A Sicilian Field Blend

Vino di Anna is a Sicilian family wine estate on the north face of Mt. Etna, which accounts for the effect of volcanic soil in the grapes. The wine was made with 90% Nerello Mascalese grapes, 5% Nerello Cappuccio, 2% Grenache and a splash of other indigenous white varieties, Grecanico, Minnella Bianca and Uva Francese Bianca. The winery says the grapes were grown organically in the various high-altitude sites designated for this wine. They were picked and fermented as field blends, which is traditional in the area. 

I'll let them describe the winemaking process: "Harvest in 2024 was very early, starting mid-September. 40% of the bunches were thrown in the bottom of the Palmento lava-stone vats and then 60% of the grapes were de-stemmed by hand on top. Fermentation started spontaneously, and the grapes were macerated for four to five days, being foot trodden or plunged daily. The fermenting must was then pressed and continued fermenting in qvevri {egg-shaped earthenware vessels}, large oak casks (20hl), chestnut barrels (11hl), and a stainless steel tank to dryness. All components underwent malolactic fermentation spontaneously. Blending took place in February 2025, and the resultant final wine was left on fine lees until bottling early April without fining or filtering." 

The 2024 Vino di Anna Palmento Vino Rosso has a rather low alcohol content, 13% abv, and the wine sells for around $34. The label has an artist's depiction of grapes being foot stomped.

This wine is medium-dark ruby in the glass. I found the nose to be subdued, but notes of ripe cherries and redcurrant berries came through. I'd like to say that I noticed the effect of the chestnut barrels used, but they were half as large as the oak casks. My olfactory sense isn't all that sharp, anyway. The palate is medium weight and a bit tart, showing raspberry and currant flavors. The tannins are medium firm and the acidity is bright. The medium finish carries tart fruit after the sip. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

Chilean Carménère

Pewen Wines is one of the larger producers in Chile, accounting for two million liters of wine every year. The winery was founded in the 1990s, and most of their estate vines are at least 25 years old. 

Apalta is a micro valley within Chile's Colchagua Valley, where Chief Winemaker Carolina Vasquez watches over the process of turning grapes into something even more beautiful.

The 2021 Pewen de Apalta Carménère was aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. Pewen has plenty of oak on the property. Their barrel room contains some two thousand containers. Alcohol sits at 13.5% abv and the wine retails for $70.

This wine is a dark indigo in the glass. The nose features abundant black and blue berry aromas, earthy minerality and black pepper. The palate has plenty of that dark fruit, along with a savory streak of tar. The tannins are quite firm, even after the bottle was open for a day. Acidity adds brightness that counterpoints the dark flavors. The finish is long and savory. I used it in making a short rib stew, but enjoyed it more when I paired it with the dish. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

Blood Of The Vines - Making A Killing, Serial Style

Pairing‌‌‌ ‌‌‌wine‌‌‌ ‌‌‌with‌‌‌ ‌‌‌movies!‌‌‌ See‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌hear‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌fascinating‌‌‌ ‌‌‌commentary‌‌‌ ‌‌‌for‌‌‌ ‌‌‌these‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌movies‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌many‌‌‌ ‌‌‌more‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌at‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌From‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Hell.‌‌‌ This week, we came down with a bad case of recidivism. Kill, kill, kill again. But take a moment to savor one of the wine pairings for these films about those who just can't stop themselves.

The good news is: Cherry Falls was never released in US theaters back in 1999. The bad news: it ended up on television. At least we can skip past that channel when it appears in the listings. The slasher flick has teenagers being murdered because they are virgins. Seems like it used to be a stigma if you were a virgin, then it became a virtue. Has the pendulum swung back yet? I would ask a younger person, but it may be an actionable offense to do so now. 

Brittany Murphy stars, and I loved her in Clueless. Jay Mohr is also in the movie, and I loved his contributions to the Jim Rome radio show back in the day. "UC Santa Barbara? Tough school! If you're not at the pool by 11:00, you just don't get a chaise lounge." Cherry has all the earmarks of a slasher movie: a surprise twist, an axe, a fence impalement, an orgy… like that, you know.

Waterfall Sonoma Valley Proprietary Red is a full-blooded Cabernet Franc which lists for $42. Waterfall on the label? Check. Red wine inside? Check. Time to watch the movie.

Out of 1971 comes 10 Rillington Place, a British crime drama with Richard Attenborough as real-life serial killer John Christie. The title of the film is the address of the house where many of his victims were slain. John Hurt got rave reviews for his portrayal of Timothy Evans, who was tried and found guilty of two murders that were committed by Christie. Both Evans and Christie eventually swung from a noose, although Evans was posthumously pardoned, a little late to do him any good. 

