From James Laube's blog in Wine Spectator on line:
James Laube Unfined
A Chardonnay Shocker from the California State Fair
Posted: 12:25 PM ET, June 27, 2007
During yesterday?s blind tasting in Napa, amid a flight of sumptuous
2005 Sonoma Coast Chardonnays from the likes of Paul Hobbs and
Chasseur, came a news flash across my computer screen.
Glad I was sitting down.
Two-Buck Chuck, less known by its formal name of Charles F. Shaw, was
judged the best Chardonnay from California at the California State
Fair Commercial Wine Competition, held in Sacramento. The 2005
Two-Buck, with a California appellation, goes for $1.99 in California
and a dollar more elsewhere. It's only sold at Trader Joe's.
I know what you?re thinking because I?m thinking the same thing. How
can this be? What?s next? Forrest Gump for president? Aliens plan to
spring Paris Hilton from the joint? The moon really is a big wedge of
green cheese?
Since the state fair uses wine professionals as judges and the wines
are tasted blind, the results stand on their own. Some 270 Chardonnays
from 2005 were evaluated, so Two-Buck had plenty of competition.
Still, I?m wondering if this bottling of Two-Buck is really that good.
Or whether, more likely, that this is a result of a clean, fruity,
non-oaked Chardonnay that has enough appeal to win the approval of a
panel of judges?
There?s no question that for many critics, too many Chardonnays are
too oaky and there are questions about whether the wines are true to
their appellations. Or whether, in the extreme, all Chardonnays taste
alike, in which case it?s conceivable that Two-Buck could emerge a
winner.
If you?re wondering why this matters, well, here?s why. Think what you
may about a $1.99 wine, but Two-Buck is impacting the market. It has
sold 300 million bottles in five years and it continues to put
downward pressure on wine prices, and at the end of the day, that?s
great news for wine drinkers.
Think it?s not popular? Check out a Trader Joe?s this weekend and
watch as people wheel out shopping carts loaded with cases.
James Laube Unfined
No Passing the Buck: Here's My Take
Posted: 11:58 AM ET, June 29, 2007
OK, so how good is Two-Buck Chuck Chardonnay, the reigning champion,
and low-price leader of California Chardonnay?
It didn?t take my staff long to buy a bottle from Trader Joe?s (and a
second bottle was sent to my office in Napa) and slip it into
yesterday?s blind tasting of Sonoma Chardonnays (even though Two Buck
carries a California appellation and the appellation was not disclosed
in my tasting).
Well, the wine is certainly good and serviceable. I rated it about the
same as I did last year (when it received an 83-point score). It?s
simple, clean and fruity, with a light mix of citrus and herbal notes,
though not especially varietal. The citrus-herb scent made me think it
might have a dollop of Sauvignon Blanc. The label says 12.5 percent
alcohol. No trace of wood, or oak chips!
The irony, though, is that Two-Buck performed as well as a trio of
Chardonnays that sold for up to $35 a bottle. I?ll spare those
wineries the agony of disclosure until their scores are published in
an upcoming issue of the magazine or on our website.
One more element of intrigue: One of the Two-Buck's labels indicated
it was bottled in Sonoma, while the other was bottled in Napa, so it
would appear that there are at least two different bottlings in the
market. It?s not uncommon for a wine of this volume to be made in
different batches and for it to have multiple bottlings. The winery
wouldn?t comment on the wine?s varietal make-up, or anything else,
except to say that the wine?s owner, Fred Franzia, has bottling
facilities in both counties.
So when you pick up your bottle of Two-Buck Chuck for this weekend?s
blind tasting, make note of where it was bottled.
----- Forwarded message from "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> -----
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2007 10:57:43 -0500
From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu>
To: wine(a)thebarn.com
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 11:45:04 -0600
From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu>
To: wine(a)thebarn.com
Been a while since we've been to Sapor..... Stay Cool.
Cheers,
Jim
We're going to Sapor at 6:30 on Thursday.
Style du jour is Rose'
We pay $5 per person in leu of corkage.
Please include this amount (pre-tax and pre-tip)
when computing the amount you owe.
Part of their wine list is on their web site.
