesses not abiding by current Ohio liquor laws. But is sicing the state on each other the solution, or just serving to escalate the problem? I mean, if the laws are impossible to follow, isn’t it time we all work together to implement needed revisions? What about forming a “bipartisan” committee of wholesalers and retailers to review the laws and propose suitable changes to our legislators? I know - “Give me a break; I’m living in a fairytale.” Oh well, from my experience over the past year, the biggest threat to the sustainability of the small independent retailer comes not from a larger retailer bending the rules a little here and there. No, in my opinion, the biggest threat to independent retailers in Ohio comes from wholesalers willing to sell thousands of dollars of collectible wine to non-permit holders.
And in a late comment to the Uncorked piece on Wine.Com’s controversial sting operation targeting their fellow online wine retailers, reader Jackie had this to say:
Wine.com did the reverse in Ohio. When they complained to the State that there were several out of state retailers shipping into the state illegally, the State of Ohio (according to wine.com) told them it was fine and dandy to ship from California. What did wine.com do? They ceased buying from Ohio wholesalers. What is currently going on in Ohio? Ohio laws are not being enforced. As a consumer, lower priced, easily accessible wines are what is desired. Who doesn’t want to pay the smallest amount possible for everything they purchase? The problem with ignoring Ohio wine law comes down to the current pricing system in Ohio. Wholesalers face a mandatory markup on all of their wines. In turn, retailers must also markup their wines to meet a 33.3% margin. In order to maintain good standing and retain their licenses, retailers must maintain their margins. Out of state retailers are not held to any pricing standard and can slice their margins as low as they’d like to attract business. A fine example of this is a New Jersey retailer offering Dom Perignon for a few dollars over Ohio Wholesale pricing and offered free shipping. Where does that leave your local retailer? Unable to compete on an even playing ground. The real question in my mind is not was wine.com right in turning in other retailers breaking the law, it’s why aren’t states enforcing their own laws?
Hmmm. Whenever I hear anyone say, “Why isn’t such-and-such enforcing the laws,” my first thought is, “Be careful what you wish for.” Some of our laws and regulations are so antiquated, even senseless, that enforcement would be, well, not a good thing.
For that matter, the rules themselves may soon be changing. A Texas judge’s ruling on out-of-state wine retailers’ ability to ship wine to consumers may have implications nationwide.
But probably not anytime soon. Which means we’ll have to live under the current laws for the time being, whisper about who’s following them and who’s not, and wonder whether we should wish for tighter enforcement — or not.
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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Expensive wine tastes better regardless of actual quality, study suggests
That’s right, if you know a wine is expensive, it’s going to taste better to you, a study by the Stanford Graduate School of Business and the California Institute of Technology suggests.
The study, as summarized by Reuters news service, concluded that:
… because people expect wines that cost more to be of higher quality, they trick themselves into believing the wines provide a more pleasurable experience than less expensive ones. Their study, published on Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, says that expectations of quality trigger activity in the medial orbitofrontal cortex, the part of the brain that registers pleasure. This happens even though the part of our brain that interprets taste is not affected. While many studies have looked at how marketing affects behaviour, this is the first to show that it has a direct effect on the brain.
What do YOU think?
From personal experience — much as I hate to admit it — I believe the study is true and accurate. It’s happened to me: I’ve tasted a flight of wines “blind,” without knowing their identity and price, and picked the wines I liked the best.
When the brown bags came off, and I saw some of my “favorite” (and often highly priced) wines didn’t make my “best of” list. But when I went back and tasted through the flight again, I’ll be damned if those expensive wines didn’t show, well, better.
So, which is it: the brain, or the taste buds?
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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Wine producer beats up journalist in newspaper lobby
Wow, this profession of mine has its hazards: check out this Decanter.com story.
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Fallout is radioactive from online wine retailer’s sting operation
We told you last week about the percolating controversy over Wine.com’s sting operations against their fellow online wine retailers that Wine.com contends were shipping wine illegally to out-of-state customers.
Today a Decanter.com story entitled ” ‘Storm’ of negative pr as wine.com sneaks on rivals” reveals new details of the fallout.
Clearly, the controversy has legs: The Uncorked entry quietly drew a steady stream of comments — 16 at last count — that were still coming in as of last night, a week after the entry was posted. Here was one of them, from ChiefWino:
As a former retailer (who tried to live by Ohio’s rules even when I did not agree with them), I did on one occasion report a major infraction by a competitor to the OH state inspector. However, it was not worth his time or effort to investigate and it went no where. I am not sure why it was not pursued, but it certainly left the impression with me, that if it was one of the “big boys” they get a free pass.
Nationally, the fur is flying now, but in the end, I suspect everyone — Wine.com, the retailers that were caught up in the sting, and, especially, CONSUMERS — will all lose.
Congratulations to my fellow blogger Alder Yarrow and his Vinography wine blog and to Richard Cartiere’s Wine Market Report for uncovering the sting operation and bringing it to light.
Mark Fisher
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Your best restaurant meals of 2007 (and mine)
What were your best restaurant meals/dishes/experiences of 2007?
We pose that question in Friday’s Dayton Daily News Go! section and invite readers to let us know right here on Uncorked. Please click on the “post your comment” link to tell us your experience.
