win June 2004

win@thebarn.com

4 participants
13 discussions

by Betsy Kremser

Have heard "yes" from: Bill Lori Warren & Ruth Bob Betsy "Maybe" from: Russ Haven't heard from: Jim & Louise Annette S. >>> "Betsy Kremser" <Betsy.Kremser(a)co.anoka.mn.us> 06/28/04 09:54PM >>> Is anyone interested in tasting syrah/shiraz at JP's on Thursday night? Betsy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Betsy Kremser Betsy.Kremser(a)co.anoka.mn.us Health Planner/Policy Analyst Anoka County Community Health & Environmental Services 763.323.6096 (voice) 763.422.6988 (Fax)

21 years, 5 months

[wine] A washingtonpost.com article from: jellings@me.umn.edu

by jellings＠me.umn.edu

You have been sent this message from jellings(a)me.umn.edu as a courtesy of washingtonpost.com South African Sauvignons By Michael Franz One of the biggest stories in the wine world for the past decade has been the rise of South Africa as a source of excellent, high-value wines. Although the phenomenon is important, its full significance remains unclear, for the simple reason that the rise is still underway and the ascent still remarkably rapid. I've been tracking these wines closely since they returned to markets here in noteworthy numbers after Nelson Mandela's presidential inauguration in 1994, and each year sees the arrival of dozens of delicious new wines. I'm currently at work (if you can call it that) on more than 300 current releases and am finding that South Africa can compete with wines ranging from reds to whites to sparklers to stickies, and can do it at both entry-level prices and at the high end. I'll be back in two weeks with recommendations of top South African wines from an assortment of categories, but today I want to focus on Sauvignon Blanc. South Africa's Sauvignons are among the world's best and most fairly priced renditions, and the sheer number of exemplary wines produced across different appellations and vintages proves that the area around the Cape of Good Hope is one of the prime places on the globe for growing grapes and making wine. Sauvignons from the general Cape area tend to be medium-bodied, with more ripeness and textural "flesh" than wines like Sancerre or Pouilly-Fume from France's Loire Valley. With respect to weight, they are thus closer in a French context to Sauvignon Blanc-based wines from Bordeaux. However, they are rarely blended with Semillon or aged in oak, so those looking for parallels are better off turning toward the New World. New Zealand offers some plausible likenesses, but South African Sauvignons are usually a bit less acidic than those from Marlborough, and you'll find closer counterparts from warmer regions like Hawkes Bay or Gisborne that produce riper wines. California comes close to the general South African profile in terms of ripeness, but South Africa's Sauvignons usually have better definition and "cut" thanks to more abundant acidity and less frequent use of either oak or malolactic fermentation. Since none of these comparisons quite hit the mark, you can conclude that South Africa's Sauvignons are distinctive wines that must be tasted on their own terms to be appreciated properly. Toward that end, here are the top wines from my recent tastings in order of preference, with regions of origin, approximate prices and U.S. importers indicated in parentheses: OUTSTANDING Mulderbosch (Stellenbosch) 2003 ($24, Cape Classics): This benchmark wine is about as good as Sauvignon Blanc gets -- from anyplace on the globe. Ripe and generous but still edgy and refreshing, this combines melon and citrus fruit with light herbal notes and superbly balanced acidity. Sincerely (Neil Ellis Wines)(Coastal Region) 2003 ($11, Vineyard Brands): The back label quotes Charles Caleb Colton (1780-1832) to the effect that "imitation is the sincerest flattery," and this clever, subtle homage to Sancerre is very flattering indeed. It is fresh and flinty, with great minerality lending remarkable class to the very flavorful fruit. A beautiful wine and a great idea perfectly