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It’s always a bit odd for me when I find myself securely in America, yet surrounded by a foreign language to the point of having english squeezed out of the picture. Of course one is accustomed to and expects this…

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Thanks to a tip from Jon Chesto I learned that a group of wine retailers and enthusiasts gathered yesterday on the Boston side of the Fort Point Channel yesterday to re-enact the Boston Tea Party.  But instead of tossing tea into the harbor they poured water from empty wine bottles to commemorate the alcohol tax repeal Massachusetts voters passed as part of Question 1 back in November.  Starting January 1st, 2011, alcohol will be exempt from sales tax as it was from prohibition to 2008.

There was also a group present showing their support for maintaining the tax as it was said to fund a variety of behavioral health services.  I won’t rehash that argument here.  I’d rather focus today on how what impact this change will have on wine consumers in 2011.

In talking to wine retailers over the past few months I’ve noticed a few trends:

• They’re surprised the tax was repealed.
• They’re glad the tax was repealed.
• They saw a huge boost in sales during the 2010 Massachusetts tax free weekend.
• They’re cautiously optimistic about whether the tax repeal will have a sustained positive effect on their business in 2011.

People sometimes find it hard to believe that others were making purchase decisions based on the tax.  And in most low-dollar transactions I’d agree that was the case.  But I think there’s two scenarios where the sales tax does have an impact on purchase decisions, and they’re both situations where the dollar volume is large and therefore worth paying attention to.

The first is where you’re buying a large quantity of wine for an event like a wedding.  Say you’re buying 8 cases of $15/bottle wine for a wedding.  The 6.25% tax previous in effect amounted to $90.  That’s significant, and would be enough to make it worth your while to take a trip up to tax-free New Hampshire.  Never mind for a moment that it’s illegal to import alcohol into Massachusetts -and- illegal to carry more than 15 bottles of wine in your car without a special permit – more on that here.

The second is more relevant to your typical Massachusetts wine enthusiast and that’s in terms of a series of high dollar purchases.  When you spend several thousands of dollars on a wine a year, it pays to think about the fully loaded cost of wine.  When I say full loaded I mean thinking about quantity discounts, shipping, and tax.

When the sales tax first went into place in 2008, it diminished the positive effect of case discounts.  If you only got 10% off a straight case, most of that discount came right back as the 6.25% sales tax was applied.  With the sales tax gone the effect of a case discount will be more compelling psychologically because I know when I see a $29.99 sticker on a bottle I’m eyeing I’d be able to knock that down to $23.99 out the door with a 20% discount.  I like that.

Massachusetts will become the only state in the union that taxes goods in general but excludes wine from sales tax.  Prior to the tax going into effect, I don’t think as many people realized how unique the situation was.  I know I didn’t.  When I was out in California it always seemed like prices were really low.  And they were, but the roughly 9% sure ate into the savings.

I think retailers can really work this to their advantage now, especially when it comes to more expensive wines.  At the higher end, consumers tend to do more price shopping – especially online – because shipping costs can be absorbed if the savings are high enough.  Wine retailers can’t legally ship wine to Masschusetts but that doesn’t mean they can’t ship wine to neighboring states.  Consumers know this, and they also know that most retailers don’t charge sales tax when shipping to most neighboring states.  Just like with Amazon.com shopping online can be a beautiful thing in that respect.  It’s a gray legal area but when you’re buying wine that costs $50 plus dollars a bottle it can make a big difference especially combined with being able to search nationwide for the best prices.

But we’ve got some excellent wine retailers in the Boston area.  Combine that with a legal tax-free advantage  and free in-store pickup.  Add to that the ability to try wines before you buy, establish relationships with knowledge retailers (especially at higher price points), and the ability to easily return corked bottles and the incentive to patronize local retailers is as strong as it’s ever been.

Shipping restrictions continue to limit consumer access to limited production wines (more on that in this brief history of MA wine shipping laws) but for wines that do make it into the state the question becomes whether retailers will be able to put wine on the shelves at compelling prices?  Their prices are dictated by distributors – will they enable MA retailers to compete favorable when compared nationally?

We shall see, but I’m more optimistic than I’ve been in a long time about buying wine in Massachusetts.

Pro Tip for New Year’s Eve consumption:  Drink 1 full glass of water for every 5 ounce glass of wine you consume to avoid a hangover.

Hope you have a safe night and here’s to a great 2011 for you and yours.  Cheers!

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It’s been four years since I’ve attended the Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP) Grand Tasting in San Francisco. But this year I will be making the pilgrimage once again due to the fortuitous timing of a speaking engagement and business trip. ZAP is not only a place to taste an amazing cross section of wines made from [...]

A Return To My Roots at ZAP originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

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Here is idea for someone who enjoys wine and is perhaps not easy to please. It is a wine book: ?The Art and Design of Contemporary Wine Labels.? I know it sounds a bit boring but once you open the book to any page describing a label, it is very fun and interesting Continue reading →

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Every now and then we receive an email request asking that we recommend a good place to play golf while visiting the Napa Valley. I guess people do like to do other activities besides taste delicious wines and enjoy gourmet meals when in the Napa Valley. Continue reading →

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Alright everybody, back to work.  You know that feel you’ve got right now where you feel like you’re burned out on opening too many really nice wines the past couple weeks?  Don’t worry it’ll pass and you’ll be back in action in no time sleuthing out next year’s tremendous wines.

I set out to capture the 10 most exciting wines I tasted in 2010 and ended up with 25.  I selected these wines with a similar criteria that Wine Spectator uses for their Top 100 list.  It’s not a rank ordered list of the best wines I discovered.  Rather, it’s a combination of value, availability, and excitement.  Many of the wines were ones where I joined with friends to buy a straight case or more to reduce per-bottle costs. (Interested in a Boston-area wine case club?  Drop me an E-mail and I’ll add you to my list and I’ll include you in future offers.)  Some others were more one-off discoveries.

More than anything it’s a list of wines I’ll remember when looking back at 2011.  On with the list…

#25 2007 Waterbrook Reserve Merlot

This wine was a tricky one for me.  From a numbers perspective, 92 WS with a $22 release price for a Washington Merlot was appealing.  CellarTracker median is at 89 right now, and the wine landed at #46 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list.  However, I had a really hard time garnering interest from my case club friends for 12 bottles of this.  I think some had a negative impression of the brand from past experience with their entry-level bottlings.  I thought this was a 90 point wine.

