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I love asking winemakers this question because it forces them to talk about their strengths candidly but without bragging. So many winemakers say that their twenty dollar (retail) bottle is the hardest thing in the world to make… “so many punch overs” and “so many new French oak barrels to buy” they say! What this says to me is that they believe enough in their land that they are willing to invest in it, which means that they believe something special is in the terroir or soil that they must coax it out. I admire that greatly. The luck of nature and internal personal ambition is not easy to find.

On the other hand, so many winemakers say their $10 (retail) bottles are the hardest thing to make because “You have to do all the same steps as the expensive wine, but you have to do it faster and with more volume!” To me this says to me that they believe in the blueprints and foundation of their wines. That I admire greatly- “elbow grease” is hard to come by these days.

This is why I get really geeky excited about both cheap and expensive wine. I advertised “Bonarda” grapes the other day, and a woman asked me today why she loved her $9 bottle of wine so much- getting to tell her that she loved it because “Bonarda is a grape from Italy that found its home in the sunshine of Argentina, where it never has to worry about a bad vintage and gets to showcase its pomegranate and red plum juiciness” was really the most wonderful interaction I got to have with someone this week.

She loved the wine, and I loved that she loved it!

Argentina, Bonarda/Charbono, Gushing about Wine | No Comments

We did a little employee training in the shop this week, and filmed it for you so get to taste and know everything we know about Torrontes grapes.

Wine tasted: Finca El Origen Torrontes Reserva 2007 (though  almost any $10 to $20 Torrontes will work!)

Argentina, New World, T.B. Ackerson Wines, Torrontes, Wine Reviews | No Comments

“Argentina, Cahors, & More!”

Find out what Malbec is really all about! We cover the flavors, the history, and five fantastic bottles of everyone’s favorite grape.

Wines tasted include: Trumpeter Malbec, Teirra Divina Malbec,
Ique Malbec, Gouleyant Cahors Malbec, & Amancaya Malbec/Cabernet
Sauvignon.

Argentina, Cheap Drinks, France, Malbec, New World, T.B. Ackerson Wines, Uncategorized, Wine Reviews | No Comments

My friend, let’s call him Mustache Mike, is a very self-aware person. He reads Nabokov, and admits he doesn’t understand it. He listens Daft Punk, but doesn’t dance. He also loves Pinot Noir, but in his words, he know it’s “only because a movie told him to do it.” Mustache Mike is the person who introduced me to the Jelu Pinot Noir.

Where Pinot creates aromas of red fruit, the Jelu gives off aromas of purple fruit. Where Pinot is light and delicate, the Jelu is deep and muscular. It has been a hit at every dinner party I’ve ever attended (there was a year in which the Jelu Pinot Noir was the only wine, I ever bought to give to others… it was also the most popular I’ve ever been), and it has done well in blind tastings I’ve conducted in the store. I should probably get smart and start buying it by the case again this year… at least if I want people to like me.

Argentina, Pinot Noir, Wine Reviews | No Comments

I haven’t had this yet, but it is Argentine Malbec under $15 so I will guess that it tastes like juicy dark cherries and plums… possibly with a little smoke or pepper thrown in after the finish. Give it a shot and let me know what you think.

$11.99 at T.B. Ackerson

Argentina, Cheap Drinks, Malbec, Wine Reviews | No Comments