If you happen to bring something that's on the list or the shelf
(easier than you might think. Ask Russ about a split of
something obscure he'd bought at a winery that was on
their shelf as well.... ) we'll just save it for
another week. We're never short of wine.
http://www.saporcafe.com/
428 N. Washington, Mpls
612 375 1971
Yes
Bob
Lori
Betsy
Sapor is very close to Sam's Wine Shop (closes at 8:00 M-Th).
----- End forwarded message -----
----- Forwarded message from "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> -----
Date: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 11:45:49 -0500
From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu>
To: wine(a)thebarn.com
Subject: [wine] Rhone Menu, The Dozens
Thanks to all for replying. see you at 6:30.
Vintage chart suggests 1997 and older N. Rhones
may be ready.
Betsy - green salad
Alicia - veggie side
----- Forwarded message from "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> -----
Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 10:55:23 -0500
From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu>
To: wine(a)thebarn.com
Subject: Rhone at Chez Louise on Thursday
User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.9i
X-Spam-Score: -1.44 () ALL_TRUSTED
X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.56 on 128.101.142.226
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:27:17 -0500
From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu>
To: wine(a)thebarn.com
Subject: [wine] Rhone Wine at Chez Louise
Greetings,
We wanted to host one more dinner before we re-do the kitchen.
This is your last chance to see the small flower wall paper and the Roper
Range.
Thursday 6/21 at 6:30.
I have 5 lbs of Beef Tenderloin and will add to that as needed.
Please bring a dish to share.
ATTENTION! (Please) Contact and Coordinate w/ Louise
no later than Tuesday 19 June so we can round out the menu as needed.
LStich3(a)yahoo.com
612 822 1481
Wines. Reds from the Rhone and white Rhone varietals from anywhere.
We're going to pour some older things. (Coordinate w/ Louise if you like.)
Bubbles, dessert wines, white wines and "ringers" are always welcome.
Of course champagne goes with everything and Pinot Noir/Burgundy is "very
food friendly". :)
Playlist Thank you all for coordinating with Louise.
Jim/Louise Beef, grain breads, appetizer, mushrooms.
Betsy Green Salad
Warren Lentels
Alicia Veggie Side
Ted/Carman Rhubarb Dessert
Karin/Nicolai Apps/Fruit/Fruit Salad
Lori Apps/Fruit/Fruit Salad
Bob Cheeses
Dave Baguettes
An Even Dozen w/ Bob and Dave.
Contact us TODAY (6/18) or tomorrow evening by the latest if you can/will be
joining us.
It will be a fine evening.
Address is 5219 Elliot Ave S., 55417
612 822 1481
lots of ways to get there.
35W to 46th st. S
East to Chicago
South to 52nd or 53rd.
East one block to Elliot
1/2 block S or N to 5219.
Alternates...
Crosstown to Portland. North to 52 or 53, then east to Elliot.
The M'haha Parkway to Chicago, S. to 52 or 53, east to Elliot.
River Road to the Parkway from St. Paul and Portland all the way from
downtown are good choices if the weather's bad or if 35 W is a parking lot.
CONTSTRUCTION NOTICE: The Diamond Lake Road bridge and exits are no longer
an option.
Cheers,
Jim
----- End forwarded message -----
--
------------------------------ *
* Dr. James Ellingson, jellings(a)me.umn.edu *
* University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 *
* Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *
----- End forwarded message -----
--
------------------------------ *
* Dr. James Ellingson, jellings(a)me.umn.edu *
* University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 *
* Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *
Hi all,
I'm sure many of you get Solo Vino's newsletter, but I wanted to extend a personal invite to the Ladera tasting tomorrow 4:30-6:30 at Solo Vino.
Serious, but not over-the-top Cab's are their specialty and the owner, Pat Stotesbery, is from MN. His son, Dan, will be pouring their wines which retail for up to $75. If anyone cares, their Lone Canyon Cab was in the Spectator Top 100 last year.
Hope to see you there!
Annette
Annette Stadelman, CWE
Director of Wine Education &
Restaurant Division Sales
Phillips Wine and Spirits
1999 Shepard Road
St. Paul, MN 55116
651-637-3351
Thanks to all for replying.
Vintage chart suggests 1997 and older N. Rhones
may be ready.
Betsy - green salad
Alicia - veggie side
Lori and Karin - ??
Fruit or fruit salad is open, as well as appetizer.