#24 2007 Banshee Cabernet Sauvignon

There’s tremendous value to be had in relabeled wines.  This one pushes the envelope in terms of price point – and it delivers.  More on this wine here.  I wasn’t nearly as impressed with their 2009 Sonoma County Pinot Noir.

#23 2007 Beaulieu Vineyards Tapestry

93 WS with a $50 release price is one thing, but the availability of this wine is so widespread it’s not hard to find for just over $30.  It’s a little rough around the edges at this point but I think it’ll settle down nicely and reward short term cellaring.  I agreed with Spectator on this one: 93 points.  How on earth did it not make the Wine Spectator Top 100 list?  More here.

#22 2006 Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch 

Ugly label, beautiful wine.  Every time I’ve tried this wine I’ve thought it was spot-on Napa Cab but there’s something about the package that leaves me disinterested in buying a bunch of it.  I rated the wine 94 points and that may have even been dragged down subconsciously by the label.  I’ve had a little trouble finding this ~$40 wine in Massachusetts lately.

#21 2008 King Estate Signature Pinot Gris

In 2010 red wine consumption here at the WWP outpaced whites by an 8:1 ratio.  I keep trying to get more into white wine but it only takes 1 lackluster bottle to send me scurrying back to my comfort zone of fruit-forward domestic reds.  This white wine delivers however – try it with chinese food.  91 points for me.  I paid between $11.49 and $15.50 for this wine in 2010.

#20 2009 Annabella Pinot Noir 

After a bit of an off year in 2008, this wine is back on track in 2009 and compares favorably to the excellent 2007.  90 points for me and readily available for less than $15 in MA.  I think this makes for a great choice in an affordable-but-varietally-correct Pinot Noirs around the world tasting.  More on that here.

#19 2009 Honig Sauvignon Blanc

I bought a couple bottles from Wine Nation in Millbury, MA this year (review).  The first was an oxidized Pinot Noir.  The second was this Sauvignon Blanc I opened as a backup.  Wow, did this white wine taste delicious after that flawed red.  I paid $12.94 and rated it 90 points.  For my palate, Honig delivers value at all price points – more on them later in this list.

#18 2006 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Sometimes, I think I look too hard to find wines of great value.  Everyone knows the name Mondavi – and for good reason.  Mondavi still cranks out great wines at a variety of price points.  At the high end their Reserve Cabernets – particularly back vintages available at a discount – can be tremendous values.  This wine was a sample and I compared it to the 1994 and 1999 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernets.  The 2006 was the star of the lineup for me.  I rated it 97 points – one of the best Napa Cabs I’ve ever had.  $135 release price.

#17 2007 Paul Autard Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Ah – who doesn’t love #CdP07?  This was perhaps the most pure case club we’ve done to date.  Those who joined with me snagged the wine at $25.99 a bottle (off a $43 release price) and the wine has absolutely delivered.  93 WS and I agreed with them.  This wine is a winner.

#16 2008 Elk Cove Pinot Noir Mount Richmond

This was another wine that a number of us bought from The Wine Cellar of Stoneham at a favorable price given its 94 WS rating.  The 2008 vintage of Oregon Pinot Noir is supposed to be fantastic.  My experience so far has been hit or miss.  I know one thing – tasting this alongside a California Pinot Noir of similar stature probably isn’t a good idea.  Or maybe it needs some bottle age to shine.  That said – I actually like this wine a lot (91 points) and wish I had the restraint to keep some on hand for years to come.  Relatively speaking it’s a great value if you can find it south of $40.  It makes the list here because it’s a wine I think I’ll remember from 2010.

#15 2005 Cakebread Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Select

This is more of a personal sentimental play given that I like Cakebread so much.  I picked it up at the Boston Wine Exchange when they were having a 15% off sale as a way to make amends for their Buy With Me offer that was thwarted by buzz killing Massachusetts laws.  They wanted $100 for it so I grabbed it for $85 and enjoyed it at noon on Thanksgiving.  94 points.  Further reading on what makes Cakebread a special brand.

#14 2007 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Here’s an example of why I don’t publish my Top Wines of 2010 list until 2011.  Well, I didn’t have it written up until 2011, but anyway – I tried this wine for a second time this year on December 23rd and it delivered a powerful combination of brambly fruit and barnyard.  If you have some of this and are thinking of laying it down for a long time I’d encourage you to check at least one bottle out in the near term – I think it’s drinking beautifully right now.  93 points for me, 94 points Wine Spectator. #CdP07 baby!

#13 2008 Elk Cove Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

The Mount Richmond mentioned above has a release price of $48 whereas this one is $28.  I think this appellation-designated offering is the value play.  If you stack up some discounts you can find this wine for right around $20.  For my palate this is textbook 2008 Oregon Pinot Noir in an elegant package for a great price.  Bulk buy recommendation.

#12 2008 Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir

It’s easy to find this one for $19.99 and it is absolutely delicious.  I first tried it by the glass at The Capital Grille.  I’ve had probably 6 bottles of it since and every time I’ve shared it with someone new the response has been similar – “Wow – this is DELICOUS.  What is it?”  Hard to argue with those results.  A fantastic end of the week wine to open when you just want to enjoy a nice glass of wine without breaking the bank.  Love it.  Haven’t tried the 2009 yet though I hear it’s coming to market now.  The 2008 is a wine I can see regretting not buying more of no matter how much I might buy.  More here.

#11 2006 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco

Speaking of wines that might be impossible to buy too much of…  Wine-wise 2010 was a breakthrough year for Nebbiolo consumption for me and Barbaresco led the way.  This 92 point Wine Advocate wine can still be had for $29.99 and what’s unique about it is that in 2006 the Produttori didn’t release single-vineyard wines.  The leap one might make from that is that the quality level of their entry level bottle might be better in 2006.  All of that aside it’s a great wine at a fair price and I’ve been pleased with every bottle I’ve opened.  Here’s a tasting report that includes this wine and other current release wines from Barbaresco.