British serial killers don't have to sound like James Bond villains, all posh and proper as they describe how they plan to end you. Or like the great Bill Hicks comedy bit about "hooligans" knocking over a dustbin in Shaftesbury. But, I suppose the bad seeds turn up everywhere, even in Notting Hill. Jack the Ripper, the Yorkshire Ripper, the Clockwork Orange rippers. There are plenty of murderous types to go around in jolly old England.

For this movie about crime in London, let's go down to Surrey for Denbies Redlands, a crimson blend of Dornfelder, Rondo and Pinot Noir grapes grown in the Denbies estate vineyard. I don't know whose idea it was to plant a German grape variety like Dornfelder in quaint little Surrey, but if they are good with it, so am I. Prost. 

Hollywood 90028 comes from 1973 to show the soft underbelly of filmmaking - porn. This film makes the Boogie Nights depiction of the porn world seem positively glamorous. A fellow by the name of Mark lands in Hollywood with dreams of becoming a movie cameraman. Things go south for him when the only gainful employment he finds is in the porn industry. A gal by the name of Michele is also riding the skids of her career dreams, on the other end of Mark's lens, which, it turns out, is not a very nice place to be.

Missing out on the career of one's choice doesn't necessarily make one a homicidal killer - but Hollywood 90028 indicates that sometimes it does. Ask Mark, or any of the women with whom he has slept. And try not to yell too loudly at the screen when Michele's turn to go off-camera with him comes around.

Googling "wine" and "porn" together brings some awfully sleazy responses. I don't want any part of the website featuring "wine bottle porn videos." However, Sexy Wine Bomb has not only a sleazy name, but a sleazy label, too. It's a blend of Sonoma County Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, and Petite Sirah that costs just under $10. They say the flavor stays with you, as will the aroma if you spill it on your shirt. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

We Should All Have Chardonnay This Good

Grgich Hills Estate began in 1977, founded by Miljenko Grgich and Austin Hills. Miljenko may be tough to pronounce, so you can call him Mike. He crafted the famous 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay that beat France in the 1976 Paris Tasting, so he knows a bit about what he's doing.

The 2022 Grgich Hills Estate Grown Napa Valley Chardonnay carries alcohol at 14.1% abv and retails for $53. 2022 is the first vintage of this wine to be Regenerative Organic Certified. That's an organic system that seeks not only to minimize damage to the earth, but to regenerate the soil from which much of our food comes.

This wine has a yellow-gold tint to it. The nose brings some of that buttery popcorn aroma, which is joined by Meyer lemon, tangerine, lime, vanilla, and apricot. The flavors are delicious. Citrus, vanilla, pear, and a wealth of minerality make for a delightful drinking experience. The palate also features a tangy, food-friendly acidity. This is an elegant wine. Don't waste it on a ham sandwich. Make something nice for yourself.

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

Austrian Bubbles, Dry As A Bone

This bubbly wine comes from Weingut Peter Schandl in Rust, in the Austrian state of Burgenland, where bubbles are called sekt. The city was made official in 1681 in exchange for a passel of money and 500 buckets of wine. Nice deal! 

The 2021 Mint Furmint Extra Brut was made in the traditional method, just like Champagne, except there is no dosage. That's the addition of a sugary liquid which is part of the production of most sparkling wines. Mint is a single variety (Furmint) and a single vintage (2021). The grapes were harvested from vines which were planted in 2002. This bubbly was aged on the lees for more than 40 months. Alcohol sits at 13% abv and the retail price is $23. 

This wine shows a nice, white froth which dissipates quickly, leaving a pale yellow-green color under the frizzante. The nose has lemon, lime, and stone fruit aromas. On the palate, intense carbonation and acidity put the mouth a-tingle. Flavors of apple and pear are draped in a bitter nuttiness, and the absence of sweetness is noticeable. This Furmint sparkler will pair with anything. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

Austrian Pink Pet-Nat Wine

Weingut Zull is located in Scrattenthal, the smallest wine town in Austria, north of Vienna near the border with the Czech Republic. The vineyards are roughly at the same latitude as the French wine-growing region of Alsace. The town may be small, but it has been around since 1220. 

Winemaker Phillip Zull has decades of experience in the region and a worldwide mission of learning which took him to places like Burgundy, New Zealand, and Oregon. His family works the land and harvests the grapes by hand. The vineyards are sustainable and they use no herbicides or artificial fertilizers on their vines. The vineyards around Schrattenthal are at elevations approaching 1,300 feet, with ancient, granite soils. Zull says he makes wine for life, not collectors.

The Zull Rosé Ancestrale Petillant Naturel from 2022 is a sparkling wine made with a single, slow fermentation under pressure. The grapes are 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Zweigelt. Alcohol is refreshingly low, at 11% abv, and the retail price is about $16. 

