Date: Mon, 11/01/2010 6:30pm
Kermit Lynch Wine Dinner
What season is it?
I think everyone has heard me gripe about the beer industry and its rush to change the seasons so I’ll keep it short this time. If you haven’t seen the new seasonal packages yet you will. Pumpkin beers and Oktoberfest beers are pouring in. When is Oktoberfest? September 18th – October 3rd. When is the first day of fall? September 23rd. When did the first pumpkin beer hit stores in a rush to curtail our already short New England summer (an industry move rivaled only by fashion)? July 28th. Ok – enough. We all know that beer companies are in a never ending rush to get the next season started. I suppose that a well made beer of any style is enjoyable at any time of year so get ready to enjoy some fresh brews. Continue reading What season is it?
Alsace Premier Cru?
Have you ever had an Alsace Premier Cru? You haven’t heard of such a thing? Really? Don’t worry, it doesn’t exist…actually maybe you should worry. Alsace’s Grand Cru vineyard system has been widely criticized for a number of reasons, they include…
- Including not only the great vineyards of the region, but also many that arguably are not capable of producing Grand cru level wines
- Grand Cru rankings have also been criticized for promoting varietal wines made from four notable Alsatian grape varieties: Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Muscat, and for, at least until recently, excluding other varieties and blends, even when made using the above varieties.
Instead of answers, I have more questions.
Why doesn’t Alsace have a Premier Cru system? Should it? If it did, what would it mean for the Grand Cru vineyards? Continue reading Alsace Premier Cru?
Organic Revelation from Portugal
Every once and a while I taste a wine that redefines how I view a certain region or, perhaps, a certain grape variety…Portugal, deservedly famous for Port, has nothing to be ashamed of. But despite a lot of improvement in its three key red wine regions (the Douro, the Dao and Bairrada), non-fortified Portuguese wines have yet to make a big splash with American consumers. The delicious, approachable wines from Casa de Mouraz will certainly do its part to change that.
While both wines clearly owe their respective characters to their distinct regions of origin, their quality and appeal have everything to do with organic farming and skillful winemaking, the likes of which we’re seeing for the first time at this price level from Portugal.
Winemaker Antonio Lopes Ribeiro and his partner Sara Dionisio view organic farming as a means by which to capture the essence of regional character from their vineyards. The traditional methods they use to press and ferment the grapes guarantee the wines are truly hand made and convey a lot about where they are grown. The results will surprise you… Continue reading Organic Revelation from Portugal
Dank die Here vir die Franse!
Most of you know me as a defender of Old World wines, but you probably don’t realize that I am very fond of the wines of South Africa. I’ve always enjoyed them because I believe that they consistently offer an intriguing blend of new world fruit with just enough old world earthiness, structure (think acidity, tannin, etc…), and complexity.
I do, however, struggle to place South Africa in the “New World” wine category. Why? Continue reading Dank die Here vir die Franse!
Session Time…
Nothing quite inspires a good session like a hot day. Whether it’s post lawn mowing or just enjoying the afternoon the thirst provoked by the hot sun needs to be satisfied and beer can really hit the spot. With beer shelves packed, top to bottom, with tasty libations how do you really choose what to treat your taste buds with when thirst and volume are diving the urge? More importantly, how do you choose when the shelves are packed, top to bottom, with today’s best offerings of high abv, intensely flavored brew? Flavor is so important and your sunny afternoon just will not be as satisfying as it could be without a beer that meets your standards. Complicating matters, it is not just your standards that must be met, but the importance of not sipping yourself into a stupor when blue skies and summer temperatures are beckoning you to continue sipping throughout the evening. Continue reading Session Time…