Coming later this week:

• Tuesday: #10-#4
• Wednesday: #3-#2
• Thursday: The WWP Wine of the Year is Revealed!
• Click here to download a pdf of the entire Top 25

I’d love it if you subscribed to the site so we can continue the conversation.  Happy New Year!

What do you think of these picks?  What were some of your favorite wines of 2010?

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One of the busiest weekends the entire year in the Napa Valley is Thanksgiving weekend. Family and friends from out of town are likely not to be traveling home until Sunday and one of the many things to do in the San Francisco Bay Area is visit the Napa Valley wine country. Continue reading →

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Wine films are an interesting lot. On one hand you have Hollywood features like ‘Sideways’ and ‘Bottle Shock’ where wine is largely a prop. On the other, you have documentaries that attempt to delve into the people behind the wine such as ‘Blood Into Wine’ and ‘Mondovino.’ The latest entry is ‘El Camino del Vino’ [...]

New Film Explores ‘The Ways of Wine’ originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

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Over 250 wineries will be pouring Zinfandel wines between 2 pm and 5 pm at the Herbst and Festival Pavillions at Fort Mason. These tickets have a value of $70 each and here is how you can win a set of two tickets.
Continue reading →

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W$Jay was slumming it with zinfandel recently. He had a passing remark about the origin of Sutter Home white zin. Thanks to the Regional Oral history Office at Cal’s Bancroft Library, we have access to the first-hand account of Bob Trinchero, then winemaker at Sutter Home. Trinchero said that there was something of a zinfandel [...]

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Every once and a while the debate about the 100-point scale swirls around the wine blogosphere (and now wine twitteratti). The latest flash-point is wine critic and recently turned blogger James Suckling who posted a video on his site yesterday detailing how he evaluates wine. Different than a lot of wine bloggers, but consistent with [...]

The 100-point Scale and The Myth of Precision originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

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Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello Angelina Jolie Anna Faris Anna Friel

Hilary Duff Hilary Swank Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump

I like to think I’m pretty choosy about which wines I raise the “Value Alert” flag for.  Usually I reserve the designation for wines I’d consider “outstanding” (90+ points for those that like the numbers like I do).  However, it’s rare to find a wine south of $10 that’s worth writing about, and the wine I’m writing about today cost only $5.99 so fire up the Value Alert!

A lot of us are looking to reduce the cost of the average bottle we consume.  For some, that’s bringing the cost of a “daily drinker” down from $30 to $20.  Or $25 to $15.  Or $15 to $10.  Or $10 to $6.  The problem is, it’s hard to find a wine that delivers any kind of excitement under $10.  You’re lucky to get something tasty.  But interesting and exciting?  Very challenging.  However, I think this wine delivers – both in terms of being delicious and in terms of being interesting.

A while back I was talking about how fun it is to shop for wine at Trader Joe’s.  The last time I was there I picked up a few different wines at the suggestion of the wine helmsman.  One was the NV (non-vintaged) La Caumette Vin de Table Français l’Authentique.  I thought that wine was an undrinkable $5.99 train wreck.

Another wine I picked up was the 2008 Trentatre Rosso I cracked open tonight.  I thought it was an amazingly good wine – especially given its price.  The 2007 vintage of this wine was hailed by many as a great QPR (quality:price ratio) so it’s not like I’m revealing a big secret.  But I am solidly behind this 2008 as a value play.

Just a note for clarity – when I say I consider this wine 88 points/very good the cost of the wine doesn’t play into that.  Like Wine Spectator, my numerical ratings don’t consider price.

My notes:

2008 Trentatre Rosso
$5.99 at Trader Joe’s in Framingham, MA
14% Alcohol

A round, generous Italian red with amplified markings of things I’d more readily associate with Nebbiolo-based wines.  A beautiful achievement really.  Distinctive clove aromas on top of warm and opulent soft red wine characteristics.  A touch of acidity but a very smooth and approachable wine.  The kind of wine that makes people excited about shopping for wine at Trader Joe’s.  Wow.

88/100 WWP: Very Good

Further Reading:

• SF Weekly: Cheap Wines That Don’t Suck: 2007 Trentatre Rosso
• Jason’s Wine Blog:  2007 Trentatre Rosso
• 2008 Liberte Cabernet Sauvignon
• All of the “Value Alert” wines here on the WWP

Question of the Day: Have you had this wine?  What did you think of it?

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Emilio Estevez, Method Vintner originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

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This weekend brings us a highly anticipated annual event – the Boston Wine Expo.  I understand it’s the largest event of its kind with thousands of wine enthusiasts descending upon the Seaport World Trade Center for a chance to taste through hundreds of wines.

The first couple of times I went to the Expo I thought I’d map out a list of specific wines I wanted to taste.  Although I identified a few favorites and was able to taste them, that game plan went out the window about as fast as a strategy on Top Chef.  That is to say the strategy didn’t last very long. I had a game plan and after hitting a couple of them I went into survival mode and sought out tables with short lines and headed out when the crowds got too dense.

A few strategies that play well in any event like this:

1. Plan your dinner reservations ahead of time (here’s an option nearby the Expo)
2. Arrive with a full stomach
3. Spit as many wines as you can bear
4. Spend time talking to winemakers
5. Take time out for one of the free Celebrity Chef demos (schedule here)
6. Nominate a designated driver, take mass transit, or hire a ride home

Looking through the list of vendors pouring their wines, it’s a combination of regional groups, parent companies and wineries.  It’s kind of tough to identify a specific wine label you want to try and seek it out.  Instead, focus on 2 or 3 regions you’d like to explore.

One thing I liked about The Wine Riot was their mobile application that lets you rate wines via your cell phone and see what wines are popular with other attendees.  Great news on this front: The Boston Wine Expo is leveraging the same exact technology from the company that puts on Wine Riot.  When you’re at the event (or prior so you can register via your full-sized keyboard) point your browser to: m.secondglass.com

One thing I didn’t like about past Expos is the lack of substantial food.  After a while you were scavenging around trying to make a meal out of chocolate bar fragments and gourmet cheese samples.  Good news: Looks like they’ve improved that dramatically!  Here’s a list of restaurants that will be dishing out free samples.

