Archive

In getting to my blogging duties during the midst of my vacation, I wanted to try to catch up from last week, getting to the wines my assistant Shannon and I tried with our RNDC/Cumberland rep Jen last Thursday: 3 Stones Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2009. Grade=Outstanding. Nice easy-drinking SB from NZ. Crisp, clean with vibrant [...]

I’ve had a few things arise that prompted me to take something resembling a vacation. Most of those who know me fairly well know that I work too much, and tend to find it almost impossible to “relax.” You can ask my wife that one - she is ready to shoot me after every holiday [...]

The last rep visiting us on Wednesday was our SWS/Crown rep and former DEP’s alum Ray, who had some pretty cool California wines and a sparkler for us to try: Sergio Mionetto Prosecco Extra Dry Veneto NV. Grade=Outstanding. Really nice sparkler with lots of upfront fruit, a bit of sweet creamy richness, and a lively [...]

Our fabulous (and currently preggers) Heidelberg rep Wendy, stopped in with some new stuff to their portfolio: Soave Italia Soave Classico 2008. Grade=Outstanding. I really like Soave, and it seems like a lot of people are too. This asinine package however will make me thoroughly consider whether to carry it. Yet what is inside is [...]

Our Cutting Edge rep and DEP’s alum Lauren came by, after having been in Italy the past two weeks, with a few amazing wines to try: Enzo Boglietti Dolcetto d’Alba 2007. Grade=Outstanding. Always a terrific producer from Piedmont, this effort is a splendid Dolcetto with medium-body, medium tannins, and supple and juicy red and blue [...]

Our good friend and RNDC/Barkley rep Lou, stopped by with an “overwhelming assortment” of wine to try (It was the start of a long day of tasting wines with sales reps): Delicato Pinot Grigio/Chardonnay California 2007 (1.5 liter). Grade=Average. Nothing really spectacular about this blend, but it would be a decent quaff for patio parties. [...]

Our marketing guys have been working on a web video concept for our stores, featuring myself and my assistant Shannon discussing some of the frequently asked questions we get in our stores in quick little informational snippets, in order to better acclimate current and potential customers with our wine expertise, not just individually, but as [...]

I have been begging for Vintner Select to bring these wines in from Eric Solomon for years. While they have a lot of the Spanish collection from Eric Solomon’s portfolio, they omit the French part of the book largely because VS imports a lot of French wines themselves. But at last, I have a tiny [...]

I was realizing over the weekend that it has truthfully been ten years since I made my way down to the Cincinnati area, and began my career as a buyer in retail wine. As one of a cavalcade of buyers at the old Chateau Pomije wine store in the Cincinnati neighborhood of O’Bryonville, I was [...]

This week I fended off the temptation to do a few things that most of my wine blogging brethren were doing, that being Easter wine pairings and April Fool’s Day shenanigans. I am not bagging on doing either, by any means, but neither inspired me to write. As far as April Fool’s Day, I spent [...]