Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Loire Valley Delight - Vouvray Wine

Domaine Pichot Vouvray Le Peu de la Moriette 2020

Talk about an institution - Jean-Claude Pichot runs the domaine the way his family has since 1770.  Vineyard Brands imports it.  All three of the Pichot vineyards yield Chenin Blanc grapes, and the ones for this wine came from Le Peu de la Moriette. The wine was vinified in oak barrels, has alcohol at 12.5% abv and it cost about $18 at Whole Foods Market.

This wine is dry, has a pale yellow tint and smells like lemons, flowers and just a hint of oak.  It is a beautiful bouquet.  The palate shows more citrus along with peaches and nectarines.  There is a bit of orange zest on the finish, which is rather lengthy.  The acidity is as fresh as you need for mussels or other shellfish.  I used it in a mushroom broth - like you would make for mussels, but without them - and my wife raved about it.


Monday, March 14, 2022

Women In Wine

Ruth Fernandez is the woman winemaker behind the 2020 Dominio de Punctum Petulante White, a pétillant natural, or pét nat, wine introduced last year.  This family winery dates back to 1905, so they are not newcomers to the wine business.  She is the Punctum oenologist, working at the winery in the central part of Spain, southeast of Madrid, the Castillo y Leon region.  She is one of three siblings who lead the winery on a mission to provide organic, biodynamic wines.  They farm their grapes free of any chemicals, pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers on the soil. 

Fernandez says Petulante takes sparkling wine a step farther, with minimal intervention and maximum flavor.  The grapes involved - there isn't much in the way of a tech sheet available - are likely Verdejo, Viura or a combination of the two.  This wine has alcohol at 13% abv and retails for $22.

This white, sparkling wine is actually a cloudy yellow color and brings a savory nose of citrus, floral and minerals aplenty.  The palate also rings the citrus bell, with a bit of apple and many minerals thrown into the mix.  The bubbles are scant, but the flavor is what you're really after, right?  This wine delivers white wine flavor by the carload. 


Friday, March 11, 2022

Blood Of The Vines - The Great Edward G

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 trio of films which featured Mr. Edward G. Robinson.

1942's Larceny Inc. has Edward G turning his frown upside down… well, sort of.  The role of Pressure Maxwell gives Robinson a chance to show his prodigious comic chops.  He reportedly took the role specifically to soften his tough guy image, which had accumulated over a series of gangster pics starring him as the bad man.

In this one, he is a freshly released ex-con who wants to go straight as a businessman.  The bank refuses the loan he needs for seed money, so he says, "Well, I tried," and starts a complicated plan to rob said institution.  Hilarity naturally ensues.  With support from the likes of Broderick Crawford, Jack Carson, Anthony Quinn and Jackie Gleason, it's a standout picture, directed by Warner Brothers' King of the Gangster films, Lloyd Bacon.

Let's not overthink this pairing.  Grab a bottle of Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.  It's heavy on the wheat - like Pappy Van Winkle - but far easier on the wallet.

Key Largo is a film noir from that genre's golden age, 1948.  Robinson is back to the bullets here, playing a holed-up mobster during the hurricane that frames the action.  His claim to be on a fishing trip doesn't hold water for anybody.  It brings to mind the old joke that wraps up with, "You didn't come here to fish, didja?"

Just the words Key Largo summon images of the film's tense standoff between Robinson and Humphrey Bogart.  Unfortunately, it also dredges up memories of the pop song that was far too popular for a solid stretch of 1981.  Where were A Flock of Seagulls when we really needed them?

It may be hard to imagine a winery in the Florida Keys, but Key's Meads - on Key Largo - has mead, or honey wine, for the adventurous.  Of course, honey is the last thing I would compare to Rocco, G's horrific character in Key Largo.  It may be easier to get your hands on a Largo Ridge wine, from up around Ukiah, CA.

The Hatchet Man came out in 1932, meaning it was "pre-code," meaning the action included sex, drugs and a flying hatchet.  It was also "pre-woke," meaning it was okay for Edward G to play a Chinese dispenser of justice.  Of course, that was just in the setup.  For most of the movie, he plays a Chinese businessman.

Considering all the Chinese names in the character list, we are hard pressed to find one among the actors.  It is reported that moviemakers back then didn't want Americans who were playing Chinese people to be too close to actual Chinese, to prevent the audience from comparing the two.  

Bury the Hatchet White comes from The Hatch, a British Columbia winery.  It's crisp and dry and also pairs well with chow mein.


