WINO 101

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Welcome to the Second Anual Spoooky Haloween tasting newsletter! This week it is brought to you a bit earlier to help you fit this tasting into one of the busier weekends of parties and spoooky festivities. And this is going to be a great way to kick off the weekend!

Now, Halloween has a long, detailed and colorful history, originating in Celtic Druidry and Autumnal Harvests, making way to the more modern nights of mischief, sweets handouts and, thanks in great part to modern horror moviemaking, a frightfully spoooky holiday. However, in considering the wine industry, it is generally not the best marketing strategy to feature Ghouls, Ghosts, Zombies, and the like, on bottles. (Although severed bloody hands seems to be okay.) Most bottles have rivers, trees, birds, prertty colors, pretty women, and a lot of Australian animals on them. Now these don’t appear to be scary to most of us, but perhaps if you looked at it from another perspective. . .?

I found online, an index of all known fears and phobias. Some of these bottles in Friday’s tastings could seem a bit ordinary to most of us, but it might seem breathtakingly unbearable if you were afraid of such things as these:

Maddogs and Englishmen! Now this tasty gem from Spain might be frightening to someone with Cynophobia (Fear of dogs or rabies. . .or dogs with rabies.) But that’s only the half of it, it might also be frigntening to someone with Anglophobia! (Fear of Englishness. Or maybe the English with rabies. . .Gasp!) Now isn’t this fun?

Toad Hollow - Le Faux Frog! This wine hails from France, and that alone might be frightening to a Francophobe. (Fear of the French and French culture. Also known as Galiphobia and Gallophobia. . .although I thought that last one was a fear of bad wine in large jugs.) But this Syrah from the Languedoc also might upset a Batrachophobe (one who fears frogs), or a Bufonophobe (one who fears toads).

Diablo de Uco! Of course, with Diablo being the Spanish word for the Devil, this Malbec from Argentina may leave a person, especially a Spanish-speaking person, quaking in their boots if they suffered from Satanophobia (fear of Satan) or Demonophobia (fear of demons). The wine gets its name from the wicked thunderstorms that seemingly appear out of nowhere in the Valley of Uco. These storms might frighten a Brontophobe. (One who fears thunderstorms.)

Four Sisters! Sure, you’re thinking that there is nothing to fear from sisters. . .but that must be those of you who never had OLDER sisters. That said, the experts haven’t named a phobia for the fear of sisters, perhaps because it’s not an unfounded fear. However, there is a fear of relatives that exists. So, I wouldn’t expect any of the people suffering from Syngenesophobia (yes, fear of relatives) to be enjoying this really tasty Shiraz from Australia!

Cascina Castle’t Barbera D’Asti “Scooter” wine! Okay, I’ll need you to bear with me for this one, as it might seem a bit of a stretch. This is a tasty Barbera D’Asti from the Piedmont region of Italy. The label features four cute little girls (Possibly sisters! Gasp!) sitting on a Vespa. Now besides the people who fear little girls (Parthenophobia), one must keep in mind that the Vespa gets its name from the Italian word for Wasp, named so from the buzzing noise that it makes heading down the street. Now if it’s not too much of a stretch, the Scooter Wine might frighten someone with Spheksophobia (fear of wasps.)

Dead Horse! Yes, I bet there are quite a few of you that wouldn’t like this so much, anyway, as dead horses are not a very fun image for any of us. But it’s far worse for an Equinophobe (fears horses) or a Necrophobe (fears dead bodies). Put the two together and we have Equinonecrophobia! Now, Dead Horse is an awful name for a wine, you might be thinking, however the name for Mark Ryan’s Bordeaux-Style blend actually comes from a loose translation of the Washington vineyard’s French name, Ciel de Cheval, or Horse Heaven. That would sound better to most of us, but not to an Ouranophobe! (one with a fear of heaven). Or, if it’s possible, an equinoranophobe (one who fears Horse Heaven).

Kangarilla Road! Okay. . .this one just sounds like a monster. What is a Kangarilla, anyway? Part Kangaroo, part Godzilla? Imagine a giant firebreathing kangaroo, levelling downtown Melbourne. There’s something scary for you! And in terms of Aussie Shiraz, it IS a monster.