executed. Buitenverwachting (Constantia) 2003 ($25, Cape Classics): Here's a mouthful for you, both on the label and within the bottle. The wine is excellent in every respect, from the citrus and melon aromatics with light herb and grass edging, to medium-bodied fruit with impressive depth of flavor, to the long finish poised between fruity generosity and acidic edging. Complete and convincing, this is superb stuff. Fleur du Cap (Coastal Region) "Unfiltered" 2003 ($15, Maisons Marques & Domaines): The "unfiltered" bottling from Fleur du Cap is effectively a reserve wine. It features expressive, juicy fruit recalling melons and ripe citrus fruit and is very well balanced. Alexanderfontein (Coastal Region) 2003 ($10, Southern Oceans): A phenomenal overachiever considering its low price, this offers pure, intense citrus fruit bolstered by zesty acidity, with sharply defined flavor and texture but not a trace of sourness. VERY GOOD Boschendal (Coastal Region) 2003 ($14, 57 Main St.): This very solid wine is quite ripe and rounded, but still shows fine definition from ripe acidity and good varietal character in the form of lightly herbal, grassy aromas. Warwick (Simonsberg, Stellenbosch) "Professor Black" 2003 ($19, Broadbent Selections): With perfectly ripened fruit that shows both taut, acidic citrus notes and broader, riper notes of melon and stone fruits, this is a well-crafted wine built from excellent primary fruit. Jardin (Stellenbosch) 2003 ($14, Vinovative): The Jardin wines are consistently strong, and this Sauvignon shows ripe, vivid fruit that is structured by fine acidity and light mineral notes. Kanu (Stellenbosch) 2003 ($15, Cape Classics): This is not a complex wine requiring contemplation, but rather a deliciously simple and straightforward sipper that counterbalances delicious melon fruit with just the right little shot of refreshing acidity. Southern Right (Western Cape) 2003 ($17, Vineyard Brands): This wine shows classic citrus fruit notes on a versatile, medium-bodied frame, with fresh flavors and a long, satisfying finish. Groote Post (Coastal Region) 2003 ($12, Four Lakes): Flavorful and admirably complex, with interesting aromas of moderately ripe fruit augmented by aromas of freshly cut grass and grated citrus zest. Springfield Estate (Robertson) "Life From Stone" 2003 ($19, Country Vintner): Fresh, with mineral notes working nicely with the zesty but fully ripe citrus fruit. ALSO RECOMMENDED Fleur du Cap (Coastal Region) 2003 ($10, Maisons, Marques & Domaines); Ken Forrester (Stellenbosch) 2003 ($13, Loest & McNamee); Villiera (Stellenbosch) 2003 ($13, Fairest Cape); Iona (Elgin) 2003 ($22, Yellowwood Wine Co.); Boekenhoutskloof (Western Cape) "Porcupine Ridge" 2003 ($10, Vineyard Brands); Fairvalley (Fairview Workers Assn.) 2003 ($8, Vinovative); Nederburg (Western Cape) 2003 ($10, Dreyfus Ashby); Ridgeback (Paarl) 2003($11, AIDC); Graham Beck (Coastal Region) 2003 ($10, Country Vintner); Indaba (Western Cape) 2003 ($9, Cape Classics). Michael Franz will offer additional recommendations and answer questions live today at noon on washingtonpost.com. Would you like to send this article to a friend? Go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/admin/emailfriend?contentId=A14257… Visit washingtonpost.com today for the latest in: News - http://www.washingtonpost.com/?referrer=emailarticle Politics - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/politics/?referrer=emailarticle Sports - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/sports/?referrer=emailarticle Entertainment - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/eg/section/main/index.html?referrer=em… Travel - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/travel/?referrer=emailarticle Technology - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/technology/?referrer=emailarticle Want the latest news in your inbox? Check out washingtonpost.com's e-mail newsletters: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=admin/email&referrer=emailart… © 2004 The Washington Post Company

