The Feiring Line

Entering the World and Love Nose First

Could you share some stories of how a friendship or a relationship broke up or never got started because the object of potential affection (or fraternization) could not understand your sense of smell or your palate and how that ultimately was the symbol of deeper issues? Such as, could you ever get into bed with a someone who wore Opium or who put a nose in a glass, smelled a big, fat stinking oaky fruit bomb laced with espresso and said, �terrific,� knocked it back and went for more?

Entering the World and Love Nose First

Could you share some stories of how a friendship or a relationship broke up or never got started because the object of potential affection (or fraternization) could not understand your sense of smell or your palate and how that ultimately was the symbol of deeper issues? Such as, could you ever get into bed with a someone who wore Opium or who put a nose in a glass, smelled a big, fat stinking oaky fruit bomb laced with espresso and said, �terrific,� knocked it back and went for more?

Jenny & Francois: The Spring '08 Tasting Report

The scene at the latest Jenny & Francois tasting? Energized. Wines showed well and there were plenty of slurpers and spitters getting down with them. Amongst the luminaries were Brooklyn Guy (http://brooklynguyloveswine.blogspot.com/), Ruben Sanz Ramiro from The Monday Room (his first taste of these wines, he was particularly enamoured by Domaine Rimbert from St. Chinian). Fifi (La Pere Pinard..etc.) and Jorge, of 360 fame and is now shaping the list an unlikely spot, Soho's Circle Rouge (I guess I have to show up there and see what he's up to). Dress was informal but all indications point to some version of rasta casing for hair meeting the snood as a look on the rise. Many thanks for Jenny for synching the tasting handouts with the sequence of the wines. Brilliant. All of this meant that Alice was far less confused! If I were putting together my next wine list, these are the wines I would choose. CHAMPERS!! Lassaigne Brut. One of my favorites. I bowed to it and went down the line. OUDIN CHABLIS VAUGIRAUT '04 Just adore the Vaugiraut. Yum. A mineral blast. A classic crystal and steel chard. AUDREY & CHRISTIAN BINNER The 04's from this Alsatian house are brilliant. *Pinot Gris is refreshing. *Katzenthal Riesling is got a long grip and layers of flowers and petrol. *Gewurtztraminer: a great one for people with fear of Gewurtz. Very dry with the appeal of a gin &tonic. PEYRA COTES D'AUVERGNES, SG �04 Geek alert wine: For those who are mourning the financial demise of Stephane Majeaune there are three more vintages on the way, made in the trendy, hard-core Jules Chauvet method. Though I defy anyone to ident the grape in the bottle, it is a great drink and a text book illustration of how a vin naturel differs from the conventional, even the conventional �natural.� It is twiggy, earth meets currant and delivers plenty of puppy breath while still managing to intrigue. BOBINETE SAUMUR-CHAMPIGNY '06 I admit I didn't love his first two vintages, but now all has quieted down and was much impressed. The wine is a mouthful, has a bit of barnyard brett to flesh out some ripe green/red pepper. DOMAIN DE LA PATIENCE, ST. GUILHEM MERLOT �05 By the glass alert. A merlot that is woodsy with a nice dollop of tar and edge, reminds me of a great 1970's zinfandel. ROMANEAUX-DESTEZET Herv Souhaut�s Souteronne is old vine Gamay. The �05 is edgy and lush with more syrah animal than gamay floral. The �06 syrah has got a nice flash of horse, chalk, dander and white pepper. Admittedly, both should be labeled-- geek alert�for for those who love Dard & Ribo? Enough said. L'ANGLORE LES TRAVERSES '06 Another one with Chauvet style little extraction and you've got to wonder, white or ros? But the flavor delivers with interest and elegance... hard to spot the syrah--supposedly is 60%? CAVES ESTZARGUES I love this Southern Rhone cooperative. I really do like the '06 Les Grandes Vignes cheap, typical rhone fruit, and reliable and interesting but�..the star is��.. BAG IN THE BOX!!! 3 liters are wrapped up in a plain brown wrapper. They call it From the Tank. If I had a restaurant I'd pour the crap out of this wine. It is perfect. Be a nice guy, sell it for $5 a glass and make your customers happy. (Hey, I'd serve it for parties, or keep it on hand for nightly tipples.) The finish is slightly loose, but it's got enough licorice, tar and white pepper to keep it going. DEUX ANES: I've writen about these wines from Corbieres often. Licorice marks all three wines. The '06 Premier Pas is easy to love. The '05 Fontanilles has a slight skunk but great texture, some sand, and acidity. L'Enclos is brooding. JEAN LOUIS TRIBOULEY L'ALBA '03. No, not THAT Alaba! This is from the Roussillon. A dense red wine with plenty of power and spice to have a touch of peach. Go figure. CLOS DES CAMUZEILLES VdP Always a fan of Laurent Tibes' wines. This is all carignan, and it's tense and animal with a touch of hay and honey.