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Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Chenin Blanc From Vouvray

Talk about an institution - Jean-Claude Pichot runs the domaine the way his family has since 1770.  Vineyard Brands imports it.  All three of the Pichot vineyards yield Chenin Blanc grapes, and the ones for this wine came from Le Peu de la Moriette. The wine was vinified in oak barrels, has alcohol at 12.5% abv and it cost about $18 at Whole Foods Market.


This wine - Domaine Pichot Vouvray Le Peu de la Moriette 2020 - is dry, has a pale yellow tint and smells like lemons, flowers and just a hint of oak.  It is a beautiful bouquet.  The palate shows more citrus along with peaches and nectarines.  There is a bit of orange zest on the finish, which is rather lengthy.  The acidity is as fresh as you need for mussels or other shellfish.  I used it in a mushroom broth - like you would make for mussels, but without them - and my wife raved about it.


Monday, March 7, 2022

Four Great Pink Wines For Spring - Or Anytime

Wine importers are important.  Good ones can sniff out the good stuff and bring it to us from all over the world.  Mack and Schühle are Miami-based importers who find great wine and pass it along at a price that is more than fair.  Founded in 1939, the company expanded to the Miami office a number of years ago.  They produce wine in Italy and Spain and distribute other wines globally.

Here are a few pink wines found by Mack and Schühle which would fit nicely on anyone's porch or patio.

Mosketto Frizzante Rosato NV

This fun, pink wine comes from the Vino d'Italia appellation, from grapes grown in Piedmont.  It's a blend of 80% Moscato and 20% Brachetto grapes which the distributor says is produced in a "modified Martinotti method."  Fermentation is stopped to keep the alcohol low and the fruit fresh.  Alcohol content is only 5.5% abv - a real summer sipper - and the wine retails for $12.

This wine is very sweet, very low in alcohol and as drinkable as it gets.  There is no brain-stumping complexity here, just sweet, simple sipping pleasure.  The Moscato/Brachetto blend is a wine of Italy, one that shows sweet floral aromas and sweet peaches on the palate.  Acidity is fairly low, but the wine pours frizzante and will be suitable for spicy or salty dishes.


Art of Earth Organic Rosé
2019 comes from Michigan negociant Woodberry Wine.  They produce wines from Germany, Spain, Argentina, Italy and this one, from France.

The appellation is Vin de France - I don't have any more specific sourcing for the vines - and the organic grapes are 70% Grenache and 30% Syrah.  The wine has alcohol at 13% abv and a sticker price of $14.

This beautiful, pale salmon-colored wine has a nose which is just as gorgeous - melon, cherry and strawberry aromas dominate, with a little herbal angle in the mix.  Herbs become more focused on the palate, which carries a nice tartness along with the racy acidity.  There is a grapefruit flavor draping the red fruit and adding to the freshness.  It's a really great, and complex, rosé. 


The 2020 Fête de Fleurs Rosé was made in the heart of the AOC Côtes de Provence Region by a cooperative of a hundred local winegrowers, Maîtres Vignerons de Vidauban.  It was formed 110 years ago in the spirit of rosé, the raison d'etre of Provence.  The terroir features the stony galet soil for which the area is known and the vintage was blessed with dry mistral winds.

The importer says the wine is released each year in time for the French celebration of Springtime, the Fete des Fleurs or Festival of Flowers.  The grapes involved are 40% Grenache, 35% Cinsault, 10% Carignane, 10% Syrah, 3% Mourvèdre and 2% Rolle.  It was aged on the lees, or sur lie, carries alcohol at 13% abv - possibly as low as 11.5% - and it sells for $19.



The Acquesi Brachetto DOC Piemonte is a spumante, or sparkling wine, made from 100% Brachetto grapes grown in the Monferrato area of Piedmont.  The wine carries a very low alcohol content of 6.5% abv and a retail suggestion of $18, although it is usually lower.

This wine colors up in the beautiful garnet red for which Brachetto is famous, and it has a layer of fine, light violet bubbles atop it, which are quite long lasting.  The nose is rich with cherries, strawberries, red currant, flowers and an earthy element - an absolutely wonderful collection of aromas.  The palate is sweet with a cherry pie flavor and baking spices, all rolled into a candy treat.  The acidity is very nice.  While the winery calls this a dessert wine - it is, really - it also pairs nicely with dessert favorites like anisette cookies, chocolates or apricot tarts.

Friday, March 4, 2022

Blood Of The Vines - Holden His Own

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 trio of films starring a man's man, the one and only William Holden

The 1954 war flick, Bridges at Toko-Ri, starred Holden opposite Grace Kelly.  He plays a former WWII Navy pilot who was called from a life of relative leisure - as a lawyer - to fly Navy fighters in the Korean conflict.  It just goes to show - never do a job too well or you'll end up having to do it again.  