This wine has a salmon pink color in the glass, and in the clear bottle. There is a hefty dose of pinkish-white foam on the pour. The nose is complex, shoring aromas of cherry, apple, Meyer lemon, and tangerine, all with an earthy minerality. The palate is sweet and delicious. Flavors of strawberry, cherry, peach, and quince are a treat, as is the zesty acidity. You can pair it with a mild cheese, a fruit tart, or a bag of potato chips, if you like. But it is really made for sipping, and is quite enjoyable that way.  

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky 

It's Not Too Late For A Big Holiday Wine

Big, bold red wines really make the holidays shine, and here's one of the shiniest. The 2021 Doña Paula Selección de Bodega Malbec is a varietal wine, made using grapes taken from the bush vines of the Aluvia Vineyard. This plot is in Gualtallary, in Mendoza's Uco Valley. The rocky soil of Aluvia is actually way up in the valley, at an elevation of more than 4,400 feet. 

The climate is cool in the daytime and cold at night, which is great for acidity. Aging took place in 50% new French oak barrels over 20 months. Alcohol is a hefty 15% abv and the retail price is $60.

This wine is inky dark, with no light getting through the glass. Black fruit provides the sweet part of the nose, while tar, earth, tobacco, and coffee cover the savory side. Blackberry and plum flavors are joined on the palate by earthy minerals and a brisk acidity. The tannins are firm and seem to eagerly await a pairing with some beef. It's a delicious wine, so if you're not pairing it with food, that’s okay. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

Blood Of The Vines - It's A Wonderful Christmas

Pairing‌‌‌ ‌‌‌wine‌‌‌ ‌‌‌with‌‌‌ ‌‌‌movies!‌‌‌ See‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌hear‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌fascinating‌‌‌ ‌‌‌commentary‌‌‌ ‌‌‌for‌‌‌ ‌‌‌these‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌movies‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌many‌‌‌ ‌‌‌more‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌at‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌From‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Hell.‌‌‌ This week, a Christmas extravaganza! We fill your stockings with movies about the holidays and wine pairings to go with them. Not a lump of coal to be seen. 

The Bishop's Wife has Cary Grant as an angel. I know, I know. Typecasting. It's mighty handy to have an angel around to decorate the tree super fast. And that magically refilling bottle of booze is pretty sweet. I also could use that voice assisted typewriter, hoping that the spell check on it worked better in 1947 than it does now.

Dudley (what a name for an angel) is on Earth to help a bishop and those around him see a more spiritual side of life. He could have been the fourth Christmas ghost for Charles Dickens, except the studio loaned him out for this movie. All goes swimmingly until Dud falls for, you guessed it, the bishop's wife. The bishop is fixated on trying to raise money for a new cathedral. Fixated, until ol' Dudley's dates with wifey give him something more to worry about.

We'll pair a nice red wine, of course, with The Bishop's Wife. Talley Vineyards of San Luis Obispo County has a Bishop's Peak Pinot Noir, which sells in the nicer places for about $20. Throw in a box of crackers and you can have your own private communion.

The original film version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol was from the silent movie era. This one's a talkie. A Christmas Carol has been remade a number of times over the years, notably in 1951, with Alastair Sim in the lead role. It was filmed in black and white. Colorized later, for your protection. Sim was a great Scrooge, but has there been a bad one? He's simply one of the most imaginative characters ever created. My fave? Jim Backus, from Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. 

Dickens let Ebenezer Scrooge's nephew Fred describe Port to Bob Cratchit: "It's wine, Bob. A cheery, warming, goodly wine. A wine that'll race through your veins with little torches. It's port, Bob. The fifth essence of the Christmas spirit." Well, way to bring it, Fred.

Quinta de la Rosa's vineyards are on the slopes above Portugal's Douro River, and the grapes are crushed by foot. Ruby Port is usually the least expensive of the many different styles of the wine. The de la Rosa Ruby Reserve Lot No. 601 tends to be slightly drier than the norm. The fruit flavors are bold, while the acidity rips and the tannins exert their will, with little torches. 

Most of us grew up with the 1946 Frank Capra gem, It's a Wonderful Life, as a holiday staple. That's because the film's copyright expired in 1974, making it a cheap piece of holiday property for local TV stations around the country. Movie goers and critics alike were less than thrilled with it in its initial release, but the constant viewings over the years brought around everyone except Scrooge. 

Wonderful Life grabbed five Oscar noms, but couldn't pluck any trophies from the gift tree. I used to hang at The Shack in Santa Monica, where the owner regaled me, as I sat next to the video yule log, by hitting the cash register while saying, "Get me, I’m givin' out wings!" That, plus the free Jagermeister shots he poured for me, really endeared him to me. 