21 years, 5 months

[wine] NYTimes.com Article: Brushing the Dust Off an Old Label

by jellings＠me.umn.edu

The article below from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by jellings(a)me.umn.edu. /--------- E-mail Sponsored by Fox Searchlight ------------\ THE CLEARING - IN THEATERS JULY 2 - WATCH THE TRAILER NOW An official selection of the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, THE CLEARING stars ROBERT REDFORD and HELEN MIRREN as Wayne and Eileen Hayes - a husband and wife living the American Dream. Together they've raised two children and struggled to build a successful business from the ground up. But there have been sacrifices along the way. When Wayne is kidnapped by an ordinary man, Arnold Mack (WILLEM DAFOE), and held for ransom in a remote forest, the couple's world is turned inside out. Watch the trailer at: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/theclearing/index_nyt.html \----------------------------------------------------------/ Brushing the Dust Off an Old Label June 30, 2004 By ERIC ASIMOV NO matter how much you love the wines, it's not easy to make sense of Burgundy. The region's organization is so sprawling and its nomenclature both so confusing and repetitive that many people, if given the choice of a Volnay or a Vosne-Roman�e, settle for a nice Bordeaux. One solution is to read a book, like Matt Kramer's excellent "Making Sense of Burgundy." But most people would rather enjoy wine than study it, and besides, a lot has changed since that book came out in 1990. More typically, people rely on brand names to ease decision making. It's a marketer's dream when a beer drinker becomes a Bud drinker, and brand names can take a lot of the confusion out of wine buying. But brand names change, too, and so do their connotations. Consider the case of Bouchard P�re & Fils, one of the oldest names in Burgundy (not to be confused with Bouchard-A�n� & Fils, another of those maddening repetitions). Perhaps 10 or 15 years ago, a discerning Burgundy buyer might have skipped right by the Bouchard brand. Despite its legacy - the firm had passed through nine generations of family ownership since 1731 - the wines were often dull assembly-line fare. The excitement in Burgundy was with the small growers and producers, not the big names. But in 1995, the Bouchard family sold the firm to Joseph Henriot, who began investing in improving the vineyards and winemaking. The result has been a stunning revitalization. The Bouchard comeback was on full display last week at a dinner at Montrachet in TriBeCa, where Bernard Hervet, Bouchard's managing director, brought with him a selection of outstanding recent wines along with some older vintages. Mr. Hervet, who joined Bouchard in 1989 under the old regime, experienced the turnaround firsthand. Before Bouchard was sold, he said, he did not have the budget to improve the quality of the wines. Bouchard was suffering, he added, because it did not remember what had made its wines great in the first place. "In the 1970's and 80's, Burgundy growers and n�gociants forgot that without great grapes there would be no great wines," said Mr. Hervet, a tall, lean man who looks like the proverbial banker from Bordeaux rather than the earthy Burgundian farmer. "They thought they could solve problems in the vineyards with technology." Liberated from budget constraints, and given the mandate to improve, Bouchard replanted its vineyards, replaced its cellar equipment and re-established its winemaking philosophy. "No huge wines," Mr. Hervet said. "It's a question of balance. It's a shame to confuse length and power." Hundreds of winemakers earnestly mouth similar words like scripture, but tasting a selection of Bouchard's 2002's made clear that these were sculptured, precise wines, shaped for subtlety rather than power. The Beaune Clos de la Mousse was light-bodied and elegant, with fruit aromas that perfumed the air, a contrast with the more robust and tannic Beaune Teurons. A Beaune-Gr�ves, with the evocative name Vigne de L'Enfant J�sus, seemed to combine the structure of the Teurons with the expressive fruitiness of the Clos de la Mousse. Perhaps the clearest indication of the changes at Bouchard were the three vintages of Volnay Caillerets Ancienne Cuv�e Carnot, from 1999, 1990 and 1964. The '99 was still a baby, fresh and harmonious with aromas that reminded me of truffles. The '64 smelled powerfully of truffles and chocolate and still tasted pure and balanced. The '90 also had truffle aromas, a signature of the vineyard, I guess, but it was noticeably sweeter than the other two wines and seemed vaguer, lacking their clear-cut lines. To emphasize the effect of Mr. Henriot's ownership, Mr. Hervet brought along three vintages of William F�vre Chablis, from the grand cru vineyard called Les Clos. F�vre's Chablis used to be notorious for their heavy oak flavors, the last thing you would want to taste in the lean and minerally wines of Chablis. That was before Mr. Henriot bought the domaine in 1998. Now the wines are lively and nuanced. "It was a pity, in my opinion," Mr. Hervet said, expelling air with his cheeks in the French manner that expresses exasperation and disbelief. "We completely changed the style to be more pure, more minerally." All of the wines we tasted were made from top Bouchard vineyards. Bouchard's more modest wines, Mr. Hervet said, are intended to be easy and uncomplicated, balanced and fruity, requiring no explanation to enjoy. As if to show that nothing can be truly predictable in wine, we also tasted three vintages of Bouchard's Chevalier-Montrachet La Cabotte, a white Burgundy from a vineyard adjacent to the more famous and costly Montrachet. One, a 1992, a pre-Henriot vintage, was every bit as lovely as a 1997 and a 2000. Nonetheless, the evolution of Bouchard is clear. It is not just small domains that are making great Burgundy, and Bouchard can now be placed with other n�gociants like Louis Jadot and Joseph Drouhin, which despite their volume of business keep their eyes on quality. "Bouchard used to be a reference when Burgundy was showing badly," Mr. Hervet said, "and I hope it's now a reference when Burgundy is showing well." http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/30/dining/30POUR.html?ex=1089608017&ei=1&en=… --------------------------------- Get Home Delivery of The New York Times Newspaper. Imagine reading The New York Times any time & anywhere you like! Leisurely catch up on events & expand your horizons. Enjoy now for 50% off Home Delivery! Click here: http://homedelivery.nytimes.com/HDS/SubscriptionT1.do?mode=SubscriptionT1&E… HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales(a)nytimes.com or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help(a)nytimes.com. Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company

