I’m not often one to share statistics, but I wanted to say thanks to all my followers and to those folks who merely stopped in for a casual read. Wine and spirits are a passion for me and nothing gives me more pleasure than to share that passion with you!

We have lots of things tee’d up for 2016, so stay tuned for another exciting year with Musings on the Vine!

Happy New Year!

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 8,400 times in 2015. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Back in May of 2013 we had the fifth installment of our version of the Judgement of Paris: https://blog.musingsonthevine.com/2013/05/13/napa-versus-bordeaux-part-v-the-saga-continues/

As predicted in that post, we conducted match-up number six and have the following to report.

The sixth installment took place on November 14, 2015, matching a comparable set of eight wines. The results were as follows:

Well, as you can see, France took the prize this time around fairly handily.

So after six installments, the results stack up as follows:

France’s lead is back to 4 – 2 in overall wins. Point-wise the French have 202 points to Napa’s 174 points, a widening margin.

A few observations are in order… In this installment, the wines were from closer vintages, which definitely helped the French. The US wines were all very good, but showed their age. On the contrary, the French wines were drinking marvelously – mature but not tired – vibrant with layers of complexity.

The US wines included a Wine Spectator 100-point wine – the 1985 Caymus Special Select and while it garnered a handful of first place votes, the wine was decidedly average.

One of the most touted, or should I say “hyped” vintages is represented with the 1982 Haut Batailley – Robert Parker was made famous by this vintage and interestingly, he did not think much of this wine. He last tasted the wine in 1995 and felt that it might last another 7 – 8 years. Our results suggest that the predictability of aging potential is still more art than science… For me personally, I was thrilled with the quality of the two 1989 Bordeaux wines – both were from the first futures I ever bought!

Where does it go from here? Well if history repeats itself, I imagine a seventh match-up in 2017, either in April, or October…

Should be fun, as usual!

Musings on the Vine will be at the Greater Boston Wine Festival this coming Sunday, July 27th.

The festival is being held at the Marshfield Fairgrounds in Marshfield, MA.

We will deliver three sessions during each of the Festival hours – 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

The sessions are:

Exploring Massachusetts Grown Wines (11:30 AM or 4:30 PM)

Exploring Apple Wines and Ciders (12:15 PM or 5:15 PM)

Wine & Food in Balance (1:00 PM or 6:00 PM)

Check out: http://www.masswinery.com/events/ for more information!

Cheers!

My friends at the Nantucket Wine Festival asked me if I had any wine lovers who might be able to help out…

The Nantucket Wine Festival, taking place on May 14-18, is looking for food and wine lovers to volunteer for the festival! Mix and mingle with winemakers from around the world and top chefs from Nantucket, Boston, New York and beyond! We are looking for people to help with all aspects of the festival – wine pouring, ticket taking and registration, seminar and wine tasting set-up, food serving, and more. Volunteer and receive a free ticket to the Sunday Grand Tastings. For more information, email volunteer@nwfest.net or visit http://nantucketwinefestival.com/about/volunteer

Cheers!

We have scheduled our 2014 Wine Tasting Events and the line up looks pretty exciting, if we do say so ourselves!

Wines of Italy – 3/29/14 – $50 per person

Italy, a country synonymous with winemaking, consistently produces the most wine of any other winemaking country in the world. Think of Italy and one thinks of fine food and lots and lots of wine. Sometimes known for its lower quality “straw basket” Chianti wines of the 1970’s and 1980’s, Italy has emerged over the last few decades as a producer of high quality, oftentimes high-value wines. The combination of superb recent vintages, improved viticulture and improved winemaking techniques has elevated Italy to new heights. At this event we will taste several wines from a wide variety of regions within Italy, showcasing the renewed quality and value that is now defining Italian wine.

