Monthly Archives: February 2011

Gotta get to Paso

Posted on February 27, 2011 by Bill Ward

If not for this event, at least to meet the people behind this video. Simply fabulous. Every line.

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Note-worthy (or not)

Posted on February 23, 2011 by Bill Ward

I’m at the Wine Writers’ Symposium in Napa, where a couple of years ago, Eric Asimov held a session called “The Tyranny of the Tasting Note.” Asimov revisitied that topic in his New York Times column today. Asimov is decidedly … Continue reading →

Posted in Experiences, Issues (and maybe some answers), Tasting Notes, Wine Reading and Viewing | Leave a comment

A Fond du Lac kind of guy

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Bill Ward

While Ken Wright was passing along knowledge that stimulated our brains and pouring us wine that aroused our palates, he told us a story that warmed our hearts. Once upon a time, there was a young man who had grown … Continue reading →

Posted in Oregon Wines, Red Wines, Winemakers | 1 Comment

The good earth dude

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Bill Ward

For journalists, winery visits tend to be predictable (and pretty cool): some face time with the owner, winemaker or an attractive stand-in and some tasting time with wines the hosts believe/hope will make a lasting impression. But I had no … Continue reading →

Posted in Experiences, History, Oregon Wines, Winemakers | 1 Comment

Free to choose

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Bill Ward

I am fairly certain that capitalism and democracy have some serious compatibility problems. But I do believe in the free market, and have been marveling at what it has done to retail prices in the wine world since the economy … Continue reading →

Posted in California Wines, Issues (and maybe some answers), Red Wines, Retail | Leave a comment

Excellent queries

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Bill Ward

Matt Kramer is as good as it gets in the wine-writing world. His latest masterwork includes questions I have asked  before, either in conversation or in print. I’ll use this link, since I think the original, at Wine Spectator’s site, might … Continue reading →

Posted in California Wines, Red Wines | Leave a comment

How is wine like art?

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Bill Ward

Because sometimes this is the way we should approach it: “Everyone discusses my art and pretends to understand, as if it were necessary to understand, when it is simply necessary to love.” – Claude Monet

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Trust me on this one

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Bill Ward

I love this piece, even though (and in some ways because) it casts wine bloggers in a less than flattering light. A new poll has found that consumers in several countries trust buying advice from merchants more than bloggers. In the United … Continue reading →

Posted in Actual News, Issues (and maybe some answers), Retail | Leave a comment

Hamming it up

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Bill Ward

For years now, I’ve been wanting to do a component tasting, the kind where you have bowls of cherries and dirt and mushrooms and rose petals and mint and other elements that can define pinot noir, then sniff them and the … Continue reading →

Posted in California Wines, Pairings, Red Wines | Leave a comment

OMG(oodness)

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Bill Ward

It could be said that Trinitas Cellars is taking a striking new direction with its Christianity-laden approach to wine. Or it could be said that the winery is coming full circle, given the role monks such as Dom Perignon played in the … Continue reading →

Posted in California Wines, History | Leave a comment