Kris Chislett

Everything You Wanted to Know About Oak (and Probably Some Stuff You Didn’t).

Oak plays a bigger role in winemaking than I think most people realize! The color, flavor, tannin and texture of a wine can all be influenced via oak contact; either during the fermentation or aging of wine. When it comes to white wines, oak is often viewed as  “fruit killer”, and should never be allowed anywhere near the juice. However for the longest time, those with this opinion could been viewed as a small minority. …

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Wine Lingo – Chewy

“Chewy” when used as a wine-descriptor often refers to juice which is rich, dense, intense, and full-bodied in character. Chewy wines are usually red, and give a mouth-filling impression that make them seem almost thick enough to chew. The terms fleshy and meaty can also be used.

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July 4th Wine Recommendations…from a Brit.

July 4th (from what I understand) is a U.S. holiday commemorating the day England, willingly and completely of our own accord, decided to give back America to, well, itself. At least that’s what they taught me in history class in England…and I see no reason why it would be a biased opinion. History lesson out of the way, lets move on to the wine. What follows are some of my personal wine recommendations for this…

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The Subtle use of a Highlighter…

As I’m sure you’ve already noticed, there’s certain sections within my posts that I like to draw your attention to by the genius use of a highlighter! It’s an idea that I dreamt up, patented, and if I see any other website ripping off the idea, I’ll be suing their asses off! No, just kidding. I actually stole the idea from Mens Health Magazine, back when I used to read it. Mens Health always had…

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Orin Swift The Prisoner 2009 Review

Grapes 51% Zinfandel, 19% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Syrah, 7% Petite Sirah, 3% Charbono, 1% Grenache, 1% Malbec, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.   Facts The label for The Prisoner was work of Spanish artist Francisco Goya. For the 2009 vintage, the debut tasting apparently took place at a prison location in San Francisco’s Presidio military base near the Golden Gate Bridge.

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Recipe for Stuffed Squid in Vernaccia Sauce by Adam Bartoy

  If you remember my article last week entitled A Sardinian Feast with Friends; well I actually had a couple of emails from people wishing to know how to make the Stuffed Squid in Vernanccia Sauce. Since it wasn’t my recipe, I had to get with my friend Adam to but it into text form… Stuffed Squid in Vernaccia Sauce by Adam Bartoy This is the 1st time I have written a recipe, so I…

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Borgogno Dolcetto d’Alba 2007 Paired with Flank Steak Spirals with Porcini and Red Wine Sauce

How nice is it to get home to a meal sat on the table when you walk in from working all day!?!? Not that I ask for it very often, but if the Mrs is off, and I’ve been working all day it’s definitely appreciated! Now don’t get me wrong; even though I’m English I’m not Victorian-English! I don’t give my wife a jolly-good-thrashing if dinner isn’t sat on the table, after I’ve been working…

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Gary Vaynerchuk’s Daily Grape Feature – Parxet Titiana Brut Rose Pinot Noir Cava

Wine: 2008 Parxet Titiana Brut Rose Pinot Noir Cava Grape: 100% Pinot Noir Score: 90 Points Price: $15 MSRP Gary’s explanation why: With the summer weather you’re going to want to drink something fresh and lively. Cavas are produced in the same method as Champagne at a fraction of the price. Many can be hit or miss, but this one both has a friendly price tag and impressive structure for its price point. Lounging by…

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This Week In Wine – 6/25/11 – Chinese Wine, Perfume Shaped Bottles, and Bordeaux Crying Wolf.

    China’s wine industry topples Australia China’s wine production has now surpassed Australia’s wine industry as living standards improve in China. China’s restaurants were once dominated by beer and the local white spirit, Baijiu. But these days you are increasingly likely to see people drinking wine. More than two decades of exposure to the outside world have changed people’s tastes, and increased living standards have made wine more affordable. At the beginning of the…

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