Giving Thanks, and the Best Apple Pie Ever
This year we hosted the family for Thanksgiving dinner. Although there were only six of us—too few, really, for a big turkey—I decided to…
A Dark Wine for a November Night
Clay StationPetite Sirah Lodi2005 This inky, full-bodied Sirah has a surprisingly cedary, herbal nose, while the palate offers lots of chocolate and dark fruits,…
Fresh and Lovely—And a Little Dark, Too
Oxford LandingGSM (Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre) South Australia2006 This Rhône blend from Australia has a bright, lively spirit—with a dark side. In the glass it…
A Really Lush Zin
SeghesioSonoma County Zinfandel2006 Take small sips: this Zin is incredibly concentrated, lavish, and unrestrained. The nose bursts with the brightness of cherries, but is…
Edible
This afternoon I stopped in at the King Arthur Flour Baker's Store in Norwich, Vermont, to buy a cranberry scone. On my way out…
Shiraz/Syrah
Cape MentelleShiraz "Margaret River"2004 This Shiraz has some of the funkiness of French Syrah on the nose: dark chocolate, tobacco, earth, menthol, and red…
Wine Flavors Visualization
Carl Tashian has created a visualization of the flavor profiles of various wines, using words that appeared in over 5,000 wine reviews. Simple, but…
Yes, a Vermont Wine
Snow Farm VineyardVermont Léon Millot2007 Léon Millot is a hybrid red grape varietal grown primarily in the eastern United States. According to The Wine…
Halter Ranch “Ranch Cab,” Paso Robles
Halter Ranch VineyardsRanch Cab Paso Robles2004 Purple and highly extracted, this wine had lots of stuffing when we bought it in the spring, so…
Lyeth Meritage: Better the Next Day
LyethMeritage Sonoma County2005 This Bordeaux-style Californian is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 9% Malbec, and 2% Cabernet Franc. When we opened…
Boqueria y Suba
I happened to catch a bit of The Splendid Table on NPR this weekend while driving around on errands. Mike Colameco presented a short…
Grouse, Served
Tonight I prepared the grouse that had fallen out of the sky and into my hands. I breasted-out the bird, pulling two three and…