21 years, 5 months

[wine] Syrah/Shiraz @ JP's?

by Betsy Kremser

Is anyone interested in tasting syrah/shiraz at JP's on Thursday night? Betsy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Betsy Kremser Betsy.Kremser(a)co.anoka.mn.us Health Planner/Policy Analyst Anoka County Community Health & Environmental Services 763.323.6096 (voice) 763.422.6988 (Fax)

21 years, 5 months

[wine] Henn-Lake Tasting, Summer whites.

by Jim L. Ellingson

FYI, The Hennepin Lake Tasting is Wednesday. Hennepin Lake Liquor Store 1200 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408 (612) 825-4411 Are we meeting on Thursday? Cheers, Jim A Dozen Summer Whites for $24 or Less These quaffable wines come with flavors and prices that help them go down easily It's hard to beat a chilled glass of white wine on a hot summer day. There are lots of wines to choose from, but some of the most refreshing are those that are light in style but with good concentration of flavor and crisp acidity. These characteristics can be found in wines from around the world, and many are very affordable. -- Alison Napjus Wine Score Price FEUDI DI SAN GREGORIO Falanghina Sannio 2003 90 $17 Aromas of lemons and rhubarb turn to minerals, melons, and honey. Medium- to full-bodied, with lovely acidity and a long, ripe fruit aftertaste. Delicious. One of the best values in Italian white. Drink now. From Italy. 70,000 cases made. -- J.S. JACOB'S CREEK Riesling South Australia Reserve 2003 89 $13 Dry, tangy, a vivid style offering green apple and quince and lovely floral notes as the flavors linger. Drink now through 2008. 50,000 cases made. -- H.S. CHATEAU STE. MICHELLE Sauvignon Blanc Columbia Valley Horse Heaven Vineyard 2002 88 $15 Bright and juicy, crisp with herbal pear and fig flavors on a lean, jazzy frame. Drink now. From Washington. 23,000 cases made. -- H.S. COLLAVINI Pinot Grigio Collio Villa Canlungo 2002 88 $15 Very clean, with light pineapple, honey and pear aromas. Medium-bodied, with good acidity and a long, flavorful finish. Subtle yet rich for a Pinot Grigio. Best yet from here. Good value. Drink now. From Italy. 24,000 cases made. -- J.S. CONUNDRUM California 2002 88 $24 Round and ripe, with a panoply of melon, orange rind, pear and floral tones. Tangy citrus notes and a hint of vanilla shape the intense finish. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Muscat Canelli, Viognier and S�millon. Drink now. 60,000 cases made. -- J.L. DI LENARDO Tocai Friulano Grave del Friuli Toh! 2002 88 $10 Very good richness of fruit in this white with pineapple and fresh peach character. Medium-bodied, with good fruit and a medium to long finish. Lovely juice. Very good value. Drink now. From Italy. 3,500 cases made. -- J.S. SOUTHERN RIGHT Sauvignon Blanc Western Cape 2003 88 $10 Very tangy up front, with lemon, chive and floral notes, and a crisp, juicy finish. Very tasty and a fine value. Drink now. From South Africa. 2,000 cases imported. -- J.M. PIERRE SPARR Riesling Alsace 2002 88 $10 Aromatic, offering floral, quince and ripe apple notes backed by a vibrant structure. It's almost glycerinelike in texture and beginning to show some maturity. Good, lingering finish. Drink now. From France. 13,000 cases made. -- B.S. YALUMBA Viognier South Australia The Y Series 2003 88 $9 Beguilingly lithe and fragrant, not as explosively aromatic as some Viognier, but rife with honeysuckle, pear and melon flavors that keep echoing appealingly on the dry, open finish. Drink now. 3,500 cases imported. -- H.S. BOLLINI Pinot Grigio Trentino 2003 87 $11 Aromas of minerals and lemon rind follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with good fruit and a minerally finish. Real Pinot Grigio here. Drink now. From Italy. 80,000 cases made. -- J.S. CA' RUGATE Soave Classico San Michele 2002 87 $11 Tasting this is like biting into a freshly sliced apple. Medium-bodied, with good acidity and a dry, fruity pear and apple finish. Drink now. From Italy. 16,000 cases made. -- J.S. WHITEHALL LANE Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley 2002 87 $15 Understated, but with very good concentration and balance to melon, hay, peach and passion fruit. Crisp citrus and cedary vanilla fold into the finish. Drink now. From California. 7,310 cases made. Don't miss our Smart Buys archive. -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *

21 years, 5 months

[wine] Terry Theise Tasting on 16 June

by Jim L. Ellingson

A reminder from Joyce about the Terry Theise tasting next week. Also, an article about inter-state wine shipping. Some of us are going to Campiello for the Henn-Lake tasting. Has anyone seen the tent? This was a very big and somewhat crowded event at the Calhoun Beach Club. Cheers, Jim ----- Forwarded message from jhegstrom(a)csom.umn.edu ----- Subject: Terr y Theise - June 16 - 6:30-9:30 To: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> Cc: wine(a)thebarn.com, wine-bounce(a)thebarn.com From: jhegstrom(a)csom.umn.edu Date: Fri, 14 May 2004 08:23:05 -0500 Greetings! If you haven't already heard Terry Theise will be returning in June. Once again, Surdyk's is allowing me to offer a discounted ticket price of $25 if you sign up with the "Joyce Hegstrom/Bubbles" group. To take advantage of this, you need to call Karen Blakeman at the store (612) 379-3232 and indicate to her that you are with my group. Hope to see you there! Joyce Terry Theise German Wine Tasting (99391) Sample some of the finest wines Germany has to offer. If you haven't been to a Terry Theise tasting, you're in for a treat; if you have, you already know! Held at the Milennium Hotel - 1313 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis You can now make your reservation on-line! Surdyk's Price: $27.00 MATTERS OF TASTE The wine shipping news David Shaw June 9, 2004 Supporters of laws that ban wineries from shipping directly to consumers in many states . especially wholesalers who now act as middlemen and would like to have all wine sales continue to go through them . invoke all manner of justification for their position. They say they're trying to abide by the United States Constitution and to ensure that appropriate sales taxes are collected and, above all, to help states "protect their communities . [and] safeguard their children . " as Juanita Duggan, president and CEO of the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, said when the U.S. Supreme Court agreed last month to hear two cases that involve direct shipping. Right. When all else fails, invoke those poor, helpless kids. If the Supreme Court rules against Duggan and her allies, I can just see all those impatient 14-year-olds e-mailing their orders to Napa and waiting three weeks for their Screaming Eagle to arrive. When the Supreme Court takes up this case later this year, justices will be reviewing just two states' laws, but their ruling could affect all 24 states that now forbid direct sales to consumers. These states essentially rely on the 21st Amendment, which repealed Prohibition but threw a legislative bone to the temperance movement by giving states broad authority to regulate the sale of alcoholic beverages within their borders. I hope the court throws all those states' laws out the window. I hope the justices rule that wineries in California and elsewhere can ship their wines directly to consumers in every one of the 50 states. A Federal Trade Commission study last year said consumers could save "as much as 21% on some wines" if they were able to buy them directly from the wineries. That's why wholesalers oppose the change; they'd lose money if wineries could bypass them and ship directly to individual consumers. Although consumers in California probably wouldn't be greatly affected by such a decision . at least not directly . it's still a huge issue here. California is by far the biggest wine-producing state in the country, accounting for two-thirds of the nation's wine sales. All the other states combined produce only about 7% of the wine consumed in the United States. West Coast arrangement California residents can buy directly from California's more than 850 wineries . just as residents in other states can buy directly from wineries in their states . and California also has reciprocal agreements with Oregon and Washington that permit wineries in each of these states to sell to customers in the