Alright, so I’ve gone on far too long. But it was fun, wasn’t it? Perhaps not for someone with Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (fear of long words, or long-winded emails). So I suggest for you all to show up to the Spoooookiest tasting of the year! Unless, of course you suffer from Oenophobia (fear of wine), Potophobia (fear of alcohol), Dipsophobia (fear of drinking), or Porphyrophobia (fear of the color purple. . .no, the color, not the movie. . .that might be considered Oprahphobia, but I digress.)

Happy Halloween! (Or, for Friday, All Hallow’s Eve Eve Eve, just to beat a dead horse.)

So Friday, October 29th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Face Your Fears! A Spooky Wine Selection!
Maddogs & Englishmen 2003 Shiraz-Cabernet-Mourvedre, Jumilla, Spain
Toad Hollow 2002 Le Faux Frog “Apropos” Syrah, Vin de Pays D’Oc, France
Diablo de Uco 2001 Malbec, Uco Valley, Tupongato, Argentina
Four Sisters 2002 Shiraz, Victoria, Australia
Cascina Castle’t 2002 Barbera D’Asti “Scooter Wine”, Piedmont, Italy

The Extra-Special Premium Pours:
Mark Ryan 2001 Dead Horse, Red Mountain, Washington
Kangarilla Road 2002 Shiraz, McLarren Vale, Australia

A stellar deal at $10 for the first 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!

***Extra Special Tasting Next Tuesday! Election Day Tasting!***
For those not suffering from Politicophobia (fear of Politicians) I am serving up smaller flights of all-American reds, while we watch the ballots roll in! I imagine we’ll all need a good glass of wine this time around! I’ll be tasting 3 wines for a nominal tasting charge. I’ll be pouring from 4:30 until 7:00, or a bit later, Florida notwithstanding. Come here and celebrate (or mourn) the American Democratic system!

Next Friday is Wines of Italy’s Tuscany!
M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

Our indian summer comes to a close, and the leaves and the rain continue to fall, as well as the mercury in our thermometers outside. This makes my mind turn to one thing: It means more laundry, since shorts and short-sleeved shirts take up less space in each load. I find this the only depressing thing about autumn. On the good side, we’re looking forward to perfect weather for staying inside while sipping on great quantities of wine while munching on the Halloween candy we hoarded away from the visiting kids. We’re also looking forward to two more weeks of insufferable political mudslinging between Tweedle-Dumb and Tweedle-Do-Or-Don’t. That in mind, on to the wine.

The wonderful thing about the Southern French wines, is that they have all the power of their Northern Cousins of the Rhone, with more hidden values considering that much of the potenial of the region has been realized over the recent years. So what we get is a dynamic selection of affordable wines from regions making a name for themselves. The regions are all over the map, but for the most part represented here are the ones on the mediterranean: Languedoc, Rousillon, Provence, and a wine from Cahors, in the Southwest of France, thrown in for good measure.

As an extra-special bonus, tomorrow, we will have in-house music performed by William Porter James, a classicaly-trained singer/guitarist/songwriter, as well as his wife Eve, accompanying him on viola. I believe they know a few French art songs, as well! He will be playing from 7:00 until 8:30.

So Friday, October 22nd, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Wines From the South of France!
Domaine Costeplane 2003 Cuvee Special Vin de Pays d’Oc, Languedoc
Chateau Routas 2000 Infernet (Grenache/Syrah), Coteaux Varois
Ermitage du Pic St. Loup 2002 Pic Saint Loup, Coteaux du Languedoc
Clos la Coutale 2002 Cahors, Cahors
Chateau les Valentines 2001 Cotes du Provence, Cotes du Provence

The Extra-Special Premium Pours:
Chateau d’Or et de Gueules 2000 Cuvee Prestige, Costieres de Nimes
St. Martin de la Garrigue 2002 Cuvee St. Martin, Coteaux du Languedoc

A stellar deal at $10 for the first 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!

