CHIANTI CLASSICO RISERVA
Chianti is the Bordeaux of Italy. Really?As a major fan of Bordeaux and lukewarm to anything Italian, it takes some significant rationalization to make this statement palatable for me. Those who proclaim so mean that Chianti has more freedom in their blends of varietals than elsewhere in Italy, somewhat like Bordeaux.Located in Tuscany and featuring mainly the Sangiovese grape, Chianti has a long history dating back to centuries. The traditional Chianti bland was created by Ricasoli (above photo) in the 19th century and was a blend of mostly Sangiovese with some Malvasia and Canaiolo mixed in. During the mid 20th[...]
AN INVITATION BY JANE JAFFE
I knew something was amiss when I received an invitation to the Jaffe's house. Peter Jaffe is the conductor and musical director of the Stockton Symphony. His wife Jane, a musicologist with a Ph. D. from the University of Chicago, annotates music programs. Over the years we've become friends and they have educated me - Jane in particular - on the finer details of concert music as they helped me prepare my music lectures for the Symphony.The last time I was invited to their house was in 2000, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Symphony. They had[...]
MIM’S BRAVO, CLAUDY HANIM, AND TURKISH CURIOSITY AMID REVISIONS
"I really liked this one," said the brief e-mail from Mim, "Bravo!"An attachment to her e mail contained my story entitled "On the Night Bus to Fethiye," liberally sprinkled with red revisions despite her brief proclamation. Usually the e mails that accompany her reviews are full of questions, criticisms and suggestions. This one came at a time when I had set aside my short story project to prepare a music lecture for the Stockton Symphony. At first I placed it into a file where I have been accumulating Mim's edits, to be reviewed later after she's done with them all,[...]
BACIGALUPI AND TO KALON; TWO FAMED VINEYARDS
Bacigalupi has become to the Russian River what To Kalon is to Napa.I have gradually reached this realization after several years of regular visits to the Russian River Valley. There are many for whom these names mean nothing. It will therefore take some explaining to impress upon my readers how remarkable this is.Vineyards all over the world have individual names. Many are code-names with letters and numbers, some are actual words. They are recognized only among those who work them or vinify their products. Some are special, enough receive mention on wine labels. Very few become world famous. To Kalon[...]
BILLECART BONANZA
At first I thought it was a fluke, possibly some post-New-Year's overstock sale at K&L, my main San Francisco wine shop. I happened to be there a couple of days after New Year's and noticed Billecart Brut, my favorite champagne on the shelf for around $ 45. I took two to the sales clerk. It usually sells for around $ 55. He told me that with my member discount it was actually $ 39.99. I returned home a bit astonished. Within a few days, after coming to grips with what had happened, I went on-line and ordered six more.When I[...]
SUBLIME WINE MOMENT, LIKE AN ENCOUNTER WITH RACQUEL WELCH
During a rather academic tasting of 2009 Bordeaux I was suddenly struck with a sensual pleasure, a sublime wine moment of the kind that is so rare as to be memorable for the rest of my life. It was one of those highly technical, partially blinded tastings where we all quietly sample a couple of ounces poured into half-a-dozen glasses and take notes, discussing each afterwards and unveiling them one at a time.We were at George Heron's house, a group of eight sampling six pre-decanted bottles from our own collections. I have a certain routine for this affair. First I[...]