Tasting sized pours
Opinions on the 2005 Bordeaux vintage are starting to roll in…Jancis Robinson gives it a thumbs up, writing “there are more very good to great wines than I can remember in any other vintage.” James Suckling got in early this year with his opinion saying the wines of the vintage represented “some of the best I have tasted in my career…” Robert Parker’s comments will come in the next couple of weeks…Now consumers await the prices from the chateaus, which will undoubtedly be as high as–or higher than–the praise.
After being spurned last year, the acquisitive Constellation has finally been successful in its attempt to take over Vincor, Canada’s largest producer. Vincor’s management spent months battling a $33 a share takeover attempt but now has acquiesced to this offer at $36.50 valuing the company at C$1.5bln. What I’m wondering is when Constellation will make a bid for a producer in Argentina?
Russia has banned the import of wines from Georgia and Moldova citing pesticide use. Some call it “pure politics” with Putin punishing the two republics for pro-Western stands. Georgia has grappled with rampant fraud in Georgia (that I mentioned in October “Georgia on my mind“) so this latest blow will no doubt send the industry reeling.
“If I were your accountant, I would have to advise against investing in a restaurant,” Charles Grodin’s character quipped to Robert DeNiro’s in the 1988 movie Midnight Run (ironically De Niro has invested in many restaurants quite successfully through the Myriad Group). Paul Sullivan writes in Saturday’s Financial Times that “If you can stand the heat, buy the kitchen” when it comes to investing in a restaurant.
If you thought Thomas Jefferson was the most wine friendly of America’s founders, you’d be right. New evidence has revealed, however, that George Washington ordered a “box” of Muscat and claret while he was president. Only catch: he also ordered a keg of brandy and after leaving the presidency, he built one of the largest distilleries in Virginia. That ardent spirit…[MSNBC]
I’m not the only blogger on the move. The indefatigable Beau Jarvis at Basic Juice will be heading to Austria for a month in May. Alder Yarrow at Vinography just spent time poking around Mendoza too and has posted some of his thoughts and tasting notes. Taj continues her travels thorough America’s Western wine country and interviews many quirky producers, such as Casa Nuestra in Napa. Lenn Thompson won’t be traveling–he’ll be bringing the wines to him in his “50 wines 50 states 50 weeks” challenge on the group blog Wine Sediments. Whoa, I wonder what he’ll write up from Alaska?!?
tags: wine | wine news | Bordeaux 2005 | wine blogs | wine travel