Holden shows unflinchingly how even a man's man can have doubts about a dangerous job, a job which he didn't feel should have been his in the first place.  He is in a squadron sent to blow up some strategic bridges, a feat that the team pulls off.  There is a bit of trouble getting back to the carrier, which produces a nail-biter of a rescue attempt.

Our wine pairing - nothing here to go with fingernails, sorry - could be Korean wine.  It's called soju, and is actually a rice spirit at about the alcoholic strength of a Port wine.  Too bad it doesn't taste as good as Port - experts say it's more like watery vodka, or worse.  Koreans drink a ton of the stuff, though, by the shot.

In 1950's Sunset Boulevard, Holden's Joe Gillis - and the pool he always wanted - show us a side of Hollywood often hidden from view.  Sheltered and living in delusions of past greatness, screen legend Norma Desmond has an employee who keeps her from finding out that her car is more in demand than she.  Gillis takes a ride on the gravy train and ends up a floater.  One of my favorite sideshows here is Jack Webb as a guy at a social gathering.  It's hard to imagine Joe Friday as a party boy.

Let’s get the party started for Sunset Boulevard with a wine from just north of Sunset.  Moraga Bel Air occupies some very pricey Los Angeles real estate, which is reflected in the price of the wine.  Get ready to shell out a couple or three Benjamins for a bottle of the good stuff.  They are ready for their close-up, Mr. DeVille.

Network was about as dark as 1976 got.  The media satire had Holden as a network news chief with a fed-up and suicidal news anchor on his hands.  He was reportedly offered the role of the disturbed talking head, but opted for the saner, cooler, man's man instead.  So the anchor became the first man "killed because he had lousy ratings."  When the story got told in bars over the years, you can bet there was someone who said, "Yeah, but lemme tell you about a guy I worked for…"

If you're mad as hell and don't know if you want a wine, a beer or a cider, here's Crazy Crazy, from Germany.  They swear it's made from grapes, but it may make you say "I'm not drinking this anymore!"


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Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Super Tuscan From Tenuta Luce

Located in Montalcino, Tuscany, - Toscana IGT - the Luce winery specializes in Super Tuscan wines.  La Vite Lucente is the estate's second bottling, a 50/50 blend of Sangiovese and Merlot.  The 2018 vintage was marked by rains in the winter and spring, which made up somewhat for the previous year's drought.  The summer was temperate and dry.

The 2018 Lucente was aged for a year in a mix of new and used barriques.  Alcohol hits 14.5% abv and the wine retails for $30.

This brilliant red wine presents itself elegantly, with a nose that marries the fruit of Sangiovese with the smoke of Merlot.  Dark fruit is what you smell, with a bit of vanilla and spice from the wood.  The wine drinks spectacularly, with a full mouthfeel, soft tannins and a long-lasting finish.  My friendly neighborhood publicist feels that it is a great wine with which to toast a strong, bold woman on International Women’s Day on March 8, 2022.


Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Ukraine Solidarity From Royal Wine Corp.

My thanks to the publicist who informed me of this great action from Royal Wine Corp.  Here is the press release:

In a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian victims and refugees under attack by Russian forces, Royal Wine Corp. will donate 100% of the proceeds of the sales starting on 2/24/2022 through 3/10/2022 of two of their leading vodka brands – Xdar, which is a Ukrainian vodka, and Lvov, a Polish vodka named after the Ukrainian town Lviv – to Emergency Ukraine. The donation will be at a minimum of $30,000.

"Royal Wine stands with the people of Ukraine and we demonstrate our support for their independence," said Mordy Herzog CEO of Royal Wine Corp. "While we are all praying and hoping for peace to return to the region we feel compelled to help in a meaningful way. As a flagship Jewish-American business, we are committed to their material and moral sustenance in their fight for freedom."

Founded in 1848, Royal Wine Corp. has been owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family, whose winemaking roots go back eight generations to its origin in Czechoslovakia.


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Monday, February 28, 2022

Cabernet Sauvignon From Josh Cellars

Joseph Carr worked his way up in the wine world through the restaurant business as a wine steward and sommelier.  In 2007, he followed his dream to make wine in California by founding Josh Cellars, named to honor his father.  He started as a hard-working garagista, making only one Cabernet Sauvignon in limited quantities.  Today, Josh Cellars bottles many more grape varieties, and more Cabernet Sauvignon styles.  It is a negociant winery, with grapes sourced from a variety of California growing locations.  Joseph Carr is an executive in the wine biz now, and winemaker Wayne Donaldson gets the purple under his fingernails

Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

California is on the label and the winery says they source grapes from "all around the state" for this wine.  It was aged in 20% new oak barrels, but little other info is available on the tech sheet.  Alcohol sits at 13.5% abv and it sells for $17.

