2009 Beaujolais Nouveau: How good is it?
Georges Duboeuf probably never would own up to a bad vintage, and when he claimed the 2009 was the best in 50 years, I had to pause a minute. But folks, it's good. It does not taste like it was made in six weeks or less. It's not thin and acidic. You can see the quality with your eyes when you pour it. It's a deep, rich burgundy color and it's dense. It has the plump, berrylike, spicy flavors of a Syrah more than Gamay. The aromas are all about cherries, raspberries, dark chocolate and espresso. It has a richness to it and weight on the palate. It's a shocker. Price: $10-$12, depending on where you buy it. It's perfect for holiday meals.
2008 Fox Run Reserve Riesling: Yum
Gotta comment on the 2008 Reserve Riesling, $30, from the estate vineyards at Fox Run on Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes district of New York. It's fab: Vibrant lime, citrus, grass, and grapefruit on the nose. A big palate of dry lemon-lime, kiwi and herbs, with a midpalate blast of orange and mango, and a finish of minerality and herbs. Folks, it's dry with palate-cleansing acidity. The Finger Lakes region is trumpeting its way to stardom in the domestic Riesling world, neck-and-neck with Washington state and just ahead of Michigan. Peter Bell is the masterful winemaker who is the mad scientist at Fox Run. Tricia Renshaw is the assistant who shows her deft hand with Riesling. You can learn lmore and order it at foxrunvineyards.com.
St. Julian tradition
St. Julian Winery in Paw Paw will throw its fall winemaker dinner Nov. 7, at its smaller winery, in Frankenmuth. The entire production of Solera Cream Sherry is made at this facility, and the dinner is at tables set up in the aging room, with foods prepared by Frankenmuth's own John Zehnder, a certified executive chef. The event is limited to 80 guests, and winemaker Dave Miller has selected wines for each course. Discounts will be offered on wine purchases. Tickets are $75. Call (989) 652-3281, and ask about overnight accommodations.
Fall at Michigan wineries
Michigan wineries are in the mood for fall, which means Black Star Farms in Suttons Bay has hard apple cider in the bottle. At $10, it's a top seller and is made from a blend of eight cider apples. A Bubbly Nouveau, made in a semi-sweet style is coming out in November.
If you haven't visited a Michigan winery for a while, click on the the video from MyNorth.com.
Wine is not recession-proof
The Associated Press reported Thursday, Aug. 27, that French wine exports are off 25 percent in the first half of this year.
According to the AP, the Federation of French Exporters of Wines and Spirits, which represents 85 percent of all France's wines and spirits exporters, said "luxury products such as Champagne and Cognac fell 45 percent and 27 percent respectively. Exports of less expensive table wines fell only 1 percent."
The Federation spokesman was hopeful the holidays would turn things around some.
Lighter glass wine bottles introduced
As wineries around the world get more conscious of the carbon footprint they are making, wine bottles are on the way to getting lighter.
Decanter.com reports that the allegedly lightest screwcap bottle ever will hit UK shelves early next year. The glass bottle weighs 300 grams. It's hard to say how that compares to so-called normal 750ml bottles -- because they vary so much.
But look for the lighter-bottle movement to hit our shores soon. Seems to me that Bonny Doon/Pacific Rim is on this road.
Appellation American to shut down new story content
As the economy continues to take a bite out of every facet of our lives, the Web has one less site to offer new information about wines produced all over the United States.
Tom Welch, CEO of the Internet magazine Appellation America, confirmed to Wines & Vines today that the site will feature no new content, and the office will close this summer.
The site reported on wine appellations across the country, delivering concise, informative accounts by qualified wine writers.
Wines & Vines quoted Welch as saying, "We are downsizing things to a minimum, given the economy and the lack of revenue."
The wine evaluation program, called "Best of Appellation," will continue under Clark Smith. BOA judges wines against others in their region.