If you’ve got tickets to the Grand Cru Lounge, be sure to check out The Original and Authentic Wine Tasting Cookie.  You’ve heard of wine tasting crackers but have you heard of wine tasting cookies?  The cookies provide a delicious way to cleanse the palate between wines you’re tasting.  The Wellesley-based company is launching at the Expo and sampling their cookies in the Grand Cru lounge.  I’ll be doing a full story on them next week but for now, especially if you’re a retailer and would like to carry them in your store, check ‘em out:

Looking forward to seeing you there.  I’m planning to attend during media hours tomorrow morning and at the Grand Cru Lounge Sunday afternoon.

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I’m pleased to announce the Wellesley Wine Press 2010 Wine of the Year – the 2005 Cigliuti Barbaresco Serraboella.  This is the first time an old world wine has been my “wow” wine of the year, and reflects how much I’ve been impressed with wines made from Nebbiolo – especially Barbaresco.

I first discovered the wines of Cigliuti at a tasting at The Wine Bottega (review) in late 2009.  Their wines sent me off on a Nebbiolo kick that continues to this day (more on that here).  There are a lot of fine producers of Barbaresco but I haven’t found another for under $50 that deliver the intensity, flavor and all around excitement I’ve found in Cigliuti’s Barbareschi.

In some ways Barbaresco is a mainstream wine, but in others it’s still a niche category.  Most retail stores don’t carry more than a few bottlings (try Vintages in Concord and Belmont, MA for a truly amazing assortment of Piedmont reds) and that’s a shame because I’ve found it to be an incredible passageway into the wine of Italy which I often find austere and thin.  Most Barbareschi are thin visually but the better ones are powerful aromatically and on the palate.

Cigliuti produces Barbaresco from two different vineyards.  The Vigne Erte retails for $60 and the Serraboella for $75.  When the 2004 was beginning to evaporate from the market I was concerned the 2005 would be a let-down.  Thankfully the 2005 is just as good if not better than the 2004.  Only time will tell – we’re admittedly drinking these wines in their youth.

Here are my notes:

2005 Cigliuti Barbaresco Serraboella
$75 Release Price
14.5% Alcohol
830 Cases Made

This is a gorgeous wine.

On the nose I get rich ripe raspberries, menthol, rose petals, and flinty Certs retsin action. On the palate some earth comes forward. Mushrooms. Chalky tannins.

Still shows some tannic bite even after a quadruple decant. Will benefit from time, but I didn’t regret opening it now. Could be my wine of the year. The kind of wine you want to seek out and stock your cellar with. Can’t recommend a wine any more enthusiastically than this one. Truly special.

96/100 WWP: Classic

Purchased from: Wine Library
Find this wine available for sale on: Wine-Searcher
CellarTracker: Currently a 95 Point Average

Further Reading:

• 2008 WWP Wine of the Year
• 2009 WWP Wine of the Year
• An interview with Claudia Cigliuti

Click here to download the Wellesley Wine Press Top 25 of 2010 in pdf.

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Why on earth didn’t this wine make the 2010 Wine Spectator Top 100 list?  I mean, people were projecting it to be the Wine of the Year.  It didn’t make the Top 10.  It didn’t even make the list!  The only reason I can think of is that it was rated too late in the year to be considered in 2010 because the metrics are all there.

The wine carries a high score from Wine Spectator (93 points), has wide availability (18,901 cases produced), comes from a hyped-up vintage in a popular category, and for those skeptics out there is produced by a prominent advertiser in the publication.  How did it miss?

The 2007 Ramey Claret and the 2007 BV Tapestry were both rated 93 points in the October 15, 2010 issue and neither made the Top 100 list.  The 2007 Ramey Annum was rated in the August 31st issue and did make the Top 100 list so perhaps that explains it.  Who knows?  Maybe these are early candidates or speculation on the 2011 Top 100 list!

Diving into the number and looking a little more closely at the other 93WS 2007 Napa Cabs we see 30 wines ranging from $38 (07 Ramey Claret) to $300 (07 Hundred Acre Arc Vineyard) with an average release price of $126.  Not only is this wine’s release price very low price compared to its quality – it’s readily available for around $30 if you shop around.  I purchased mine at The Wine Cellar of Stoneham for $32.99.

The wine is pretty rough and chewy at this point but I can see it being beautiful in just a couple of years.  You know that coarse, synthetic yellow rope that’s like a quarter of an inch thick?  Imagine soaking that in delicious, dense red wine then rolling it in a mix of savory spices and then chewing on it.  That’s what this wine is to me now.  But I’d bet money it’ll soften up beautifully in coming years to reveal an intense, powerful, and refined Napa Cab.  Here are my notes:

2007 Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Tapestry
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot
14.9% Alcohol
18,901 Cases Produced
$50 Release Price

A little rough and tumble at this stage but I like it. Deftly ping pongs between sweet and savory. The nose goes more in the savory direction whereas the palate delivers the fruit. Ample acidity, then a long vanilla-laced finish. Multi-faceted. Well done and quite a value if you can find it just north of $30.

93/100 WWP: Outstanding

Recommendation:  Buy 3 bottles.  Try one now and wait a year before opening the next.

Find it on Wine-Searcher
CellarTracker reviews 

Update: I pinged Wine Spectator Executive Editor Tom Matthews on Twitter.  He said that their December 31, 2010 issue was the cut-off for the 2010 Wine of the Year which makes sense but also confirms that both the Tapestry and the Ramey Claret were considered for the list but didn’t make the cut.  I think this creates a buying opportunity for these wines.  If they landed on the Top 10 they surely would have been much harder to find.

Have you had this wine?  If so, what did you think?  If not, what are some other 2007 Napa Cab value plays you’ve found in the $30 range?

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For those of you located in the SF Bay Area, the SF Vintners Market takes place again this weekend on the 20th and 21st of November. The basic idea is pretty simple, bring a number of wineries together in a Farmer’s Market style format (or family winemakers if you’re in the industry) and then let [...]

Jordana Brewster Josie Maran Joss Stone Jules Asner Julia Stiles

The wine world can basically be compartmentalized into two worlds: The New World & The Old World. The Old World is France, and basically any other country within a trebuchet’s throw of France. Wines have been ratified by treaties, classified by region and not varietal, and are poured in chateaûs beckoning you with long dusty [...]