No Jagermeister for this movie. No Jagermeister ever, please. George and Mary Bailey gifted some new homeowners with bread, salt and "wine, that joy and prosperity may reign forever." I don't know what kind of wine it was, but we might as well make it an icewine from upstate New York. Weis Vineyards (just down the road from Bedford Falls, no doubt) has a Riesling icewine for about $60. It's a tiny bottle, but it sure beats a flaming rum punch. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

Primo Portugal

Winemaker António Bastos created the 2023 Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora do Carmo Reserva Terroir. That's a mouthful, I know. Nossa Senhora do Carmo is a title of the Virgin Mary and a part of the estate's name. Bastos feels the wine demonstrates the terroir of their estate on the wine terraces of the Douro Valley, dubbed the International Wine Region of the Year for 2025 by Wine Enthusiast. The winery produced Port wine for centuries. Just 20 years ago, they started producing classic Douro wines from the grapes on their 41 plots.

The grapes for this red blend are 100% Portuguese. The composition is 35% Touriga Nacional, 35% Touriga Franca, 15% Tinta Roriz, and 15% Tinto Cão. The grapes were fully destemmed for vinification. The wine was aged about three quarters in French oak barrels and about a quarter in cement tanks. 

They say the vintage was nearly perfect, with timely rain in June and September that made for even ripening, while cool nights in August helped the aromatics and acidity. Alcohol sits at 14% abv and the retail price is $36.

This wine is very dark in the glass. Aromas of blackberry, plum, anise, cedar, and tobacco grace the nose. The flavor profile is at once fruity and savory. Dark berries meet earth and sweet spice, as minerals take on a peppery note. The mouthfeel is medium and the tannins are firm. A bracing acidity keeps things lively. There is a fantastic freshness to the wine, possibly due to the partial cement aging. Pair this wine with pork, as it's a natural fit. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

Blood Of The Vines - More Movies You Never Heard Of

Pairing‌‌‌ ‌‌‌wine‌‌‌ ‌‌‌with‌‌‌ ‌‌‌movies!‌‌‌ See‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌hear‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌fascinating‌‌‌ ‌‌‌commentary‌‌‌ ‌‌‌for‌‌‌ ‌‌‌these‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌movies‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌many‌‌‌ ‌‌‌more‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌at‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌From‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Hell.‌‌‌ This week, we give you what Santa probably can't. More movies about which you were completely oblivious. Santa can take care of the wine pairings, but I'll steer his sleigh in the right direction. 

Gee, thanks TFH gurus. Dead Mail is one of the movies they figure you probably don't know anything about. They must be reading my mail, because it completely passed me by, too. Excuse me while I go watch it real quick. 

Okay, I'm back. It's not so bad that people shouldn't have heard about it. If you like your horror with some black comedy and a twist of civil service thrown in, zip over to Prime and get acquainted. If you're off of Prime due to some sort of protest, try AMC Plus. If you really need the protest in your life, try avoiding Netflix. No, I mean that. Just try.

I don't know if Australia's postal system generates as much humor as the one in the U.S., but Henry's Drive Wines makes a Shiraz called Dead Letter Office, so I guess the answer is "yes." It tastes a lot like Syrah, because that's what they call it down under. It's a $26 wine. Try shipping it for $26 by USPS. 

The Admiral: Roaring Currents is a 2014 South Korean film, one of the many which did not receive an Academy Award for Best Picture.  The South Korean director who did win mentioned that he would proceed to drink until dawn.  That is something, I am told, directors are sometimes given to do, whether or not they win an Oscar.

Admiral Yi Sun-sin has just 13 battleships against a 300-ship Japanese fleet in the Battle of Myeongryang.  So this is a movie you've never heard of, as well as a movie the details of which you cannot pronounce.  Perhaps it pairs with a Scotch whisky, most of which no one can pronounce, either, like Bunnahabhain.  Or an ornery beer, like Westvleteren 12.  Let's get sweet with a German Riesling classified as Trockenbeerenauslese. In fact, let's get crazy and uncork Dr. Hermann’s Erdener Treppchen Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese Goldkapsel. It's crazy because you're going to have to pick up the $800 tab for this bottle. Trockenbeerenauslese, by the way, is the way Germans call for the sweetest of the sweet Rieslings. They are even thirstier by the time they get the word out of their mouths.

From 2022 comes The Son. This drama stars Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, and Anthony Hopkins, so you know it's worth a look. Top notch directing and writing also comes into play. 