Jenny & Francois: The Spring '08 Tasting Report

The scene at the latest Jenny & Francois tasting? Energized. Wines showed well and there were plenty of slurpers and spitters getting down with them. Amongst the luminaries were ... Brooklyn Guy , Ruben Sanz Ramiro from The Monday Room (his first taste of these wines, he was particularly charmed by Domaine Rimbert from St. Chinian). Fifi (La Pere Pinard..etc.) and Jorge, of 360 fame and is now shaping the list an unlikely spot, Le Cercle Rouge (I guess I have to show up there and see what he's up to). Dress was informal but all indications point to some version of rasta casing for hair meeting the snood as a look on the rise. Many thanks for Jenny for synching the tasting handouts with the sequence of the wines. Brilliant. All of this meant that Alice was far less confused! If I were putting together my next wine list, these are the wines I would choose. CHAMPERS!! Lassaigne Brut. One of my favorites. I bowed to it and went down the line. OUDIN CHABLIS VAUGIRAUT '04 Just adore the Vaugiraut. Yum. A mineral blast. A classic crystal and steel chard. AUDREY & CHRISTIAN BINNER The 04's from this Alsatian house are brilliant. *Pinot Gris is refreshing. *Katzenthal Riesling is got a long grip and layers of flowers and petrol. *Gewurtztraminer: a great one for people with fear of Gewurtz. Very dry with the appeal of a gin &tonic. PEYRA COTES D'AUVERGNES, SG �04 Geek alert wine: For those who are mourning the financial demise of Stephane Majeaune there are three more vintages on the way, made in the trendy, hard-core Jules Chauvet method. Though I defy anyone to ident the grape in the bottle, it is a great drink and a text book illustration of how a vin naturel differs from the conventional, even the conventional �natural.� It is twiggy, earth meets currant and delivers plenty of puppy breath while still managing to intrigue. BOBINETE SAUMUR-CHAMPIGNY '06 I admit I didn't love his first two vintages, but now all has quieted down and was much impressed. The wine is a mouthful, has a bit of barnyard brett to flesh out some ripe green/red pepper. DOMAIN DE LA PATIENCE, ST. GUILHEM MERLOT �05 By the glass alert. A merlot that is woodsy with a nice dollop of tar and edge, reminds me of a great 1970's zinfandel. ROMANEAUX-DESTEZET Herv Souhaut�s Souteronne is old vine Gamay. The �05 is edgy and lush with more syrah animal than gamay floral. The �06 syrah has got a nice flash of horse, chalk, dander and white pepper. Admittedly, both should be labeled-- geek alert�for for those who love Dard & Ribo? Enough said. L'ANGLORE LES TRAVERSES '06 Another one with Chauvet style little extraction and you've got to wonder, white or ros? But the flavor delivers with interest and elegance... hard to spot the syrah--supposedly is 60%? CAVES ESTZARGUES I love this Southern Rhone cooperative. I really do like the '06 Les Grandes Vignes cheap, typical rhone fruit, and reliable and interesting but�..the star is��.. BAG IN THE BOX!!! 3 liters are wrapped up in a plain brown wrapper. They call it From the Tank. If I had a restaurant I'd pour the crap out of this wine. It is perfect. Be a nice guy, sell it for $5 a glass and make your customers happy. (Hey, I'd serve it for parties, or keep it on hand for nightly tipples.) The finish is slightly loose, but it's got enough licorice, tar and white pepper to keep it going. DEUX ANES: I've writen about these wines from Corbieres often. Licorice marks all three wines. The '06 Premier Pas is easy to love. The '05 Fontanilles has a slight skunk but great texture, some sand, and acidity. L'Enclos is brooding. JEAN LOUIS TRIBOULEY L'ALBA '03. No, not THAT Alaba! This is from the Roussillon. A dense red wine with plenty of power and spice to have a touch of peach. Go figure. CLOS DES CAMUZEILLES VdP Always a fan of Laurent Tibes' wines. This is all carignan, and it's tense and animal with a touch of hay and honey.