This wine is medium-dark in its purple color.  The nose is a jammy black-and-blue berry festival with notes of the oak aging it underwent - vanilla, cinnamon and cedar.  The palate is juicy and full of cherries and berries.  It is sipping very nicely, but the tannins are firm enough to welcome a steak or pork chop.  


Josh Cellars Reserve Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon
  

Paso Robles is one of my favorite regions for Cab, not only because I love the flavors that grow from that limestone soil, but also because the price is usually far less than in certain other Cab regions of the Golden State.  This wine spent up to two days in cold soak, then was fermented for a couple of weeks.  It was aged in French oak, a fifth of which was new.  Alcohol tips in at 14% abv and the retail price is $22.

This reserve Cab has a savory nose featuring coffee, mocha, anise, mint and just a hint of that Paso Robles chalkiness.  The minerality comes on strong on the palate, where a boatload of black fruit also appears.  The tannins are firm but not overbearing and there is a fresh acidity to the wine.  I love to pair a dark, savory wine like this one with a juicy piece of beef or a pork shoulder.


Josh Cellars Reserve North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon
 

These grapes came from the North Coast appellation, a huge area which includes six counties north of San Francisco, including Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake.  Aging employed 25% new oak.  Alcohol hits only 14% abv and the bottle retails for $22.

This dark wine’s nose is bursting with blue fruit, violets, vanilla and clove.  The palate is rich and layered with black currant and cherry, anise, pepper and oak spice.  The tannins are smooth and the acidity is lip-smacking.  The sip finishes long and fruity with a savory edge.  It will pair nicely with steak, sausage and tomato sauce dishes. 


Josh Cellars Bourbon Barrel Aged Cabernet Sauvignon
($21.99) 

This wine gets the California appellation, probably due to the fact that grapes from several regions were used.  The winery explains that the wine is aged for three months in "recently emptied bourbon barrels."  Alcohol gets up to 14.5% abv and the retail price is $22. 

The nose shows plenty of dark fruit - blackberries, cassis, blueberries - but while I was expecting a healthy dose of bourbon-soaked wood, it doesn’t seem to be there.  I get just a faint sense of bourbon, nothing more.  That’s actually fine with me, because I don’t want my wine to smell like bourbon.  A little stronger note of cedar comes on the palate, along with the forceful fruit, but nothing that would turn me off of the wine.  After sipping a bit, I notice a very slight flavor of bourbon, but it is way in the background. I feel the labeling is a bit misleading.  If you’re advertising bourbon, there oughta be some - whether I like it or not.  However, it is a fine wine nonetheless. 



Friday, February 25, 2022

Blood Of The Vines - Ivan Reitman Week

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 salute a movie man who passed away recently, Ivan Reitman.

Reitman was born in Czechoslovakia and was a Canadian.  Either because of that or despite it, he became best known for his work in comedies.  He directed such laff riots as Meatballs, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Twins and Kindergarten Cop while producing funny films like Animal House and Private Parts.

For 1984's Ghosbusters Reitman double-dipped, serving as director and producer.  Everyone knows by now that Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis were the spirit chasers of the title.  The suits were squeamish about the film's multi-million dollar budget - they didn't think the public would buy the story.  They were wrong.  And wrong again.  And again.  And again.  Ghostbusters 2021 was directed by Ivan's son, Jason.

The wine pairing for Ghostbusters is a no-brainer - Canada-born Aykroyd is an investor in Lakeview Wine Company, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.  The Dan Aykroyd Line includes a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Cab/Merlot blend and a Chardonnay, all priced under $20.

Ivan Reitman produced Animal House in 1978, and helped define the college experience for a generation of students who spent more time in the frat house than the library… students who were more fluent in alcohol content than Latin… students who knew that "fat, drunk and stupid" was no way to go through life, but other options had yet to appear for them.

John Belushi was already a star on TV's Saturday Night Live, but this was his first film.  By the way, Aykroyd later wrote Ghostbusters for he and Belushi.  Belushi, unfortunately, would not live long enough to see the opportunity realized.

A keg of nameless beer would probably serve well as a pairing for Animal House, but let's try a wine, since we're all well beyond our misspent youths.  Lodi's Animal House Winery hasn't been heard from in almost a decade, so we'll scratch that cherry wine off the list of potential candidates.  