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Berlin Tasting in Copenhagen” might sound a little confusing? However the Berlin Tasting is a reference to a famous tasting held in Berlin the January 23. 2004. It was held by the Chilean wine producer Eduardo Chadwick from Errazuriz and he had invited 66 wine journalists from all over Europe to taste the best Chadwick wines from Chile against the supernames from Bordeaux and Tuscany. 16 wines were tasted from the vintages 2000 and 2001, among them 2000 Chateau Latour, 2000 Chateau Lafite and 2000 Chateau Margaux.

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Thanks to a tip from Jon Chesto I learned that a group of wine retailers and enthusiasts gathered yesterday on the Boston side of the Fort Point Channel yesterday to re-enact the Boston Tea Party.  But instead of tossing tea into the harbor they poured water from empty wine bottles to commemorate the alcohol tax repeal Massachusetts voters passed as part of Question 1 back in November.  Starting January 1st, 2011, alcohol will be exempt from sales tax as it was from prohibition to 2008.

There was also a group present showing their support for maintaining the tax as it was said to fund a variety of behavioral health services.  I won’t rehash that argument here.  I’d rather focus today on how what impact this change will have on wine consumers in 2011.

In talking to wine retailers over the past few months I’ve noticed a few trends:

• They’re surprised the tax was repealed.
• They’re glad the tax was repealed.
• They saw a huge boost in sales during the 2010 Massachusetts tax free weekend.
• They’re cautiously optimistic about whether the tax repeal will have a sustained positive effect on their business in 2011.

People sometimes find it hard to believe that others were making purchase decisions based on the tax.  And in most low-dollar transactions I’d agree that was the case.  But I think there’s two scenarios where the sales tax does have an impact on purchase decisions, and they’re both situations where the dollar volume is large and therefore worth paying attention to.

The first is where you’re buying a large quantity of wine for an event like a wedding.  Say you’re buying 8 cases of $15/bottle wine for a wedding.  The 6.25% tax previous in effect amounted to $90.  That’s significant, and would be enough to make it worth your while to take a trip up to tax-free New Hampshire.  Never mind for a moment that it’s illegal to import alcohol into Massachusetts -and- illegal to carry more than 15 bottles of wine in your car without a special permit – more on that here.

The second is more relevant to your typical Massachusetts wine enthusiast and that’s in terms of a series of high dollar purchases.  When you spend several thousands of dollars on a wine a year, it pays to think about the fully loaded cost of wine.  When I say full loaded I mean thinking about quantity discounts, shipping, and tax.

When the sales tax first went into place in 2008, it diminished the positive effect of case discounts.  If you only got 10% off a straight case, most of that discount came right back as the 6.25% sales tax was applied.  With the sales tax gone the effect of a case discount will be more compelling psychologically because I know when I see a $29.99 sticker on a bottle I’m eyeing I’d be able to knock that down to $23.99 out the door with a 20% discount.  I like that.

Massachusetts will become the only state in the union that taxes goods in general but excludes wine from sales tax.  Prior to the tax going into effect, I don’t think as many people realized how unique the situation was.  I know I didn’t.  When I was out in California it always seemed like prices were really low.  And they were, but the roughly 9% sure ate into the savings.

I think retailers can really work this to their advantage now, especially when it comes to more expensive wines.  At the higher end, consumers tend to do more price shopping – especially online – because shipping costs can be absorbed if the savings are high enough.  Wine retailers can’t legally ship wine to Masschusetts but that doesn’t mean they can’t ship wine to neighboring states.  Consumers know this, and they also know that most retailers don’t charge sales tax when shipping to most neighboring states.  Just like with Amazon.com shopping online can be a beautiful thing in that respect.  It’s a gray legal area but when you’re buying wine that costs $50 plus dollars a bottle it can make a big difference especially combined with being able to search nationwide for the best prices.

But we’ve got some excellent wine retailers in the Boston area.  Combine that with a legal tax-free advantage  and free in-store pickup.  Add to that the ability to try wines before you buy, establish relationships with knowledge retailers (especially at higher price points), and the ability to easily return corked bottles and the incentive to patronize local retailers is as strong as it’s ever been.

Shipping restrictions continue to limit consumer access to limited production wines (more on that in this brief history of MA wine shipping laws) but for wines that do make it into the state the question becomes whether retailers will be able to put wine on the shelves at compelling prices?  Their prices are dictated by distributors – will they enable MA retailers to compete favorable when compared nationally?

We shall see, but I’m more optimistic than I’ve been in a long time about buying wine in Massachusetts.

Pro Tip for New Year’s Eve consumption:  Drink 1 full glass of water for every 5 ounce glass of wine you consume to avoid a hangover.

Hope you have a safe night and here’s to a great 2011 for you and yours.  Cheers!

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The winners of the 70th annual Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition were announced today and the list is an impressive one! A box wine, a Scotch whisky, repeat winners (Armida Winery and baseball legend Tommy Lasorda) and so much more! Take a look at the winners here then check out the buzz on [...]

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Wine and Chocolate – February 13 Sunday February 13 from 1-6 for a pairing of wonderful chocolates with CrossRoads wines. Treat your Valentine to this special day of decadence! Tickets are $20    

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I don’t spend long enough looking at apps for the iPhone and other smart phones, largely because so many of them are based around storing tasting notes and collecting wine information – and I think that too boring for words. However, sometimes some off-the-wall stuff comes along that captures my imagination, at least for a [...]

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I attended a “Spanish Wine on the High Street” tasting recently. The idea was to showcase the best, or most popular, Spanish wines in the ranges of the UK’s top supermarkets and high street wine retailers (or what’s left of them), as selected by their buyers. There were wines of many styles and prices there, [...]

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I won’t have a chance to get everyone an update on wider life for a few more days at the least (things are busy both professionally and personally, well definitely personally) but I was sad to see that social media darling Gary V has chosen to close Cork’d. Cork’d To Close It’s Doors It’s an [...]