But, don't spring for an extra streaming platform just yet. Despite the high-level talent involved, it missed the mark with its audience. Actually, I hear it did receive a ten-minute ovation at the Venice Film Festival, but the critics were less than enthusiastic about the film. That's gentle phrasing for "they hated it." To say the scribes wouldn't have urinated on it had it been on fire is understating the case. The reels could have been aflame right next to the popcorn machine and the critics would have proceeded to the restroom ten feet away. 

The story about a depressed teenager and the heartache he causes for his split family probably rings too true for many folks. Also, it was released at a time when people weren't really going to the movies, post-Covid. Maybe that's why it’s one of those films you've never heard of. But we're here to pour a glass for movies well-received and not-so-well.

Son of a Son is a California winery run by a fourth generation farmer. Christopher Ferrara's Red Blend uses Italian varieties (Sangiovese, Aglianico, and Barbera) grown in Paso Robles and sold for about $25. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

A Taste Of Old Vienna, With Bubbles

Stift Klosterneuburg Abbey Winery is Austria's oldest wine estate, says the label. It is a monastery just outside Vienna, where Augustinian canons have lived for 900 years. The winery is just one of the ways the abbey holds onto tradition. It is a cultural center as well, and it makes an impressive mark on the landscape around it. 

The non-vintage Stift Klosterneuburg Gruner Veltliner Brut is a sekt, the German and Austrian word for sparkling wine. It is made in the traditional method, just like Champagne. Its alcohol level is 12.5% abv and it sells for around $25.

This sparkling wine pours up frothy, with a white set of bubbles which dissipate quickly. The nose brings a ton of apples, pears, and minerality. The palate is quite refreshing, with lots of acidity and carbonation. Fruit is the star in the flavor profile, and the mouthfeel is clean, light, tingly, and just a bit peppery. There is just a trace of toast, but you won't mistake it for Champagne. It's just as much fun, though. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

For A Good Time, Call For An Italian Wine

Give me an Italian wine, and I'll be happy. Then, give me another, before I turn sad again. The local wine club to which I belong recently featured the 2022 Maccario Dringenberg Rossese Dolceacqua. It made me happy.

One of the wine's importers reports that "Giovanna Maccario is the daughter of one the pioneers of viticulture in Western Liguria, already bottling Rossese wines in the early seventies.” She has been making wine and tending vineyards for two decades. 

The grape is Rossese di Dolceacqua, called Tibouren in Provence. Due to drought in 2022, Maccario only produced 5,000 bottles of this gem, rather than the usual 25,000. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks. Alcohol rests at 13.5% abv and the wine may cost you upwards of $50 due to its limited production.

This wine has a nose full of cherry and herbal notes, with a hint of bell pepper. The palate brings red fruit and a savory streak of earth and black pepper with it. There is a strong acidity, and firm tannins for a food friendly wine. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky 

Blood Of The Vines - More Movies You Never Heard Of

Pairing‌‌‌ ‌‌‌wine‌‌‌ ‌‌‌with‌‌‌ ‌‌‌movies!‌‌‌ See‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌hear‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌fascinating‌‌‌ ‌‌‌commentary‌‌‌ ‌‌‌for‌‌‌ ‌‌‌these‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌movies‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌many‌‌‌ ‌‌‌more‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌at‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌From‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Hell.‌‌‌ This week, we give you what Santa probably can't. More movies about which you were completely oblivious. Santa can take care of the wine pairings, but I'll steer his sleigh in the right direction. 

Gee, thanks TFH gurus. Dead Mail is one of the movies they figure you probably don't know anything about. They must be reading my mail, because it completely passed me by, too. Excuse me while I go watch it real quick. 

Okay, I'm back. It's not so bad that people shouldn't have heard about it. If you like your horror with some black comedy and a twist of civil service thrown in, zip over to Prime and get acquainted. If you're off of Prime due to some sort of protest, try AMC Plus. If you really need the protest in your life, try avoiding Netflix. No, I mean that. Just try.

I don’t know if Australia’s postal system generates as much humor as the one in the U.S., but Henry's Drive Wines makes a Shiraz called Dead Letter Office, so I guess the answer is "yes." It tastes a lot like Syrah, because that's what they call it down under. It's a $26 wine. Try shipping it for $26 by USPS. 

The Admiral: Roaring Currents is a 2014 South Korean film, one of the many which did not receive an Academy Award for Best Picture.  The South Korean director who did win mentioned that he would proceed to drink until dawn.  That is something, I am told, directors are sometimes given to do, whether or not they win an Oscar.