Next week is A Spooooky Haloween Selection!
M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

It’s summer once again in the great Pacific Northwest! It seems like just last week we were withstanding the torrential downpours of our traditional Autumn. So you know what that means. . .it’s barbequeue season! And what better wine to go with the grill, than tasty Zins! Okay, so I am being a bit tongue-in-cheek about it, but it really feels like a second summer. And I’m not kidding about the grilling. I think this may be the last decent weekend to do it, by the nearest forecast.

Post-seasonal BBQ aside, there is never a bad time for Zinfandel. Now, here is some Zin news that may be old news, but I just learned today: The grape we know as Zinfandel, and the Italians know as Primitivo has been finally, once-and-for-all, been identified after decades of work. Contrary to the previous belief that it was a gift from the skies, descended to the earth from some divine being, intent on rewarding the oenophiles with a truly unique and tasty treat, thereby ensuring their happiness thereafter. To rain on our parade and shatter that belief forever (What? Am I the only one who knows that story?!?), some joyless scientist has determined through DNA testing that the grape is Crljenak Kastelanski originating on the Dalmatian Coast of Croatia.

Those scientists sure know how to ruin our fun, don’t they? Next thing they’ll probably tell us that Sweet Muscat really isn’t harvested by the Grapevine Pixies by the light of the autumn full moon and fermented using magic golden yeasts from the stars. They what? Awww!

So Friday, October 15th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Crljenak Kastelanski! (ZIN!)
Castle Rock 2002 Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley
Peachy Canyon 2002 Incredible Red Zinfandel, Paso Robles
Shooting Star 2001 Zinfandel, Lake County
Alexander Valley Vintners 2003 Sin Zin, Alexander Valley
Seghesio 2003 Zinfandel, Sonoma County

The Extra-Special Premium Pours:
Coturi 2001 Zinfandel, Chauvet Vineyard, Sonoma Valley
Rosenblum 2002 Zinfandel, Richard Sauret Vineyard, Paso Robles

A stellar deal at $10 for the first 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!

Next week is Tasty Reds from the South of France!
M

Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!

This week it’s Aussie Reds! It’s the wonderful super-powered reds we’ve all come to expect from that land on the other hemisphere. There is no DEBATE over the quality of even the lesser of the wines produced there. We have received no Faulty Information. . .they can certainly be considered Wines of Mass Distinction that have been unearthed right under our very noses. Certainly any of these would grace any cellar or wine IRAQ. . .rack! Wine rack!

Dang, we’ve got a month left to get this political hubbub over with, and it’s obvious it’s on everyone’s minds. I, for one, am getting a bit tired of seeing which candidate’s writing staff does a better job at evading the questions. Lest I fall into a political discussion, though, I’ll take their lead, and avoid the topic altogether. However, considering they were rude enough to place the second debate during MY Awesomely Amazing Aussie Reds tasting, I can have the debate available for viewing during the tasting, if I find enough interest in such a thing. And on the flip-side of the coin, I will be still here pouring until well-after the debate is over. Consider the soothing effects of wine on the weary audiences. I, for one, am looking forward to it. “It” being the wines.

About the wines, though: There is always somethig to be said about the Australian Shiraz. Of course, Shiraz (Syrah) is the monstrously tasty grape from France’s Rhone, and the Aussies have certainly made it their own, ripening it to a round, explosive fruit-bomb. Shiraz is certainly the grape in the spotlight of the Aussie market, but many others follow, and some excellent proprietary blends! Overall, I can’t remember a wine from Australia that hasn’t pleased me. So where Friday’s prime-time television viewing may disappoint you, these wines never will!

So Friday, October 8th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:

Aussie Reds!
Buckeley’s 2002 Shiraz, South Australia
Black Chook 2003 Shiraz/Viognier, McLarren Vale
Two Hands 2002 The Lucky Country (Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon), Barossa
Kaesler 2003 Stonehorse (Grenache/Shiraz/Mourvedre), Barossa
Langmeil 2003 Three Gardens (Shiraz/Grenache/Mourvedre), Barossa

The Extra-Special Premium Pours:
Fox Creek 2000 JSM (Shiraz/Cabernet Franc/Cabernet Sauvignon), McLaren Vale
Mitolo 2002 Jester Shiraz, McLaren Vale

A good deal at $10 for the first 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours.
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!

Next week is Zinfandel!
M