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The 2011 archive is presented by date the notes were compiled and submitted. Prior year’s tasting notes may be found here January 18, 2011 2008 Dom. Monpertuis, Côtes du Rhone Vignoble de la Ramière: 13.5% alcohol; more savory than sweet with salt pork, lavender, iron and spice tones up front and subtle red fruit in [...]

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It’s been a long time since I’ve participated in Wine Blogging Wednesday, the monthly, worldwide virtual wine tasting started in 2004 by Lenn Thompson of the New York Cork Report blog. In fact it’s been over 2 years since I took part in WBW 52. But the event carried on for several more months until [...]

Wine Blogging Wednesday Returns February 16; Spanish Theme originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

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I see that an interview I gave on the phone recently has been published in Harpers and I thought it would be better to add a few comments before I might upset any friends in the trade or blogging world. I was asked, by Gemma McKenna at Harpers in the UK, whether I thought that [...]

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Every now and then we receive an email request asking that we recommend a good place to play golf while visiting the Napa Valley. I guess people do like to do other activities besides taste delicious wines and enjoy gourmet meals when in the Napa Valley. Continue reading →

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Most people who shop at the BJ’s Warehouse locations in Danvers and Stoneham, MA probably don’t realize the liquor stores within these locations aren’t run by BJ’s.  At first glance they look like a typical liquor area within a warehouse club, but to wine value hunters like myself these stores represent one of the best kept secrets in the Boston area.

The stores are owned and operated by Boston-based RWJ Beverage Management in a model similar to what KH&H Liquors has done at Costco locations.  Two unique laws cause warehouse clubs to operate this way:

1. In Massachusetts any single entity can only own 3 liquor licenses.  That’s why some Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s locations don’t sell wine in the state.
   Here’s a list of the grocery stores in the state that do sell wine.
   This creates a situation where warehouse clubs have locations where they can’t sell alcohol and instead allow a third party to operate within their locations so shoppers can buy alcoholic beverages.
2. It’s illegal for an alcoholic beverage retailer to require a membership.  Therefore, one need not have a membership to Costco or BJ’s in order to purchase alcoholic beverages.  This applies whether the store is managed by the warehouse club or not – a membership is never required.

Most stores that operate within this model carry a very similar assortment and pricing to what the warehouse clubs offer.  However, these RWJ Beverage stores do not and that’s a good thing.  They carry a unique assortment of wines that comprise some absolutely unbelievable values.  To me, they do to wine what Costco does with everything they sell: They apply an editorial sort on what they carry and offer products that deliver a good value to the customer within each category.  They do an exceptional job serving a wide range of consumers, hitting a variety of price points.

Sure they have Kendall Jackson Chardonnay at $9.99 but they also have the 2007 Cakebread Cabernet at $59.99.  They’ve got the Annabella Pinot Noir at $11.99 and they’ve also got the 2007 Chappellet Pritchard Hill Cab Franc for $39.99.  And the 2005 Robert Foley Merlot for $24.99.  And the 2006 Nicolas Potel Volnay for $24.99.  These are, for my interests, unbelievable values.

It’s not just a matter of dishing out cheap wine.  They host in-store wine tastings, they fulfill special orders, they support local charities and they’re friends of the local wine community.  They’re anything but a seedy discount liquor store.

So why am I writing to tell you about these stores today?  Well, to raise awareness of the value they offer in general but also to let you know they’re seeking to open another location within the BJ’s Wholesale in Waltham, MA. 

Last year they acquired the license from the now-defunct Winecellar of Silene contingent on being permitted to transfer it by the City of Waltham.  Their first request was denied, perhaps as part of an overall anti-big box sentiment associated with BJ’s.  The BJ’s in Waltham is open now, without a liquor store, so I hope the city will permit this high-value retailer to set up shop.

There’s going to be a hearing Tuesday night January 25th, 2011 in Waltham.  Especially if you’re a Waltham resident and like wine values close to home this is a hearing you may be interested in attending.  Although I don’t live in Waltham I’m thinking about swinging by to show my support.  It really bugs me to see high quality retailers like this denied the opportunity to serve consumers.

If you have any questions about the store or the hearing contact Mike Reardon at 617-412-2858 or on Twitter: @WineCellarsMA

Your call to action:

Nichole Robinson Nicky Hilton Nicole Richie Nicole Scherzinger Nicollette Sheridan

Yesterday will be one of the more memorable days among the many tasting occasions taking place this January. First, the BIVB event. I went to hear how the BIVB presented itself, the diversity of offerings from Burgundy (at Village level) and maybe try a few of the seemingly popular 2009 Burgundies. The presentation was simultaneously [...]

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Just a heads-up on three pieces I wrote for other publications recently:

1. How will the MA Alcohol Tax Repeal Affect Sales Long-term?
   This piece is a call to Massachusetts wholesalers and distributors to look at their assortment of wines and the fully loaded cost of the wines they sell to compete favorably nationally.  I shouldn’t be able to find French and Italian wines in California for 25% less than in Massachusetts.
2. 2008 Liberte Cabernet Sauvignon Review on Jason’s Wine Blog
   If you like shopping for wine at Trader Joe’s, Jason’s Wine Blog is a must-read.  I shared my thoughts on the a $9.99 Paso Robles Cab I tried recently – check out the action in the comments.
3. How Taste Tribes are Actually Formed
   A few months back there was some talk online about “badges” being a new/better way to rate wines than the 100 point scale.  Out of that, a discussion around “taste tribes” formed.  I shared my thoughts on this subject in a new multi-contributor online publication called Smart Tastes.

Reminder: After today prices go up for tickets to the 2011 Boston Wine Expo.  Here’s a link to a prior post with a couple angles for discount tickets.

Have a great weekend!

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It is such a wonderful change of pace to visit a winemaker like Vince Tofanelli. Too often when we visit the Napa Valley we get caught upby the big and the fancy wineries and tasting rooms and tend to overlook the smaller names of the Napa Valley. Continue reading →

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We’ve been fans of Louis/Dressner-LDM wines for several years now. We admire their devotion to naturally made, small batch artisanal producers, and while I can’t say that we’ve never had a bad wine from them, those have been few and far between. So, when we ran across these three from Three Trees, we were intrigued; [...]

