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Our good friend and RNDC/Cumberland rep Jen came by with a fairly wild special guest, Heidi from Row Eleven wines. We tried four of their wines, and I was in for a bit of a hard sell:

Civello White California 2007. Grade=Outstanding. This was an interesting blend of Verdelho, Chardonnay, Gewurtztraminer and Pinot Gris that is light-to-medium-bodied with some juicy apricot, nectarine and lemon-lime notes, a hint of verbena, some Chinese Five Spice and lemongrass too. A cool, interesting wine.

Stratton Lummis Chardonnay Napa Valley 2006. Grade=Outstanding. 100% unoaked/100% malolactic gives this creamy tropical fruit flavors, nice minerality and well-balanced acidity. Light-to-medium-bodied, with some baked apple and peaches ‘n’cream notes at the finish.

Row 11 Pinot Noir Santa Maria Valley 2006. Grade=Outstanding+. Of the two, I think Shannon and I liked this one better. Dark cherries, a bit of cherry cola, some nutmeg, roasted nuts and cinnamon stick mixed amongst juicy tannins and well-balanced acidity.

Row 11 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2006. Grade=Outstanding. This was a bit bigger, dustier and earthier than the Santa Maria, with hints of Applewood smoked Bacon, Baked Alaska, some roasted game, fennel, and white pepper.

Jumping backward to Tuesday, our favorite protégé and SWS/Starz rep Jesse came by with our good friend and her boss, Jimmy T., to refresh our memories on Blackstone wines:

Blackstone Pinot Grigio California 2008. Grade=Outstanding. In a push to make PG a bit more interesting, Blackstone has blended in Sauvignon Blanc, French Colombard, Semillon and Chardonnay to give it more verve, more roundness and more complexity. It pays off really in that this wine shows some ripe pear and lemon zest with well-balanced acidity and good presence of mineral. A great value.

Blackstone Chardonnay Monterey County 2008. Grade=Outstanding. Again with the blending for uniqueness, there is a small percentage of both Riesling and Pinot Blanc to give it some much needed pizzazz. Light-to-medium-bodied, this wine shows off elegant tropical fruit, some lemon meringue and vanilla.

Blackstone Merlot California 2008. Grade=Outstanding. I’ve been fairly bored with California Merlot at this price point for a while, yet I honestly haven’t tried this in years. This one is blended with Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, and Petite Sirah, which lends to its surprising color and density. Its splashy, fruit-driven and supple across the palate. A very nice, approachable Merlot for under $10.

Blackstone Pinot Noir Sonoma County 2006. Grade=Outstanding. I cringed inside when Jimmy told me there was 3% Syrah blended in this wine – Pinot Noir should be all Pinot Noir. Yet the Syrah here gives it deeper color and a bit more buoyancy across the middle, adding some splashy tannins and juicy red fruit flavors to the mix. It’s actually a much better wine for the “sacrilege” so I can come down from the saddle on my high horse and say, “not bad.”

So the moves are happening again, I guess to time them just right before we get into all that SOND mess (September-October-November-December). Fosters Wine Group has unofficially begun consolidating its distribution nationwide, and for Kentucky, by migrating all its products underneath the SWS umbrella. Whether that translates to a 6^th division, is anyone’s guess right now? Stupider things have been perpetrated to be sure. And surprisingly, we were told that Fontana Candida and Bolla were purchased by Banfi, the pantheon of competitive pricing here in the Commonwealth of KY. I haven’t carried Banfi for almost my entire tenure here at the store due to the fact that Ohio beats us on pricing (a big no-no here in the Wild Wild West of the wine biz), so they get no quarter here on our shelves.

I’ve been talking to some of my other distributors, always trying to convince them to pick up this winery or that importer because the brands are 1) available and widely distributed across the river, 2) the reviewers have shown them serious love in recent weeks/months, 3) too many customers ask for the brands, and/or 4) I’ve had them personally and loved ‘em. A lot of times, I get misinterpreted and these wines end up in some unwanted exclusive situation. Nothing I approach distributors about is intended to be an exclusive. Exclusives are for dinosaurs. Private labels are one thing, but when you have a particular brand that has national distribution, is available everywhere in one market, but unavailable except to one decrepit old sales arrangement that is phenomenally out-of-date in another, is just ridiculous. God forbid said brand gets reviewed. All hell breaks loose then.