Belushi's brother Jim owns a cannabis farm in southern Oregon, so there's a possibility.  As for wine, Jim likes his neighbor's juice, Bayer Family Estate, where they make a mean Nebbiolo that runs about $65.

In 1977, Reitman took on EP duties for the horror film Rabid, which was written and directed by David Cronenberg and starred porn actress Marilyn Chambers in a mainstream role.  It was reportedly Reitman's idea to cast Chambers in the role, in case you were wondering what an EP does.  The movie strays from our comedic theme, although it seems funny to me that Chambers' character was a sort of vampire who sucked blood through her armpit.  Not funny ha-ha, you know, just a little weird.

Rabid Red Wine has disappeared from view.  So has Florida's Rabid Rabbitt blueberry mead, I think.  And if it hasn't fallen out of sight, it probably should.  For Rabid, let's try a Rabid Pitbull cocktail.  Kahlua, Pepsi (!), 151 rum, spiced rum and cinnamon schnapps.  I guess we could also use this one for Animal House, after the keg floats.


Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Santa Barbara County Chardonnay Via Paso Robles

Proprietors Georges and Daniel Daou, of Daou Vineyards in Paso Robles, credit their mountain home - Daou Mountain - with being able to "turn mere raindrops and roots into extraordinary wines—and into lasting relationships."

They say their terroir is a very rare soil, calcareous clay, the same type found in Saint-Émilion and the right bank of Bordeaux.  The limestone subsoil, they say, is perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varieties.  They boast that it was exactly the soil they were looking for more than a decade ago when they searched around the world for their dream vineyard.

Now known as DAOU Mountain, the land rises to an elevation of 2,200 feet in the hills of the Adelaida District, on the west side of the Paso Robles AVA.  Georges wants to make it clear that he and his brother did not buy a winery - they bought dirt and brought in the passion to unlock its potential.  Daniel is the winemaker sibling.  

The 2020 Bodyguard Chardonnay, however, comes from Santa Barbara County.  It is the newest addition to the Daou wine list.  The grapes were grown in the Santa Barbara appellation, a great source for Chardonnay grapes.  French and American oak barrels give the wine that classic California Chardonnay feel.  Alcohol hits 14.5% abv and the retail sticker reads $40.

One sniff and you know this golden juice is a California Chardonnay.  The peach, pear and lemon aromas are as upfront as you'd expect, and the whiff of buttery oak - not at all overdone - draws the drinker in like a magnet.  Amazing fruit drives the palate, too, with enough of that buttery feel to remind us why we love California.


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Monday, February 21, 2022

Cocktail In A Bottle

If you like cocktails but hate making them - maybe you simply don't have a good bar area in your home - you probably have already tried some of the premixed cocktails that are on the market.  They are convenient, but you do pay a price for that.  Here's one I ran across at Trader Joe's recently.

Trader Joe's Negroni is a premixed, bottled cocktail made with gin, bitter liqueur and sweet vermouth.  It is produced and bottled by Nomad Spirits of Los Angeles and a Redditt thread shows that it has been on shelves since November.  The grocer has also reportedly stocked Old Fashioned and Whiskey Sour, premixed and bottled.  Alcohol hits the 22% abv mark, so it is 44 proof and costs $17 for a 750 ml bottle.

It's a decent little negroni, if somewhat off-tasting in the bitter liqueur department.  I have had better from actual bartenders, but for an easy home cocktail, this Trader Joe's Negroni isn't too bad at all.  


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Friday, February 18, 2022

Blood Of The Vines - Be My Valentine

Pairing‌‌‌ ‌‌‌wine‌‌‌ ‌‌‌with‌‌‌ ‌‌‌movies!‌‌‌  ‌‌‌See‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌hear‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌fascinating‌‌‌ ‌‌‌commentary‌‌‌ ‌‌‌for‌‌‌ ‌‌‌these‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌movies‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌many‌‌‌ ‌‌‌more‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌at‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌From‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Hell.‌‌‌  This week, let us give you one of those chalky candy hearts, the one that says Be My Valentine.

Chilly Scenes of Winter is a 1979 romantic drama - romdra? - which stars John Heard and Mary Beth Hurt.  The producers almost had lead actors whose names are homophones, but no cigar for close.

It was originally called Head Over Heels and had a happy ending, perfect for Valentine's Day.  In a surprise move, the lost-in-love title and the happy ending were scrapped a few years down the line in favor of a more, eh, realistic tone.  Ticket-buyers seemed to appreciate the changes.  

