http://www.winespectator.com/RSS/blog_rss/0,4234,,00.xml Wine Spectator Online - Blog Posts en-us Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:03:59 EST Copyright 2008, Wine Spectator Online wsonline@mshanken.com Some Australian wine observers believe that blends of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are better than either varietal on its own. There's even a wine competition exclusively for those wines, called The Great Australian Red, the brainchild of Tyson Stelzer (who contributes articles from Australia for Wine Spectator ). http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Detail/0,4211,2287,00.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Harvey Steiman<wsonline@mshanken.com> Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:45:47 EST I drank hundreds of great wines last year and it's impossible for me to single out one wine or experience or memory over another. I shared great wines with my colleagues, complete strangers and close friends. I drank serious wines in blind tastings at work. http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Detail/0,4211,2285,00.html?CMP=OTC-RSS James Laube<wsonline@mshanken.com> Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:35:24 EST As you may know from reading my recent posts, I have been in Southern California for the last week with my two children to visit their grandparents. I surprisingly have done a lot of cooking. It has been out of survival, for the most part, because my mother is not a very good cook, though she has other good qualities. http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Detail/0,4211,2286,00.html?CMP=OTC-RSS James Suckling<wsonline@mshanken.com> Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:58:21 EST I just read a story from the Sunday Times of London that Ch&acirc;teau Latour, the famous first-growth estate in Bordeaux, is looking for a buyer. And I had to laugh. Anything is possible, but I know that it isn't. In fact, I heard that Latour's owner, Francois Pinault, the French fashion magnate, is looking to buy another property in Bordeaux at the moment. http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Detail/0,4211,2284,00.html?CMP=OTC-RSS James Suckling<wsonline@mshanken.com> Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:37:55 EST Posted by 1 Now that the 2008 Tuscany harvest has come to an end and the wines are tucked away in the barrels, it is time to develop an initial conclusion. I must say that I am really happy about this vintage. I just tasted all the wines from 2008 yesterday, and I'm convinced we all did a great job. http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Detail/0,4211,2283,00.html?CMP=OTC-RSS 2008 Harvest<wsonline@mshanken.com> Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:02:22 EST My good friend Trish is co-hosting a fancy New Year's Eve party here in Napa. It's a black-tie affair, with a sit-down dinner for 50, followed by dancing, and if I know Trish, her party will rock til dawn. She has hired a limo service for the entire evening so no one has to drive. http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Detail/0,4211,2282,00.html?CMP=OTC-RSS James Laube<wsonline@mshanken.com> Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:08:36 EST A few years back, my wife and I left a big New Year's Eve party early. The music was great, the crowd was pleasant, but we realized we hardly knew anyone there and we were tired. We got home in time to open a bottle of 1, pour a couple of glasses and settle into our hot tub under a nearly full moon as the echoes of fireworks and cheers of "Happy New Year!" echoed on the hillsides of San Francisco. http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Detail/0,4211,2281,00.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Harvey Steiman<wsonline@mshanken.com> Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:46:25 EST The wines I drank last night were very good, even excellent. I opted for two Syrahs that I had never tasted but were mentioned in 1: 2006 Owen Roe Syrah Ex Umbris Columbia Valley ($27) and Kinton Syrah Santa Barbara County ($22). Granted, these were not cheap bottles of wine. http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Detail/0,4211,2280,00.html?CMP=OTC-RSS James Suckling<wsonline@mshanken.com> Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:41:24 EST Posted by 1 A friend of mine, Eddie Pisoni, passed away last week. And while it is sad for me and for the many others that knew Eddie, it really wasn't tragic. Eddie was 90 years old and had health problems for quite a few years. In spite of these, he continued to live a full life. http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Blogs/Blog_Detail/0,4211,2279,00.html?CMP=OTC-RSS 2008 Harvest<wsonline@mshanken.com> Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:20:01 EST