I understand the business semantics of it all. I’ve discussed this before. An importer/broker/winery can unload a large quantity of product all at once, it is a blessing for cash flow, but ultimately, it does a colossal disservice to the people these companies are trying so hard to reach – the consumers. Screw the wholesalers and even the retailers. When you make wine, you intend it to be drunk by wine consumers, not languish to die on some wholesaler’s loading dock, or on some retailer’s shelf. Wine is a perishable item that does have an expiration date, albeit a mysterious one.

This business is wrought with conundrums (and I ain’t talking about the white wine blend from Caymus). Whether you are trying to make molehills out of the mountainous landscape that is wine law, or understanding how some state’s think wine vending machines are the best way to serve their wine loving constituencies, the sheer convoluted-ness of this business is mindboggling (much like this post).

At least I can say that there are some great Washington state wineries on the way, like Reverie and Bergevin Lane. And my fingers are crossed for Louis/Dressner too.

Just wanted to vent a little bit this Friday the 13^th. They don’t call me the “whine-o” for nothing.

Wednesday was the usually high-traffic day as usual, with a lot of sales reps show off their wares, and me, put on the perpetual path to an early bedtime again, kicked off with new Vanguard Sales Manager (and one of my favorite people in the world) Audrey, along with Vanguard Brand Manager (and had to be a bluesman in another life with a name like) Sunny Brown, showing off two new direct import wines:

Domaine du Haut Bourg Muscadet de Cotes de Grandlieu 2009 (Grade=Outstanding) is a light-to-medium-bodied white wine that exudes briny lemon zest, green apple, pear, blanched almonds, honeydew melon, sea salt, and chalky mineral tones. It has a rich mouthfeel, yet remains light and ethereal on the palate. Cries out for shellfish.

Domaine du Haut Bourg “Le Pavillon” Muscadet de Cotes de Grandlieu 2009 (Grade=Outstanding+) is a gorgeous, single-vineyard Melon de Bourgogne that is rich, complex and stunning with a display of limes, slight pineapple and starfruit, a bit of limestone, lime and lemon zest, some wet stones and toasted nuts. More viscous than its younger sibling, it possesses an almost unctuousness that resonates quite long on the finish.

And while there were appearances from the usual suspects (I will get to those later this week), the infamous Dr. Gonzo made his presence known with a single wine from the opposite end of the wine spectrum, the Cupcake Pinot Noir Central Coast 2008 (Grade=Outstanding), a pretty nice, value-conscious presentation of light-bodied red and black cherries, pomegranate, Açai berry, cola, and slight truffle notes. For a $10 Pinot Noir, it’s definitely a winner.

Wrapping up my notes from Tramonte & Sons’ Portfolio tasting this past Monday, O.C. and I revisited the Clif Family wines, the same folks who bring to the masses the incredible Clif Bars and Luna Bars. The Clif Family “The Climber” White 2008 (Grade=Outstanding) and “The Climber” Red 2006 (Grade=Outstanding) impressed me when I first tried them back in June, so much so that they became our store’s wines of the month for July (and sold pretty well too).

We ventured first over to the Winebow table, which features some very nice and inexpensive Italian wines. The Rive della Chiesa Frizzante Prosecco NV (Grade=Outstanding) was crisp and light with lively effervescence and some stone fruit and mineral notes that invigorate the palate. The Rive della Chiesa Spumante Prosecco NV (Grade=Outstanding) shows off a bit sweeter, juicier peach and pear notes with a bit of mineral and some honeyed apple. The Sabatucci Pinot Grigio IGT 2007 (Grade=Average) was a decent light-bodied Pinot Grigio with some simple lemon zest and mineral notes. (Most folks are probably seeing my inherent bias against inexpensive PGs by now). The Rocca Barbera Piedmonte 2007 (Grade=Outstanding) is a light-bodied, fruity style of Barbera with expressive notes of red raspberries, strawberry jam, white pepper, dried herbs and wet stones. A really nice surprise.

