To celebrate the birth of my friend Jim’s first child, we decided to celebrate with our wives over dinner and our best bottles. He brought the Opus One, TheWife and I brought the Freemark Abbey -- and the results were spectacular. This joyous celebration of new life was enhanced by massive California cabernet flavors. I gave a slight edge to the Freemark Abbey, but both were amazing. Today, the celebrated child has grown into a wonderful young man, and the memories of those bottles also live on.
Best, Joe Plonk
Click for Drink Plonk Home Page
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Top Five Glasses of Wine (#4 -- 1994 Colgin Herb Lamb Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon)
It was the perfect opportunity to make a statement. While at an important business dinner at Jean George in New York in 1997, my host passed the wine list to me. I was up to the challenge, ordering a wonderful 1991 Robert Sinskey Pinot Noir to go with appetizers followed by the 1994 Colgin Herb Lamb Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for the main course. Joe Plonk is never shy when it comes to ordering expensive wine on somebody else’s business account. At that time, Colgin Cellars wasn’t the household name that it was today, and it was my first experience with this “cult” wine also. Eyebrows were raised when the sommelier approached with the bottle with lipstick on the label. This wine did not disappoint, and made me a hero to those at the table. I even received a nice note back from Anne Colgin responding to an email about my story.
The Colgin had incredibly concentrated fruit flavors were both supple and rich, with the perfect balance of earth and chocolate on the finish. While somewhat tight right out of the bottle, its freakishly vibrant flavors have remained on my pallet to this day, and is perhaps the greatest wine I have ever tasted. With its current price for the latest vintage at $290 per bottle, this is a bittersweet memory since…well… you know…
Best, Joe Plonk
Click for Drink Plonk Home Page
The Colgin had incredibly concentrated fruit flavors were both supple and rich, with the perfect balance of earth and chocolate on the finish. While somewhat tight right out of the bottle, its freakishly vibrant flavors have remained on my pallet to this day, and is perhaps the greatest wine I have ever tasted. With its current price for the latest vintage at $290 per bottle, this is a bittersweet memory since…well… you know…
Best, Joe Plonk
Click for Drink Plonk Home Page
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Top Five Glasses of Wine (#5 -- 2001 Castello di Nipozzano Riserva, from Marchesi de' Frescobaldi)
Today starts a series of postings in which I will share stories about my Top Five favorite glasses of wine. These wine experiences rank at the top of my list based on both the wine and the overall drinking experience.
Starting at #5 is the Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, 2001 Castello di Nipozzano, Riserva. TheWife and I had spent a wonderful day enjoying the beauties of Venice with close friends who were living in Italy. After visiting many of the tourist sites, our hosts took us to a “locals” wine bar that was a fifteen minute walk from the Rialto Bridge. We were warmly greeted (no English spoken here), and served with a plate of stinky cheese, hairy salami and grappa. The rocket-fuel taste of the grappa helped make the wine that followed it all the more enjoyable. Our friend ordered 2001 Castello di Nipozzano Riserva, a wine of one of my favorite importers Marchesi de' Frescobaldi. The wine was deep ruby red in color with a long, complex fruit finish. This wonderful wine capped a fantastic day with friends in a magical setting. Molto bene!
Best, Joe Plonk
Click for Drink Plonk Home Page
Starting at #5 is the Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, 2001 Castello di Nipozzano, Riserva. TheWife and I had spent a wonderful day enjoying the beauties of Venice with close friends who were living in Italy. After visiting many of the tourist sites, our hosts took us to a “locals” wine bar that was a fifteen minute walk from the Rialto Bridge. We were warmly greeted (no English spoken here), and served with a plate of stinky cheese, hairy salami and grappa. The rocket-fuel taste of the grappa helped make the wine that followed it all the more enjoyable. Our friend ordered 2001 Castello di Nipozzano Riserva, a wine of one of my favorite importers Marchesi de' Frescobaldi. The wine was deep ruby red in color with a long, complex fruit finish. This wonderful wine capped a fantastic day with friends in a magical setting. Molto bene!