In Chilly Scenes of Winter, Charles and Laura meet in their civil service jobs with the state of Utah.  They figure that it's not bad for guv'mint work and start moving toward the inevitable chilly breakup.  Critics of the day praised the acting, but felt that the story wasn't exactly a heart-shaped box of chocolates.

Valentine wine pairing #1: Colby Red is a California blend of five grapes that's perfect if you don't know which way your relationship is going.  It's cheap and it even has a little smudgy heart on the label.

1977's Annie Hall is Woody Allen's take on his failed relationship with Diane Keaton.  We wouldn't learn until years later just how failed his relationships could be.  This was pre-scandal Woody, though, and nearly everyone fell in love with Annie Hall.  

The movie taught us how to have a great date involving lobsters, what to do if you forget your mantra, where to look for Marshall McLuhan while standing in line for The Sorrow and the Pity, how you can bond with others over killing spiders, and how to win the Truman Capote look-alike contest.  It also taught us that even though love may fade, it's an awful lot of fun while it's shining.

Valentine wine pairing #2: Champagne, since it makes a great impression and goes great with lobster.  Actually, it goes great with everything. Try Champagne Laurent Perrier for about $75.  

As Good as it Gets, from 1997, was exactly that for Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt, who both took home Oscars for their work in the romcom.  Can a mean old obsessive-compulsive misanthrope find happiness with a pretty waitress?  You bet your dog-walking dollar he can, but it takes the intervention of the nice gay guy next door, and his puppy.

It's a great date movie, as long as the eccentricities contained in Nicholson's character don't remind your partner too much of you.  There's no need to pull that string and see the whole sweater unravel, not on Valentine's Day.

The characters in As Good as it Gets show that people can grow together over common ground, no matter how far apart they may seem to be at first.  Just don't forget to take care of the dog properly.  And don't step on a crack.

Valentine wine pairing #3Armand De Brignac Champagne may or may not be as good as sparkling wine gets, but it sure is close to being as expensive as it gets.  You'll make an impression if you can find a subtle way to mention the astronomical price tag during dinner conversation.  If that's out of reach, a little Veuve'll do ya.

 

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Wednesday, February 16, 2022

BDX Blend From Paso Robles

Proprietors Georges & Daniel Daou, of Daou Vineyards in Paso Robles, credit their mountain home - DAOU Mountain - with being able to "turn mere raindrops and roots into extraordinary wines—and into lasting relationships."

They say their terroir is a very rare soil, calcareous clay, the same type found in Saint-Émilion and the right bank of Bordeaux.  The limestone subsoil, they say, is perfect for growing Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux varieties.  They boast that it was exactly the soil they were looking for more than a decade ago when they searched around the world for their dream vineyard.

Now known as DAOU Mountain, the land rises to an elevation of 2,200 feet in the hills of the Adelaida District, on the west side of the Paso Robles AVA.  Georges wants to make it clear that he and his brother did not buy a winery - they bought dirt and brought in the passion to unlock its potential.  Daniel, the winemaker sibling, refers to the 2019 The Bodyguard as his masterpiece.  

The Bodyguard 2019 was made from 58% Petit Verdot and 42% Petite Sirah grapes.  Alcohol hits 14.9% abv and the retail price is $40.

This wine is very dark - what we would expect from Petit Verdot and Petite Sirah - and has a lovely purple rim around the glass.  The nose is full of black and blue berries and that chalky minerality for which Paso Robles is known.  I get a licorice note as well as some sweet oak, but it is not overplayed.  On the palate, this is a silky smooth wine with rich fruit and a savory edge.  The tannins are firm, but forgiving.  This is a delicious wine, and it is just waiting for a rib eye steak to come along. 


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Monday, February 14, 2022

Super Bowl-Winning Wine: Los Carneros

A publicist rushed a wine to my doorstep last week, one that was bound to help my hometown team win the Super Bowl.  Their name was written all over the label, even if it was in Spanish.

Los Carneros means the Rams, so you can see why there was urgency in getting it to me.  Somebody must have known that the Los Angeles Rams would need a little help in Super Bowl LVI.  The help came just in time, as the game went right down to the wire, with Los Carneros coming out on top.  

The wine came from an outfit called The Vice, and they say it is a single-vineyard bottling made from Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, sustainably grown in the Carneros sub-appellation.  Aging took place over 22 months in French and American oak barrels - one of each, it's a limited release.  Alcohol tips the scale at 14.3% abv and the wine retails for $69.  Oh, and it's a good luck charm for the Rams.

The dark wine has a beautiful nose full of dark fruit and oak spice, even a little nuttiness in there.  The palate is deep and rich, and a little bit herbal.  Plums, blackberries, blueberries  Tannins are firm, but the wine sips great if you aren't cooking steak tonight.  If you are, more the better.  