Here’s an excerpt from Friday’s story:
The calendar year 2007 brought a wealth of restaurant openings that warranted full dining reviews. Some were rather high-profile affairs: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, Cena, McCormick & Schmick’s, Bonefish Grill, Savona Ristorante and Rue Dumaine, to name a half-dozen.
But there were also reviews of restaurants that opened in less-traveled areas and that caught our attention: Burrito King in Riverside, Sakai in Troy, Trattoria Da’ Francesco in Germantown, Mr. Lee’s in Vandalia, Saya in Fairborn and Artisans Café in Englewood, just to name another half-dozen.
A busy year, indeed.
I combed through our archives (very reliable) and my memory (less so) to come up with a bellyful of highlights — we’ll leave the lowlights to posterity for now. Among the highlights: (Please click on the “continue reading” link below …)
There was a comfort-food theme running through many of the successful dishes. Beef Short Ribs at Savona achieved new heights courtesy of a rich, complex red-wine reduction sauce. The Mimi’s Café Pot Roast — tender chuck roast smothered in a rich, salty gravy, with a large dollop of mashed potatoes — also stuck to the ribs, as did Mary Ann’s Southern Kitchen’s meatloaf, a hearty portion, moist and flavorful, topped with ketchup-based tomato sauce that co-owner Ann Person made herself.
Speaking of warmth, the newly opened Rue Dumaine and its chef/co-owner, Anne Kearney, brought some of the essence of New Orleans to Dayton with her Trout Amandine, served with toasted-almond brown butter.
Some chefs found unlikely combinations that worked unexpectedly well.
At Pacchia, Joe Fish introduced a small-plate dish with a mouthful of a name: Roasted Balsamic Eggplant & Sweet Potato Napoleon, which adds caramelized onions, mushrooms, cheese and a tomato-based sauce to eggplant and sweet potatoes. Another top-notch starter: the Wild Mushroom with Polenta served up by the newly renamed Figlio Italian Bistro and Bar.
When it came to bringing the heat, no one did it better than Wild Bill’s in Lebanon. The reopened restaurant warmed both the soul and the tongue with Thai Spiced Mussels, which bathed the shellfish in garlic, shallots, chiles and lemongrass, and with Lump Crab and Crawfish Cakes, with their Cajun red pepper emulsion.
Some of the best dishes and restaurant experiences came “off book” when no dining review was contemplated — the pear and fennel salad (followed by an equally compelling duck course) at a wine tasting dinner at The Winds; Dieter Krug’s Oysters Rockefeller and roast goose that Krug and Dominique Fortin conspired to serve during the holiday season at C’est Tout; the inventive appetizers that chef Justin White sends out when they’re needed most during the Friday night wine tastings at Jay’s Restaurant’s Kitchen Door.
And who can deny the delightful alchemy that occurs when a Pine Club steak releases its juices into a bed of those tiny fried onion rings?
These were a few of my favorite things about 2007. Yours?
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Requiem for a well-used, well-worn half bottle
There are all kinds of high-tech wine-preservation devices on the market that utilize sophisticated techniques such as vacuum pumps and various types of inert gases.
Then there’s my low-tech method: the half-bottle.
I’ve found through thoroughly unscientific research (trial and error) that putting leftover wine into a half-bottle, corking it and putting it into the fridge (even for red wines) extends the useful life just about as long as any other wine-preservation system out there. The closer the wine is to filling the half-bottle the better — but if you overfill and cram a cork into the neck, you can get a facefull of red wine (thank heavens that little moment is not on video anywhere … ).
I don’t buy many half-bottles, though, so to employ this technique, I’ve relied on a few very well-worn half bottles whose original contents were bought and consumed many years ago, but which since have lovingly protected and nurtured dozens of surrogate children of all colors (well, mostly reds and whites) since then.
So it was with great sadness that I was forced to retire one of those half bottles this weekend — a Ridge 1993 California Zinfandel Essence (late-harvest zin, 40 brix at harvest, 17.2 percent residual sugar!) that was one of my longest-serving workhorses. It’s got half a cork inside of it now, and the label is finally peeling off. Time to put the ol’ dog down.
But boy, if that bottle could talk.
Actually, it can say a few words. I started out by writing the name of the adopted contents of the half-bottles on the front label (then quickly ran out of room). Many of the names have faded away, but some are still legible. So the bottles offer a snapshot comment on what my tastes were a decade or so ago, and offered a glimpse of where I was headed.
Among the bottle’s contents: Two California zins (not of the dessert variety) from the 1995 vintage: Cline and Bannister (Don’t drink zins as often as I used to) Kendall-Jackson Hyland (K-J? Really?). An unidentified Saumur (Loire white) of mystery vintage. One simply labeled “‘97 French Syrah” (whose, dammit?). And one detailed labeling: Verget ‘96 Chassagne Montrachet (wish I had a bottle or two of that still around). Oh, and one “Cotat Rose” (which brother? what vintage? Who knows?)
So I guess it’s time to go out and buy a half-bottle of something that will host my leftovers for the next decade.
I wonder what I’m drinking now that I’ll laugh at 10 years from now?