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For twenty years now Americans have heard alcohol wholesalers and members of the prevention community explain how the direct shipping of wine will put minors in harms way; that minors will use the Internet to obtain alcohol and get all…

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Inside the Washington D.C. beltway, politicians and those that work for politicians are often cast as, “Policy wonks” based on a capacity or interest in teasing out the detail in issues whilst actually reading bills and the stacks of briefs that are part and parcel with the job.  Meanwhile, the wine world, a haven for wonkiness of the pleasurable sort (is that Brett?), may soon have a need for a broad number of issue driven wonks, as well.

Last week, in my final post for 2010, I indicated that I thought there were two real issues that I needed to dive into based on where trends in the wine world were going:

• Fine wine auctions
• HR 5034

If given the opportunity to reflect for just a moment, I might amend, “HR 5034” to the general catchall, “Wine law.”

The reason having a deeper understanding of wine law is important to me, and should be important to you, is despite the Supreme Court ruling in Granholm vs. Heald in 2005, wine enthusiasts still find their wine rights in the cross hairs of profit motive-based interests from people that would like to continue curtailing free trade.

This, as they say, is a developing situation in 2011.

While I know most people reading this site find the idea of learning and understanding wine law about as interesting as dinner in Juarez, Mexico, as stultifying as a filibuster on C-SPAN and as painful as watching the chick on Bitchin’ Kitchen on the Cooking Channel (who is also the headliner at ZAP this year, natch), it seems like a no-brainer need to me. 

Wine consumers must be able to match and exceed the rigor of the opposition (those that oppose consumer wine rights).  This is particularly important because at this point wine consumers are primitively organized and completely under-financed to represent their own voice.  Knowledge is the first place to start.

At some point, wine enthusiasts need to get pissed like a tea bagger collecting Social Security with a mother on Medicare while opposing universal healthcare.  Know what I mean?  It doesn’t all have to make sense, but enough does.  Think Matlock and not Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men.

And, if nothing else, knowing the gambit in Chapter 3 of the Art of War (the source of strength is unity, not size) should bolster confidence for a deeper dive into the wine law knowledge dive.

Enough smart people are enough … but right now there aren’t enough.

That said, whenever I seek out an understanding on a subject I don’t know enough about, I typically read, read some more, talk, and then read some more.  If I can blithely encapsulate a subject into an elevator pitch for my wife and talk about the same subject for 20 minutes with my wine club, I know I’m in good shape.

To make your wine law journey with me easier there are a number of wine law blogs that have emerged over the last year and I’ll start us off with a pidgin Latin saying to kick you in the butt: Illegitimi non carborundum (Don’t let the bastards wear you down). 

Below are links to a couple of books to act as primers, the TTB site for ongoing reference and then the blogs for ongoing maintenance.

Thank you, in advance, for getting your inner wine geek going in a different direction for everybody’s betterment.

From Demon to Darling: A Legal History of Wine in America

Wine Politics

The Little Red Book of Wine Law

Wine Section of the TTB

Notes on Wine Distribution

Fermentation

Alcohol Law Review

Winepolicy.com

ShipCompliant Blog

On Reserve

WineLawyer

The Wine Lawyer

The Wine Law Blog

VinoAdvising

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Guest blogger and wine judge  Stacie Hunt offers some insight into being a judge at the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. Stacie is a commentator on wine for National Public Radio, a Certified Sommelier (AIS), an international wine judge, educator, journalist and blogger. Everyone has his or her own idea of spring.  In the city, the [...]

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It is such a wonderful change of pace to visit a winemaker like Vince Tofanelli. Too often when we visit the Napa Valley we get caught upby the big and the fancy wineries and tasting rooms and tend to overlook the smaller names of the Napa Valley. Continue reading →

Joss Stone Jules Asner Julia Stiles Julianne Hough Julie Benz

Long time readers might be surprised that we?re going into our fourth month of the current National Hockey League season and I?m only now posting my first Red Wings and Red Rhônes entry of the campaign. Truth to tell, I?m a little surprised myself. The lapse isn?t due to any lagging enthusiasm for either Detroit?s [...]

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You’re probably busy thinking about everything you need to get done before Christmas, but I thought to mention the 20th Annual Boston Wine Expo coming to the Seaport World Trade Center January 22nd and 23rd, 2011.  Perhaps you might want to give tickets as a gift?

Boston Globe subscribers can get $20 off Sunday -or- Two-Day tickets:

Ticket prices until January 14, 2011  
Sunday ONLY:  Regular Price…… $85  Globe Extras Price….. $65
TWO-DAY Ticket:  Regular Price….. $145  Globe Extras Price…. $125  

Ticket prices after January 14, 2011
Sunday ONLY:  Regular Price…… $110  Globe Extras Price….. $90
TWO-DAY Ticket:  Regular Price….. $145  Globe Extras Price…. $125

Click here to get the Boston Globe Extras discount code

If you’re a freelance wine writer -or- wine blogger with more than 10,000 unique page views a month you might qualify for media admission.  Click here to check out the details – thanks to The Passionate Foodie for the pointer. 

Another option: Braintree retailer Bin Ends Wine has some tickets they’re offering for $77 valid for either Saturday -or- Sunday (but not both).  More here.

Here’s some coupon codes that expire Wednesday January 19th, 2011:

Save $50 on the Sunday Grand Cru Wine Lounge

Interested in sampling wine that retails for $75 and up? Then this offer is for you. The Sunday Grand Cru Wine Lounge is the perfect way to spend an afternoon sampling fine wine and tasting delectable treats from the top restaurants in the city. Ticket includes admission to the Grand Tasting on the same day.
Use Promo Code: CRU50

Save $25 on the Sunday Grand Tasting
 
The most popular event of the weekend, the Grand Tasting features hundreds of wines from around the world, chef demonstrations, restaurant sampling, wine clinics and much more.
Use Promo Code: SUNGT

Save $15 on the Saturday Grand Tasting

The Saturday Grand Tasting features everything happening on Sunday except on our most popular day!
Use Promo Code: SATGT

Save $10 on Sunday’s Keynote Seminar

Everything Else You Need to Know About Wine! with Ray Isle
In this one-hour, information-packed seminar, Food & Wine Executive Wine Editor Ray Isle takes on the next level of wine knowledge in a lively but always informative style. You’ll taste eight different wines, gaining insight into subjects like why soil and climate differences matter so much, how wines change as they age, and what difference ‘old’ vines make (or don’t). Plus, Isle will give his tips about navigating restaurant wine lists and wine store shelves. Special Prcie: $20
Use Promo Code: KEYNOTE

To buy tickets for the event, click on the “Buy Tickets” link on the Boston Wine Expo site.