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Friday, February 11, 2022

Blood Of The Vines - In Strangloscope

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 feel those criminal fingers tightening around our throats.  If there were a cinematic process called Strangloscope, these movies would have certainly been filmed in it.

Strangulation has to be a tough way to die, as Alfred Hitchcock portrayed in more than one of his films.  See Frenzy, Dial M for Murder or Rope for confirmation that strangulation is not a pretty sight.

The 1968 film The Boston Strangler reportedly presents more fiction than fact, with Tony Curtis as alleged thirteen-time strangler Albert DeSalvo.  Not that DeSalvo was a mere "innocent," since he was a career criminal convicted of a number of violent crimes.  He may have found what a weak defense it was to say, "Hey, I didn't kill all of them."

Fifty years after the last of the 13 killings, DNA evidence proved that DeSalvo was the guy who committed at least that one.  By then he was long dead, after being stabbed in prison in 1973.  True or not, the story makes a taut movie.  Personally, I don't think violent criminals should be glorified in films.  I also don't think a police pursuit should pre-empt our afternoon TV viewing, but nobody is asking for my opinion.

One of the thirteen victims credited to the Boston Strangler, Nina Nichols, was sexually assaulted with a wine bottle during her ordeal, so this particular wine pairing experience has become Not. So. Fun.  Let's just say you can have whatever wine you want, and drink a toast to Ms. Nichols, may she rest in peace.

Hammer Films is up next.  Their 1959 British horror picture, The Stranglers of Bombay, will serve as a palate cleanser.  Any topic involving the British colonial days in India could be considered a horror film, for one side or the other.  Considering the time frame, there is no need to refer to this movie as The Stranglers of Mumbai.  

In this story, officers of the British East India Company try to eradicate a centuries-old gang of thugs who act as highwaymen, insinuating themselves into traveling groups before robbing them and strangling them to death.  I figure the bad guys should have needed a quicker way to take over a caravan - I mean, how many strangulations can you do before somebody notices what is going on?  In real life, the Brits took credit for wiping out the scourge, even though there are those who say it was the Brits who created it.

An Indian wine for The Stranglers of Bombay?  Could be, if you can find one.  Exports of wine from India are taxed out the proverbial ass, making them rather scarce in the U.S.  Try an Indian restaurant - that's where I found a fairly nice Viognier from the subcontinent.

Here comes Hitchcock!  1972's Frenzy is about a London serial killer who strangles his victims with his own tie.  Before you jump to the conclusion that such an idiot move means he was drunk at the time, consider that he wore a tie pin which had his name on it.  "Oh, so he was high, too?"

Tying - ahem - himself to the crimes even tighter, the criminal uses a trunkful of circumstantial evidence to try and frame his friend for the killings.  Well, what are friends for, anyway?  The television series The Fugitive was only a five-year-old memory at the time of this movie.  So, Frenzy's framee becomes a fugitive trying to prove his innocence, while the framer is left making sure he still has both arms.

Look to New Zealand for this wine pairing - Marlborough's Frenzy Sauvignon Blanc.  The Kiwi acidity is refreshing enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, even if the film fails to do so.

 

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Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Great Sonoma Chardonnay

Petaluma based Adobe Road Winery owner Kevin Buckler is a real-life race car driver.  His winemaker, Garrett Martin, reportedly drives the speed limit and brakes fully at stop signs.  The Adobe Road Racing Series of wines includes Apex, Redline, The 24 and the latest release, SHIFT 2019.  Their less "racy" bottlings include the 2019 Famighetti Vineyard Viognier and the 2019 Adobe Road Chardonnay, Petaluma Gap, Sangiacomo Vineyards, Roberts Road.  

Information is a little scant for the latter wine, but previous vintages have been 100% Chardonnay, taken from the Sonoma side of the Carneros appellation and aged for ten months in a mixture of new and used French oak and stainless steel.  Malolactic fermentation was stopped at 30% and the wine rested on its lees - the spent yeast.  Alcohol kicks in at 14.3% abv and the wine sells for $52.

Martin says the "scrappy little organic vineyard … always surprises with its richness and intensity of detail."  The wine has a medium-rich golden tint and a nose that cries to be noticed.  The peach and nectarine aromas are lovely enough, but there are delicate touches of lemon and even a hint - just a hint - of butter.  The palate offers a custard-like flavor which seems to be at once sweet and savory.  The mouthfeel plays games, too - racy acidity, no, creamy and hefty.  This is really a great tasting Chardonnay, one of the better ones I have had from California.


