The Wine:
Chateau Haut-Bailly Pessac-Leognan 2003

The Affair:
Let me just tell you that I hate Sundays. I know I should be happy that I'm not at work, but there's still something about the end of the weekend and the impending doom of a new week that just makes me depressed. Luckily, I've found that a nice dinner accompanied by an even better bottle of wine really helps soften the blow.

(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

I'd just like to say THANK YOU!

Thank you for all of your support, kindness, and most importantly, thank you for digging my story. I'm having the time of my life learning about wine, meeting new people like you, and sharing it all with the world.

Although it doesn't take much to keep me going, it's the little things like this that make the hours of time and dedication worth it!



The Wine Whore was just listed on Postrank as the #4 Wine Blog!

AND...


The Wine Whore was just listed on AlaWine as the #9 Wine Twitter!





(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

Sorry folks!

Since I am still battling this nasty cold, I am going to have to cancel tonight's episode of TWWTV. Nothing would be worse than tuning in to watch me blow nose, sniffle, and cough. Noone wants to watch that!

I promise to get some rest, take my cold medicine, and get better so we can kick it again next week.

In the meantime, please enjoy a nice glass of wine for me tonight!

Cheers!



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

Buddy of mine says to me, "Hey, I just picked up a bottle of Bordeaux!"

To which I say, "Oh yeah?! Which region is it from?"

He then answers, "France!"






(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

A friend of mine needs your help! She is trying to write a story on pairing champagne & spicy foods and needs some solid suggestions.

What kind of bubbly would YOU pair with spicy food?




(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

I am a little upset!

Burger King has announced that it plans on opening a "Burger Bar" in Miami. These new fast food locations will sell beer along with the usual Whoppers and fries.

Don't expect anything crazy...

These places won't sell mircrobrews or specialty beer. No sir! Instead, for $4.25, you can have your choice of Budweiser or Miller and for $7.99, you can even enjoy a Whopper combo with a beer instead of a soft drink.

This sounds like great news, right? So why am I pissed off?

Simple! I am upset that the "King" didn't choose to sell wine with their combos too. Maybe if the King started sippin' on some vino with his pinky pointed to the sky, he would shed his currently creepy, child molester-like persona. Have it my way? I think not!

Now you may be wondering whether I would really WANT to drink the wine equivalent of Miller Lite? Probably not, but it's more about the principle of the matter.

Why is wine always left out of the fun?




(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

This cold is really starting to piss me off!

Tomorrow better be a better day... I think this is the longest I've gone in a while without a glass of wine, a beer, or anything for that matter!

Go ahead, make me jealous... What are YOU drinking tonight to celebrate?




(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

I'm all for any way to help get more wine into the hands of the consumer...

Do your part to help influence Maryland legislature to allow direct wine shipping by signing this petition:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/maryland-consumer-direct-ship-petition




(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

What accessory DON'T they make for the iPod?

Since I am still fighting a ridiculously crappy cold, I haven't been able to drink my usual copious amounts of wine. To make up for being dry, I figured this picture I took while in Amsterdam would be a fun distraction to my everyday drinking shenanigans.

What's your favorite iPod accessory?

Cheers!





(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

You don't have to drink wine for hundreds or years to know what you like to drink, or listen to the "experts" to find a good bottle, or even spend your life savings to have a good sip. That's why I am fascinated by articles like this one by Dan Berger discussing what he considers to be the "Collapse of Cabernet."

At first, I totally agree with Dan...

Wine shouldn't be overblown, a "fruitbomb", or have an alcohol content equivalent to Everclear in order to be enjoyable. A beautifully aged bottle of Bordeaux is one hundred times more enjoyable than many of the California Cabernets out there today.

So what HAS happened to California Cabernet?

I can't tell you how California Cab used to taste, I only know how it tastes today. Sure there's a lot of bottles that I think utterly suck, but there's also many more that I still enjoy. I must not forget the fact that California Cabernet will always be my first love... the wine that got me into wine in the first place. For that, I will always be thankful!

Can I blame wineries for changing their methods, formula, and practices to bring in the next generation of wine drinkers? Heck no!

Making wine that is appealing to the masses is the best way to attract more people like myself and convert them into future wine lovers. Just like me, the new generation of wine lovers will eventually want to discover more than just these gateway Cabs. Their discovery will include much more than even the style that Dan says was produced in California years ago. It will include different grapes, regions, and whatever else is out there. I just hope that many more wineries will continue their tradition of making wines the same way they have for decades. That way, I can still taste the way California Cab "used to be" without having to get into a time machine or punch the Delorean up to 88 miles per hour.