Meanwhile, lift a glass tonight to my loyal, hard-working little half bottle from Ridge.
It served me well — and it will be missed.
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Warning: This wine blog may be hazardous to your health
Have the French gone mad?
Take a look at this Decanter.com story entitled “Wine articles must carry health warning, French court decides” and tell me what you think.
A French court has concluded that newspaper articles on wines should be subject to the same health and safety guidelines as alcohol advertising and thus should display health warnings.
I would have to concur with the first sentence of one of the readers comments to the Decanter story, from reader in New York City: “Sometimes French justice seems not blind but drunk.”
I think there should be a warning label required on every French court decision” “Caution: Reading this convoluted, tortured opinion put forth by obvious fools masquerading as judges may leave you so perplexed as to affect your mental health.”
And thank you, America, for the (mostly) unfettered freedom of speech that allows me to say that.
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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The definitive wine-tastings list
Well, at least for the Dayton area, anyway, this is Da Bomb, and it comes to Uncorked courtesy of a Dayton-based wine listserv that compiles it. For more on Cincinnati-area wine tastings, visit my colleague Michelle’s My Wine Education blog. Otherwise, the Miami Valley’s wine world awaits — and all you have to do is click on “continue reading.” Pretty good deal, wouldn’t you say?
Jay’s Kitchen Door Friday, January 11, 2008 4-8 pm 2004 William Fevre Montmains Chablis 2004 Domaine de la Charbonniere Chateauneuf du Pape 2006 Altos las Hormigas Malbec 2004 Robert Mondavi Oakville Cabernet 2003 Sette Ponti Oreno
Saturday, January 12, 2008 1-6 pm 2005 Chateau d’Orschwihr Gewurztraminer 2005 Domaine Clape Cote du Rhone 2001 Chateau Maucaillou (Moulis) 2001 Chateau Rol Valentin
Saturday, February 16, 2008 12:30 pm Jay’s 32nd Anniversary Bordeaux Luncheon
Arrow Far Hills - Kettering Saturday, January, 5, 2008 11-4 pm 2005 Albert Mann Pinot Gris “Cuvee Albert” 2005 Domaine Saumaizer Michelin St. Veran 2005 Louis Latour Valmoissine Pinot Noir 2006 Ventisquero Carmenere 2004 Murphy Goode Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Byrd Cooper Napa Valley Merlot
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood Friday, January 11, 2008 5-8pm Henroit NV Brut Champagne Tormaresca Chardonnay 2006 Ken Wright Cellars McCrone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006 Les Amis de la Bouissier 2006 Comaine La Bouissiere Gigondas 2005 Brown Bag
Saturday, January 12, 2008 1-6 pm Alan McCorkindale Blanc de Blancs 2002 Lolonis Chardonnay 2005 Gordon Brothers Tradition 2001 Les Caillous Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2005 Cameron Cabernet 2003 Torre Muga Rioja 2004 Bonus Bottles!
Beers: TBA
Thursday, January 10 from 5:30-8:30 Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont Colorado Meet Eric Wallace, President and Brewer of Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont Colorado and taste a large assortment of Left Hand beers.
DLM Washington Square Thursday, January 10, 2008 5-8 pm 2005 Tormaresco Chardonnay 2005 Anne Gros Bourgogne 2005 Tikalo Rubens 2004 Neyers Pato Vineyard Zinfandel 2003 Villa Calcinaia Casarsa Encore Wine!
Saturday, January 12, 2008 12-5 pm NV Raventos Cava Blanc 2006 Eye of the Toad Rose 2004 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir NV Le Petit Vin d’Avril 2005 Legon Roble Ribera del Duero 2005 Emmolo Merlot Encore Wine!
Dorothy Lane Springboro Friday, January 11, 2008 3-7pm 01 Maurizio Zanella Ca del Bosco 02 Pertimali Rosso di Montalcino 03 Cascina Bongiovanni Barbera d’Alba 01 Saracini Poggiassai
Saturday, January 12, 2008 12-5 pm 01 Hanzell Chardonnay 02 Hanzell Chardonnay 03 Hanzell Chardonnay 00 Essence Bordeaux 05 Rosenblum Rockpile Zinfandel
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 - 7 pm, Friday 11:30 - 8 pm Saturday 11:30 - 7 pm www.cuveewinebar.net Tasting from Friday, January 11 -Thursday, January 17, 2008 Eymann 2006 Riesling Trocken Saint Clair Vicar’s Choice 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Vina Godeval 2006 Godello Neyers 2004 Pato Zinfande Turkey Flat 2005 “The Butcher” Domaine le Roc des Anges 2003 Carignan 1903 VDP des Pyrenees Orientales
Beer: Flying Dog Barrel Aged Gonzo Imperial Porter
Food: Veal Cannelloni
Saturday, massage will be here 12:30-3:30 providing 10 minute chair massages.
