Tag Archives: wine

Looking Beyond Local #MWWC12 Troon, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Applegate Valley, Oregon 2008

Posted on October 16, 2014 by waywardwine

We in the West with more money than sense have made religion out of things local. Like buying indulgences, that carrot at your farmer’s market or grandma’s un-labeled jam makes us feel like we have done our part.

Delicious or dangerous, buying local frees us of our carbon-footprint guilt.

OK, directing money back into the native economy slices out the middle-person. Yes, things grown from the same soil, sun, waters, and hands tend to synchronize well with similar products (see terroir). Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged #mww12, Applegate Valley, grapes, Herb Quady, local, local wine, mwwc12, Oregon, oregon wine, pinot noir, siskiyou range, terroir, troon, troon vineyards, wine | 9 Comments

Beaune Part 2: Hospice de Beaune Hotel Dieu

Posted on October 13, 2014 by waywardwine

Last Monday’s post, we hiked the frozen tundra of Beaune’s vineyards, tasted pinot noir from skeleton vines, got lost, and ate its chalky soil. Today, we tumble back into Beaune to visit the Hospice de Beaune Hôtel Dieu: home of the world’s most famous wine auction.

A few plagues and marauding bands brought Beaune to a humanitarian crisis in the 1440s. Desperate to stop disease and buy a one-way-ticket to indulgence-paved heaven, Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor, and wife Guigone had a hospital and hostel built for the poor. We arrive outside, a bit underwhelmed: Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Beaune, Christies, EU Austerity Drinking Tour, France, Hospice de Beaune, Hotel Dieu, wine | 3 Comments

Thirsty Thursday: Birthday Champagne Challenge at Paley’s Place LeMaire

Posted on October 9, 2014 by waywardwine

It’s my wife’s birthday and I’m in trouble. I sell wine to restaurants throughout Portland. But who to choose. We rarely eat out. We mostly cook, and it’s usually vegetarian. So the whole restaurant scene seems like overpriced, meat-fest fluff (especially when we buy wine at cost). Yet, deep down, she wants to be overwhelmed. Nothing too formal, just outstanding.

Argghhh… Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Birthday, Brut, Champagne, Clotilde Davenne, Crémant de Bourgogne, Cuvee Trianon, Jancis Robinson, Madeira, Paley's Place, Roger Constant LeMaire, wine | 3 Comments

Beaune Vineyards: EU Austerity Drinking Tour: Nuiton-Beaunoy, Burgundy, France

Posted on October 6, 2014 by waywardwine

After much delay, our EU Austerity Drinking Tour continues. 131 continuous days of travel, drinking, eating, and drinking our way through Europe has worn us out. But somehow, we keep striving in Burgundy. Today, we visit Beaune: wine capital of Bourgogne and possibly the world: Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Beaune, Bourgogne, Burgundy, France, grapes, Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, Nuiton-Beaunoy, pinot noir, Tour, vineyards, wine | 5 Comments

Thirsty Thursday: Carmenere, Lapostolle, Casa Grand Selection, Rapel Valley, Chile, 2011

Posted on September 25, 2014 by waywardwine

This Thirsty Thursday travels to South America (figuratively) while keeping a firm toe in France.

Back in 1994 Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle started buying vineyards in Chile. She could thanks to her middle name, Marnier. Yes, that Grand Marnier. Being the great granddaughter of the world’s most famed liquor helped, but Alexandra had greater ambitions. Continue reading →