Beaujolais Nouveau Day
November 17, 2011 by Derek Swanson
“Le Nouveau est arrivée!” One may see these words in the windows of wine retailers today, marking the release of the 2011 Beaujolais Nouveau. It is wine made of Gamay grapes and fermented for only a few weeks after harvest before reaching the market. Historically, the wine was for local (French) consumption only until [...]
Love Those Baby Blues
November 14, 2011 by Derek Swanson
I first met winemaker Kenny Kahn in 2008 at Bassin’s annual charity California Barrel Tasting event in Washington DC. In a room full of Cabernets toting triple-digit price tags, Kenny’s $20 Baby Blue blend from Sonoma was the highlight of my evening, and I have been a fan of Blue Rock Winery ever since. Kenny’s [...]
Recent Purchases: Vintage Bubbly
November 11, 2011 by Derek Swanson
If the first step towards curing addiction is admitting one has a problem, then maybe I should admit I am hooked on online wine auctions. They are a fantastic opportunity for bargains, especially on bottles that make less frequent appearances on retail shelves. I recently picked up a magnum of vintage Champagne from one [...]
Akel Kine: Chile’s First Cult Wine?
October 15, 2011 by Derek Swanson
Last week I had lunch with Santiago Margozzini, winemaker at Chile’s MontGras winery. I remain convinced there is no better way to gain insights into the contents of a bottle than to talk with the person behind it. Santiago is Italian by birth, and he considers his father his “gold” consumer and his most [...]
Fat-Free Wine
September 19, 2011 by Derek Swanson
The first thing I noticed during an opportunity to sample an assortment of wines imported by Zonin USA was a Nutrition Facts window on the back of a bottle of Moscato D’Asti from Castello del Poggio. I have heard rumors that such labels might soon emerge as a requirement for wines on the market [...]