Arrow Centerville 937-433-6778 615 Lyons Rd Centerville Saturday, January 12, 2008 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting 2006 Tormaresca Chardonnay-Puglia… 2004 Imagine by Chalk Hill Chardonnay… 2005 Tormaresca Neprica-Puglia… 2006 Gallo Family Sonoma Reserve Pinot Noir… 2005 Kendall-Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon
The Wine Gallery and Cafe, Corner of 3rd and Wayne Wednesday January 16, 2008 5:30PM to 8:30PM Neyers Vineyard Tasting with: 2004 El Novillero Chardonnay 2005 Byrd Cooper Merlot 2002 Hudson Valley Grenache 2005 Old Lakeville Road Syrah 2004 Pato Zinfandel
Market Wine Imports, Second Street Public Market Saturday, January 12, 2008 from 9am to 1pm
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 937-320-9548 Wine Wednesdays 5pm to 8pm in the bar. Wednesday, January 16, 2008
FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2008 PENFOLD’S WINE DINNER $95 PENFOLDS, Chardonnay Koonunga Hill South Australia, 2006, Tuna Tartar on a Fingerling Potato Chip finished with Basil Wasabi , Carmilized Onion Risotto Cake with Mango Chutney PENFOLDS, Shiraz Mourvedre South Australia Bin 2, 2003 , Baby Arugula salad in a Parmesan Basket with Pulled Duck and Warm Shitake Mushroom Smoked Bacon Dressing PENFOLDS, Shiraz Australia ST. Henri, 2002 , Pepper crusted NY Strip and Augutin Flair Potatoes with a Blackberry Gastrigue PENFOLDS, Shiraz Australia Grange Bin 95, 2002, Seared Porcini dusted Rack of Lamb with Tobacco Onions and finished with a Dark Cherry red wine reduction PENFOLDS, Grand Old Liqueur Tawny Great Grandfather, NV, Macadamia Nut Turtle Pie
A Taste of Wine 90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 This week’s featured wines: Hyatt’s Black Muscat, Santa Margherita - Pinot Grigio, Frank Family Chardonnay, Altos de la Hoya, Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon. January 11 - English Beer Tasting 7:30pm January 17 - Blind Wine Tasting 7:30 pm
Savona Restaurant, Centerville Wednesday, February 13, 2008 5-7 pm Dievole wines
Trader Joe’s in Kettering. Tastings Thursday 6:00 to 8:00 and Sunday 4:00 to 7:00.
Winans - Dayton Mail January 12: Montevina - Terra D’ Oro - Moscato Ridge - California - Red Zinfandel Ca’ Roesca - Pinot Grigio Charles Krug - Pinot Noir - Napa
January 26: Conundrum - California - White Table Wine Simi - Russian River - Chardonnay Luna - Napa - Sangiovese Penfolds Club - Australia - Tawny Port
Winds Cafe in Yellow Springs. Wine 101 January 19 and January 26, 2008 3 pm $90 for both classes Yearly closing - January 1-14
Cork-n-Vine Wine Cellar in Troy, Ohio Friday January 11-11, 2008 January 11th at 5 pm - January 18th. Stone Cellars Pinot Grigio Ca Ron Seca Marna(White blend of pinot blanc and malvasia) BV Napa Chardonnay BV Coastal Pinot Noir Columbia Merlot Melini Chianti
Bella Vino, Wine Merchant & Bar, Springboro, OH 45066 Thursday, January 10th, 5:30 - 7:30 Italian Wine Tasting
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com Friday, January 11th, 5-7:30 pm (drop-in) Cabernets, Ports and Chocolate Hahn Cabernet Sauvignon Bogle Port Sketchbook Cabernet Sauvignon Graham’s Six Grapes Port Sequoia Grove Cabernet SauvignonTaylor-Fladgate 10 year Tawny Port
Saturday, January 12, 3-6 pm ~ Everyday Cabernets! Hahn Cabernet Sauvignon The Curious Beagle Grayson Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Hayman & Hill Cabernet
Next Weekend: Zinfandels
La Petite France http://www.lapetitefrance.biz/ Reservations 513-733-8383 Friday, January 18, 2008 6:30 pm Taste of Bourgogne Wine and French Dinner aperitif JJ Vincent, Bourgogne Blanc first course Latour Montagny “La Grande Roche” lcr trout with hazelnuts, escargots lemon and parsley brown butter second course Nicolas Potel, Cote de Nuits Villages veal chop and risotto cake with wild mushrooms and pancetta third course Chanson, Bourgogne Rouge french cheese plate fourth course Simmonet Febure, Cremant de Bourgogne strawberry tiramisu
The Winery at Versailles (937) 526-3232 6572 St Rte 47 Versailles, Ohio 45380 JAN 25th and 26th - Wine Flight Night. 7 to 9 p.m. “Sampler” with snack pairing. Reservations requested. Feb 8th and 9th - Wine and Chocolate Night. Reservations required. Feb 16th - Annual Valentine Gourmet Dinner. 4 course event, 7:30 p.m., make your reservations now. Cost is $50 per person PLUS tax and gratuity.
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Prosecco makers seek protection from Paris Hilton
We told you last month about how Paris Hilton was gettin’ naked to sell Prosecco.
Well, now it seems many Prosecco makers are not amused. They believe Paris Hilton is unfit for Prosecco, according to this Reuters news service report, and they’re plotting ways to protect their wine’s good name.
Hmmm. “Winemakers gone wild … ” ?