Jenny & Francois: The Spring '08 Tasting Report

The scene at the latest Jenny & Francois tasting? Energized. Wines showed well and there were plenty of slurpers and spitters getting down with them. Amongst the luminaries were ... Brooklyn Guy , Ruben Sanz Ramiro from The Monday Room (his first taste of these wines, he was particularly charmed by Domaine Rimbert from St. Chinian). Fifi (La Pere Pinard..etc.) and Jorge, of 360 fame and is now shaping the list an unlikely spot, Le Cercle Rouge (I guess I have to show up there and see what he's up to). Dress was informal but all indications point to some version of rasta casing for hair meeting the snood as a look on the rise. Many thanks for Jenny for synching the tasting handouts with the sequence of the wines. Brilliant. All of this meant that Alice was far less confused! If I were putting together my next wine list, these are the wines I would choose. CHAMPERS!! Lassaigne Brut. One of my favorites. I bowed to it and went down the line. OUDIN CHABLIS VAUGIRAUT '04 Just adore the Vaugiraut. Yum. A mineral blast. A classic crystal and steel chard. AUDREY & CHRISTIAN BINNER The 04's from this Alsatian house are brilliant. *Pinot Gris is refreshing. *Katzenthal Riesling is got a long grip and layers of flowers and petrol. *Gewurtztraminer: a great one for people with fear of Gewurtz. Very dry with the appeal of a gin &tonic. PEYRA COTES D'AUVERGNES, SG �04 Geek alert wine: For those who are mourning the financial demise of Stephane Majeaune there are three more vintages on the way, made in the trendy, hard-core Jules Chauvet method. Though I defy anyone to ident the grape in the bottle, it is a great drink and a text book illustration of how a vin naturel differs from the conventional, even the conventional �natural.� It is twiggy, earth meets currant and delivers plenty of puppy breath while still managing to intrigue. BOBINETE SAUMUR-CHAMPIGNY '06 I admit I didn't love his first two vintages, but now all has quieted down and was much impressed. The wine is a mouthful, has a bit of barnyard brett to flesh out some ripe green/red pepper. DOMAIN DE LA PATIENCE, ST. GUILHEM MERLOT �05 By the glass alert. A merlot that is woodsy with a nice dollop of tar and edge, reminds me of a great 1970's zinfandel. ROMANEAUX-DESTEZET Herv Souhaut�s Souteronne is old vine Gamay. The �05 is edgy and lush with more syrah animal than gamay floral. The �06 syrah has got a nice flash of horse, chalk, dander and white pepper. Admittedly, both should be labeled-- geek alert�for for those who love Dard & Ribo? Enough said. L'ANGLORE LES TRAVERSES '06 Another one with Chauvet style little extraction and you've got to wonder, white or ros? But the flavor delivers with interest and elegance... hard to spot the syrah--supposedly is 60%? CAVES ESTZARGUES I love this Southern Rhone cooperative. I really do like the '06 Les Grandes Vignes cheap, typical rhone fruit, and reliable and interesting but�..the star is��.. BAG IN THE BOX!!! 3 liters are wrapped up in a plain brown wrapper. They call it From the Tank. If I had a restaurant I'd pour the crap out of this wine. It is perfect. Be a nice guy, sell it for $5 a glass and make your customers happy. (Hey, I'd serve it for parties, or keep it on hand for nightly tipples.) The finish is slightly loose, but it's got enough licorice, tar and white pepper to keep it going. DEUX ANES: I've writen about these wines from Corbieres often. Licorice marks all three wines. The '06 Premier Pas is easy to love. The '05 Fontanilles has a slight skunk but great texture, some sand, and acidity. L'Enclos is brooding. JEAN LOUIS TRIBOULEY L'ALBA '03. No, not THAT Alaba! This is from the Roussillon. A dense red wine with plenty of power and spice to have a touch of peach. Go figure. CLOS DES CAMUZEILLES VdP Always a fan of Laurent Tibes' wines. This is all carignan, and it's tense and animal with a touch of hay and honey.

