BITS & BOBS

Well, I missed last week and am slightly disappointed in myself. However, it doesn’t mean I can’t go on, so here I am. I need to discipline myself when it comes to writing. I love to put things down on paper (so to speak) and I love this particular segment I try to put out each week. I started a piece that I hope will turn into a book entitled “Wine Scribbles, thoughts from a blue-collar wine steward.” It will be part memoir and part opinion about the wine world from the viewpoint of someone who works in the wine retail field. I’ve started penning an outline several times, but it’s time to get serious about it. Wine is such an interesting subject that is surrounded by many opinions. When it comes to opinions, nobody is wrong. However, on what are those opinions based? That is the key, and it should be compelling coming from someone in the trenches, not as a winemaker but as someone who has sold wine to many different people over the years. Time’s wasting!

I’ve been pondering something. From time to time, I watch different wine programs on YouTube. One thing I’ve noticed quite a bit lately is the tendency to refer to one’s personal preferences when reviewing a wine. Don’t get me wrong; I get it. I believe they are doing their best to be transparent. However, when reviewing a wine, is it possible to remove personal preference from the picture? In other words, wine can be judged based on how it meets accepted criteria—things like balance, structure and being true to the varietal. As a person who reviews wine, I do my best to divorce myself from personal preferences. Is this truly possible?

For instance, I do not enjoy high-acid wines. Does that mean they are not well made if they have a hefty dose of acidity? Absolutely not! What is true is that the acidity needs to be balanced and in harmony with the rest of the wine. If not, it could not be considered a well-made wine. I am surrounded by wine people who bow down to the god of high acidity. The higher the acidity, the more they like the wine. I’ve never allowed myself to be sucked into that frame of thinking. Acidity is the backbone of high-quality wine. Without it, it becomes a flabby mess. It will not age or hold up to a meal. However, if it is out of balance with the other elements of a wine, it becomes a problem rather than a positive contribution. So, when reviewing a wine that I dislike because of its higher acidity, I will consider it a well-made wine if it is balanced with all the other elements of a good wine. It seems like a simple concept but let me tell you that I have to work at it to be fair to a wine that I am reviewing.

It’s just three weeks until Susie and I fly off to Europe. First, we will visit London for a few days, then off to Crete for a couple of weeks. We are both super excited as we go over the details of the trip, making sure that everything is in order. We will visit a couple of wineries, including Lyrarakis, a winery I do some business with at the store. We also have some tours lined up, giving us a good grasp of the island and its culture. Everyone I’ve talked to who has been to Greece loves it. We are doing our best to learn some simple Greek words to help us communicate. However, I hear they speak excellent English. Phew! I hope to document much of the trip so I can share it on TikTok and YouTube.

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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STAN’S PICK FOR SEPTEMBER 2024

Bordeaux is one of the most respected wine producing regions in the world. From this part of the world come some of the most expensive wines you will find on the market. A bottle of Petrus from the right bank goes for thousands of dollars and yes, people actually pay that price and it sells out year after year! I’m not here to find wines that only one percent of the population can afford. No, I look for deals and although Bordeaux is known for expensive red blends, you can also find some great wines for next to nothing. A paradox for sure, but the more you search the more truth you find in the aforementioned statement. This is so true with my pick for September.

2021 Chateau La Croix Du Duc Bordeaux ( Bordeaux, France)…. $10.

Like a lot of the lesser priced Bordeaux, this does not give a specific area inside the region. Simply put it’s from Bordeaux and it is made from the three most popular grapes in that region, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. What I like most about this red is that it has the elements of old world wine with enough fruit to attract the new world palate. The best of both worlds if you ask me.