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Can this wine extend your lifespan? And what should we call it?
Would you drink wine made from genetically engineered grapes if it had extra benefits?
That’s the provocative question that leads off this story entitled “Super-wine might boost lifespan” on NewScientist News Service.
Seems some Chinese scientists have created a wine grape variety that is “six times richer than normal in resveratrol, the compound in red wine associated with increased longevity, decreased heart disease and a host of other benefits,” the NewScientist story says.
Okay, Uncorked readers, put on your wine marketing hats: What should we call this new health-promoting, life-extending wine?
Cabernet Geritrol?
Or, instead of Beringer Private Reserve, we could buy Beringer Private Resveratrol?
Hmmm. ….
And in case we need more reason to drink wine in moderation, there’s this story from Wine Spectator online on how wine can keep your legs healthy.
THAT’s a new one.
Cheers!
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Large national wine wholesaler expands presence in Ohio, elsewhere
Wine distributors (wholesalers, actually) don’t deal directly with wine consumers, and yet they wield considerable power over which wines are available to us — and in some cases, how much we pay for them. So changes in the wholesale end of things can certainly “trickle down” to those of us who enjoy the fermented juice of the grape.
Besides, even if we don’t pay much attention to alcohol distributors, I have a hunch that legislators do — since the industry contributed an astonishing $50 million to state political campaigns between 2000 and 2006, according to the Specialty Wine Retailers Association.
In July, you may recall we wrote about Southern Wine & Spirits’ entry into the Ohio market, and some of you had keen insights into what that might mean to Ohio consumers. Well, now Southern is expanding its holdings in Ohio, according to this news release from Businesswire.com. The giant national wholesaler is buying a suburban Columbus-based wine and spirits wholesaler, and has appointed a vice president to oversee Ohio operations.
My question to those readers who are or have been in the business is again: What do you think this means for the rest of us?
Here’s an excerpt from the news release under the heading of “Strengthening Southern’s Ohio Presence” and an introduction to Southern’s new “Ohio guy:”
In connection with the Ohio announcement, Peter M. Hickey, Executive Vice President, General Manager-Control States Division of Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc., said that Robinson Cooper has been appointed Vice President, General Manager of Southern Wine & Spirits of Ohio. The appointment is effective January 1, 2008.
In noting Rob Cooper’s appointment, Mr. Hickey said: “I am delighted that Rob is joining Southern. He will start in his new role on January 1, 2008 and report to me. Rob comes to us from Beam Global Spirits and Wine, where he last served as Regional Marketing Director for the Control States. Rob has been an exceptional performer in the spirits industry throughout his career. He brings an extensive experience level and dynamism that will be key as we look to drive the business in this important new market. Rob has held sales and marketing roles with major suppliers such as Beam, Bacardi, Allied Domecq and Seagram in regional positions, as well as in key markets such as Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey. He has delivered superb results in each. Rob also has early distributor/broker experience with Margolis and Superior in Pennsylvania.”
Mr. Cooper said, “I am thrilled and extremely honored to join this world-class organization and look forward to all of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in overseeing the Southern Wine & Spirit of Ohio’s operation. In doing so, I will maintain the single-minded goal of meeting and exceeding the expectations of all of our trading partners.”
Mr. Hickey added: “Following the news of our entry into Ohio earlier this year with the acquisition of Paramount Distillers Brokerage operations and recognizing the strength of both individual sales organizations, we are extremely confident about the prospects and opportunities of working in Ohio and we are more prepared than ever to grow market share for all our Ohio Supplier Partners.”Tweet
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Wine retailer to close Feb. 1
Ann Boucher — a familiar face to Dayton-area wine enthusiasts because of the many tastings she conducted over the years at local retail shops while she was working as a wine distributor — is closing Serendipity wine shop on Feb. 1.
Sad to hear. Ann is an incredibly knowledgeable professional with a wonderful palate and a penchant for finding high-quality wines at a fair price. She also has proven herself to be a talented writer, though she wasn’t shy about unleashing an occasional rant about the difficulty of selling wine in a Parkerized world.
Ann came up with an innovative concept for Serendipity, which was not your traditional bricks-and-mortar operation. But the business wasn’t growing fast enough, so Ann has decided to move on to something else.
I have a feeling we wine lovers haven’t seen the last of Ann Boucher …
Mark Fisher
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What wine pairs best with a Buckeye shellacking? Scotch. From Japan.
Q: What wine pairs best with a Buckeye shellacking?
A: Scotch.
No, really, I’m serious. Can anyone tell me about a Suntory 10-Year-Old Scotch Whiskey made in Japan? I tried it last night courtesy of an acquaintance who has relatives living in Japan. And it was very, very good. Since when did Japan produce Scotch Whiskey? Well, apparently, for quite some time, more than 40 years, in fact. And their scotches have done very well in international competitions.
I’m a Buckeye fan, so last night’s game was difficult to watch.
The Scotch went down smoothly.
The loss, however, did not.