Admiral Yi Sun-sin has just 13 battleships against a 300-ship Japanese fleet in the Battle of Myeongryang.  So this is a movie you've never heard of, as well as a movie the details of which you cannot pronounce.  Perhaps it pairs with a Scotch whisky, most of which no one can pronounce, either, like Bunnahabhain.  Or an ornery beer, like Westvleteren 12.  Let's get sweet with a German Riesling classified as Trockenbeerenauslese. In fact, let's get crazy and uncork Dr. Hermann's Erdener Treppchen Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese Goldkapsel. It's crazy because you're going to have to pick up the $800 tab for this bottle. Trockenbeerenauslese, by the way, is the way Germans call for the sweetest of the sweet Rieslings. They are even thirstier by the time they get the word out of their mouths.

From 2022 comes The Son. This drama stars Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, and Anthony Hopkins, so you know it's worth a look. Well, don't spring for an extra streaming platform just yet. The critics were less than enthusiastic about the film. That's gentle phrasing for "they hated it." To say they wouldn't have urinated on it had it been on fire is understating the case. The reels could have been aflame right next to the popcorn machine and the critics would have proceeded to the restroom ten feet away. 

The story about a depressed teenager and the heartache he causes for his split family probably rings too true for many folks. Maybe that's why it's one of those films you've never heard of, and maybe it would be best left that way. But we're here to pour a glass for movies good and bad.

Son of a Son is a California winery run by a fourth generation farmer. Christopher Ferrara's Red Blend uses Italian varieties (Sangiovese, Aglianico, and Barbera) grown in Paso Robles and sold for about $25. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

Wholehearted Nebbiolo

Winemaker Luca Faccenda grew up in a valley where his family has worked the earth for so long, it bears the family name. The Nebbiolo grapes from his steep Piedmont slopes are grown organically in the Roero region. Faccenda says he strives to neither add to, nor detract from, what the grapes have to offer. The 2020 Valfaccenda Roero hits 13.5% abv and sells for about $40. 

This wine has a nice medium ruby tint in the glass, with a bit of brick red in the pour. The nose has plum and blackberry aromas, along with those of tobacco and purple flowers. The palate has a grip that won't turn loose, extremely firm tannins and wholehearted acidity. The overall impression is that of a savory wine that begs to be paired with steak, the fattier the better. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

Peel Me A Pelaverga

Whenever my wife gets tired of hearing me talk about wine, which is less often than you might think, I can go to Los Feliz and have a vino convo with Lou Amdur, of Lou Wine Shop. He knows a lot about wine, a lot more than I do. Maybe he knows more than I ever will about wine, but that's okay, because I can learn from him.

One of my recent wine club selections was the 2023 Cantina Massara Pelaverga di Verduno. Yes, Lou finds the best wines for his wine club. If he selects it, I know I'll like it.

The Italian Pelaverga grape variety is pretty rare. Only about seventy-five acres of it are still under cultivation, and Lou says only eleven growers even bother to cultivate it. All of those growers are located in or near the Piemontese commune of Verduno.

Only grape growers in Verduno are allowed the privilege of putting their denomination on the label: Pelaverga di Verduno. Outside of this area, a Pelaverga grower would have to call it simply a vino rosso. These growers do grow Nebbiolo grapes and make very fine Barolo wines that get all the glory, says Lou. But Pelaverga is considered a special grape in Verduno, part of the area's heritage that deserves to be preserved.

As a side note, Lou describes the origin of the grape's name, with an apology for anyone who  might be offended. I'll just say the name stems from the Italian "pela," which means "to peel," and "verga," which translates as "rod." Let your imagination run wild.

The 2023 Cantina Massara Pelaverga di Verduno comes from the chalky, sandy soil of three different vineyard sites in the village. Steel tank vinification takes eight days, and the wine stays in the tank to age for six months. Alcohol sits at 13.5% abv and the wine sells for around $35.

This wine has a light ruby red color. Its nose is bright and elegant, with aromas of pomegranate, cherry, and an herbal note that smells a bit like rosemary. The palate shows cherry, raspberry, and spice aromas, all cloaked in a delightful earthiness. The acidity is racy and fresh. The finish lasts awhile, and brings in a note of cherry candy. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

Blood Of The Vines - Wilder Than Ever

Pairing‌‌‌ ‌‌‌wine‌‌‌ ‌‌‌with‌‌‌ ‌‌‌movies!‌‌‌ See‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌hear‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌fascinating‌‌‌ ‌‌‌commentary‌‌‌ ‌‌‌for‌‌‌ ‌‌‌these‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌movies‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌many‌‌‌ ‌‌‌more‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌at‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌From‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Hell.‌‌‌ This week, wild times with Billy Wilder. We’ll have a wine pairing for each of these three films, too.

Wilder co-wrote and directed Fedora in 1978, a production by the West Germans and the French. It's nice when we can all get along and make movies. The title character is a famous and beautiful movie star who has retired to her own private Idaho, actually a Greek island. Word gets out that she has killed herself. Rumor has it that she did herself in, naturally for an actress, in the most dramatic way possible. She threw herself in front of a train.