Monday, February 7, 2022

Single-Vineyard Viognier From Dry Creek Valley

Petaluma-based Adobe Road Winery owner Kevin Buckler is a real-life race car driver.  His winemaker, Garrett Martin, reportedly drives the speed limit and brakes fully at stop signs.

The Adobe Road Racing Series of wines includes Apex, Redline, The 24 and the latest release, SHIFT 2019.  Their less "racy" bottlings include the 2019 Adobe Road Viognier from the Famighetti Vineyard of Dry Creek Valley.  It carries an alcohol designation of 14.8% abv and a sticker price of $50. 

It's a beautiful, golden wine, which smells abundantly of flowers and citrus, with a smattering of apricot thrown into the nose.  It's the apricot that comes on strongest on the palate, with a strong helping hand from the lemon, lime and orange notes.  The taste is fairly sweet and creamy, although the acidity is lively.  This wine will pair well with salads of all sorts - especially savory ones - and light chicken or fish dishes. 


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Friday, February 4, 2022

Blood Of The Vines - Board Room Blues

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 get down to business with wine pairings for three films about the corporate world.  The first person to say "You're fired," gets fired.

Richard E. Grant and Rachel Ward star in the 1989 black comedy How to Get Ahead in Advertising.  It's hard to describe the plot without first warning of a spoiler alert - Grant's ad executive character develops a boil on his neck, which turns into a second head.  It talks to him, tells him what to do and eventually takes over his body, leaving his actual head as … a boil on the neck.  Some say that likening an adman to a boil on the neck isn't that much of a stretch.

Grant's acting is stupendous, as his character takes on different personalities in the course of the film.  Maybe you can pick up several bottles of our wine pairing, one for each personality.

Arizona's Coronado Vineyards makes Two Heads Red, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese.  If that's too tough to find, you might have more luck locating a Gnarly Head wine.  The name comes from the winery's old Zinfandel vines, not from our salesman's predicament.

1957's Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter stars Jayne Mansfield and Tony Randall.  It was inspired by the Broadway play of the same name, but director Frank Tashlin took such liberties in writing the screenplay that any resemblance is purely coincidental.  

The movie aims its satire at Hollywood and advertising - mostly TV commercials.  If only they had been able to view a few million-dollar spots that run during the Super Bowl, perhaps they would have sharpened their satire a bit.  More probably, they would have advertised the movie there.

Australia's Hunter Valley has plenty of wineries there in New South Wales.  Try McGuigan for a nice Chardonnay, Shiraz or Semillon to pair with Rock Hunter.

The 1954 film, Executive Suite, is about a furniture manufacturer whose founder, CEO and driving wheel drops dead during a business trip.  I've heard of difficulty on the road, but this is ridiculous.  With no one officially in line to take the reins of the company, a free-for-all ensues.

The movie shows the backroom and boardroom maneuverings of the company's execs, who display their skills in backstabbing, blackmail, short-selling and insider trading.  So it's just another day at the office, really.  

Talk about a lineup: the film stars William Holden, June Allyson, Barbara Stanwyck, Frederic March, Walter Pidgeon, Shelly Winters and Nina Foch, who was nominated for an Oscar.  March's performance pretty much defines corporate sleaze.  It's no wonder that the film was such a big hit.

With so much negativity in the boardroom, why not finish sweetly with Dow's Boardroom Reserve Tawny Port.  If you are not a Port fan, get in line before someone else cuts you off at the knees.  It's a cutthroat world out there.  


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Thursday, February 3, 2022

Northern California Red Blends Hits High Gear

Petaluma based Adobe Road Winery owner Kevin Buckler is a real-life race car driver.  His winemaker, Garrett Martin, reportedly drives the speed limit and brakes fully at stop signs.

The Adobe Road Racing Series of wines includes Apex, Redline, The 24 (after Le Mans) and the latest release, SHIFT 2019.  SHIFT contains 58% Zinfandel grapes, 24% Tempranillo, 13% Syrah and 5% Petite Sirah, taken from top vineyards in Mendocino, Sonoma and Lake counties.  The SHIFT bottle even looks special, bearing a metal label that resembles a vintage, gated shifter.  The cork is topped with a five-speed metal shift knob.  Alcohol red lines at 14.8% abv and the wine retails for $63.

This wine certainly tastes special, with pure fruit expressions of blueberry, currant and plums on the nose and palate.  There is a sense of white pepper and sweet oak, but just a touch - they let the fruit do the talking here.  Tannins are gentle, but firm, and the finish takes a long time to wave the checkered flag.