O.C. and I stopped by the Organic Valley Farms table to try a bevy of local cheeses, which I could have parked my ass between there and J.F.’s waffle stand once I tasted the wines for the rest of the evening, but my wife would have had my cajones in the microwave by sundown. Have to give a big round of applause to Sales rep Kevin Bardsley for showing off some kick-ass cheeses (especially the Pepperjack!)

We found ourselves finishing up at the Revana Family/Alexana table, where Todd Newman, their Director of Sales, was pouring 3 absolutely amazing wines: The Alexana Pinot Gris Willamette Valley 2008 (Grade=Amazing) is a gorgeous Oregon PG made by superstar winemaker Lynn Penner-Ash. It shows off lovely Asian pear, Meyer lemon, white pepper, verbena and lemongrass, lending to its mineral character and vibrant mouthfeel. The Alexana Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2007 (Grade=Amazing) is an exquisite example of the grape, with its dark cherry, plum, truffle, cinnamon, and hazelnut notes. Its velvety tannins lend to its graceful frame, and it finishes like a dream. The Revana Family Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2006 (Grade=Amazing) is made by the one and only Heidi Barrett, and shows both the power and the grace of Napa in its arrangement of fleshy blackberries, black currants, dark chocolate, espresso bean, tar, tobacco leaf, cedar, mint, and baking spices. It is voluptuous, full-bodied, and seductive.

The show I think was a success, and really showed the trade that these guys are in business for the long haul. Tramonte & Sons are a growing company that truly values and respects their customers. Hanging out at their new warehouse, it feels like they’ve invited you to their home, as is evident whenever you stop by and see the family dog, Tilly, arguably the sweetest and friendliest dog I have ever met. (I tried to get a picture of Tilly but the best I could do was catch her as she continually greeted those in attendance (hoping to grab a bite of whatever they had whenever they may not be looking).

Thanks to the Tramonte family and here’s to their continued success!

Returning to Tramonte’s “Temple of the Dog” portfolio show – the reason I am dubbing their warehouse this will become evident soon enough – I stopped by Longboard Vineyard’s table, having experienced only their Sauvignon Blanc, I dove in to the rest of the lineup, with their regional sales manager, Tom Clare, leading the way:

The Longboard Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley 2008 (Grade=Outstanding) doesn’t follow the sometimes-annoying trend of getting all New Zealand and delivering obnoxious notes of grapefruit. This SB shows a subtler side with some lemon meringue, pineapple and slight vanilla cream. It’s a kinder, gentler SB that is sublime and well-received. The Longboard Point Break Red 2007 (Grade=Outstanding) blends Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Carignan and Zinfandel to deliver a medium-bodied, smooth red that shows off some red and black currants, blackberries, blueberries, some spice box, dusty earth and white and black pepper notes. Very nice! The Longboard Merlot Dakine 2007 (Grade=Outstanding+) shows off a fairly robust yet graceful Merlot that exudes lushness with dark plums, black cherries and smoky cedar plank. Definitely wins me over. The Longboard Cabernet Sauvignon Redgrav Vineyard 2006 (Grade=Outstanding+) delivers a full-bodied, rich, dense display of blackberry and blueberry pie, black currants, anise, mint, cedar and vanillin oak. Shows power and finesse. Can I get a hell yeah? And for a treat, Tom had decanted a Longboard Cabernet Sauvignon Rochioli Vineyard 2005 (Grade=Amazing) that he was using to entice us all in attendance to pre-order the 2007 vintage (the last Rochioli they will be producing). This seemed like it still needed some time to open up, but it was revealing smoky blackberry and currant notes, lots of leather and spice, some tobacco, chocolate, and toasted oak as well. Seemed to just roll on and on across the palate. Well-played sir, well-played.

Next up was a stop at Barnard Griffin’s table. I first contacted their National Sales Manager, Steve Schaeffer nearly 7 years ago, at the behest of a long-time customer who was looking for Barnard Griffin Chardonnay. Not represented in Kentucky at the time, I cold-called Steve and he first told me that there was a distributor coming into our state to represent him. After about a year, that distributor would retreat from KY and once again, no Barnard Griffin. Long story short, they found a great home in Tramonte and they are rocking on our shelves.