----- Forwarded message from "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> -----
Date: Mon, 18 Jun 2007 10:55:23 -0500
From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu>
To: wine(a)thebarn.com
Subject: Rhone at Chez Louise on Thursday
User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.9i
X-Spam-Score: -1.44 () ALL_TRUSTED
X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.56 on 128.101.142.226
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:27:17 -0500
From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu>
To: wine(a)thebarn.com
Subject: [wine] Rhone Wine at Chez Louise
Greetings,
We wanted to host one more dinner before we re-do the kitchen.
This is your last chance to see the small flower wall paper and the Roper
Range.
Thursday 6/21 at 6:30.
I have 5 lbs of Beef Tenderloin and will add to that as needed.
Please bring a dish to share.
ATTENTION! (Please) Contact and Coordinate w/ Louise
no later than Tuesday 19 June so we can round out the menu as needed.
LStich3(a)yahoo.com
612 822 1481
Wines. Reds from the Rhone and white Rhone varietals from anywhere.
We're going to pour some older things. (Coordinate w/ Louise if you like.)
Bubbles, dessert wines, white wines and "ringers" are always welcome.
Of course champagne goes with everything and Pinot Noir/Burgundy is "very
food friendly". :)
Playlist Thank you all for coordinating with Louise.
Jim/Louise Beef, grain breads,
Betsy Green Salad
Warren Lentels
Alicia Veggie Side
Ted/Carman Rhubarb Dessert
Karin/Nicolai Apps/Fruit/Fruit Salad/???
Lori Apps/Fruit/Fruit Salad/???
Bob Cheeses
Dave Baguettes/???
An Even Dozen w/ Bob and Dave.
Contact us TODAY (6/18) or tomorrow evening by the latest if you can/will be
joining us.
It will be a fine evening.
Address is 5219 Elliot Ave S., 55417
612 822 1481
lots of ways to get there.
35W to 46th st. S
East to Chicago
South to 52nd or 53rd.
East one block to Elliot
1/2 block S or N to 5219.
Alternates...
Crosstown to Portland. North to 52 or 53, then east to Elliot.
The M'haha Parkway to Chicago, S. to 52 or 53, east to Elliot.
River Road to the Parkway from St. Paul and Portland all the way from
downtown are good choices if the weather's bad or if 35 W is a parking lot.
CONTSTRUCTION NOTICE: The Diamond Lake Road bridge and exits are no longer
an option.
Cheers,
Jim
----- End forwarded message -----
--
------------------------------ *
* Dr. James Ellingson, jellings(a)me.umn.edu *
* University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 *
* Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 04:27:17 -0500
From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu>
To: wine(a)thebarn.com
Subject: [wine] Rhone Wine at Chez Louise
Greetings,
We wanted to host one more dinner before we re-do the kitchen.
This is your last chance to see the small flower wall paper
and the Roper Range.
Thursday 6/21 at 6:30.
I have 5 lbs of Beef Tenderloin and will add to that as needed.
Please bring a dish to share.
ATTENTION! (Please) Contact and Coordinate w/ Louise
no later than Tuesday 19 June so we can round
out the menu as needed.
LStich3(a)yahoo.com
612 822 1481
Wines. Reds from the Rhone and white Rhone varietals from anywhere.
We're going to pour some older things. (Coordinate w/ Louise if
you like.)
Bubbles, dessert wines, white wines and "ringers" are always welcome.
Of course champagne goes with everything and Pinot Noir/Burgundy
is "very food friendly". :)
Playlist
Jim/Louise Beef, grain breads,
Ted/Carman
Betsy
Karin
Warren
Seven is a very lucky number.
Seven people works fine for us. Up to 12 is doable.
Contact us TODAY (6/18) or tomorrow evening by the latest
if you can/will be joining us. (Does anyone know
if Bob and Dave T are coming?)
My apologies if you've told me you're coming and I've forgotten.
Just call/write and remind me.
It will be a fine evening.
Address is 5219 Elliot Ave S., 55417
612 822 1481
lots of ways to get there.
35W to 46th st. S
East to Chicago
South to 52nd or 53rd.
East one block to Elliot
1/2 block S or N to 5219.
Alternates...
Crosstown to Portland. North to 52 or 53, then east to Elliot.
The M'haha Parkway to Chicago, S. to 52 or 53, east to Elliot.
River Road to the Parkway from St. Paul and Portland all the
way from downtown are good choices if the weather's bad or
if 35 W is a parking lot.