As wine drinkers, we need to continue to challenge our palates. Keep an open mind. Enjoy as many types and styles of wine and support those who give their lives to bringing the next bottle into our hands.

Is California Cabernet collapsing?

I say, it has only begun to be built!



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

Before Vinturi and Riedel, the first drinking accessory I ever used was the beer funnel. I know, just thinking about the funnel reminds me of a scene from Animal House. Frat antics aside, the funnel was a fun tool for consuming otherwise crappy beer. I have many fond memories competing for the title of fastest beer drinker from the funnel... boy were we dumbasses! :)

When it comes to wine, we sip instead of chug.... we sniff, instead of swill... and we age instead of consuming as fast as possible. What if the same beer drinking antics of the funnel were applied to wine? Wouldn't it require a more sophisticated palate to discern the region or even the type of grape when your wine is flying down your throat and speeds best measured in G-force?

Imagine how your next dinner party would be if you broke out a funnel for your guests to consume their wine... I'm almost tempted to try it!

Is it possible to drink wine from a beer bong? As wine drinkers, are we too pretentious to even give it a shot?



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

Would you rather drink a bottle that has passed it's prime or one that hasn't even reached its infancy?





(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

I've gotta kick this cold before tomorrow!

Tuesday, January 26th marks Australia Day 2010! This is the largest, most widely celebrated holiday across the Australian continent and the best part is: there is no wrong way to celebrate!

I hate not feeling well. Sure, it sucks being laid up in bed (well, not completely) but the part that really disappoints me is the fact that I can't enjoy wine with a stuffy nose.

So, if chicken soup is good for the soul, is whiskey the cure for the common cold? Maybe it's a spicy Shiraz that shakes out the flu bug. What do you like to drink when you're feeling well? NyQuil may have some alcohol content, but I'm hoping there's something tastier than the blueish-green goo to sip on while I'm sick.

I may not be able to drink wine tonight, but that's not going to stop me from talking about it right now! :)





(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

Everyone knows that a good steak deserves a red wine and fish pairs well with a white, but how many people go out of their way to try pairings that they normally would never dream of?

Last night I put two unexpected beauties together in an affair that I will never forget: Stilton and Sauternes. Stilton's funky cream seemed to melt in the porty presence of the Sauternes. The result tasted like a creamy candy created by the union of the two. Unbelievable yet amazing! Be warned, this isn't an everyday affair. The Stilton wasn't cheap and the Sauternes set me back about $30 for such a little bottle. But if you've never tried it, you owe it to yourself to give it a shot at least once!

After this affair, there was some leftover Stilton. I couldn't just let a good thing go to waste, so I seared up some Ribeyes and crumbled the Stilton on top. Unlike my first affair, I went back to 'ol faithful by matching the steaks with a nice bottle of Sterling Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2002. Although new experiences are exciting, there's still something to say about old loves. Overall it was a very self-indulgent evening resulting in a lot of fun!



Today, however, I am paying for it. No, I am not battling my usual Sunday morning hanover. Instead, I am feeling congested, achy, and a little worse than I would expect to feel after being run over by a 18 wheeler. No wine today... I'll be sippin on Nyquil instead.

How was your weekend affairs? Did you try something new or just stick to old loves?



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

Last night I went to visit my cousin, well actually my wife's cousin, before he gets shipped back out to Iraq. How did we celebrate our time together? No wine for me last night. Instead, I was sippin on Bud Light Wheat instead.

I know, I know, how could I cheat on the grape like this?

Well, given the situation, I felt like beer was a better way to go. So how did this dirty, adulterous affair treat me? Not bad! Sure, Bud Light is pisswater, and I'm not going to say that this new formula is any different. What I will say is that the added citrus and wheat did make the normally flavorless drink taste a little more exciting. If you are into Bud Light, Miller Light, Schlitz, or even Pabst, you should try this wheaty gateway beer. I think it will get you questioning your taste for the brew and maybe even trying something new!

On a side note, I'm going out to play some golf and drink some Miller Lite. Tonight, I'm thinking about cracking into some Stilton I picked up the other day to go with the bottle of Sauternes I have hidden in my wine fridge. Hopefully this seductive pairing will help make amends with the grape after all of my beer drinking! :)

What are you sippin' on this weekend?



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

One of the coolest things as a blogger is opening up an email from a reader, receiving a comment on a post, and browsing the internet and finding that someone has linked to one of your posts.

That's why I was stoked to wake up this morning and find not one, but TWO mentions of my Wine Whoring! Great way to start the weekend!

January 22 - The Good the Bad and the Ugly

Review: Randy Watson discovers our signature wine style


Thank you Joe and Ben for giving me some link love! Hope you are having a great weekend too! :)

How about you? What kinda love just makes your day?



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

The Wine:
Syncline Columbia Valley Subduction Red 2008
Syncline Columbia Valley Cuvee Elena 2007


The Affair:
Should I be concerned that I am drinking too much when I start forgetting to do simple things?

Last night I did something really stupid. After enjoying some discussion about Syncline wine, different types of enclosures, and VA wine (thanks to all of the sweet VA folks representing), I realized that I forget to hit the record button before last night's TWWTV! Normally I would post the video so anyone who missed it could check it out, but due to my stupidity, I'll have to make due with written words instead. I promise I won't forget next week, although I'm sure I'll forget to do something else! :P

Oh, so you're probably wondering about the wine, eh?

This Rhone style red from Washington was actually pretty radical! Of the two bottles, I favored the fuller, more aggressive Grenache dominated blend of the Cuvee Elena. The Subduction Red was also tasty and cost about $17 less, but offered a much softer Syrah dominated blend. Both wines were made well, and well worth a sip.

After TWWTV was over, I made love to the Cuvee Elena until the last drop was gone! Unfortunately, I was drinking for two last night, and didn't have any help from the Mrs. finishing the wine or I would have gone for more of the Subduction Red. I'll save this bottle for tonight so I can see how well it stands up to a day of "aging".

Thank you to everyone who joined me last night on TWWTV. It's really cool to be able to talk with other people who love wine as much as I do from around the world. I hope one day we can all share a bottle together in person, but until then, it's just nice to know we have other ways of drinking together!

Hope you all have an awesome weekend! What will you be pouring into your cup/glass/mug/funnel to celebrate?

Cheers!


For this and other affairs, check out the summary of scores, map, or even choose my next bottle.



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

I'm all for drinking GOOD wine... and I don't mind paying a small premium for the honor to taste such well crafted juice... but sometimes there are some affairs that just leave you disappointed. It's kinda like expecting to get in bed with Pam Anderson, but ending up with Rosie O'Donnell instead. The wine doesn't have to necessary be BAD to be a disappointment. It's just that the hype and pricetag doesn't live up to the experience.

Call it wine charity or whatever else you will, but I wouldn't be doing my part to help the wine community if I didn't share my experiences, both good and bad. There are a lot of bottles that I don't get for free, shell out a decent amount of hard earned cash, and then wish I had saved it for my retirement instead. Maybe if more people shared these types of experiences, the pricetags on these bottles would match the actual quality of the juice and not quantity of its hype.


There's one bottle in particular that gets a lot of action in the wine world. In fact, there are few wine connoisseurs out there who have not had an affair with the famous Bordeaux blend named Opus One. But here's the secret that they won't necessarily tell you:

There are a lot of BETTER bottles you can buy for the $200-$300 price Opus One normally fetches!

Buy it young and you may save a little, but chances are, you won't be patient enough to age it long enough for its beauty to mature. In any case, there are few people out there who would argue that there aren't a ton of other bottles out there that would totally kick Opus One's ass... for less than $100!

So why does Opus One sell for so much?


Easy, more hype equal more $$$. Remember those stupid looking Z. Cavaricci pants we all wore in the 80's. Didn't they look stupid? Yeah, well do you also remember how much people were willing to pay for 'em too? Enough said!

For the love of wine, please spread the word about bottles like Opus One... unless of course you're still wearing Cavaricci's... in that case, there's nothing I can do to help you!

What's your most unsatisfying, overrated wine experience?



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

The Wine:
Harvest Moon Sonoma Harvest Red 2007

The Affair:
Few reds from California capture the characteristics from Bordeaux that I love most. Last night's affair however took me right back to the place where wine is king and everything just seems to taste and drink so well.

This red blend consisting of 33% Dry Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Riebli Valley Syrah, 17% Dry Creek Merlot, 11% Dry Creek Cab Franc and 5% Russian River Petit Syrah is crafted to be food friendly thanks to an appropriately controlled alcohol content. To capture the pyrizine "perfume" of Bordeaux, the grapes used to make this wine were harvested with lower than typical sugar levels. Chemistry and winemaking aside, this wine is elegant and will age well through the next decade.

Last night's affair was nothing less than satisfying. Homemade spaghetti and meatballs followed a savory crab dip. Oddly enough, this red blend complimented both the dip and the balls with grace, style, and a seductive taste that left me wanting much, much more!



For this and other affairs, check out the summary of scores, map, or even choose my next bottle.



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

As if I needed another excuse to drink, tonight I have a reason to celebrate!

So what's the occasion?

I'm stoked because Chris over at The Wine Apprentice has shared a glimpse of my wine wisdom on tasting notes.

It's always exciting to show up on a friend's website... Thank you Chris!

Make sure to follow The Wine Apprentice for more wine wisdom and other fun wine talk!

Cheers!


(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

Living Direct on twitter is giving away a 21 bottle wine fridge!

To enter, check out the contest info!


Good luck!


(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

The Wine:
Langetwins Pinot Noir 2008


The Affair:
Since this bottle arrived last week, I've been stoked to crack it open. Joe and the folks over at Langetwins like to tease me by only sending one bottle at a time... but you know what? Every bottle they've sent has been really good! I'll take quality over quantity any day!

These aren't mind blowing wines that make you contemplate life, love, and the grape. These wines are sorta like that comfy pair of blue jeans you always like to wear. They sorta have a signature taste that fits perfectly to my palate. All of the bottles from Langetwins that I have tried so far, have been smooth with just the right amount of alcohol, fruit, and tannins. Enough to be bold without crossing the line of being obnoxiously out of balance. For their reasonable prices, I would say that Langetwins makes some great wine!

When I found out that this was their first vintage of Pinot Noir, I have to admit that I was a little worried. Would I like this one as much as I did their Viognier or even their purple-teeth Petit/Petite? You know how I am about Pinots too! An awkward situation seemed immanent.

Last night, the wife left me in charge of making dinner. With her instructions, I attempted to make a whole-wheat penne pasta with spicy Italian sausage and marinara. I felt like a light red wine was in order to go with this meal so I anxiously snatched up the opportunity to put the Pinot from Langetwins to the test.

Now I don't know if it's just the fact that we are drinking more Pinot Noir in the casa de Watson or just dumb luck, but we have been satisfied with the last couple of bottles of this grape that. This bottle was no exception. Not only did it go well with the meal, but it actually reminded me of that characteristic Langetwins taste that I enjoy. My only complaint was that the affair didn't last long enough. Between my wife and I, this bottle didn't see past last night's American Idol. Truly the mark of an enjoyable bottle!

Is it just me, or do any other wineries actually have a "personality" when it comes to their wine and the different varietals they produce?

In any case, thank you Joe and the folks over at Langetwins for making my Tuesday ten times better!

Cheers!


For this and other affairs, check out the summary of scores, map, or even choose my next bottle.



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

Last week, I crossed the line...

You see, it's not like me to do such things, but after receiving repeatedly antagonizing comments from two of my fellow wine bloggers, I felt that my Wine Bloggers Spotlight post was warranted. Looking back on my decision, I realize that my judgment was clouded by my emotions, and consequently I took things too far.

I would like to formally apologize to you, Lenn Thompson and Dale Cruse. I hope you will accept my apology and forgive me for my actions.

To show my sincerity, I dug into my whorish wine cellar to send you both a gift. I know you are both modest, but it's too late. It's already in the mail. I hope you both will cherish this bottle of California's finest Barefoot "Reserve" Chardonnay (pictured above) as much as I do. Although, I know it may never repair the damage I caused, I hope it helps us one day become friends once again.

Sincerely,
The Wine Whore



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

You may spend a lot of time tasting, discussing, and learning about wine, but how much time do you spend thinking about its container? With the idea of going green and reduced consumption gaining so much attention lately, it's not surprising to see these buzzwords budding around the vineyards as well.

According to this article, a company named Kingsland Wines and Spirits is taking some pretty significant steps towards reducing glass usage through a new and improved bottle. While you can expect a "standard" wine bottle to clock in at around 420g, Kingsland's new glass bottle only weighs 300g. With the help of a little math mojo, they figure that this reduced weight could actually cut CO2 emissions by over 2,500 tons a year.

If you're like me, the first question that comes to your mind is "How will this change the way I collect, drink, and enjoy wine?" The good news is that aside from the reduction in weight, nothing else perceivable to the wine drinker will change. Awesome! I normally wouldn't buy into these sorts of things, but this seems like a product that may actually provide a real benefit.

Oh wait, I just realized something... the article fails to mention what these new bottles cost? Is this form of going green going to wind up costing the consumer more green in the end?

What do you think? Does it matter either way? Would you be willing to pay more for these new bottles?



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

I've been doing these weekly shows for almost six months now. Over the last six months, I've tried a lot of things.... Some good, some bad, and the jury's still out on the rest.

Personally, I enjoy these shows the most when it's more of a wine forum that a wine lecture. In other words, I like it when I get to talk but also listen. This week, I'd like to take it one step further by listening to YOUR ideas for the topic of this week's show.

Please use the comment form below to suggest a topic of conversation for this week's TWWTV and then join me LIVE as we distract ourselves from everyday life for a half hour by drinking and discussing wine together.

To join me this Thursday @ 7:30pm ET, click the TWWTV logo above

See you then!

Cheers!



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

I'm excited to get my first taste of GA wine!

The folks over at Montaluce are doing up a Wine and Food Conclave featuring my favorite two things: wine and food! I haven't figured out whether I'm going to drive up from Tampa or just take a plane, but either way, I wouldn't miss this... no friggin' way!

Anyone else going? If so, how are you planning on making the trek?

I hope I won't have to "work off" my overnight stay! :)



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

You know what really pisses me off?!?

...The fact that all of these celebrity dumbasses can have their name on a bottle without knowing a damn thing about the stuff.

Disagree?

Just check out the newest diva to announce her line of Angel Champage. Hey Mariah! Just because you are a lush doesn't mean you should start selling the stuff. Put the grapes down and go back to singing about touching your body.

Now, I don't know much (if anything) about wine... But I bet I could still make a better bottle of wine than half of these celebs if given the chance.

... Not that they THEMSELVES ever make "their wine" in the first place.

What do you think? Ever try Vince Neil's Dr. Feelgood? Is Dan Aykroyd's juice more than just a bad joke?



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

The votes are in for this month's Wine Whore Wednesday and the winner has been chosen!



January's Winner:
Congratulations to Melanie0 (http://lakewood-dallas.blackwhiteread.com/view/articles/13161) for raking in 92% of the vote! Runner up congrats are also in order to Foodwinechickie (http://bit.ly/7rnkzH) for second place. You both win FREE Wine Whore T-Shirts for winning and everyone who participated will also receive FREE Wine Whore bumper stickers!

If you missed January's Wine Whore Wednesday, don't worry! You can still get involved in next month's contest!

Here's how it works:
Every month a theme will be announced. Post your essay/response to the theme on your blog, Facebook page, or wherever else you can find a place to post it on the internet. The deadline to post the link to your entry (in the comment section below) will be the first Wednesday of every month. After this deadline, there will be exactly one week of voting. After the votes are tallied, the winning entry will be announced and prizes, fame, and bragging rights will be awarded!

February's topic:
Ever puke on your dog, wind up lost in another country, or just swirl onto the person standing next to you? What's your most embarrassing wine moment?


Good luck and be sure to post the links to your entries here by February 3, 2010.

Cheers!



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

"Chardonnay is a regal grape for its role in producing the greatest dry white wines in the world - white Burgundies - and for being one of the main grapes of Champagne. Today it also ends up in a huge amount of everyday wine."

Look everyone, it's King Chardonnay! Bow down in the buttery presence of his overoaked awesomeness!

Sure, Chard makes up a lot of "everyday wine", but as for White Burgundies being the greatest dry wines in the world, I don't know if I agree... Do you?



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

Sometimes you just have to put everyday stress aside and enjoy the good things in life. This weekend was one of those moments for me. I'm not sure what I was celebrating, but whatever it was, I did it up right! Between last Thursday's fun at The Wine Room, Friday night's kick ass dinner, and even my late adventures last night, I feel satisfied. It's nice to feed your libido with the tasty formula of good food, good drinks, and good friends. That's what life is all about!

Unfortunately life also requires that I work my 9-5 in order to support weekends such as this. If I have to go back to work tomorrow, at least I feel happy, satisfied, and ready to get back to the grind!

Did you celebrate life this weekend? How do you like to feed your libido?

Cheers!




(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)

The Wine:
Dominus Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Numanthia Thermes Toro Spain 2006


The Affair:
What can I say about last night? It was an experience... an AWESOME experience!

Thanks to your help, I solved my $500 dinner dilemma, by choosing two bottles of wine that I would have never tried before. Both bottles were excellent... Thermes proved once again that an excellent Spanish wine doesn't have to break the bank and Dominus restored my faith in CA Cabs with it's dry everlasting finish and never-ending character.



The Cab made friends with my fatty Ribeye and quickly became my favorite of the two while Sheila found the smoother, slightly sweeter, well rounded Thermes to be her pick of the two.



This affair left me feeling so good, I had to have a nice cigar and an ounce of my favorite Cognac ala Louis XIII to finish off the evening.

Ahh, life is good!


What are YOU drinking to celebrate the weekend?



Cheers!

For this and other affairs, check out the summary of scores, map, or even choose my next bottle.



(This message brought to you by The Wine Whore)