Still, it’s incredible for a football program to play in the national championship game three times in six years. Considering what the Buckeyes lost from last year talent-wise, this team, which started one senior on offense and one senior on defense, overachieved big time, and probably had no business being in the national championship game (given the late-season losses and choke losses by other contenders, perhaps NO team belonged in the national championship game …). Still, the Bucks played well at times, but were doomed by some big plays (a forced fumble on a first-quarter punt return that the Buckeyes could not recover, a dropped touchdown pass, a blocked punt that somehow wasn’t, a blocked field-goal attempt that somehow was, and some VERY costly and stupid penalties).
(Sigh.) But hey, we beat Michigan.
I’ll always drink to that.
Cheers, and Go Bucks!
Mark
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Online wine retailer catches heat for tattling on competitors
Wow, the smoke is still rising from my computer keyboard after reading Online wine retailer gives retailers (and consumers) the finger, by my fellow wine blogger Alder Yarrow, the author of Vinography.
Seems the online wine retailer Wine.com has been setting up a sting operation of sorts and turning in wine retailers that ship wines to consumers illegally to the regulators in those competitor retailers’ respective states.. Wine.com has gone to the trouble and expense of getting the proper licensure to ship to consumers in about half of our 50 states, and the company apparently got tired of watching their competitors disregard the laws that Wine.com was abiding by.
The consumer backlash against Wine.com could be substantial, if the overwhelming majority of the 40-plus comments on the Vinography post is any indication. The head of Wine.com’s explanation for his company’s actions — also one of the Vinography comments — didn’t seem to placate those who are outraged at Wine.com’s actions. That outrage also was expressed in this thread on erobertparker.com, which, strangely enough, is closed to further commenting by the eBob overseers.
Your thoughts on the brouhaha? This is another issue where my initial reaction — which was very much against Wine.com — was tempered ever so slightly “after further review.” The company did go to great expense and trouble to comply with the laws, and it must just gall them to no end to see their competitors flouting the rules at Wine.com’s expense.
But c’mon — there’s got to be a better way of responding than playing tattle-tale, and in the end, as Alder Yarrow points out, hurting the very consumers Wine.com claims to be serving, right?
Do local retailers — and wholesalers — tattle on one another if they know a competitor is breaking the rules?
Just wondering …
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Yet another health benefit of drinking wine, as if this tastings list isn’t enough incentive
In the “just-when-you-think-you’ve-heard-everything” category comes this news from Decanter.com that compounds in wine help prevent tooth decay.
Do you think the marketing folks at Columbia Crest might be able to make some hay with this news? Soon we’ll be saying things like, “Pass me that tube of Colgate Cabernet — the 2008, please. It was a fine vintage.”
So by all means, add “helps prevent tooth decay” to your list of reasons to visit the following venues to taste the wines that Dayton-area retailers and restaurants have chosen to offer to us to ease our transition into 2008. The list comes to Uncorked thanks to the heroic efforts of a Dayton-based listserv, which compiles the information. For more on Cincinnati-area wine tastings, visit my colleague Michelle’s My Wine Education blog. But first, click on “continue reading” to access the Dayton-area tastings. Cheers!
Jay’s Kitchen Door Friday, January 4, 2008 4-8 pm 2005 Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape (white) 2006 Rosenblum Petit Sirah 2002 Val de Flores 2003 Chateau Beau-Site (St. Estephe) 2000 Castel Giocondo Frescobaldi Brunello Montalcino
Saturday, January 5, 2008 1-6 pm, Closing Promptly. 2004 Domaine Charles Audoin Marsannay 2003 Duckhorn Cabernet 2003 Chateau D’Issan (Margaux) 2002 Chateau Giscours (Margaux)
Saturday, February 16, 2008 12:30 pm Jay’s 32nd Anniversary Bordeaux Luncheon
Arrow Wine & Spirits Far Hills - Kettering 2006 Domaine De Pouy 2005 Philippe Colin Chassagne Montrachet 2004 Cavia Reserve Malbec 2005 Domaine Sang Des Callioux Vacqueyras 2004 Chateau Du Trignon Rasteau 2005 Chris Ringland Green Lion Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
Dorothy Lane Market (DLM) Oakwood Friday, January 4, 2008 5-8pm Piper Heidsieck Brut NV Ramey Carneros Chardonnay 2004 Merryvale Carneros Pinot Noir 2006 Corino Barolo 2003 Frattoria Scapone Brunello 1999 Brown Bag
Saturday, January 5, 2008 1-6 pm Rene Geoffroy Brut NV Ramey Ritchie Vineyard Chardonnay 2004 Pine Ridge Crimson Creek Merlot 2004 Silvio Nardi Brunello 2001 Clos du Mont-Olivet Chateneuf-du-Pape 2005 Steltzner RSV Cabernet 2004 Bonus Bottles!
Beers: TBA
Thursday, January 10 from 5:30-8:30 Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont Colorado Meet Eric Wallace, President and Brewer of Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont Colorado and taste a large assortment of Left Hand beers.
DLM Washington Square Thursday, January 3, 2008 5-8 pm 2006 Verget “Terroires de Cote d’Or” Bourgogne Blanc 2004 Faiveley Bourgogne Rouge 2005 Alba Liza Tempranillo Garnacha 2005 Pietrafita Chianti 2003 D.R. Stephens Cabernet Sauvignon Encore Wine!
