This time of year, the thought of drinking a rich, tannic, high-alcohol red makes me sweat; but there is a way to enjoy your red and stay cool at the same time- try it cold. Yes, some reds are better suited to being served cold than others, especially light-bodied, dry wines like unoaked Spanish Garnacha,…
Siesta, what a concept! You bustle about your morning hours looking forward to the languid respite that is siesta. In the cool of the courtyard the leaves of the banana plants clacking in rhythm with the buzzing bees. The breeze comes up to waft the smoke from your cigar to the heavens. So what cigar…
When in April and the showers and drafts of March are forgotten the roots and buds are bathed in such sweet liqueur. The small fowls make melody as folks long for the links and decks of small craft and back yards. Then good pilgrims sojourn to Spirits to select the tawny weed choice and celebrate…
Well, let’s see, maybe I’ll rake some leaves today. No wait. No leaves yet. Maybe I’ll sleep with the A/C off. No, nights still in the 70’s. Maybe I’ll sort out some fall clothing. Hold it I’m still in shorts. Where can I get a jump on the Autumnal Equinox? Fear not lover of the…
It was before I began my wine career that I first tried a wine imported by Rosenthal Wine Merchant. There was a tasting of all RWM wines in early 2004, right after Spirits Wine Cellar opened. At the time I didn’t really know what I was drinking, just that they were different and much better…
It’s curious how wines can taste different when drinking inside vs. outside, hot weather vs. cold weather, high-altitude vs. low, seasonally, from one day to the next and certainly as time passes and wines age. Most importantly, however, is that wines can taste very different from one palate to another. Last week we sampled some…
Each week we try numerous wines that are being “auditioned” for potential sale at Spirits. We taste with local sales representatives, regional or national supplier reps, winery reps, winery owners (their spouses and children), importers, brokers, winemakers, assistant winemakers, you name it and we’ve probably tasted with them. Obviously we don’t purchase every wine that…
Taken from the Galatoire’s cookbook, this easy shrimp dish makes a perfect summer meal and a delightful pairing with almost any dry white wine. I made a few substitutions* and cooked with and drank a fantastic Gruner Veltliner made by Weingut Brundlmayer.
Have you ever opened a wine only to realize upon smelling/tasting that you were a bit hasty in your eagerness to drink it? Well, for Matt and me this happens regularly. Unfortunately, and I’m sure we are not the only ones, our desire to taste something overcomes that nagging thought in the back of our…
I enjoy cigars of many shapes and sizes. For the fun of it I often consider time of day, season of the year, what my libation of choice will be, the company I’ll keep, the location involved, when I’ll eat, the color of my shirt, the pattern of my socks, my belt size and whether…