Gang of Pour On Wine

More Wine with Friends

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 08:05:30 PDT

All kinds of stuff...

Hiking the Appellation Trail

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:15:30 PDT

And no, I wasn't in Argentina tasting Malbec.

Flora Springs Winery and Vineyards

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:15:30 PDT

As many of you know, I�m a card carrying member of the National Cynical Party, a distinction I wear rather proudly. I have, however, been completely won over by the wines, the people and the story of Flora Springs.

Domaine du Vissoux Beaujolais Cuvee Traditionnelle - A Survey of Recent Vintages

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:20:30 PDT

I am back with a survey of recent vintages of Domaine du Vissoux Beaujolais Vieilles Vignes Cuvee Traditionnelle -- a perennially satisfying wine, that has been a cellar and table staple at our house over the past six or seven vintages. Pierre Chermette produces a number of wines from his older vine holdings in Fleurie and Moulin a Vent, but the Cuvee Traditionnelle always strikes me as the most harmonious offering from year to year.

Alan Kerr's Vintage's June 20th Release - Tasting Notes

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:20:30 PDT

Summertime is here. The latest release of juice onto Vintages shelving is reflective of this, as it features barbeque friendly Malbecs from Argentina. Tasting them was a hoot until the similarity syndrome kicked in. However, there are a few good wines to be found especially those at the lower end of the price scale. Happy grilling.

Six New Wines By Bonny Doon

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:20:30 PDT

Hello fellow terroirists, I am writing to say how much we enjoy your inspired ravings here at Bonny Doon. How can we participate in the glorious fun that is Gang of Pour? Please illuminate me as to appropriate protocols and points of entry. Best,Burke

A Carlisle Tasting - Long Gone, Dead and Resurrected

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:45:30 PDT

I'd better disclose my preconceptions right from the start�I�m a big fan of the wines from Carlisle Winery, and have been from their first vintage in 1998. Although I�m not generally a fan of big, ripe-style, high alcohol wines there�s something about the wines of Carlisle that�s different.

Building a Better Wine List - Part 1

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:25:30 PDT

Have you ever wondered how restaurant wine lists are put together? To tell the truth, I never gave it that much thought.

Building a Better Wine List - Part 2

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:25:30 PDT

Our quest to update the Slows Bar-B-Q wine list continued with a visit from Elisa Weber-Saintin of Little Guy Wine Company, out of Ann Arbor.

Pinot Noir Review

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:45:30 PDT

A review of 6 pairs of Pinot Noir with each one representing a particular style or region and designed to illustrate the range and variety of flavors and textures that American Pinot Noir offers today. Big fun, here, and certainly a good indicator of just how good pinot noir has become in recent years. �

Hospice du Rhone - Sour Notes But No Sour Wine

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 08:10:30 PDT

With the help of no less than Georg Riedel, Hospice du Rhone pulls out of a tail spin to produce as lively an event as ever.�

Alan Kerr's Vintage's June 6th Release - Tasting Notes

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:55:30 PDT

Burgundy

Red Wings and Red Rhones Playoff Diary 2009-Round 2

Thu, 28 May 2009 13:05:30 PDT

Whilst perusing the wine selection in our friendly neighborhood Costco, I came upon the following item. Noting that I was: A. at present an unsigned free agent, and B. in need of some red Rhones for Red Wings mojo, I asked myself once again, �How bad can it be?� I was reminded of Miles words of wisdom in the movie Risky, Business, and took the plunge. I mean really, sometimes, you just gotta say what the f-ck.

Ten Years After - The Continuing Adventures of Russell Bevan

Wed, 27 May 2009 13:10:30 PDT

As Russell Bevan continues to garner 90 plus scores from both Parker and Laube, there is no shortage of growers hoping to sign on with this young rising star. His first vintage for John Westerhold is in bottle, as are two bottling of Syrah under the Sanglier label, grown by Glenn Alexander. This fall, he will begin another new project � perhaps the most exciting. He will begin making Pinot Noir for Wren Hop Vineyards, a highly regarded Russian River grower. Yet with all this, Russell�s winemaking adventures are only beginning.

Alan Kerr's Vintage's May 23rd Release - Tasting Notes

Fri, 22 May 2009 09:10:30 PDT

It has been a while since I had the chance to drive to London, taste the new release and put pen to paper. Having a full time job can be disadvantageous to ones outside ventures at times. However, summer school is less demanding and I was able to hit the road and taste some of the wines slotted for the May and early June releases and here are some of my observations.

