Monthly Archives: October 2012

All Hallow’s Eve

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Bill Ward

I kinda doubt this lass was celebrating Halloween, but it seems an appropriate time to marvel at both her costume and her grace:

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Late-breaking shopping

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Bill Ward

When I was growing up in Nashville, I always was amused at how, when the TV weatherpersons predicted flurries, the grocery stores would soon be out of milk and bread, as though every mother thought she would be holed up … Continue reading →

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Wines of the Week: Oct. 22-28

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Bill Ward

Everyday: Most people automatically think tempranillo when the topic of Spanish reds comes up, but I lean a bit toward garnacha finding the better expression, up and down the price spectrum, in that Iberian country. One of the best cheaper examples is … Continue reading →

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Profile: Eric Solomon, importer

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Bill Ward

It’s hard not to become quickly enamored with a guy who proclaims that “riesling is my beer,” confides that *I don’t have to be the first, but I like to be the best” and can even make a Henry “I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in French Wines, Spanish Wines, Wine People | 1 Comment

A great read: Don & Petie Kladstrup, ‘Wine & War’

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Bill Ward

One of the things I’ve always really liked about wine aficionados is their other interests. They almost invariably love food and travel (a nice thread since grapes like to grow in beautiful places). They also tend to be well-read and … Continue reading →

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Nice tries finish first

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Bill Ward

I’ve long since given up aspiring to bring the “wine of the night” to a gathering of vinous acquaintances, and not just because so many of them have bigger, older and spendier cellars than mine. Where I’ve landed, aspirationally, is … Continue reading →

Posted in Burgundy, California Wines, Experiences | 2 Comments

Wines of the Week: Oct. 15-21

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Bill Ward

Everyday: The first time I tried the Birichino Monterey Malvasia Blanca ($18) last fall, I was so enamored with the label that I was worried that it colored my very positive perception of what was inside the bottle. A second … Continue reading →

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Michael Scholz, from Down Under to perking up St. Supery

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Bill Ward

Michael Scholz might be from Down Under, and he might be the winemaker at a place that accounts for 10 percent of Napa’s sauvignon blanc output. But the last thing he wants to do is produce a New Zealand-style sauv … Continue reading →

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Profile: Vincenzo Ippolito, Ippolito 1845

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Bill Ward

Vincenzo Ippolito is Italian to the core, an ardent young man and an open book. But his blend of the soulfulness and passion that typifies his countrymen is muted. He’s more genial than garrulous. The Ippolito 1845 winery is in … Continue reading →

Posted in Italian Wines, Wine People | 3 Comments

Wines of the Week: Oct. 8-14

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Bill Ward

Everyday: OK, it’s shameless crossover self-promotion week: When I waxed ineloquent at my day job on what a great time it is to be buying Burgundy, the 2010 Joseph Drouhin Macon-Villages ($15) was exactly the kind of bottle I had in mind. Crisp … Continue reading →

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