Saturday, January 5, 2008 12-5 pm Fifi’s “Thank Goodness Nicole’s Not Pregnant” Tasting 2005 Sauvignon Republic Cellars New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Curran Grenache Blanc 2005 Kinkead Ridge Petit Verdot 2004 Peter Howland Shiraz 2005 Michael David Petit Petite Encore Wine!
Dorothy Lane Springboro Friday, January 4, 2008 3-7pm 06 Field Stone Sauvignon Blanc 06 Lioco Chardonnay 05 Coppola Merlot 05 Jocelyn Lonen Cabernet
Saturday, January 5, 2008 12-5 pm 04 Ancien Chardonnay 03 La Fonti Riserva Chianti 01 Yalumia “ The Signature” 01 Coppola Rubicon
Cuvee Wine Bar and Cellar, 4457 State Route 725 Bellbrook Tuesday - Thursday 11:30 - 7 pm Friday and Saturday 11:30 - 8 pm www.cuveewinebar.net Tasting from Friday, January 4 -Thursday, January 10, 2008 August Kesseler 2005 “R” Riesling Sokol Blosser Evolution Kellerei Cantina Terlan 2006 Terlano EQ 2005 Pinot Noir Sequum 2004 Dry Creek Zinfandel Alain Jaume 2005 Vieux Terron Chateauneuf du Pape
Beer: Christian Moerlein, Over the Rhine Ale Food: Prosciutto Monte Cristo Saturday, massage will be here 12:30-3:30 providing 10 minute chair massages.
Arrow Centerville 937-433-6778 615 Lyons Rd Centerville Saturday, January 5, 2008 11 am-5 pm Wine Tasting 006 Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio… 2004 Four Sisters Merlot… 2005 Three Legged Red… 2004 Rockledge Cabernet Sauvignon “The Rocks”
The Wine Gallery and Cafe, Corner of 3rd and Wayne Wednesday January 9, 2008 5:30PM to 8:30PM 2004 Domaine de la Royere 2003 Cleebourg Pinot Noir 2005 Guy Allion Cabernet/Malbec Blend 2005 Lacour-Peyrade AOC Bergerac
Market Wine Imports, Second Street Public Market Saturday, January 5, 2008 from 9am to 1pm Cleaning off the shelves! Check out the tastings!
Therapy Cafe, 452 E. Third St., Therapy-cafe.com Sunday evening, January 6, 2008, 4-8 PM.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 937-320-9548 Wine Wednesdays 5pm to 8pm in the bar. Wednesday, January 9, 2008 ANTINORI,Chardonnay, Umbria Castello Della Sala Italy, 2005 VINA DONA PAULA, Malbec, Lujan de Cuyo Argentina, 2005 SCALA DEI, Priorat Negre Spain, 2005 CAMBERLEY, Cabernet Sauvignon, Stenllenbosh South Africa, 2004
FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2008 PENFOLD’S WINE DINNER $95 PENFOLDS, Chardonnay Koonunga Hill South Australia, 2006, Tuna Tartar on a Fingerling Potato Chip finished with Basil Wasabi , Carmilized Onion Risotto Cake with Mango Chutney PENFOLDS, Shiraz Mourvedre South Australia Bin 2, 2003 , Baby Arugula salad in a Parmesan Basket with Pulled Duck and Warm Shitake Mushroom Smoked Bacon Dressing PENFOLDS, Shiraz Australia ST. Henri, 2002 , Pepper crusted NY Strip and Augutin Flair Potatoes with a Blackberry Gastrigue PENFOLDS, Shiraz Australia Grange Bin 95, 2002, Seared Porcini dusted Rack of Lamb with Tobacco Onions and finished with a Dark Cherry red wine reduction PENFOLDS, Grand Old Liqueur Tawny Great Grandfather, NV, Macadamia Nut Turtle Pie
A Taste of Wine 90 S. Main St Miamisburg, OH 937.247-1120 January 3 - Veleta Wine Tasting with Dr. Juan Palomar 7:00pm January 11 - English Beer Tasting 7:30pm January 17 - Blind Wine Tasting 7:30 pm
The Winds Cafe in Yellow Springs. Wine 101 January 19 and January 26, 2008 3 pm $90 for both classes Yearly closing - January 1-14
Cork-n-Vine Wine Cellar in Troy, Ohio Friday January 4-11, 2008 Hugel Alsace Clean Slate Riesling Estancia Chard. McMannis Zinfandel Geyser Peak Cab. Back Opal Cab/Merlot
Miami Valley Wine & Spirits 943 West Main St., Tipp City, Oh. 45371 Friday January 4, 2008 5-9pm Beer will include 8 3oz pours of Indian Pale Ale beers and pizza.
The tasting will be held from 5-9pm and will include 8 3oz pours of beer and pizza.
Little Sonoma, 6078 West Chester Road, West Chester, OH 45069.513-942-9463. Located two blocks north of Union Centre Blvd. at the corner of Muhlhauser and West Chester Roads www.LittleSonomaWines.com
Friday, January 4, 5 -7:30 pm $10 per person Savory Red Sippers Five spicy, savory red wines: PKNT Carmenere, Jacob’s Creek Reserve Shiraz, Veramonte Primus red blend, Trinitas Petite Sirah, and Finca Flichman Tupungato.