Wines With Malware

Thu, 21 May 2009 15:54:30 PDT

The last time I saw Kim slugging wine straight from a bottle was in 2003. I came home from work to find her and Allan Bree sitting in her car listening to the radio in the hope of finding out why there was no electricity anywhere within 500 miles of Detroit. The electrical grid had a meltdown and 50 million people lost access to their computers that day. Last week, Kim's computer had a meltdown of its own

Rose Ole

Tue, 19 May 2009 06:54:30 PDT

As I was driving to the rose tasting being presented by our friends at Wines of Distinction - J et J Imports last week, I was contemplating how to approach noting so many variations of this particular theme.

Going to the Wells - Gutherie, That Is, And The New Copain

Tue, 19 May 2009 06:55:30 PDT

Since his first vintage in 1999, Wells Guthrie's Copain wines have represented both quality and consistency in the traditional school, one that looks to Burgundy and the Rhone for inspiration, not imitation, with an emphasis on balance and elegance over power and richness.

Bittersweet - Donn Reisen's Memorial Service

Sat, 09 May 2009 14:55:30 PDT

Three months ago, to the shock and dismay of everybody who knew and cared about him, Donn Reisen, President of Ridge Vineyards, took his own life. This morning, on a bright spring day under a cloudless blue sky, hundreds of friends and colleagues met on Monte Bello Ridge to celebrate his life.

A Bennion Retrospective - Early Monte Bellos

Thu, 07 May 2009 18:35:30 PDT

Over the years, Paul Draper�s name has become synonymous with Ridge Vineyards - and deservedly so. Only a very few California winemakers have created a track record as impressive with not only Cabernet Sauvignon, but Zinfandel blends and to a lesser extent, Chardonnay. While Mr. Draper is more than deserving of all the accolades, from time to time I reflect on the fact that Dave Bennion, Ridge Vineyards� first winemaker, and one of the original partners, built the foundation upon which Mr. Draper has created his impressive legacy.

Red Wings and Red Rhones Playoff Diary 2009-Round 1

Thu, 07 May 2009 15:36:30 PDT

We've had a steady diet of red Rhone wines over the last several months, what with our Red Wings and Rednecks doings. Hopefully, that won�t be changing any time soon, now that we�re into the NHL playoffs. Our Detroit Red Wings charged through Round 1 with a resounding sweep of the Columbus Blue Jackets, and we were right there with our Vacqueyras, Chateauneuf du Pape and more.

Rednecks and Red Rhones - Edwards Got Wrecked and So Did I

Wed, 06 May 2009 12:20:30 PDT

Rednecks and Red Rhones 2009 was a little different this time around. Oh sure, it still made for yet another day and two nights of the most unlikely of pairings � fine wines from France�s Rhone Valley and Nascar racing.

Reminiscing With Remoissenet and Rovani

Sat, 02 May 2009 13:05:30 PDT

Remoissenet Burgundy tasting conducted by Pierre Antoine Rovani

A Week In Wine - Part III SoCal Grape and Gripe Group

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:15:30 PDT

The third Friday night of the month is the occasion for my oldest wine group to meet. Known as the Southern California Grape and Gripe Group (SCGGG), this group has been meeting regularly since the mid-1980�s. Although the membership has varied somewhat as some people dropped out or moved, and others took their place, the core group has kept the faith and tasted wines together for a long, long time. The theme this week was current release Zinfandels.

A Week In Wine - Part II

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:15:30 PDT

The dinner with Al Stewart really got the week off with a bang, but the remainder of the week�s wines turned out to be pretty good, too, although perhaps not quite as rarified as the old Burgundies.

A Week In Wine - Part I - Dinner With Al Stewart

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:05:30 PDT

While his contemporaries in the music world were smoking, snorting or shooting their brains out, Al was getting high the old-fashioned way, by drinking First Growth Claret, Grand Cru Burgundy, and the best wines he could find from France and elsewhere.

More Holiday Hijinx With Mr. Ridge (and Ravenswood too!)

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 06:55:30 PDT

It all started with two bottles of then unreleased Ridge wines

More Red Wings and Red Rhones 2009

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 13:48:30 PDT

We started our Red Wings and Red Rhones features back in 1997 as a lark, and with tongues planted firmly in cheeks, so I can�t help but shake my head a little in wonder when I stop to consider that we�ve continued them for 12 years now. Opening and enjoying a good red Rhone with a Detroit Red Wings hockey game has become standard practice here at Gang Central, and as we transition from the 2008-09 NHL regular season into the playoffs, it�s time to take a look at what we�ve tried since our last report

Kermit Lynch's Traveling Roadshow

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:25:30 PDT

The Kermit Lynch Roadshow blew into Detroit in the waning days of March to complete a whirlwind 3-city tour of the east coast and Midwest. Here's what we tasted.

Two Late Model Cornerstone Cabs

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 07:07:30 PDT

Napa Valley�s Cornerstone Cellars has never been a big blip on our wine radar, but then, they�re not exactly a large operation or a household name. They ARE highly regarded, however, generally recognized as one of the elite in Napa Valley/Howell Mountain boutique/cult producers.

Cono Sur 2008

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 08:30:30 PDT

Since first trying the wines of the Chilean producer Cono Sur, we�ve found much to like about this operation. Not only do they employ sustainable agricultural and organic farming practices, in July 2007 they became the first winery in the world to obtain CarbonNeutral delivery status. Green is great in our book. The wines themselves have been mostly very good, with the exceptions being some of the red varieties, which have been uneven and over-oaked.

A QPR Rave Up

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 06:10:30 PDT

One of the mid-size wine distributors in southeastern Michigan whose book I really like is Rave Associates out of Ann Arbor. They carry a solid core of quality wines from importers such as Kysela Pere et Fils, Ltd. and Rudi Wiest Selections.

Francophilia 2009

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:05:30 PDT

Small batch artisanal wines from France

We Will Always Have Toledo - Year 10

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:00:30 PDT

We present Team coverage for our report on Toledo 10, with a bevy of impressions of a remarkable collection of wines from France, Italy, California and more

The Wines of Charles Hendricks - The Tasting

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:45:30 PST

It�s tempting to characterize Charles Hendricks as a rising star in Napa Valley, and one wouldn�t necessarily be wrong in doing so.

The Wines of Charles Hendricks - The Interview

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:45:30 PST

A morning interview with Charles Hendricks of hope and grace Wines, in which he talks about yeast selection, wood chips and the hose treatment.

Wines of Distinction from Madiran, Bordeaux and more

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:30:30 PST

Some of our favorite wine distributors in the Detroit area are the small to medium sized operations that handle wines from high quality, small to medium sized producers that you�d never find from the mega-houses. One such company is Wines of Distinction � J et J Importers out of Bloomfield Hills, who last week held a trade tasting featuring wines from Alain Brumont of Madiran and selections from Maison Sichel�s Bordeaux portfolio

The Wines of Terra Andina

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 06:30:30 PST

Our good friend Judie Murdoch from the southeastern Michigan distributor Wines of Distinction stopped by a few weeks ago with some samples from a relatively new and little known Chilean winery known as Terra Andina.

Wine With Friends

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 07:25:30 PST

Since the earliest days of Gang of Pour (12 years ago now!), we�ve celebrated sharing wine with our online friends, both new and old. It�s quite incredible when we stop to consider just how many lasting friendships we�ve made with people around the country, and indeed, around the world, over the Internet. This past weekend, we closed out the month of January by spending three consecutive evenings renewing acquaintances with some of said friends while eating good food and drinking fine wine. Here are snapshot impressions of what we did and what we tasted:

Recent Wines From California

Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:35:30 PST

While we tend to gravitate towards earthy Euro-trash wines, lately, we�ve had occasion to sample a number of Californians, thanks to both professional and private connections, and most of them have been pretty darned good

Mostly Masi Redux

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:42:30 PST

It doesn�t feel like it�s been over four years since I attended a most interesting and informative mini-seminar on the wines of the Italian producer, Masi.

Red Wings and Red Rhones: Cotes du Rhone-down

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:20:30 PST

It�s halfway through the 2008-09 NHL season as of this writing; my Detroit Red Wings are playing well, and we continue to explore and enjoy fine red wines from France�s Rhone Valley whilst watching the games. In this report, we note not only selections from producers we�ve come to admire over time, but also some that are new to us as well.

Champagne Warrior

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:45:30 PST

Champagne and sparkling wine lovers rejoice! If you�ve been looking for a one-stop resource for all things bubbly, look no further than our own Brad Baker�s online publication, Champagne Warrior

Holiday Hi-jinx with Mr. Ridge and More

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:15:30 PST

After tasting through some older wines from Ridge in October, I got a hankering to see what was new from one of our longtime favorite producers.