Mark Slater

The video was cool and very informative. I can't imagine why it cost $800 though.

Aurelio was somm at Marcel's in the beginnings.

Always

The Riedel Rule: Use 4 glasses, get 3 back.

Some new information. http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/01/clemsons-black-players-mostly-skipped-trumps-burger-meal.html

Corduroy

Decanter is my go to magazine also.

Rasika. Lightening fast food service.

How did I forget CUNE? Just for fun you should look for a New style of tempranillo. Ribera del Duero. These wines are the polar opposite of classic Rioja. They have large body, spice and intense flavors. This Decanter article Is helpful . I'm partial to the Borhoquez https://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews-tastings/twelve-great-value-ribera-del-duero-288253/

Certain terms convey more information than others. 'Oaky" conveys one quality, "mouthfeel" means more than one thing. Mouthfeel indicates the acid isn't agressive, the fruit and tannin are in balance. Its one of those terms that is obvious when you come across it. My favorite one is "Petrichor", it was described to me first as the smell of light rain on a warm forest floor. This can describe many things, savory, funky, grassy. The most obtuse wine description I ever read in a review was "crushed white stones".

Look up Le Nez Du Vin. Its available from Amazon. It contains vials of chemical that reproduce the various aromas faithfully. Its a home component tasting.

Proof has an enormous wine list but definitely one of the weirder ones I've ever seen.

Classic Viognier is not normally sweet.

Thanks for the shout out, DaveO. I'm not at Corduroy anymore, but I will tell about my new gig at the proper time.

2001 was a great vintage. I would try one now.

Lopez Heradia Tondonia. Old style Rioja, light like Burgundy.

Acacia went corporate when The Chalone Group was sold to Diageo, Arrowood still makes wine, but I believe he has corporate backing, Gary Andrus started Archery Summit after Pine Ridge but then sold it to, I believe, Phillip Morris. Jim Clendenen still makes ABC. Its not well represented in this market.

Meiomi is one of the most shocking stories of the past 10 years in the wine world. Creating a sweet, full bodied pinot noir was bad enough. Meiomi was a virtual vineyard: no vineyards, no production facilities. It was merely a brand. Charles Wagner was able to sell the brand for $350 million. All Meiomi was were a bunch of grape contracts. When Duckhorn sold for $275 million, it included 4 wineries, over 200 acres of Napa Valley vineyard and excellent goodwill.

Google Constellation Brands and you will have the starter list of wines to avoid. Meiomi is at the top of the list.

When Silver Oak came out in the 80s, to buy Napa Valley bottling, you had to commit to many cases of Alexander Valley. Ditto for Bonny's (which is now known as Meyer Family). Silver Oak was also one of the very first Napa Valley cabernets to break the $100 mark on wine lists.

Among sommeliers who enjoy Old World wines, Silver Oak Cabernet is referred to as Silver Joke. People put it on wine lists because it is guaranteed to sell.

Not Proof

https://www.thedailybeast.com/are-great-sommeliers-an-endangered-species This cool interview with Bobby Stuckey says a lot of good things. I have always thought that the first thing a sommelier needs to learn is humility. Especially since the first sommelier I worked with was a completely pompous jerk.

I'm with you there, buddy. I will tell you from experience , though, that there is a large group of consumers who will drink Silver Oak with: oysters, dover sole, crab cakes and any other inappropriate pairing that you can think of..

Thanks, Josh. I understand Poolboy's point. My approach has always been that wine has one duty and that is to be delicious. A micro list in the hands of a novice or goofball is something to avoid. I don't believe in novelty for novelty's sake. A well chosen, well priced micro list can be fun to play with. One of my former employers insisted on a 20% beverage cost. That means selling a bottle of wine that costs $10 wholesale for $50, which I thought was obscene. More than 3 times retail. Wrong approach. It takes the fun out of trying new wines. Especially if they are poorly chosen and expensive. A balanced, well chosen, well priced small list is the way to go these days.