The lug who loved her years before can't believe it, and he does a little digging. Apparently, it's not illegal to dig on Corfu. And here comes the ol' switcheroo. The big ball of confusion that unwinds and gets everyone all tangled up in it. It wasn't Fedora who killed herself, it was… it was…. Aah, why spoil it for you. Watch for yourself and see what becomes of the broken-hearted. 

Valter Kobal is the fifth generation of winemakers in his family. They have persevered through the decades, through WWII, through communism, and now make their own wines in Slovenia, as Fedora Wines. Their output includes Chardonnay, a red blend of Merlot, Cabernet, and Refosco, and wines made from varieties indigenous to Slovenia, like Zelen and Pinela, most of which sell for around $36. 

Avanti!, from 1972, stars Juliet Mills and Jack Lemmon. The script for the romcom was written by Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond, so there is that pedigree to consider. If you don't think it's funny enough, welcome to the club. Wilder reportedly didn't care for the finished product and claimed he didn't write it as a comedy in the first place. So, there.

Wine plays a tangential role in the movie. A deadly auto accident that serves as the film's linchpin happens at an Italian vineyard, and the owners prove to be unhappy that their vines were damaged by the crash. Colorado's Avanti Winery comes to mind, but wouldn't you rather have a nice Ligurian Vermentino?  I thought so. 

Witness for the Prosecution was directed in 1957 by Wilder, and he also had a hand in writing it. The script was based on the Agatha Christie play, which is what biz insiders call "stealing from the rich." Christie even said it was her favorite film adaptation of any of her works.

It was a good enough movie to garner six Oscar nominations and a handful of Golden Globe noms. Stars like Tyrone Power, Charles Laughton, Marlene Dietrich, and Elsa Lanchester turned in magnificent performances, but alas, Sayonara and The Bridge on the River Kwai dominated their categories. Lanchester did win the Globe for her role as Miss Plimsoll. 

When the critics like a movie, it can be a tough sell to the public. Not in this case. Tickets flew out of box offices like it was a tickertape parade. The movie's ad campaign read this way: "You'll talk about it, but please don't tell the ending." Okay, I won't. But you'll be shocked when Laughton's character is revealed in court to be a cross-dresser. Oops. I did it again. 

Aptos Vineyard, in the Santa Cruz Mountains, has a courtroom-related wine called Alternate Juror. I can relate to this because I was once an alternate juror myself. There is little in this world as unsatisfying as being an alternate anything. This Pinot Noir sells for $54, which is the least I would pay to avoid being the 13th angry man. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

A White Blend From The Rhone Valley

I am so happy to have a white wine from the Rhône Valley to write about. I generally prefer whites, and the Rhône is my favorite region… in France, anyway. 

The 2022 Michel Chapoutier La Bernardine is a Châteauneuf-du-Pape wine. La Bernardine is the name of the house in the middle of the vineyards. The wine is made from Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Clairette, and Roussanne grapes, which were vinified in oak and steel, while aging took place in stainless steel tanks. The alcohol content is 13.5% abv and the retail price is $65.

This wine has a beautiful golden color in the glass. Citrus, apricot, almonds and a floral note define the nose. The palate brings steely acidity and citrus flavors. The acidity is bracing, and the finish is long and delicious. Pair La Bernardine with white meats or seafood of any kind. It also goes nicely with a soft cheese.

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

Revisiting An Encounter From My Early Wine Life

The wine we’ll taste today is the 2023 M. Chapoutier Les Meysonniers. It is a 100% Syrah wine from the northern Rhône Valley. I have a real weakness for Syrah, and for the wines of the Rhône in general. Syrah is the only red grape permitted for use in the Crozes-Hermitage appellation.

Who is the "M" of M. Chapoutier? There have been several, and they just keep coming. Marius, Marc, Michel, Mathilde and Maxime have all made their mark on the Chapoutier brand in one way or another. When I first became serious about wine, Chapoutier was one of the names I was first acquainted with, and I am happy to revisit it now and then.

Les Meysonniers was vinified in concrete vats, and 90% of the wine was aged in them. The remainder was aged 12 months in barrels. Alcohol sits rather low at 12.5% abv and it sells for about $20, maybe less. 