Alice Expunged From eBob

Just in from a reader in Oregon about the eRobertparker.com forum. "If you attempt to type "Feiring" it gets completely asterisked out." Just for fun, I did a little search on my name on the site, and sure enough, old threads on my stories, like my irrigation story and there it is Alice *******. Good going guys. So, I'm sure there are others but, they blocked Jeremy Parzen from signing up, they kicked off Lyle Fass and Bill Nanson of The Burgundy Report......but they let Jamie Goode post? I guess he's not said anything to piss them off. What's that section from my book? Here it is, straight from the pages of Chapter 8, "My Date With Bob." Parker: "I have always believed in diversity of opinion,� he told me as if he had gone through these speech oh-so-many times. �I mean, I never commented on that woman�s book (Elin Mccoy�s biography, The Emperor of Taste) but the one real annoying thing that was totally untrue she said about me is that I have thin skin, that I don�t accept criticism and I go after wine writers." Isn't it lucky that the powers that run the eBob board are into wine and not running for office?

Alice Expunged From eBob

Just in from a reader in Oregon about the eRobertparker.com forum. "If you attempt to type "Feiring" it gets completely asterisked out." Just for fun, I did a little search on my name on the site, and sure enough, old threads on my stories, like my irrigation story and there it is Alice *******. Good going guys. So, I'm sure there are others but, they blocked Jeremy Parzen from signing up, they kicked off Lyle Fass and Bill Nanson of The Burgundy Report......but they let Jamie Goode post? I guess he's not said anything to piss them off. What's that section from my book? Here it is, straight from the pages of Chapter 8, "My Date With Bob." Parker: "I have always believed in diversity of opinion,� he told me as if he had gone through these speech oh-so-many times. �I mean, I never commented on that woman�s book (Elin Mccoy�s biography, The Emperor of Taste) but the one real annoying thing that was totally untrue she said about me is that I have thin skin, that I don�t accept criticism and I go after wine writers." Isn't it lucky that the powers that run the eBob board are into wine and not running for office?

Pontet-Canet and Wine Spectator

I'm about to hit the sack but had a moment of journalistic scratch the head and ponder....but..but...when are wine journalists going to measure up to real journalists? We're all fallible. And, in this case I would guess it was an editorial decision, because, how else could Jo Cooke, write a story about the commitment of Pontet-Cantet to make �better wine� and NOT mention Michel Rolland is the consultant? This is like saying Spitzer was gunning for prostitution but not mentioning he visits them. That aside, and I do try to keep real politics out of this blog. Really I do. If Spitzer had been nailed, I'd have rather it was for taking handouts from Southern.

Pontet-Canet and Wine Spectator

I'm about to hit the sack but had a moment of journalistic scratch the head and ponder....but..but...when are wine journalists going to measure up to real journalists? We're all fallible. And, in this case I would guess it was an editorial decision, because, how else could Jo Cooke, write a story about the commitment of Pontet-Cantet to make �better wine� and NOT mention Michel Rolland is the consultant? This is like saying Spitzer was gunning for prostitution but not mentioning he visits them. That aside, and I do try to keep real politics out of this blog. Really I do. If Spitzer had been nailed, I'd have rather it was for taking handouts from Southern.

Adour--Part Two

The youngster who had 'trained' at Cru and Chanterelle, yet couldn't figure out how to present the bottles before and after decorking, said that there was no room to open wine bottles tableside. For older, more delicate bottles, a steady surface for cork extraction is useful. In this case what should have happened was: present the bottle and soon reemerge with the empty bottle (evidence!) and the full decanter. Our wine service experience went up with a whimper and down with a thud. Do I suspect as SFJoe that the 'sommelier' was trying to push the corked --"cooked" wine on the poor unsuspecting? I suppose it's possible, especially when you consider he saw me as a freak for ordering the LdH and perhaps he took that as a green light to push flawed wine on me. More likely he didn't catch it, which is odd because he talked of the wine as if he was quite familiar with it. So if you go, you might find the bar amusing which has an electronic wine list in the bar. Cute, but difficult to get working. Best to (so far) by pass food, get a plate of cheese some bread and ask for your decanter,bring in your own corkscrew and do it yourself, but the list is terrific, and one of the more unusual groupings is a vertical of Eyrie Vineyards. 11 vintages from 2002 -1975 (which they had listed for $1100, which does't strike me as a bargain at all--but I would love to taste it).