Category Archives: Uncategorized

Thirsty Thursday: Château de Rochemorin, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France 2006

Posted on July 24, 2014 by waywardwine

This Thirsty Thursday uncorks an accident. I had ordered Château de Rochemorin’s 2006 Red full of excitement. Baron de Montesquieu -inspiration to America’s Constitution- lived and made wine here in Pessac-Léognan (a Graves sub-region that weaves into Bordeaux’s suburbs).

2006 was a challenging year for reds, leading to powerful, cellar-needy, tannic, austere wines. The problem? This 2006 is white. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Baron de Montesquieu, Bordeaux, Château de Rochemorin, fino sherry, France, Graves, Pessac-Léognan, Sauvignon blanc | Leave a comment

Avignon (P1): Popes, Palaces, YMCAs, And Wine from Visan?

Posted on July 21, 2014 by waywardwine

123 days into our EU Austerity Drinking Tour takes us to the heart (or at least funny hat) of the Rhône Valley: Avignon: home to Popes and Châteauneuf-du-Pape: arguably France’s biggest red wine. We leave a very Roman Nîmes and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged avignon, Chateauneuf du Pape, EU Austerity, France, Rhône Valley, RHONE, Visan, wine | 3 Comments

Thirsty Thursday: Barbera, Mazzoni, Piemonte, Italy 2009

Posted on July 17, 2014 by waywardwine

Summer has hit us. Red wine is last thing I want to drink. Beer would fair better. But something needs drown out the AC on eco-mode. This Thirsty Thursday turns to that old favorite: Barbera. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged barbera, Franceschi, italy, mazzoni, piemonte, Terlato, Tuscany, wine | 2 Comments

Thirsty Thursday: Saké: Harushika Junmai Daiginjo, Nara, Japan

Posted on July 10, 2014 by waywardwine

I know near to nothing about saké. I never review it. But secretly, this wine geek loves it. Every time I drink it, regardless of quality, it consistently fascinates.

Saké is not beer, but it is brewed grains. Saké is not wine, but alcohols also average in the tweens. Truly, any comparisons fall apart. For saké is uniquely Japanese: like Kimonos, matcha green tea, or Godzilla…taking a tea (?) break between destroying cities: Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Aspergillus oryzae, Buddhist, Gewürztraminer, Godzilla, Harushika, Harushika's, Hefeweizen, Imanishi Seibei Shoten, Japan, Nara Prefecture, rice, rice wine, sake, Shinto | 5 Comments

Temples, Towers, Beaujolais? And Duché D’Uzes a New AOC: Nîmes, France (P2)

Posted on July 7, 2014 by waywardwine

Part 2, Day 121, continues our visit to Nîmes: birthplace of denim (get it, de Nîmes). After last post’s Roman arenas and temples, we hike to the park. Amidst Fall’s colors, fountains, and walkways rests the Temple to Diana:

The ruin still feels lifted, intricate, delicate: much like the following wine. Although this is Southern France, it is November, and we buy the one wine that matters: Beaujolais Nouveau.
Continue reading →