Saturday, January 5, 3-6 pm Four wines “Defined” Four wines selected to demonstrate wine characteristics, such as balance (Hayman & Hill Chardonnay), acidity (Di Majo Norante Sangiovese), body (Jewel Viognier), and finish (Marquis & Philips Shiraz).
La Petite France http://www.lapetitefrance.biz/ Reservations 513-733-8383 Friday, January 18, 2008 6:30 pm Taste of Bourgogne Wine and French Dinner aperitif JJ Vincent, Bourgogne Blanc first course Latour Montagny “La Grande Roche” lcr trout with hazelnuts, escargots lemon and parsley brown butter second course Nicolas Potel, Cote de Nuits Villages veal chop and risotto cake with wild mushrooms and pancetta third course Chanson, Bourgogne Rouge french cheese plate fourth course Simmonet Febure, Cremant de Bourgogne strawberry tiramisu
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Is wine too cheap? Here’s one man who thinks so
Wine and other forms of alcohol are too cheap, and raising the price by hiking alcohol taxes could save thousands of lives.
That’s the upshot of a book entitled Paying the Tab: The Costs and Benefits of Alcohol Control, written by Philip Cook, professor of public policy and economics at Duke University.
Here’s an excerpt of what the book’s publisher says about Cook’s work:
” … higher alcohol excise taxes and other supply restrictions are effective and underutilized policy tools that can cut abuse while preserving the pleasures of moderate consumption. Paying the Tab makes a powerful case for a policy course correction. Alcohol is too cheap, and it’s costing all of us.”
The book received some additional exposure on Dec. 26 with this New York Times opinion piece written by David Leonhardt.
Sounds like Leonhardt agrees with Cook.
Do you?
And while we’re at it: Should wine be treated the same as beer and spirits when it comes to taxes and other public-policy matters?
Mark Fisher
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Airport rules spell doom for two legendary bottles of Penfolds Grange
An executive for an Australian drinks company smashed two rare bottles of Penfolds Grange as a result of airline rules that prohibit passengers from carrying more than 100-milliliter containers of liquid onto planes.
Here’s an excerpt from the Courier Mail story:
“I was going to conferences in Scotland and Ireland, and grabbed a 1980 and an ‘82 Grange from my personal cellar,” (the executive) said. He estimated the two bottles were probably worth about $3000. But he’d forgotten about the 100ml liquid rule applying to carry-on luggage, and although the precious Grange slipped through Customs he came unstuck at the final security check. “I had the lady from hell, who said ‘No sir, this is going to be bloody destroyed’ …”What’s your reaction to this story? Mine came in two parts. At first, I was outraged at how such inflexible, ignorant restrictions could result in the destruction of two such works of art. After all, if these were my bottles, I would grieve for months. Months. Then, I began to wonder just how ignorant this guy was to even get into the situation. A reader of the Decanter.com version of the story had this to say in the story’s “comments” section:
Anyone who claims to be an “executive” for a major corporation should first be a good citizen and play by the rules of society and be supportive of the public servants who are enforcing the laws for the public good.
Hmmm. What do you think?
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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Does blending leftover wines make me a bad person?
I’ve never made my own wine, beer or any other liquid concoction more complicated than lemonade — and even that’s out of a can. Why do I turn into Andre Tchelistcheff when I’m confronted with leftover wines?
My most recent Master Blend was a white Burgundy that had three components: Louis Jadot Meursault 1997, Daniel Barraud Puilly-Fuisse Les Crays Vieilles Vignes 2002, and Gilbert Picq Chablis Dessus La Carriere 2005.
Small amounts of each of the three wines remained untouched following a wine dinner. As the bottles rested on the table and red wines flowed, I eyed the remnants with a certain lust. Soon, they would swim as one. Not long after the guests left, I combined the three wines, and on this occasion, waited until the following evening to taste the Winemaker’s Blend.
Jackpot! Here was the oddball, multi-vintage cuvee that was truly greater than the sum of its parts. The Meursault added delicate fruit and the complexity of age, the Pouilly-Fuisse a healthy dash of minerality, and the Chablis a solid backbone of acidity. The wine was gorgeous.
After similar gatherings, I’ve been known to tinker with the end-of-the-night winemaker’s blend, creating multiple cuvees with different proportions of wines in different glasses. Some of my wine buddies have picked up the same habit, and much to my chagrin, sometimes seem to have a talent for it that exceeds mine.
A few lessons have emerged: Mixing unlike wines is almost always disaster. A Sancerre with a California chardonnay? Um, no. California cab with fine aged red Burgundy? Sacrilege! But sometimes — sometimes — a concentrated, youthful California cab with a lean Bordeaux, or a splash of fat domestic chardonnay in an austere Chablis can produce something rather, well, intriguing.
The poor vignerons who made those wines certainly didn’t envision their precious juice being bastardized in this manner.
Am I wrong to engage in this practice?
Have you ever tried your hand at end-of-the-night “winemaking?” C’mon, the truth, now …
Cheers!
Mark Fisher
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