BITS & BOBS

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Stan The Wine Man

Well, Christmas is almost upon us and there are a lot of choices for Christmas dinner. The two traditional meals are roast (prime rib) and ham. My mom always went for the ham and it made sense. My family consisted of six children and a mother who struggled financially, although most of us as brothers and sisters didn’t know that at the time. We were a happy bunch and my mother always put on a big spread for Christmas dinner. I personally did not like ham and if it wasn’t for the amazing side dishes, I probably would have gone hungry every Christmas (thank God for dinner rolls). When my chance came to have something other than ham for Christmas I jumped at the opportunity. It was all about prime rib for me and it’s been that way ever since.

One of the great things about roast, is picking out the wine to go with it. I indulge a bit with my choice for wine during this holiday. It’s all about big reds, which a prime rib demands. I recently did a YouTube episode which focused on budget friendly reds to have with prime rib. For a lot of folks it makes sense to find good reds that are under twenty bucks. A prime rib is not cheap, so it helps if you can find a red wine that is not expensive but over-delivers. Check out the episode, I think you will find my picks interesting.

I tend to dive deep into my wine closet to find a couple of gems for Christmas dinner. I have been stashing wine away for many years and I have had the good fortune of some pretty amazing bottles that have been given to me by friends. That being said, I find great satisfaction in finding one that I put away for a few years that was not expensive but ages well. It’s a fun experiment and nine times out of ten I am rewarded with a nice, big red that didn’t blow the budget. Of course, it’s always good to have a couple of back-ups just in case. It’s a great time of year for wine, food and family. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a better year in 2021.

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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DECEMBER PICK OF THE MONTH

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Stan The Wine Man

If you asked me five years ago about wine from Mexico, I would not have had a clue. I knew they were starting to get serious about winemaking in the Baja region but I had yet to try any. Along came Patrick, owner of Beso Imports. Patrick contacted me just over a year ago and asked if he could show me some of his portfolio, all wines from Mexico. That first visit was an eye-opener for me and I realized then that not only were they making wine down there, they were also pumping out some serious juice. My pick for this month is one from Beso Imports. Patrick has spent a ton of time going down to Mexico and developing relationships with winemakers and winery owners. He has done a great job seeking out gems from Valle de Guadalupe, Baja Mexico. This Cab is a great example.

2018 L.A. Cetto Cabernet Sauvignon (Vale de Guadalupe, Baja Mexico)… $12.

Aromas of candied currants, red and purple flowers with a hint of candied cherries joining in. Nice and spicy on the palate with notes of currants and tobacco on approachable tannins that have a touch of grit and attitude. The spice notes expand on the mid-palate into the finish where wood notes sneak in with the currants as well as red and purple flower notes that linger. This cab has good balance and good structure. The price is stupid for what you get and believe it or not, this could use a little decanting to bring out what it wants to show you. (B)

Beso Imports

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BITS & BOBS

Posted on November 30, 2020 by Stan The Wine Man

Well, we made it through another Thanksgiving, this being the weirdest of them all at least for me. My son was supposed to come over, but his wife had exposure to someone with Covid so he stayed home to be safe. It turns out they are both Covid free (Phew). However, one of my brothers came over and we had a great time, great food and of course great wine. My choice for Thanksgiving was Rose’. I know a lot of you give up on Rose’ once the weather changes. I drink it all year and I find that it is one of the better food wines out there. It was perfect with all the different sides and especially the turkey itself. I don’t get all reflective during Thanksgiving and gush about the things I am grateful for. However this year with all the weirdness out there, I have to say I am quite thankful for my wife Susie. Without her, I think all of this would have been a lot harder to deal with. She is the person I can talk with about anything. We agree on most things, especially when it comes to how the world around us is handling the current pandemic. We enjoy each other’s company and we talk every evening away with ease. It’s hard to ask for more than that.

I am dusting off the pages of a book I started writing a few years ago. Reading it, I realize how important it is for me to finish writing it. The book is about my development as a wine person. How I became a blue-collar wine guy and Stan The Wine Man as most refer to me locally. It also delves into the things I have learned over the years, selling wine to my customers, traveling to wine regions around the world and developing my own methodology for selling and talking about wine. I have so much more to write about since I started the project. I’m not shooting for a best seller of course, but I think many people would be interested in hearing from someone who started off stocking groceries at night to managing a successful wine department in the same store. I am committed to working hard to finish something that means so much to me. I let a friend of mine read what I had put on paper and he loved what I had written, encouraging me to finish what I started. Writing is one of the toughest challenges I have ever faced. You can’t wait until your inspired, it needs to be a daily routine. Here I go!

Both November and December are my favorite months in the wine department. To have people come to me for advice on which wine to select for a meal or celebration is why I do what I do. My customers have been one of the greatest influences in the development of my career as a wine specialist. They encourage me, compliment me and call me out if necessary. I take their trust very seriously and I don’t want to ever let them down. Many are my friends and I cherish the relationships I have developed over the years. Wine can bring people together in a way that is sometimes hard to explain. If you are in the world of wine, you know what I am talking about.

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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BITS & BOBS

Posted on November 23, 2020 by Stan The Wine Man

From a wine perspective, November and December are my favorite months at the store. Thanksgiving and Christmas are huge wine holidays and it’s mostly to do with food and wine pairing. I love to help a customer find the wine to pair with meals and people get serious about it during this time of year. Lots of questions to answer and lots of choices to make. Far before the holidays arrive, I spend time thinking about which wines I will feature at the store. For Thanksgiving, Pinot Noir or Gamay is the most popular and I like to give the customer a variety of styles to choose from. Some like their Pinot Noir on the fruit-forward side, whereas others prefer the old world lighter style. The cool thing is both work. I also like to throw in some less traditional options, such as Grenache, GSM blends (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre) Rose’ or Lambrusco. It’s really fun to get someone to go outside their comfort zone and try something new. The key is to make it work for them or I risk the chance of losing their trust. A big responsibility I take seriously.

I had a customer approach me the other day looking for Beaujolais Nouveau. This will be the first year in my wine career I have not bought any for the store. It has lost its luster and last year I had to practically give it away in January, long after the holidays had passed. Why is that? I’m not sure, but I think some of the reason is the price. Long ago, Beaujolais Nouveau was a big deal. You couldn’t sell it until the third Thursday of November. When that day rolled around, big stacks of Nouveau would go up and fly off the floor at nine bucks a bottle. It was touted as the perfect Thanksgiving wine. Fresh, fruity and light, but also quite inexpensive. A perfect combination for a large gathering of people. Today, it goes for fifteen bucks a bottle and has lost its appeal as a cheap and cheerful Thanksgiving wine. Since it is made with the Gamay grape, I lead people to Gamay in a different form. Beaujolais Villages is a step up from Nouveau and sometimes it goes for less money. I love Gamay with turkey and I prefer the Villages version over the Nouveau.

I have a lot to write about over the next month, so I’m cutting this one a little short. It was nice to see the Hawks pull out a victory over Arizona at a key time of the season. They showed that they can play some defense after all.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy some good wines and quality time with your family.

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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