Wines of Burgundy – 4/26/14 – $75 per person

Burgundy, like Bordeaux is a classic wine region with a long-standing tradition of fine wine production. Unlike Bordeaux, the wines of Burgundy are not as well-known, largely because the complicated arrangement of appellations and vineyard ownership. Home to Pinot Noir (red wines) and Chardonnay (white wines), Burgundian wines can be magical and remain the benchmarks by which other Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers measure their success. At this event we will taste several wines from the key regions in Burgundy.

Wines of South Africa – 5/31/14 – $50 per person

It has been several years since we last studied South African wines. In that time, South African wines have continued to flourish, improving and maturing into to true World-class competitors. For the uninitiated, South Africa has a long and prestigious wine making history, which was derailed for a time during the brutal period of apartheid, but which has since rebounded in recent years. At this event we will taste several wines from the many regions of South Africa, each underscoring the great diversity that is South Africa.

Summer Sippers – 6/21/14 – $50 per person

Summer is a time for easy drinking, high-value wines that require very little thought or demand even less contemplation. The wines of summer should be light and refreshing, pairing well with the usually light repasts or foods from the grill. At this event we will examine several wines, both white and red that are light, refreshing and represent good value.

Wines of Bordeaux – 9/13/14 – $50 per person

Bordeaux is perhaps the best known wine region in the world, with elegant, age worthy wines celebrated, and imitated across the globe. At this event we will enjoy several wines from the Bordeaux region, each one selected to underscore the taste and quality of the area.

Art of the Cocktail – 10/18/14 – $50 per person

It is believed that the cocktail was invented in the US sometime early in the 19th century.  Largely thought of as the sporting crowd’s answer to fruit laden punches of the day, the classic cocktail has little in common with today’s Slippery Nipple.  The classic cocktail is little more than spirits, bitters, sometimes a mixer and sometimes ice, but in the correct combinations, these elements can yield “a quite serviceable concoction.” At this event we will practice the art of mixing the classic cocktail – from the Sidecar to the Old Fashioned.

Wines of California – 11/15/14 – $50 per person

I have yet to dedicate an entire class to the wines of California, so this event is probably long overdue. California is the largest wine producing region the US, holding a commanding lead over every other contender in the market. The blessings of near perfect climate, along with the unique geography that promotes the growing of the vine almost gives California an unfair advantage when it comes to making wine. That said, sometimes these riches are squandered with the result being wines lacking both distinction and value. However, when California gets it right, their wines are among the best in the World. At this event we will taste several wines from California, showcasing many of the well-known and not-so-well-known regions. We will also taste some “older” bottles to help confirm, or debunk the proposition that Californian wines don’t age well.

Champagne – 12/13/14 – $100 per person

Holiday celebrations would somehow be diminished without the inclusion of fine Champagne. In the past, we’ve looked at the overall category of sparkling wines, all very nice. However, sometimes there is nothing like the real thing to set one’s heart aflutter. At this tasting we will sample several wines from Champagne, including many vintage and tête du cuvee bottles.

All of our events are held in Wrentham, Massachusetts and they fill up very quickly!

Make sure to make your reservation now – contact us through our web site: Musings On The Vine

Cheers!

Seats are still available!

June 15 – Summer Sippers @ 3:00pm

Cost: $50 per person

Location: Wrentham, Massachusetts

Summer is a time for easy drinking, high-value wines that require very little thought or demand even less contemplation. The wines of summer should be light and refreshing, pairing well with the usually light repasts or foods from the grill. At this event we will examine several wines, white, rose and red that are light, refreshing and represent good value along with a selection of artisanal cheeses and breads.

Cheers!

In November I posted the accumulated results of the previous four Napa versus Bordeaux Shootouts: https://blog.musingsonthevine.com/2011/11/27/napa-versus-bordeaux-where-do-we-stand/

As promised, we just conducted match-up number five and have the following to report.