Best, Joe Plonk
Click for Drink Plonk Home Page
Thursday, February 12, 2009
McMansion Coming to a Vineyard Near You…
The Santa Clara Valley has a wonderful history of producing world class wines. Founded here was California’s first winery (Almaden Vineyards), and local wine luminaries include Charles Le Franc, Paul Masson, Martin Ray, Norbert Mirassou, Paul Draper, David Bruce and others. Given its multitude of microclimates, the Santa Clara Valley has ideal growing conditions for many different varietals. Unfortunately, its glorious winegrowing history has given way to its other more profitable industry – computer technology. The last twenty years has seen explosive business and population growth in the Santa Clara Valley, now better known as the Silicon Valley.
Changes to the Santa Clara Valley have negatively impacted its wine industry. On every corner a new McMansion development has sprung up, where 3,000 foot houses are built on 3,001 foot lots. Getting to know your neighbor has become more and more difficult with the influx of people, even though you can reach out the window and plug his nose to stop his snoring. [Joe Plonk relocated to Santa Cruz county where only TheWife can hear his nocturnal purring.] Housing and land prices have risen dramatically, even though there has been some settling in recent months. Vineyards have been pulled out for housing developments at Almaden Winery in San Jose (brand relocated to Madera), Weibel Vineyards in Fremont (winery moved to Mendocino), and Mirassou in San Jose (brand sold to Gallo). And, don’t even think about trying to plant new vines near the Kathryn Kennedy vineyards unless your IPO has put you in the category of mega rich.
So, the next time you find yourself at the corner of Zinfandel Lane and Chardonnay Court, and you feel the urge to strangle the guy wearing a pocket protector, you’ll know why…
Best, Joe Plonk
Click for Drink Plonk Home Page
Changes to the Santa Clara Valley have negatively impacted its wine industry. On every corner a new McMansion development has sprung up, where 3,000 foot houses are built on 3,001 foot lots. Getting to know your neighbor has become more and more difficult with the influx of people, even though you can reach out the window and plug his nose to stop his snoring. [Joe Plonk relocated to Santa Cruz county where only TheWife can hear his nocturnal purring.] Housing and land prices have risen dramatically, even though there has been some settling in recent months. Vineyards have been pulled out for housing developments at Almaden Winery in San Jose (brand relocated to Madera), Weibel Vineyards in Fremont (winery moved to Mendocino), and Mirassou in San Jose (brand sold to Gallo). And, don’t even think about trying to plant new vines near the Kathryn Kennedy vineyards unless your IPO has put you in the category of mega rich.
So, the next time you find yourself at the corner of Zinfandel Lane and Chardonnay Court, and you feel the urge to strangle the guy wearing a pocket protector, you’ll know why…
Best, Joe Plonk
Click for Drink Plonk Home Page
Monday, February 9, 2009
Zinfandel Lovers on Facebook, but Not Who You Might Think….
Joe Plonk has finally joined the world of Facebook. Seeking like-minded Zin lovers, I searched its Groups for “Zinfandel” only to find there was already a party going on. Some of the sights, sounds and smells seemed familiar, but everything looked curiously strange. Now, Joe Plonk is loathe to throw rocks at anybody who truly enjoys any particular grape, bottling or producer. But, white zin is where I draw the line!
Appreciators of Blossom Hill White Zinfandel Rose Wine – 3,391 members
Ernest and Julio Gallo white zinfandel lovers society – 444 members
I Love White Zinfandel – 250 members
If you’ve joined one of these heathen Groups, I urge you to stop and go back. There is still time. A real Zinfandel (or Cabernet or Sauvignon Blanc or anything) is there waiting for you, and Joe Plonk will be there to help.
I'll be all around in the dark - I'll be everywhere. Wherever you can look - wherever there's a fight over a cork-pull, so thirsty people can drink, I'll be there. Wherever there's somebody from Beringer or Sutter Home beatin' up a guy who insists his Zinfandel sit on the skins, I'll be there. I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad. I'll be in the way people laugh when they're hungry and they know supper's ready but there’s only chilled white zin to be served - I'll be there, too. (Joe Plonk channeling Henry Fonda from the Grapes of Wrath.)
