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Extra!! Extra!! Ancient document discovery

Written by Fred McMillin, Northside Wine Editor

Tuesday, 31 May 2005

A.D. 1220 tasting: Reviewing some very old translations, I found there was a tasting of Persian wines by one judge. He gave BEST OF TASTING to a wine from Shiraz (today also called Syrah). The wine judge was ... GENGHIS KHAN! Footnote: I’m probably the only U.S.A. wine writer who has sipped Shiraz wine in that “city of roses and nightingales, cypresses and wine.” It was red, rustic and very exciting. If you wish to sip an affordable Shiraz while contemplating all of this, for only $11 buy the Beaulieu Coastal Estates Shiraz. Genghis would have ordered a case. In praise of Pinot ... “SIDEWAYS” SIPPING Northside reader Lily Carp: “Movie critics praised the film Sideways. Sideways praised the wine from Pinot Noir grapes. Please recommend a good affordable Pinot.” OK. Here are the best Pinots under $30 that we’ve tasted in my classes lately. The best bottle is listed last. Pinot Noir: Six Sizzlers • 6th – Pavona, Monterey, 1999, $18 • 5th – Trinchero Montone, Napa Valley, 2003, $25 • 4th – Kenwood, Russian River, 2002, $17 • 3rd – La Crema, Sonoma Coast, 2000, $25 • 2nd – Bargetto, Regan Vineyard, 1999, $25 • 1st – Edna Valley Vineyard,Paragon, 2003, $16 Postscript: If one decides to tiptoe warily into the $50 range, these are terrific: King Estate’s Domaine Pinot (Oregon) and Gary Farrell’s Allen Vineyard Pinot. Bargain Wine Classes ... in Honolulu or at Fort Mason??? Two-Hour Tasting of California Chardonnays: At our Ft. Mason class: $40 At Honolulu golf clubhouse: $150! So, if you prefer the $40 price, here’s our June schedule (20 wines; Saturdays). To register, phone (415) 561-1860. • June 6 – Basics for Beginners • June 13 – Taste the Terms (a wine that’s supple, that’s closed, etc.) • June 20 – Napa vs. Sonoma Wines • June 27 – New Releases vs. Earlier Vintages Postscript – In Hawaii, that chardonnay tasting was followed 30 minutes later by another $150 tasting of cabernet sauvignon vintages by a winery we all know well ... PLUMPJACK! It was conducted by PlumpJack general manager John Conover. Northside Casts Its SPELL! While recommending David Bruce wines, this column also pointed with pride to the fact that our friend, Warren Chancellor, had invented a new putting grip called THE CLAW ... and that pro golfer Chris DiMarco had just won $750,000 using it. The week after our column appeared, Chris used it in winning another $750,000 ... $756,000 to be precise. And then the very next week a pro from Australia using THE CLAW here in the U.S.A. won nearly a million dollars. Stay tuned. A Final Wine Smile ... Speaking of SPELLS Seventeen-year-old Janet finished her homework, and before retiring, slipped out into the family vineyard to have a few goodnight grapes. A muffled voice called, “Help, help.” It appeared to be coming from a tiny turtle on the ground. Janet: “A talking turtle? Well, how can I help?” Turtle: “I’m a handsome football star, but a wicked witch cast her spell and made me a turtle.” Janet: “How can we break the spell?” Turtle: “Just put me under your pillow tonight and the spell will be broken.” She did. The next morning her mother came in to wake her up to go to school, and sure enough, the spell was broken. The turtle had turned back into the handsome football star! P.S.: Her mother doesn’t believe there ever was a turtle. Summertime, and the Sipping is Easy OUTDOOR EATING ... picnics ... patio pizza ... barbecues. Here are solid guidelines for selecting wines that will add to the excitement. Some don’ts: DON’T serve pink wines. Three out of four members of my wine classes don’t like ‘em. Not enough oomph. DON’T serve expensive bottles. Outdoor wines are not for contemplation. Save your $90 D.R. Stephens Napa Cab for a serious setting. Stay in the $10 range with names like Bogle or Meridian ... or second labels of fine wineries such as Steele’s SHOOTING STAR, Geyer Peak’s CANYON ROAD, or J. Lohr’s CYPRESS (a student just bought a case of their $10 chardonnay). Now let’s pair some food with affordable bottles. Fish and Fowl – chardonnay – that Cypress or a $5 Falling Star, imported by Wildman from Argentina. Or, pour the trendy pinot grigio (or gris) by Meridian, or the $10 Gabbiano imported by Beringer Blass. All should be chilled. Barbecue, pizza, etc. – serve a red wine. The stronger the dish, the stronger the wine. Here are affordable current releases that will please you and your quests. The lighter are listed first. •Valpolicella by Bolla, $9 •Pinot Noir by Mirassou, $11 •Syrah, Leapinq Horse (2nd label of Ironstone), $5 •Syrah, Canyon Road, $10 •Blue Franc by Shooting Star, $12 •Old Vines Zinfandel, Sobon, $13 •Merlot by Barton and Guestier, France, $7 •Mourvedre, Chateau La Paws (2nd label of Rosenblum), $11 Fred McMillin was voted one of the U.S.A.’s 22 best wine writers by the Academy of Wine Communications. If questions, phone him at (415) 563-5712.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 31 May 2005 )