Wine Wired

Bottle Talk: An escape from the red zone and into Malbec Land As I said in my first column last month, I love to get people to move outside their “wine comfort zone.” There are thousands of wines made in so many interesting ways that we can only hope to one day try them all. […]

    It is human nature to avoid or limit our exposure to things that we do not feel comfortable with. In my opinion, this is why most people either avoid wine completely or limit what they drink to one or two varietals. People have a tendency to stay within their ‘beverage comfort zone’, so […]

With summertime just around the corner, and the oppressive heat soon to follow, my wine choices seem to change.  Yes, I still grab for a big Shiraz or Cabernet with that grilled lamb or steak, but that is more in the evening and honestly not quite as often with the temperatures staying into the 90s […]

Today I want to talk to you about a white grape variety that, I think, is extremely misunderstood and underappreciated.  Arguably one of the world’s most versatile grapes, Chenin Blanc, produces wines from the most basic New World table wines to Old World long-lived elegant botrytis affected dessert wines, sparkling wines and even the base […]

Many people mistakenly call all sparkling wines “Champagne,” which is technically incorrect.  That term is reserved for sparkling wine made from the traditional method within the boundries of the Champagne region of France and using only Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.  There are, however, sparkling wines made with this traditional method in other countries and […]

As stated in my previous article on Bordeaux, I was invited to sample a friend’s 2008 en premier right and left bank purchases. This is the first of those wines sampled that evening and reminded me of why right bank, merlot heavy, Bordeaux can be so delicious. Without getting ahead of myself, I want to […]

I have been lucky enough to get an invite from a good friend that buys Bordeaux futures, or en primeur. His shipment of 2008 Left and Right Bank wines has arrived and we are chomping at the bit to examine them. Before diving into the information about the Chateaus and wines, I wanted to get […]

II know people don’t normally associate Myrtle Beach with wine, but I feel wine is good any time and any place. I once drank wine at a funeral, but I digress. A few days ago some friends joined me at my timeshare in Myrtle Beach for some dinner and drinks. I made Bolognese lasagna, and […]

Variety:  Blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petite Verdot) Country:  France Region:  Bordeaux Sub-region: Left Bank Appellation: Margaux Producer/ Vineyard: Chateau Lascombes Chateau Lascombes is one of fifteen classified as Seconds Crus (Second Growths) in the original Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.  It is located in the Margaux area, left bank, of Bordeaux.  Where right […]