Heard of any other coupon codes?  If so leave a comment or E-mail me at wellesleywinepress@gmail.com

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I’m about two-thirds of my way though Rex Pickett’s sequel to Sideways called Vertical (yes, a review is forthcoming). While the book is an apt successor to it’s wildly successful predecessor, I don’t think we will see as much of an impact on the wine industry, or Pinot Noir in particular, this time even if they [...]

‘The Nose’ Just Might Be A Wine TV Concept That Works originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

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Missi Pyle Missy Peregrym Molly Sims Monet Mazur Monica Bellucci

Yesterday at the Direct to Consumer Wine Symposium keynote speaker Pam Danziger presented some sobering statistics about the new wine consumer. Using demographic analysis and her own experience with luxury goods marketing she made a compelling case for the wine industry entering a ‘luxury drought’ until 2020 when the Millennial generation will become the main consumer of higher [...]

Does The Wine Industry Face A ‘Luxury Drought’? originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

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You never know where the next emerging wine State will be here in the U.S. but if this wine is representative of the wines coming out of Kentucky these days, this might be the place. Given as a gift from the parents of a friend of my son visiting over the holiday break, the wine [...]

Jean Farris Winery “Tempest” 2007 originally appeared on Winecast. Licensed under Creative Commons.

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A brief programming note: The Wellesley Wine Press hit 500 subscribers today!  After typing away here for the past couple of years it was a great Christmas present to receive.  Subscribers are, more than anything, what I’ve been focusing on in the past year.  The idea that so many of you are interested in hearing what I have to say means a lot to me.  Happy Holidays.

Oh, and check out this deal from Petit Robert Bistro from Buy With Me.  $25 for $50 and I hear they’re BYOB-friendly at their Needham, MA location every night with a $15 corkage fee.

I usually like to write about current release wines here because they’re actionable suggestions.  However, the 2007 Red Car Heaven & Earth La Boheme I enjoyed last week was such a memorable wine I thought I’d share my impressions.

I purchased two bottles of this wine from Lower Falls Wine Co. about a year ago.  The first I considered outstanding (93 points) and the second I had with friends over dinner last week.  An interesting thing about this wine – although James Laube from Spectator thought it was out of this world (97 points), Robert Parker thought it was so-so.  He rated it 88 points.  I think Laube got this one right, and the market seems to have responded accordingly.  Although the wine initially sold for $60 it’s now going for around $135.

Here are my notes:

2007 Red Car Heaven & Earth La Boheme Pinot Noir
14.5% Alcohol
292 Cases Produced
97 Points Wine Spectator
88 Points Wine Advocate
92.6 Average on CellarTracker
Release Price: $60
Current Value: $135

I thought this wine was tremendous and it’s showing beautifully at this point in time. Vibrant and intense with red raspberry aromas and flavors on top of other typical CA Pinot Noir markers (strawberries, cherries, a little earth, silky smooth tannins). Incredible depth of flavor and length of finish. Up a couple points from the last bottle I tried over a year ago. Drink now but hold if you’d like more secondary characteristics to further develop. 

95/100 WWP: Classic

The call to action is to keep an eye out for their 2009s at retail, and if live in a state they can ship to, consider joining their mailing list: http://redcarwine.com. I hear their 2009s are supposed to be spectacular.

Further Reading: An interview with Paul Sequeria from Red Car from last year when Spectator rated the Heaven & Earth Pinot Noir 97 points. 

Question of the Day: Have you had Red Car Pinot Noirs before?  If so what did you think?  If not, what have you hear about 2009 California Pinot Noir?

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Penthouse suites in Holland America line offers the luxury and opulence to its highest level and to afford that luxury you need to shell out $756 to $1,859 per person for a night depending on the cruise and the journey you are opting for. These suites are unusually placed in the center of the ship [...]

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The 2010 archive is presented by date the notes were compiled and submitted.  This is Part 2 of the archive.  Part 1 may be found here. December 22, 2010 2005 Luneau-Papin, Muscadet Pueri Solis: 12% alcohol; smells close to corked; tastes similar; not much here for me although, with the proper food this is better [...]

Liz Phair Lokelani McMichael Lori Heuring Lorri Bagley Lucy Liu

W$Jay was slumming it with zinfandel recently. He had a passing remark about the origin of Sutter Home white zin. Thanks to the Regional Oral history Office at Cal’s Bancroft Library, we have access to the first-hand account of Bob Trinchero, then winemaker at Sutter Home. Trinchero said that there was something of a zinfandel [...]

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Obviously, a lot of issues are on the metaphorical table as President Obama entertains China’s president Hu Jintao. But what’s in the glass? They can’t serve Lafite, after all, since the White House only pours domestic wins and this menu is set to be “quintessentially American.” Given previous bombs served up by the White House [...]

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Few industries labor under a more complex and multi-layered set of regulations as does the wine industry. This is the case because Americans have endorsed and accept the idea that alcohol ought to be taxed in greater amounts than other…

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Jewelry is every woman?s favorite especially if that is of emerald and diamond. This Magnificent Diamond and Emerald Necklace from Chopard?s ?Haute Joaillerie? is certainly one of the most expensive and stunning works of creativity. It will ooze luxury, sophistication and elegance  – all at the same time. Your partner will certainly be the cynosure [...]

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This time of year in Napa Valley the landscape is dominated by vines seemingly finished; denuded of leaves, browned and blackened by cold; heaving downward with the weight of the raining season on their canes; apparently dead and done. It’s…

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Do you want your trip to Dubai would be a regal experience? Then splurge on spending your nights in Royal Suite at Burj Al Arab, Dubai. It will cost you    $ 19,000 per night to provide a stunning stay in that amazing hotel.
It is a two-storey room offering you a sprawling 8,500 square feet of [...]

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