One the nose, you get just a hint of funk, along with notes of earth, cherries, currants and dried herbs. Solid currant and cherry notes on the palate with a kiss of graphite and spice. Smooth tannins and good balance with a nice beam of acidity that rides underneath, making it a nice food wine and keeps it fresh. There is a kiss of worn leather on the mid-palate into the lingering finish. Crazy good for ten bucks and this makes a nice gateway wine for those of you who haven’t bought into red Bordeaux quite yet. (B-/B)

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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BITS & BOBS

Happy Labor Day everyone! Labor Day has a different meaning to it when you live in a tourist destination spot as I do. It’s not the end of summer as so many people like to say. In fact, that statement drives Susie and I crazy. Why? Summer is not over until the 22nd of September, the beginning of Fall. Labor Day for us here in the San Juans simply means that the amount of people who come to the island drops to a sane level. Yes, there are still tourists (the smart tourists as I like to call them), but not nearly as many and mostly on the weekends. It’s the time for us locals to enjoy the final weeks of the summer without the frenzy of tourism at its peak. The weather looks promising over the next week or so, which is even better.

Susie and I are counting the days until our flight to London and then Greece (Crete to be specific). Susie is at her best when it comes to organizing trips. I’ve set up a winery tour which I’m really looking forward to. It will be a visit to Lyrarakis, a winery that we do a fair amount of business with. I’ve heard they speak English quite well in Greece, which is a good thing. We’ve checked out the Greek language and it looks like it would be a challenge for either Susie or I to communicate effectively in the native tongue. I’m bringing my recording gear along to make some content for my YouTube channel. We are both super excited for this trip!

Summertime brings many challenges in my life. It’s super busy at the store, there is always lots of yard work to do, which all creep into my efforts to put out content both here and on my YouTube channel. I do have some interesting content to put out soon. I will be reviewing a new line of wines that Gard Cellars has released called Slope Life Wines. They are all under twenty bucks and there is a Cab, Syrah, Chard and Albarino. I am very intrigued by second labels so it will be interesting to see how the wines show. Also, since Pinot Noir seems to be a hot topic, I plan on shooting an episode titled “The many faces of Pinot Noir.” Pinot Noir can express itself in many different styles, so it will be interesting to delve into that subject.

I hope you all have a great week!

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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BITS & BOBS

I took a look at what I’ve published on this blog over the past few months and realized that that other than this piece, I’ve been very unproductive. First and foremost, I’ve missed both July and August with my “Pick of the Month”. I go to great pains to make my decision as to which wine deserves the honor of being my pick and by writing an article about it, I’m able to remind myself what I chose for each month. I had to dig deep into my memory and realized what they were and are. For July, I chose a white blend from South Africa which consisted of mostly Chenin Blanc and Viognier. It was well received, and people have been coming back for more. This month, I chose a Viognier from the Rhone Valley that goes for a whopping thirteen bucks. It has also been very popular. I think I’ll do a quick wrap-up of both near the end of this month before I reveal my pick for September which will be a red wine for sure. I’m hoping to find a great value to feature for the month that kicks off Fall.

It has been an incredibly busy summer this year. Not only at the store, but also in my personal life. I’ve had special tasting events as well as fulfilling private events that were auctioned off to raise money for specific organizations, schools or fundraisers for someone in need. I volunteer my time and resources to help them out. I’ve had three that I’ve organized in the past six months. They are very fun and interesting. It’s somewhat fascinating that some of these groups think that the company I work for pays me to do these. To make things clear, I donate my time and most of the wines to pull these private events off. I have a boatload of wine at my house that need to be drunk, and I enjoy sharing what I have. I have different formats that I use for each of these private tasting events, and they are all quite educational and entertaining. What a great way to share my knowledge of wine and have people walking away knowing just a bit more about the wine world.

My wife Susie and I are less than two months away from taking off to Londan and Greece. The trip is all planned out, thanks to my wife. We have a lot to look forward to. I’m super stoked to visit some of the wineries there and check out what they up to. Actually, wine had a huge influence on Greek culture. They make some fantastic wines from varietals most of us are not familiar with. Of course, we will soak in the ancient Greek culture that will be all around us, as well as dive into their cuisine. Susie has planned the trip so that we have some relaxation at the beach near the end of our visit to the country. These trips take quite a bit of planning and I’m very thankful that Susie is so good at putting all the pieces together. I’m bringing my recording device along to shoot some material for my YouTube channel. I’ll have lots to share on this platform as well. We are so excited.

Cheers!

Stan The Wine Man

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