Best, Joe Plonk
Click for Drink Plonk Home Page
Appreciators of Blossom Hill White Zinfandel Rose Wine – 3,391 members
Ernest and Julio Gallo white zinfandel lovers society – 444 members
I Love White Zinfandel – 250 members
If you’ve joined one of these heathen Groups, I urge you to stop and go back. There is still time. A real Zinfandel (or Cabernet or Sauvignon Blanc or anything) is there waiting for you, and Joe Plonk will be there to help.
I'll be all around in the dark - I'll be everywhere. Wherever you can look - wherever there's a fight over a cork-pull, so thirsty people can drink, I'll be there. Wherever there's somebody from Beringer or Sutter Home beatin' up a guy who insists his Zinfandel sit on the skins, I'll be there. I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad. I'll be in the way people laugh when they're hungry and they know supper's ready but there’s only chilled white zin to be served - I'll be there, too. (Joe Plonk channeling Henry Fonda from the Grapes of Wrath.)
Best, Joe Plonk
Click for Drink Plonk Home Page
Friday, February 6, 2009
Oh, my sweet Charlotte!
The Charlotte Douglas International Airport includes a wine tasting bar which is wholly dedicated to the wines of Yadkin Valley (located about 60 miles north of the airport). The Yadkin Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area that encompasses seven counties of northwestern North Carolina including all of Wilkes, Surry, and Yadkin counties, and parts of Davie, Davidson, Forsyth and Stokes counties. With typical Charlotte regional flair, the tasting bar is located in at the airport between a Harley Davidson shop and a Starbucks – just down from a NASCAR exhibit.
Home to approximately 23 family run wineries, winegrowing in the region has grown to rival is neighbor Virginia in terms of quality and production. With the thankful decline of tobacco use, farming in this region has embraced winegrowing. In fact, the Plonk family cellar already includes the region’s most famous wine, the 2008 Brushy Mountain “Booger Swamp” White Wine, which was featured on The Jay Leno show last October.
More information about Yadkin Valley wines can be found at:
http://www.yadkinvalleywineries.com
http://www.yadkinvalleywinecountry.com
Best, Joe Plonk
Click for Drink Plonk Home Page
Home to approximately 23 family run wineries, winegrowing in the region has grown to rival is neighbor Virginia in terms of quality and production. With the thankful decline of tobacco use, farming in this region has embraced winegrowing. In fact, the Plonk family cellar already includes the region’s most famous wine, the 2008 Brushy Mountain “Booger Swamp” White Wine, which was featured on The Jay Leno show last October.
More information about Yadkin Valley wines can be found at:
http://www.yadkinvalleywineries.com
http://www.yadkinvalleywinecountry.com
Best, Joe Plonk
Click for Drink Plonk Home Page
Monday, February 2, 2009
Lambrusco on Ice?
Lambrusco is the name of both a red wine grape and Italian wine made principally from the grape of the same name. Lambrusco can be made dry or sweet, but is best known as a slighly-sweet wine made with a frizzante style (slight tingles but not bubbly like “champagne”). The wine originates primarily from four areas in Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy, around the provinces of Modena, Parma, Reggio nell’Emilia, and Mantua.
Many of us are familiar with Lambrusco only from the famous Riunite brand wine commercials of the 1980s (“Riunite on ice, so nice!"). But, despite its outright pummeling in the United States by wine critics, the Lambrusco is a lively red wine with strawberry notes that pairs well with a variety of foods. I recommend the Punnicci Lambrusco NV (available at major supermarkets), which delivers a wonderful drinking experience for about $6.
So nice!
Best, Joe Plonk
Click for Drink Plonk Home Page
Many of us are familiar with Lambrusco only from the famous Riunite brand wine commercials of the 1980s (“Riunite on ice, so nice!"). But, despite its outright pummeling in the United States by wine critics, the Lambrusco is a lively red wine with strawberry notes that pairs well with a variety of foods. I recommend the Punnicci Lambrusco NV (available at major supermarkets), which delivers a wonderful drinking experience for about $6.
So nice!
Best, Joe Plonk
Click for Drink Plonk Home Page
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