The Barnard Griffin Fume Blanc Columbia Valley 2008 (Grade=Outstanding) is crisp and lively on the palate with Asian pear, gooseberry, guava and lemon peel notes, some nice mineral tones and well-balanced acidity. The Barnard Griffin Chardonnay Columbia Valley 2008 (Grade=Outstanding) highlights a more fruit-driven style, with just a slight amount of the blend seeing barrel fermentation, accentuating more tangerine, nectarine and lime zest character. Lively acidity keeps this from the flabby style its California brethren leans toward, and it finishes long and lean. The Barnard Griffin Riesling Columbia Valley 2009 (Grade=Outstanding) is truly a hidden treasure for Washington State. In something of a Kabinett-style, this light-bodied white wine shows off notes of white peaches, Rainier cherries, mineral and orange blossom, finishing slightly dry. The Barnard Griffin Merlot 2007 (Grade=Outstanding) is a stunning value with red and black cherry notes, splashes of dark plums, and hints of vanilla, Darjeeling tea, basil leaf and white pepper. One of the state’s best values. The Barnard Griffin Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2008 (Grade=Outstanding) shows off medium-to-full-bodied tannins, with loads of dark chocolate, blackberry, mint, espresso and cedar notes with a robust finish. I usually lean towards Washington State Merlot but this Cab is definitely a winner. And the Barnard Griffin Syrah Columbia Valley 2008 (Grade=Outstanding+) is another example of how Washington gets this grape right every time. With its juicy, jammy notes of red raspberry, blueberry pie, a bit of rhubarb, black pepper, red tea, and black olives, it is an explosive, medium-to-full-bodied red wine that delivers a lot of bang for the buck.

I meekly introduced myself to Airlie Winery’s winemaker, Elizabeth Clark, as “the one who browbeat Tramonte into going after her,” and the O.C. and I tried the four wines she was unveiling to the area: The Airlie Riesling Willamette Valley 2008 (Grade=Outstanding) is a well-balanced, semi-dry style with notes of Bartlett pear, lime, and mineral. It has a juicy center and a splashy fruit-driven finish. The Airlie Müller-Thurgau Willamette Valley 2008 (Grade=Outstanding+) is a fun introduction to this hybrid grape (Riesling X Sylvaner), showing ripe pears, orange zest and wet stones. It is not as sweet as you would expect (the most famous M-T is Blue Nun), and this particular one shows off some nice acidity at the finish. The Airlie “7” White Blend Willamette Valley 2008 (Grade=Outstanding) is an exuberant blend of Müller Thurgau, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurtztraminer, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Auxerrois. It displays slightly sweet stone fruit, golden cherries, nutmeg, cumin and allspice with hints of mineral and honeysuckle. A really nice value! And the Airlie Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2008 (Grade=Outstanding) gives you fresh-baked cherry pie, with some plum, cola nut, cinnamon stick and light-roasted coffee bean. It has slight earthy tones and well-balanced acidity.

We stopped by the Maryhill table where Patrick Burke, their national sales manager, was captaining the table. I tried the Maryhill Rosé of Sangiovese Columbia Valley 2008 (Grade=Outstanding), which showed off juicy watermelon, ripe strawberry and some creamy red cherries. Soft and fruity, it is a really tasty value. I also tasted the new Maryhill Muscat Canelli Columbia Valley 2008 (Grade=Outstanding), which displayed nice notes of honeyed peaches, peach nectar, peach cobbler and peach preserves. Did I say Peaches? There were splashy notes of apricot, cantaloupe and orange blossom too. And I revisited the Maryhill Winemaker’s Red Blend Columbia Valley 2008 (Grade=Outstanding), a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, this red is medium-bodied, jammy with loads of red and black fruits, baking spice and cocoa notes. A great value!