This is a great loss to the wine world on the Web and to regional wine lovers and wineries. But perhaps it comes at a time when wine regions as diverse as the Finger Lakes and Long Island in New York, the Charlottesville, Va., area and Old Mission Peninsula in Michigan are finally making good enough wines -- and news -- to propel themselves.Where to find Greek wines around Metro Detroit
Trained winemakers, modern technology and viticulture, and consumers thirsty for different tastes are changing the landscape for Greek wines at home in Greece -- and in markets around the world.
Getting local wine shops and even Greek restaurants to offer them, however, is still a challenge.
In my June 25 column, I described three such wines that are in the Michigan market, thanks to Philip Arvantis of Wine Dimensions, a wine and food importing and distribution company in Mount Clemens.
The wines are 2008 Greek Wine Cellars Assyrtiko from the island of Santorini; Domaine Skouras Zoe 2006 from the Peloponnese; and the nonvintage Calliga Rubis from the island of Cephalonia.
Here are some spots to buy these wines and other diverse Greek wine selections.
Auburn Cafe, Ecorse (offers flaming saganaki and a bottle of Greek wine for $20 on Wednesdays)
Ernie's Kings Mill in Clinton Township
Village Taverna in Greektown
Merchant's Fine Wine, Dearborn
Papa Joe's
Champane's Wine Cellars
Stoukas Imports
Hiller's
Red Wagon
Novi Party Store
Pi Restaurant, Southfield
Assorted restaurants in Greektown
New cheap wine from Crane Lake
OK, "cheap" is now an "in" thing because we are all watching our pennies. So it's big news that Crane Lake is introducing an Australian Chardonnay. The label reads "Down Under by Crane Lake." Price has not been revealed, but you can bet it's $5 or less. And it will be dry and pretty good. Roll-out date is expected to be July 1.
Crane Lake is produced by $2 Buck Chuck producer Bronco Wine Co., aka Fred Franzia. The wines are not bad.
Where you can buy Vision Cellars wines
Vision Cellars in Windsor, Calif., in Sonoma County, has a rare back story to it, which you can read in my column dated June 11, 2009. In a nutshell, Mac McDonald, 66, has led a charmed life from his humble beginnings in rural Texas, where he was introduced to a first-class French Burgundy wine at the tender age of 12 and determined that day to be a winemaker. That eventually led to a 32-year-career at a utility company in San Francisco and endless weekends learning to grow and make wine at Caymus in Napa Valley.
He specializes in Pinot Noirs, and also makes a rose and one white wine -- a Sauvignon Blanc with dollop of Pinot Gris. He makes the wines at Caymus.
If you see some Vision Cellars labels, don't wring your hands over which one to buy. Just try one. The Pinots are not cheap, and they are made in the style that French Burgundies used to be -- not overoaked, not ponderous like port, elegant fruit and good acidity. They are from notable vineyards in Sonoma's Russian River and Monterey's Santa Lucia Highlands -- gold-plate addresses.
There was not room to list all the stores and restaurants in the printed newspaper column about Vision Cellars, so here is the complete list:
Angelina Italian Bistro, Detroit
Art of the Table, Grand Rapids
Atlas Bistro, Detroit
Caucus Club, Detroit
Forest Grill, Birmingham
Grape Expectations, Plymouth
Northville Hills Golf Club, Northville
The Hill Seafood & Chop House, Grosse Pointe Farms
Townsend Hotel, Birmingham
Zingerman's Roadhouse, Ann Arbor
Cloverleaf Market, Royal Oak
Cose di Lusso, Rochester
Cost Plus Wine, Detroit
Holiday Market, Canton
Joe's Produce, Livonia
Oxford Wine & Beverage, Oxford
Papa Joe's, Birmingham
Plum Market, Ann Arbor, West Bloomfield
Fine Wine Source, Livonia
Village Corner, Ann Arbor
Wens Prescription Shop, Ann Arbor
Whole Foods, Troy
Winebuys.com, Ferndale
