Merlot – Jack Brice Wine

September 22, 2014

Napa Merlot worth trying – Bommarito Merlot Napa Valley 2012 by Whitehall Lane

While contemplating the famous anti-merlot statements in the movie ‘SIDEWAYS’, my enthusiast friends and I reiterated our belief that Merlot got a bad wrap in that movie scene. To be fair to those who cheered when the line was delivered, we recognize that Merlot as a varietal became hugely popular through the 1990s, which led … Continue reading Napa Merlot worth trying – Bommarito Merlot Napa Valley 2012 by Whitehall Lane

June 15, 2012

Cordier Chateau Andron Medoc 2009 Bordeaux

Cordier’s Chateau Andron 2009 has a lot going for it. It is from the highly respected Medoc region within Bordeaux AND this vintage is considered by many to be one of the best in memory! Bordeaux wines are some of the most famous in the world, and pricing can be very high – indeed some … Continue reading Cordier Chateau Andron Medoc 2009 Bordeaux

February 17, 2012

Casbah and Chateau des Leotins 2009 = Great Restaurant Value

Restaurant wine lists are often intimidating and expensive. Coupled with a the often snooty Sommelier, the common American restaurant wine experience can easily result in a fast order of beer or mixed drink just to avoid the difficulty and expense of ordering a bottle of wine. Recently I have been on the hunt for value … Continue reading Casbah and Chateau des Leotins 2009 = Great Restaurant Value

January 26, 2012

Affordable Bordeaux in Pennsylvania!!!

Affordable Bordeaux actually exists! This would seem a surprise during the current era when huge media attention is given to the steep annual price increases – driven, to a great extent, by Asian wealth discovering a taste for the most significant Bordeaux wines. However, while it is true France’s most famous wine region produces some … Continue reading Affordable Bordeaux in Pennsylvania!!!

August 1, 2011

Pittsburgh’s Most Aggressively Priced Wine List is at the Union Grill

When I heard that a local restaurant had a full wine list priced at $10 per bottle, but in a market where even mediocre wines can be found selling at 500% of their retail price, I had to assume that a $10 list was an aggressive but temporary promotion trick. What I have learned is … Continue reading Pittsburgh’s Most Aggressively Priced Wine List is at the Union Grill

July 4, 2011

Chateau Ollieux Romanis

This Tuesday July 5 we will have a great opportunity to meet Pierre Bories of Chateau Ollieux Romanis, and taste several of his fantastic wines. Pierre Bories is visiting Pittsburgh for only one day so I arranged with Brasserie 33 to serve four Ollieux Romanis wines. These wines are from the heart of the “Corbieres” … Continue reading Chateau Ollieux Romanis

May 17, 2011

Fantastic American Wine Dinner at Braddock’s American Brasserie

The 15th “Off-the-Grid” Sunday Supper Series (www.off-the-grid.ws) wine dinner was fantastic. For our 15th dinner we wanted to try a dinner theme aimed at the good old USA – and our friends at Braddock’s American Brasserie (at Pittsburgh’s Renaissance Hotel) were more than happy to work with us. Jim Henning‘s entire Braddock’s management team and … Continue reading Fantastic American Wine Dinner at Braddock’s American Brasserie

April 22, 2011

Château Haut Beyzac 2009 Bordeaux

If I didn’t know better I’d think this were a dense and muscular right bank Bordeaux – but it is actually a Haut Medoc (Left Bank) wine that uses a more-common-on-the-right-bank blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine displays trademark Merlot lushness and mouth feel, with big fruit flavors unadulterated by oak … Continue reading Château Haut Beyzac 2009 Bordeaux

April 11, 2011

Chateau Tour de Rodet Graves 2009 Bordeaux

The Bordeaux region of Graves is located south and east of the best known Bordeaux regions. Graves soils include a great deal of ice-age glacial alluvial gravels, so much so as to prompt the region to named after them. It is said that the Graves gravel and clay soils influence the robustness of wines made … Continue reading Chateau Tour de Rodet Graves 2009 Bordeaux

March 14, 2011

Wines for French Happy Hour this Wednesday 16Mar11

In anticipation of great attendance for this Wednesday’s 5-7pm French Happy Hour at Brasserie 33 – we have chosen four high quality wines to go with the authentic French Happy Hour Menu – here they are: White Chateau Richard Bergerac White Domaine Philemon Gaillac Red Domaine Guicharde Cotes du Rhone Red Chateau Gobert Bordeaux Continue reading Wines for French Happy Hour this Wednesday 16Mar11