We had to stop for a minute (O.C. and I) and grab a bite to eat, which Tramonte was great enough to invite some food vendors in to the event, including good friend and DEP’S regular Jean-Francois Flechet, owner of Taste of Belgium, which can be found in Findlay Market. Proving to the good folks of Cincinnati that Belgian food is not what they serve at IHOP, we did partake of his famous waffles (Grade=FN Amazing), which were delicious all by their lonesome, as well as some severely decadent macaroons that were filled with fruity ambrosia (caramel apple, raspberry, tangerine) that made for some serious first-person food porn (Grade=OMGTIFD).

Tomorrow, I will wrap it all up in a pretty little bow for ya, along with an introduction to the reason I call Tramonte’s new joint The Temple of the Dog.

Yesterday, the O.C. and I went to Tramonte & Sons’ Portfolio show at their new warehouse in Lebanon, Ohio. A Grand Opening of sorts, the new facility is just a few months old, and ready to take on more brands (Hey Matt, I’ve got a few more tips for ya…). Along with a few favorites, they also had on hand some brand new wines and some awesome food purveyors as well (but I’ll get to that later).

O.C. and I started with McNab Ridge Winery, and winemaker Rich Parducci. While O.C. made it through the gamut, I tried only a select few (Hey, I was drivin’…). I started with the McNab Ridge Tine’s White NV (Grade=Outstanding) is 100% Gewurtztraminer, done in more of a trocken style, with clean notes of white flowers, peaches and Chinese Five Spice. Finishes nice and dry. Moving to the McNab Ridge French Colombard Mendocino County 2009 (Grade=Amazing), I am once again convinced of this grape’s need to be its own wine with this light, lively white with notes of mineral, ripe pear and apricot, and hints of lime zest and honeysuckle. Gorgeous! The McNab Ridge Petite Sirah Mendocino County 2007 (Grade=Outstanding) is a benchmark for Mendocino PS, with its medium-bodied tannins, and bold red and purple fruit aromas and flavors, tethered with white pepper notes and hints of spicy plum and blackberry jam. The McNab Ridge Coro Mendocino 2006 (Grade=Outstanding+) is a blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Pinotage, Grenache and Syrah has a Mediterranean style with its zesty tannins, white and black pepper notes and lush red berry fruit flavors. A robust, full-bodied red. Interestingly, the Carisma Red NV (Grade=Outstanding) is a special project made by McNab Ridge for Tramonte & Sons. This sweet red is not cloying or sticky, and finishes in a refreshingly vibrant way that would make for an ideal chilled summer red.

Just arrived to Tramonte’s warehouse were the wines of Loring Wine Company. We tried their 5 Pinot Noirs, beginning with the Loring Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 2008 (Grade=Outstanding). This PN was medium-bodied with splashes of dark plum, cherry and cola. Velvety, youthful and juicy. The Loring Pinot Noir Gary’s Vineyard 2008 (Grade=Outstanding) is supple, elegant and taut with juicy cherry and mulberry notes, a hint of sage and thyme, with some ripe cranberry and mineral tones. The Loring Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard 2008 (Grade=Amazing) was I believe both my favorite, and O.C.’s, but don’t quote me on that. Full of grace, dark cherry, black raspberry, a bit of hazelnut, cinnamon stick and rose petals. Remarkably built. The Loring Pinot Noir Durell Vineyard 2008 (Grade=Outstanding) offers nuanced, multilayered plum, cherry and pomegranate notes, some red flowers, baking spices and slight garrigue. A bit closed but one can taste the potential. The Loring Pinot Noir Cargasacchi 2008 (Grade=Amazing) was more dense, fuller-bodied than its brethren, stretching out its closed fists of boysenberry, dark cherry and nutmeg, revealing some white pepper, black truffle and cranberry coulis. All-in-all, the lineup was quite good. The only downfall is the pricing. Aside from the RRV, they would clock in around $40 each.