This wine has a medium-dark ruby color in the glass. The nose is what I always look forward to in a Syrah. The big cassis note, the faint earth note, the slight herbal note. The combination of mint, eucalyptus, dirt, and funk provides the perfect backdrop to that dark purple juice. The palate is as big and bold as one might expect, maybe bigger and bolder. Dark fruit flavors are buried in a savory mound of earth and herb. The tannins are firm. I’m going to make a rib eye steak before this bottle becomes empty. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

Blood Of The Vines - Occult Killers

Pairing‌‌‌ ‌‌‌wine‌‌‌ ‌‌‌with‌‌‌ ‌‌‌movies!‌‌‌ See‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌hear‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌fascinating‌‌‌ ‌‌‌commentary‌‌‌ ‌‌‌for‌‌‌ ‌‌‌these‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌movies‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌many‌‌‌ ‌‌‌more‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌at‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌From‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Hell.‌‌‌ This week, the devil is in the details of three horror movies and wine tastings. 

1990's The First Power is a modern noir film in which a Los Angeles cop searches for, and finds, the Pentagram Killer. An anonymous tipster helps him reel in the bad guy, but it turns out the executed man was a Satan worshipper. Now they have to contend with a spirit who can inhabit other living people. Just when you thought the problem was solved, up springs one that's even worse. 

No prisoner has been put to death in California for nearly 20 years, so there’s no telling how many future Satan spirits are currently residing on Death Row. I'm guessing a lot, probably. 

The critics had few kind words for the film's sloppy logic, but the people who keep the movie business humming had plenty of dollars to plunk down for admittance to the show. They say the late rapper Eazy-E liked the film, so there's that. Gotta have some entertainment when you get tired of feuding with Dr. Dre. 

Black Sea Gold is a Bulgarian winery where red and white wines are sold under the name Pentagram. If you can navigate their website, then you know more about the Bulgarian language than I do. I think the wines are fairly inexpensive, but the shipping has to be a killer. 

In 1987's Prince of Darkness, a container of liquid is found to be, basically, Satan in a bottle. The Bad Genie. Instead of three wishes, you get three ways to be taken to the dark side. 

The film was written and directed by John Carpenter, and had Donald Pleasance in the lead role as a priest. The liquid devil has been floating in that container for seven million years, kept secret by the Church. When the decision is made to keep it away from the Vatican, it's brought to Los Angeles. Thanks a lot. 

The scribes hated the movie. One writer said it deserved, like Satan, to be shut up in a canister for seven million years. Instead, it now lives on Prime Video. 

Australia's Coward and Black Vineyards makes a Cabernet Sauvignon called The Black Prince. Unlike Satan, it is said to offer a nose of blackberry pie with soft, supple tannins, for $35.

If you speak Italian, you may know 1975's Deep Red as Profondo Rosso. The only Italian I speak is "più vino, per favore," and I can say that only because I just googled "more wine please" in Italian. 

Deep Red (Imma stay in my English language lane) stars David Hemmings as a musician who investigates a string of murders. Don't ask me why a musician is doing a cop's job. I just hope the cop isn't playing a sax on a street corner somewhere.

It's one of those things that strike me about Italian film. Weird happenings don't draw anyone's attention. Arguments about unrelated events seem to pop up out of nowhere and disappear just as quickly. Anytime a car is moving, it's like a chase scene. And even if it's called a giallo film, it's still just a slasher flick to me.

It may be just a slasher flick to me, but it was a regular War and Peace to someone. The original script reportedly ran more than 500 pages. I'll pause here for the audible gasp from every studio reader in Los Angeles. Never fear. Writer/director Dario Argento cut it down to a mere 321 pages. Despite the heft of that screenplay, the movie clocks in at just over two hours running time. That must have made a mess on the cutting room floor.

Cascina Cà Gialla Barolo is a full Nebbiolo, deep red wine from Piedmont. If you're lucky, maybe you'll find a Black Friday deal with the $35 price "slashed" to $30. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky

An Unusual Grape, An Unusual Wine

Here's a wine made from an under-the-radar grape, Cabernet Cortis. The 2024 Pierre & Antonin Petit Sauvage is a Vin de France wine from the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the south of France. It is touted on the label as "résistant et naturel." The Cabernet Cortis grapes grow on vines resistant to disease. The grape was bred in 1982 in Germany for that purpose. The wine is made with no intervention or additions. The winery says it is "wine in its purest form." Alcohol sits at 13% abv and it sells in a lot of places for less than $20.

This wine is dark in the glass, with light barely getting through. The nose is dark as well, and when I sniffed it I got a blast of Cassis. The black currant and black berry aromas are forceful and a bit funky. Earth, tar, and cigars also play into the profile. The palate keeps the darkness rolling. The black fruit and forest floor are as brooding as one could wish. And the tannins …they are alive and well. Big acidity adds to the tingling mouthfeel. I've seen other reviewers say that this wine is not everyone's cup, but those who shy away from it must not enjoy an adventure, because that's what this wine is. 

Follow Randy Fuller on X and BlueSky