CONTSTRUCTION NOTICE: The Diamond Lake Road bridge and exits are
no longer an option.
Cheers,
Jim
*+* * La Belle Vie
<http://cl.exct.net/?ju=fe3315747461037e701571&ls=fdf0117277610675741d757d&m…>*
is hosting a bring-your-own-bottle wine dinner on Monday, June 25.
Chef/owner Tim McKee will prepare a five-course dinner, e-mailed to
guests two weeks prior, so oenophiles can plan. Corkage fees will be
waived for the evening. /$95, excluding tax and tip. 6 p.m.
Reservations, 612-874-6440./
----- Forwarded message from Bruce Adomeit <badomeit(a)startribune.com> -----
Date: Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:02:28 -0500
From: Bruce Adomeit <badomeit(a)startribune.com>
Subject: Restaurant closing
Fhima's, in St. Paul, serving its last meal this Saturday
Six years after St. Paul spent $700,000 of public money to spruce up space for the trendy Fhima's, the Wabasha Street restaurant is going kaput. Saturday will be the last night for the downtown eatery.
The city owns the Lawson Commons retail space along Wabasha and leased the space to restaurateur David Fhima, 46, who also is an executive at Lifetime Fitness.
"Fhima's has been a great asset for the last six years, and it's unfortunate he can't continue to make a go of it," said Cecile Bedor, the city's director of planning and economic development.
Bedor said city planners have met with two real estate brokers, who expressed confidence that the space can be leased to another restaurant by summer's end.
In 2001, city planners lured Fhima, chef and owner at the old Mpls. Cafe, to downtown St. Paul in hopes that his French Mediterranean cuisine and glitzy ambiance would lend hipness to the city's core.
Bedor said that LoTo, the other St. Paul restaurant with Fhima connections, will stay in business. It's owned by Lifetime Fitness and overlooks Mears Park.
Fhima had been experiencing financial troubles and owes back rent at the restaurant that bears his name. Fhima's Louis XIII in Southdale Mall in Edina went out of business in 2005.
----- End forwarded message -----
--
------------------------------ *
* Dr. James Ellingson, jellings(a)me.umn.edu *
* University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 *
* Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *
Hi
I've talked to the chefs at Ingredients in White Bear Lake and they
would love to have us back. The wine theme will be chardonnay and
sparkling wine. When I asked whether they wanted us to order off the
menu they replied "let us create a dinner for you!" Cost will be $55
including tax/tip and a multi-course "chef's choice" meal (yet to be
determined).
Being July 5th is a vacation week, I need to get a preliminary count of
how many of us there will be and get back to them early next week. If
you think you can be there, please let me know by next Tuesday. A
minimum of 8 is needed.
Thanks.
Bubbles
P.S. Since this is a holiday week travel to WBL should be easier than
the last time we were there!!!!!
----- Forwarded message from "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu> -----
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 2006 11:43:42 -0600
From: "Jim L. Ellingson" <jellings(a)me.umn.edu>
To: wine(a)thebarn.com
Greetings,
We wanted to have one more dinner before we redo the kitchen.
Thursday 6/21 at 6:30.
I have 5 lbs of Tenderloin and will add to that as needed.
Please bring a dish to share. Please coordinate w/ Louise
no later than 18 June so we can round out the menu as needed.
LStich3(a)yahoo.com
612 822 1481
Wines. Reds from the Rhone and white rhone varietals from anywhere.
We're going to pour some older things.
Bubbles, dessert wines, white wines and "ringers" always welcome.
Of course champagne goes with everything and Pinot Noir/Burgundy
is "very food friendly". :)
Playlist
Jim/Louise Beef, grain breads,
Should be a fine evening.
Address is 5219 Elliot Ave S., 55417
612 822 1481
lots of ways to get there.
35W to 46th st. S
East to Chicago
South to 52nd or 53rd.
East one block to Elliot
1/2 block S or N to 5219.
Alternates...
Crosstown to Portland. North to 52 or 53, then east to Elliot.
The M'haha Parkway to Chicago, S. to 52 or 53, east to Elliot.
River Road to the Parkway from St. Paul and Portland all the
way from downtown are good choices if the weather's bad or
if 35 W is a parking lot.
Cheers,
Jim
--
------------------------------ *
* Dr. James Ellingson, jellings(a)me.umn.edu *
* University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 *
* Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *