Welcome to your Black Winer Newsletter for Monday, February 01, 2010

Table of Contents


It's going to be groundhog day tomorrow!

And we'll know how many more weeks of winter that we are in store for. Honestly, I have to really do a bunch of stuff with the house this year, but that is a direct correlation to the amount of success I have in business this year.

Now, on to the world of wine.

Last year, we did a phenomenal day of wine and food, which should give us about three to four episodes worth of tape; maybe even four or five. As we took off for the month of January, I am getting everything back in the saddle, and we are planning another taping day on February 28th. However, we are also looking at something more private with three main dishes of waterfowl ("Duck, duck, Goose" – two ducks dishes, one goose dish, several side dishes and five wines). We are either going to do two sessions, or one session and the next sessions would be vegetarian.

We'd really like to develop a list of fifty or so people that we could regularly call on to be part of our tapings and events, as we have a number of things that we are going to be doing from now through the end of May.

This past month had me touching base/meeting up with:

  • one wine importer and distributor,
  • one person that has their own meetup (we are looking forward to them and some of their people being at the next session as well as a larger private tasting of Terranova wines with some of their folks as well);
  • being amazed at Beringer's 2007 vintage Napa Valley Chardonnay;
  • attending a wine dinner for Penn’s Wood Winery over at Table 31;
  • making connections at the Home Show (laying the groundwork for some tapings in various design kitchens);
  • and coming up with new concepts for future episodes as well as other shows.

In this month, I am hoping to:

  • Hit the lottery (man, I need it);
  • Attend Vino 2010 in NY (Terranova wines will be one of the presenters, and if I go, I will need a designated driver);
  • Attend another wine event in Atlantic City on 2/19;
  • Pack these two seatings on February 28;
  • Start recruiting a wine posse;
  • Redesign part of the site functionality; and
  • Write these articles that I have been saving up.

It's been a minute since I have started this endeavor, and the seeds planted are beginning to take fruit. I will admit that I have been busy with other projects (gotta pay the bills folks, and I have at least four sites that are smokers that I need to finish and launch – anyone that wants to handle their own marketing and sales for a region?) On Sunday, I got a nice email from N. Polk, a member of the Southside Wine Divas in Chicago who loves the site and will spread the word.

As I progress in this lane, more and more, the moniker of "the wine guy" is being applied to me by a number of people, so I might as well keep it.

Also, for this winter, I have been exploring more Viognier and Viognier blends, as well as Pinot Gris wines. However, on the flip side, I have also been looking for some other reds, and I can't wait to not only try a Beringer Napa Valley Pinot Noir, but also a limited release Gerwurtztaminer, a Gentil wine from the Alsace region, and a Bacasis Red wine crianza, which is a combination of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.

You also might catch me around the city doing some tastings/samplings in the state stores for Quady Winery's Electra wine. This wine is definitely a ladykiller and I have been drinking it for years. Hopefully, their Red Electra will also be coming here shortly as well. What’s interesting is that I got an email from Andrew Quady regarding the fact that they are getting attention from some rap groups and their fans who love it, and are wondering the best way to market it to them. Maybe we can come up with something that you’ll also be able to get in on.

Well, that's it for now. This newsletter should also contain information about the upcoming event, and I would love to see many of you that attended the last event at this one. Thanks Michi for coming down with a crew from NYC!

P.S. Anyone that can make a good seafood salad (crabmeat, shrimp, pasta) hit me up, as I definitely need a large container of it (enough to last a week) and will negotiate a good deal for it.


Latest Articles

Seven wines and seven dishes - featuring Friday Monkey wines

Thursday, January 28, 2010

"Seven and Seven" Featuring Friday Monkey Wines

"Over a Glass" & "Four and a Bottle" show taping, drinking and eating

Sunday, February 28, 2010

After taking January off, we're back with another day of tastings and tapings. This time, we're going to do a speed tasting approach where we have seven tables, seven wines and seven dishes. Don't worry, we won't rotate you, but we'll rotate the wines and the dishes. We're taking over Mission Grill restaurant again, and we'll be filming an episode of "Over a Glass" and an episode of "Four and a Bottle."

In Over a Glass, Zach will bring wine to which Al will pair the food. All in attendance will be seated and enjoy each course and be interviewed as to their reactions and/or impressions on the wine and the food. The wine during this session will be those under the Friday Monkey, whose wines all hail from Australia (I really love their Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz blend). At present, while Al has come up with a preliminary menu for the event, it might change, as well also might have some single guest chefs at the event as well.

For that don't know about Four and a Bottle, we take four chefs who will each construct a dish on the fly given a glass of wine to taste. Several audience diners will be chosen to participate, being served both the wine and small plates of all four creations.

Summarily, all in attendance will enjoy seven wines (3 oz. pours; we can't have you guys getting into accidents) and seven dishes. Tickets are $30 per person. For those of you that have attended past events, you know that you get your money's worth, and in this, you'll also be on our shows (7 3 oz. pours of wine would run you at least $35 not including tax and tip).

For more information, you can call me at 215-474-1911 or contact me. Space is limited to twenty-eight people per seating. All tickets must be purchased in advance of the taping date.

Mission Grille
1835 Arch St
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2744

Cost: $30.00

Time: 4PM

Purchase Tickets







Seven wines and seven dishes - featuring Lucky 7 wines

Thursday, January 28, 2010

"Seven and Seven" Featuring Lucky 7 Wines

"Over a Glass" & "Four and a Bottle" show taping, drinking and eating

Sunday, February 28, 2010

After taking January off, we're back with another day of tastings and tapings. This time, we're going to do a speed tasting approach where we have seven tables, seven wines and seven dishes. Don't worry, we won't rotate you, but we'll rotate the wines and the dishes. We're taking over Mission Grill restaurant again, and we'll be filming an episode of "Over a Glass" and an episode of "Four and a Bottle."

In Over a Glass, Zach will bring wine to which Al will pair the food. All in attendance will be seated and enjoy each course and be interviewed as to their reactions and/or impressions on the wine and the food. The wine during this session will be those under the Lucky 7 label. These wines are from the Rapel Valley in Chile. I can tell you that I love their Carmenere, and the Cabernet Sauvignon shows promise. At present, while Al has come up with a preliminary menu for the event, it might change, as well also might have some single guest chefs at the event as well.

For that don't know about Four and a Bottle, we take four chefs who will each construct a dish on the fly given a glass of wine to taste. Several audience diners will be chosen to participate, being served both the wine and small plates of all four creations.

Summarily, all in attendance will enjoy seven wines (3 oz. pours; we can't have you guys getting into accidents) and seven dishes. Tickets are $30 per person. For those of you that have attended past events, you know that you get your money's worth, and in this, you'll also be on our shows (7 3 oz. pours of wine would run you at least $35 not including tax and tip).

For more information, you can call me at 215-474-1911 or contact me. Space is limited to twenty-eight people per seating. All tickets must be purchased in advance of the taping date.

Mission Grille
1835 Arch St
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2744

Cost: $30.00

Time: 2 PM

Purchase Tickets





Latest Reviews

A great Beringer, different vintage, different price, better taste

Brand NameBeringer
Wine NameNapa Valley Chardonnay
AVANapa Valley
CountryUnited States
Wine ClassWhite
Wine TypeChardonnay
Alcohol Percentage14.1%
Price$10 - $20s
Site Rating9 (on a scale of 1-10)

I have loved Beringer Napa Valley for the past two years, but I have wondered why the price per bottle has increased by about two dollars.

However, this time around, I noticed a very different taste. It was more smoky and decadent. I then had to look back and see my past reviews to see that this wine was two vintages past the old wine. In fact, this wine reminds me of a Beringer that is the Private Reserve Chardonnay, which is about $26 a bottle, if not $30.

The most heavy aspect of the flavor is the oak, but thankfully, it's not buttery. The next is the spice component, but I honestly would think Allspice versus anything else. I can't taste the fruits, but the back of the bottle says pear, apple and citrus; actually, the oak and spice overwhelm me in a good way.


Sauv Blanc with a peach aspect

Brand NameConcannon Vineyards
Wine NameSauvignon Blanc
AVACentral Coast
CountryUnited States
Wine ClassWhite
Wine TypeSauvignon Blanc
Alcohol Percentage13.5%
Price$10 and Unders
Site Rating9 (on a scale of 1-10)

Every now and then, I get to try something that's a little bit different. While I have not met many French Sauvignon Blancs that I have thought highly of, they are all different than the typical New World interpretations of the wine. This New World Sauv Blanc comes from California, namely Concannon Vineyards, whose Petit Sirah I particularly love.

The first thing that you get is the aroma, or the nose, which is resplendent of the smell of white flowers. In taking the wine into your mouth, you get the slight obscurence of citrus mixed in with a heavy dose of laid back peach (Al says that it's almost a green peach; I honestly don't know if this fruit exists -- note, he says it's an unripe peach, but I am reminded of white peach). Also, it has a nice semi-sweetness.

The body is medium, with a not too thick viscosity.

This wine is definitely a delight, and I can't wait to talk to my connection with the winery tomorrow.


Dry and spicy, but sexily saucy after decanting

Brand NameAgricolas Aguaza
Wine NameSa Ra Da
AVAAlmansa
CountrySpain
Wine ClassRed
Wine TypeRed Blend
Alcohol Percentage14%
Price$10 and Unders
Site Rating8 (on a scale of 1-10)

It's winter, and as that I have been trying to try more red wines lately. The key thing that I am seeing with a lot of more interesting reds, regardless of the price is that you have to adequately let them breathe, and that means decanting them for at least thirty minutes to an hour. And in this case, this started as a wine that I hated, but forced myself to try different ways.

I can't tell you what's in this wine because no matter where I search, I don't get a good answer; I am thinking that the prime grape is Monastrell. This is an extremely dry wine, heavy with tannins, but on the flip side, there is a spicyness combined with the taste of currants. The spice being more indicative of nutmeg and ground sage.

This wine is for dry wine lovers only.


Innocent my ass!!!!

Brand NameShinas Estate
Wine NameThe Innocent
AVAVictoria
CountryAustralia
Wine ClassWhite
Wine TypeViognier
Alcohol Percentage14.1%
Price$10 - $20s
Site Rating10 (on a scale of 1-10)

I first heard of Shinas Estate as least one year ago, from a friend that told me about their Shiraz called 'The Guilty.' Well, lately I have been on a Viognier [as well as Pinot Gris] bent and I just had to try this one.

Now, I will tell you that I haven't found a French produced Viognier that I love, yet alone like, but it seems that all of the New World versions of this wine are wonderful to me.

This wine is awesome and all-consuming in its intensity (14.1%) and it all comes from one vineyard. The aroma contains minerality as well as exotic orchid essence. The taste is typical viognier, with a weird concoction of exotic flavors that seem like passion fruit mixed with a little dash of coconut and God knows what else that I can't identify.

This wine is great for something like a nice seafood salad, anything chilled (artichoke hearts), or some nicely herbed poultry.


Very good but not orgasmic... but close

Brand NameJam Jar
Wine NameSweet Shiraz
AVAWestern Cape
CountrySouth Africa
Wine ClassRed
Wine TypeSyrah/Shiraz
Alcohol Percentage12.5%
Price$10 and Unders
Site Rating9 (on a scale of 1-10)

I just had to pick up this bottle several months ago because it was different; I mean, 'Sweet Shiraz,' WTF!?! I saved it for a special occasion, and dared someone to drink it with me. They said that it's a 9 and not a 10, so that's what we're going to go with.

This wine retains the color of a great red; deep purple in color. The body is light, but the taste is very fulfilling. It's very fruity; blueberries, raspberries, etc. It's sweet, but not as sugary or sweet as a traditional dessert wine. Lena says that it's a wine that you can't stop drinking.

I would consider this wine a 'Ladykiller' and as Lena and the bottle both say, this would be great with cheese, or a cheeseburger.



 

Our Mission: The Black Winer strives to expose African Americans [and others] to wines, without the flair, stuffiness, and airs of elitism and snobbery that you get from sommeliers and high level wine enthusiasts. We believe in finding something that you like the taste of, outside of the basic brands that you have been force-fed over the years through a combination of ethnically targeted advertising, and what people in your family have historically been drinking.

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