other two. I don't want to be chauvinistic, but I have to say that with all those fine California, Oregon and Washington wines already available, I really don't see a significant number of Californians suddenly spending a lot of money to buy the wines of, say, New York, Ohio and Texas. But a favorable Supreme Court ruling would allow residents of California . or any other state . to call a California winery and order wine as a gift to be sent to a friend or relative or business acquaintance in another state. Would opening new domestic markets for California wines mean that consumers in California might have more trouble finding the California wines they want . or have to pay more for them? "No," says Rich Cartiere, editor and publisher of the Calistoga-based Wine Market Report. "There's plenty of California wine available, and there's too much competition among too many brands, California and foreign imports, many of them being offered at discount prices, for California wineries to get away with raising prices." Direct shipping throughout the country could be an enormous windfall for California wineries, though, simply because they could sell more wine to more customers. This should make the wineries healthier, and since the wine industry contributes $33 billion to the state's economy, the state's economy should get healthier too. But that's not why I favor eliminating the ban on direct shipping. The ban just seems discriminatory to me. Over the years, the Supreme Court has generally interpreted the Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution in ways that limit such state-by-state discrimination . "economic Balkanization," the court called it in another case . and I hope the justices will do likewise now. If I lived in New York (or Michigan) . the two states whose bans are the basis of the pending Supreme Court case . why should I only be able to direct-order wines made in New York (or Michigan)? Why shouldn't I be able to buy by phone, online or through the mail any wine from California and Oregon and Virginia and any other state that makes wine that appeals to me? And why shouldn't wineries be able to sell to anyone, anywhere, who wants to drink their wines and is willing to pay for them? Even a favorable Supreme Court ruling wouldn't allow foreign wineries to ship directly to customers in the U.S. because federal import and customs regulations, not state laws, prevent that. But if, like me, you tend to root for the underdog . the little guy . in most situations, there's another reason to hope the Supreme Court overturns the direct shipping ban within the United States. Big fish, little fish The big wineries, in California and elsewhere, can survive under the current system. They may not like it. They may be able to make even more money if the system is changed. But at least they're in the game. The biggest 25% of the country's almost 3,000 wineries sell more than 80% of the wines consumed nationwide, and wholesalers are happy to work with them. Most wineries are small, family-owned operations, though, with volume so slight that wholesalers don't find their business worth taking. These wineries get shut out of interstate sales altogether under the current system; they can't ship directly to consumers, and they can't ship indirectly, through wholesalers. Collectors and casual drinkers alike should have direct access to these wines. Direct sales from wineries to consumers are a relatively small piece of the wine pie at present, accounting for only $200 million of last year's $18 billion in total wine sales. But that number would increase significantly if wineries could sell directly to consumers everywhere. The Supreme Court should make that possible. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Shaw can be reached at david.shaw(a)latimes.com. To read previous "Matters of Taste" columns, please go to latimes.com/shaw-taste. ----- End forwarded message ----- -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *

21 years, 5 months

[wine] Details re Henn Lake Tasting on Wed

by Jim L. Ellingson

Wednesday's Weather looks pretty good for a tent-tasting. A wee bit breezy w/ a 30% chancs of rain and temps in the 70's. Wednesday...Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs 70 to 75. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Wednesday Night...Increasing clouds. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows around 55. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Wine-tasting to benefit Hennepin-Lake neighborhoods is June 9 Hennepin Lake Liquors, 1200 W. Lake St., hosts its 22nd annual charity winetasting Wednesday, June 9 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in a tent in the Campiello's parking lot, 1320 W. Lake St. Food will be provided by the restaurant and wine by Hennepin Lake Liquor. All proceeds go to participating neighborhood groups, including the Calhoun Area Residents Action Group (CARAG), Lowry Hill East Neighborhood Association (LHENA), East Calhoun Community Organization (ECCO), East Isles Resident Association (EIRA) and Kenwood Isles Area Association (KIAA.) "After doing business in the community for a number of years, we decided to give something back," said Phil Colich, owner of Hennepin Lake Liquors for 29 years. Colich said the event is Minnesota's longest-running charitable wine-tasting. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Each participating neighborhood sells tickets as a fund-raiser, but tickets can also be purchased at Hennepin Lake liquor. Revenue from tickets sold at the store will be split among the participating neighborhoods. -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *

21 years, 6 months

[wine] FW: A note from Jason

by Jim L. Ellingson

Thanks to Angela and Jason for hosting a great party. C, J ----- Forwarded message from Jason Kallsen <jason(a)twincitieswine.com> ----- Reply-To: jason(a)twincitieswine.com From: Jason Kallsen <jason(a)twincitieswine.com> To: "'Jim L. Ellingson'" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> Subject: Many thanks to the Thursday group Date: Wed, 2 Jun 2004 23:07:28 -0500 (Jim: please pass this on) Thanks to all who came to the party last Friday. It was wonderful to see everybody again, to taste great wine, and have great conversation. Many thanks and we'll do it again in the future! I'll be sending out a list of wines that were opened for the historians out there. The apple ice Canadian dessert wine was of particular interest. Turns out it was brought by Sara from the Wine Company (who showed up with and left with Kris Igo). She got it as a gift from one of the instructors at the culinary school at the Institute of Arts, a fellow who was from Canada. Here's some recent restaurant news: Brian Crouch, former chef at Marimar, is working under Steven Browne at Levain. As he told me "I'll be there for at least a year getting my ass kicked and learning more than I ever thought possible." Keep your eye on Brian in the future. A roasted beet salad I had at Pizza Biga (opposite side of Turtle Bread from Levain) was outstanding. Scott Pampuch is about 4 weeks away from re-opening the n.e. thyme caf? spot. He's running into kitchen code issues (with the new ownership not much got grandfathered in). It will be called Corner Table. I've talked to him about the Thursday group and he looks forward to cooking for you again. His sous chef is a guy named Keven Kalstren (I think that's the spelling) who trained in Bordeaux. Before ne thyme closed Annette Peters and I had possibly the best lobster based seafood bisque I've ever had, made by this guy. Annette immediately picked it out as French-trained. The new chef at The Modern is doing well ... Phillip Brecht. He seems to have a great touch with Italian inspired dishes. Does anybody know where Stewart Woodman's new restaurant is going to be? If you do, please let me know. Also, don't miss Dara's review of Red in this week's City Pages. Keep in touch, Jason Kallsen Jason(a)twincitieswine.com ----- End forwarded message ----- -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *

21 years, 6 months

[wine] S. French, S. Italian at Muffuletta TONIGHT

by Jim L. Ellingson

Greetings, Looks like we'll be 10 tonight! <fwd> We've got an invitation to Muffuletta. Not sure if the chef will still have any morels on the menu. Warren's Wine Wish is for labels from Southern France and Southern Italy. Perhaps it was to chase away the cold from the wet and windy Memorial Day weekend. Muffuletta Cafe St. Anth. Park 2260 Como St. Paul, 55108 651-644-9116 Best WAG at the guest list: Lori Bob Betsy Warren and Ruth Jim Nikolai Russ McC Bill "I'm from 'Jersey so you can understand my reluctance to travel East of the Mississippi" Sobolewski Annette Stadelman Cheers, Jim Cheers, Jim -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *

21 years, 6 months

[wine] California at Odfellows Tasting Notes

by Jim L. Ellingson

Last of three. Note that Russ was considerably more timely about getting these out than I was in posting them to the list. Cheers, Jim Californians at Oddfellow's . 5/20/2004 Theme: California, non-Napa, non-cabernet. A small but select group gathered to enjoy, among other treats, some awesome venison chops with grilled veggies. W1 . light color, fresh and attractive smoky nose, sweet and tasty mouthfeel, very long on the finish, doesn't taste of any particular grape (at least not to my inadequately experienced palate) but this is delicious, very good quality. 2000 Foxen Chenin Blanc . Santa Barbara County. W2 . very sharp nose, excess SO2 and/or ketone? Not tasted. 1999 Lorca Pinot Gris . Monterey County. W3 . big, attractive chardonnay, lots of acid structure for California, indeed could use a little time in bottle to integrate the acid, tasty wine with power and length. Very good quality, and may well be better a year or two from now. 2001 Foley Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Vineyard . Santa Maria Valley (Santa Barbara). W4 . brown-looking, oxidized smelling, not tasted. Consensus was that this bottle was catastrophically corked, rather than having gone over the hill in its youth. A previous bottle, perhaps 12-14 months ago, was fine. 2000 Foley Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Vineyard . Santa Maria Valley (Santa Barbara). R1 . purple color suggests Beaujolais, reluctant nose, light body, not much fruit, tannin and alcohol in evidence, touch of chocolate, finish OK at first, then trace of some artificial flavor late, overall impression is thin. 1999 Chateau Souverain Merlot . Alexander Valley. R2 . medium purple, very crystalline; attractive nose, slightly tannic aroma suggests Bordeaux grapes, then on second nosing it smells more like syrah, touch of smoked meat and blacker fruits; medium weight mouth entry, good structure, red fruits increasing in aromatic force as one holds the wine in the mouth; quite smooth and fruit-driven on the finish, an extremely well balanced light to midweight, very good indeed. 1993 Geyser Peak Reserve Shiraz . Alexander Valley. With air, the wine got maplier and more tannic, the wood becoming more obvious, but retained its excellent balance. R3 . medium purple, possibly a touch of spritz? Young pinot color, vegetal nose in balance with adequate fruit; considerable fruit on midpalate, retaining the vegetal characteristic, very good with olives, touch of funky flavors (in a good way), could this be pinot noir? Considerable power, high-toned fruit and chocolatey oak on the finish, quite good with Oddfellow's excellent food. 1999 Abundance Vineyards Syrah, French Camp Vineyard . Paso Robles. Opened with air; a nice complex, food-friendly Syrah without excess weight. -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *

21 years, 6 months

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

win June 2004