The fifth installment took place on May 11, 2013, matching a comparable set of six wines. The results were as follows:

California clearly clobbered France! A somewhat unexpected result, although the panel was unanimous in stating that this meeting was the best/hardest match-up yet. Each of the panelists had an admittedly difficult time picking their top three favorites, with many vacillating during the tasting.

So after five installments, the results stack up as follows:

France’s lead is narrowed to 3 – 2 in overall wins. Point-wise the French have 149 points to Napa’s 140 points, again holding a narrow lead.

One of our panelists did point out that the Lafite did have the most first place votes of any wine, suggesting that the wine with the most first place votes could be construed the winner and by association, the country of origin of said wine could be called the winner. As tempting as I was to let France rule the day as a result of the fine showing of the Lafite, I allowed a more balanced approach to sort out the results. In the end, clearly California outpaced France.

A few observations are in order… The Bordeaux wines were appreciably older than their Californian counterparts. This was by design and what the group found was that the French wines were all nicely mature with layers of complexity, integrated tannins and impressive structure for wines approaching the quarter century mark. None were tired or showing their age. Truly a testament to a great wine in a great vintage. The Californian wines were also showing very well, but it was clear that with the exception of the Chimney Rock, the 1997 wines were on a downward slide. After spending an hour or so in the glass, the French wines were still vibrant, whereas the Californian wines were muddled and tired. This had been my assumption going in, hence the match-up.

Where does it go from here? Well if history repeats itself, I imagine a sixth match-up in 2015, either in April, or October…

Should be fun, as usual!

We are pleased announce our 2013 Spring & Summer Wine Tasting season!

March 23, 2013 – Wine Judging @ 3:00pm

Cost: $50 per person

Location: Wrentham, Massachusetts

I have written about how being a judge differs from being a critic, the former stressing objective analysis and the suppression of any personal bias to provide a neutral assessment of what’s in the glass. The art of judging wines depends heavily on the utilization of a structured framework and technique along with a practiced palate. While I won’t be able to make everyone who attends this class an expert wine judge, it is my hope to be able to provide the tools and guidance to begin the journey. At this event we will taste several wines, red and white from a variety of regions, grapes and price points in a blind simulation of a wine competition. At the conclusion we will compare our results with those of both professional judges and critics to see how we did.

April 13, 2013 – Old World vs. New World @ 3:00pm

Cost: $50 per person

Location: Wrentham, Massachusetts

Wine making got its start in the Old World vineyards of Europe, some of which chart their beginnings back to the 1st century.  Wine making countries like France have been the standard-bearer for these Old World bastions of wine.  With the migration of Europeans across the globe, wine as a function of their many cultures followed them to their new homes.  The result has created an interesting phenomenon, with distinct differences arising between wines made in the Old World and those made in the New World. At this event we will taste a number of wines from both well-known Old World and New World regions in a comparative analysis. We will also serve a collection of artisanal cheeses from both Old World and New World producers to complement the experience.

May 11, 2013 – Napa/Bordeaux Shootout V @ 3:00pm

Cost: $100 per person

Location: Wrentham, Massachusetts

Back in 2004, we conducted a simulation of the famous 1976 tasting that pitted Cabernet-based wines from Napa Valley against the some of the best that Bordeaux had to offer. In 2007, 2009 and 2011 we again reprised the famous standoff. Popular demand has brought this event back to Musings, so once again we will put these two regions to the test. At this event we will taste at least six wines in a reenactment of the historic 1976 tasting. Of course, the wines will be from more recent vintages, but the experience should be quite similar.

June 15, 2013 – Summer Sippers @ 3:00pm

Cost: $50 per person

Location: Wrentham, Massachusetts

Summer is a time for easy drinking, high-value wines that require very little thought or demand even less contemplation. The wines of summer should be light and refreshing, pairing well with the usually light repasts or foods from the grill. At this event we will examine several wines, both white and red that are light, refreshing and represent good value.

Sign-up soon, because these events will sell out quickly!

Contact: paul_malagrifa@musingsonthevine.com to reserve your seats today!