Something a bit more on the fun side were the wines of Emeri of New South Wales, Australia. Specializing in sparkling wines the O.C. and I tried all four: The Emeri Sparkling Moscato NV (Grade=Outstanding) was a refreshing, semi-dry presentation of this oft-sweetly done grape. With lively effervescence, this peach-and-honeysuckle show was on full-display, with a slightly dry finish that integrated nicely with ripe peach and apricot notes. The Emeri Sparkling Pinot Grigio NV (Grade=Outstanding) was more stone fruit and lemon zest, yet still with enough fizzy panache to satisfy any fan of Prosecco. It displays crisp, clean flavors and a vibrant finish. The Emeri Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc NV (Grade=Outstanding+) is something of a revelation, with its lemon-lime, grapefruit zestiness and well-balanced acidity. Again, Emeri shows off sparkling wine in a refreshing, lively context. Finally the Emeri Sparkling Pink Moscato NV (Grade=Outstanding) had just the right amount of sweetness while still maintaining a dryer, livelier veneer. Wonderful raspberry candy and overripe watermelon notes with a semi-dry finish.

Next time, I’ll have notes from Washington state wineries Barnard Griffin and Maryhill, as well as Tramonte’s newest addition, Oregon’s Airlie Winery.

So wrapping up last week, as well as leading into this one, I had a few things to get to:

1. My review of Columbia Crest Two Vines Pinot Grigio 2009.
2. My review of Eisch Glassware, samples courtesy of friend Mike Wangbickler from Caveman Wines/Balzac Communications.
3. Reviews of the new stuff we have from Domenico Selections.
4. My overdue review of the Campo Viejo Tempranillo 2006.
5. Commentary on Fosters Wine Group’s consolidation moves with distribution.
6. Commentary on general wine chicanery.

First off, our SWS/Crane rep (and Queen of the Covington Jungle) Sheena came by with Columbia Crest Two Vines Pinot Grigio 2009 (Grade=Average). I love Columbia Crest because of their emphasis on QPR, yet here is a wine I don’t believe they needed. Pinot Grigio is arguably one of the most overdone wines in the business, oversaturating the market like all the flavored vodkas out there and just as indiscernible. Don’t get me wrong, this wine possesses no real flaws, shows nice stone fruit and lemon zest notes, with pronounced, balanced acidity and a good clean finish. Yet I feel compelled to climb up on my soapbox and tell the winemakers please stop adding to your lines. Line extensions drive me crazy!

And to kill two birds with one, I finally received two sample glasses from Eisch Glassware, which Sheena and I used for the Columbia Crest. I am one of those people who doubt the magic of Riedel, Spiegelau and other wine glass companies who profess that the glass makes a big difference. I’ve always railed against the inherent pretention of it all. However, the Eisch Glasses highlight a devotion to what the family refers to as “poetry in glass,” or free-blown glass as its put. A bit more durable in construction than Riedel, which truly is the biggest waste of money on which any oenophile can spend, I still won’t wash these in the dishwasher, but I would be glad to own a set of these for when friends come over to raid my wine stash.

The incomparable Strappo – aka Terry Hughes from Domenico Selections braved VD-infested sheets and a seedy section of Florence Y’all to make another appearance at our stores two weeks ago, and during his two day stint captaining the tasting tables, he showed off a couple of new wines (for us anyway):

I Stefanini Soave il Selese 2009. Grade=Outstanding. I was really pleased to bring this one in, seeing the strange unspoken success Soave seems to be having in our stores. Here you get some generous notes almonds, white flowers and slight citrus zest. It shows off terrific acidity and finishes clean and refreshing.

I Stefanini Spumante Brut NV. Grade=Outstanding. Lovely little sparkler, made Charmant-style, with notes of crisp Bartlett pears, some lime zest, white flowers and wet stone. Lively effervescence goes after the palate in a big way and doesn’t disappoint.

Terra di Vento Faiano Fiano Campania 2008. Grade=Outstanding. Southern Italy’s resounding answer to Chardonnay, this medium-bodied white wine struts its stuff with ripe Georgia peaches, sweet apricots, some lemon zest, hints of pineapple and mineral. Its fleshy midpalate leans gradually into a vibrant finish.

Drifting away from “the boot” over towards the Iberian peninsula, I had been staring at a bottle of Campo Viejo Tempranillo Crianza Rioja 2006 I was sent to review a month or so ago, yet like with all things in life, procrastination has won out, until finally, after taking the Eisch glasses home, I cracked it opened and fell into multitasking once more. This medium-bodied red shows off its youthful swagger with bright red and black cherry fruit, some fresh herbs, a hint of dusty barnyard and some smoky cedar notes. It’s an easy-going, unassuming red that would make for a great ride-along with BBQ. Grade=Outstanding.

Of course, to wind up this beautiful little hodge podge of rants and reviews, I was informed that unofficially Fosters Wine Group is consolidating their distribution nationwide with Southern Wine & Spirits, which could potentially mean yet another division within Southern’s house (bringing their KY total to 6). What exactly does that mean? Well, I still haven’t been completely sold on the creation of division 5 (that would be the Constellation house of Starz), since some of their pricing still functions alongside the dinosaurs (the old Icon Estates anyone?), and of course the non-existent Bluegrass (Diageo) and American (Beam Estates) divisions – both of which I don’t deal with much simply for lack of a decent sales rep (Diageo) or lack of any wine (Beam Estates). While the behemoth companies out there feel it helps their bottom lines, it certainly can affect their relationships with the retailers, the very people they are in business to serve. The dust is still up in the air, thick and impenetrable, so it is anyone’s guess as to what is really going to shake out.

The overall landscape of wine wholesale in Kentucky at least is a bit more understandable than in the last couple of years. And it seems the pendulum is swinging back towards the little guys, with the prosperous growth of Cutting Edge Selections, Vintner Select and Tramonte & Sons, the diversification of Vanguard Wines and Heidelberg, the reinvention of Bryant Distributing, and the arrival of the new Martin & Company. And despite the demise of one company, and the ghost-like abdication of another, there is still healthy competition for the big boys.

With a clean slate (for now), it’s finally time to face the week ahead.

It is no secret that I’m addicted to coffee. Not caffeine. Mountain Dew and Red Bull just don’t do it for me. But coffee, that glorious, beauteous black sludge, is one of the reasons I get out of bed in the morning. There is nothing like the feeling of walking into Starbucks, when the smell of roast beans hits my nostrils and my ears are tickled by soothing acoustic sounds. The baristas smile recognition and prepare my usual. Whether it be their smile or the caffeine, it is infectious, and I leave feeling as if all is right within the world as I sip every last tempting sip.
My other addiction? Wine of course! So I found it a truly genius marriage when Jimmy Carpenter from Bryant brought by what I think is sure to be the next big thing, Wine the tastes like Coffee.
Now I know lots of wines have hints of coffee, and the experts go on and on about “the delicate hint of the slightly under-roasted Arabica bean” or “the nose reminds me of my first café latte while sitting on the banks of the seine” or some mumble-jumble, but this wine offers no “hints” of anything. It gives you the answer…COFFEE!!
Aptly named, Barista, is a 2009 Pinotage from South Africa. This may be the most shocking of all, because certainly we are used to Malbec, maybe even Cabernet at times, to express coffee. But Pinotage? That band-aid, horse manure prone flavor profile?
The secret lies in the special combination of yeast, “roast” of the barrel, and the exclusive use of Pinotage. The winemaker and owner, Bertus Fourie, is nicknamed “Starbucks”, apparently in reference to the advances he has made in the sphere of coffee and wine. If you have the time, check out their website, which is well-designed and informative. And of course, try the wine! Now at the Covington and Ft. Thomas locations for $12.49

https://www.baristawine.co.za/

Also check out this video for more information: https://pinotageclub.blogspot.com/2010/07/barista-coffee-pinotage-comes-to-usa.html

The weekend was filled with not much more than a malaise that would choke a donkey, aside from receive a new dryer (to replace the recently deceased one), I didn’t accomplish much. Which means tonight will be a furious game of catch-up with all my various web/social media duties, much to my wife’s impending chagrin. I cooked, watched The Runaways on DVD and Monsters vs. Aliens on HBO, and became one with the couch in the presence of my wife and 8 four-legged children.

This week, the to-do list is set, as I’ll have more primer material on Spain, coverage of the Tramonte & Sons Portfolio show tonight, more reviews, and catching up on the sample bottles (as well as samples of the Eisch glassware I just received). It’s a busy week, so I should stop muckin’ about and get started, eh?