Professional Wine Consultants - Milwaukee Wine - Sommeliers

I’ve noticed that over the last two years Syrah has been a tough sell. Even under the guise of  Shiraz it has seemed to slow down a bit.  Retailers I work with are telling me the same thing.

This is a surprise because at a variety of price points I can’t come up with another style of red wine that offers the same quality to value ratio.

It has become an ongoing joke in the California wine industry that Syrah will be the next big thing. Californian Syrah wears a few hats and maybe it’s problems in the market place is that the wine has somewhat of an identity crisis. My opinion is that a good Syrah should show some signs of smoke and or spice, especially pepper. That is always that telltale indicator of the grape in a blind tasting. It’s not wussy wine this is the real deal folks. We are talking about deep purple hues and burly tannins. It should be a bear of a wine, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be  one of those really big nearly life sized teddy bears that you want to snuggle with. The bottom line the wine should have guts!

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Title: Wine Basics with Certified Sommelier Nate Norfolk
Location: Three Cellars (7133 S. 76th St. Franklin WI 53132)
Link out: Click here
Description: If you love wine, but are intimidated by all the long names and crazy labels, this is the class for you. While tasting six wines, this class will show you the history of the six most famous grapes used in wine making.

Chardonnay
Pinot Grigio
Riesling
Pinot Noir
Cabernet Sauvignon
and
Syrah

all have fascinating backgrounds.

There will be a power point presentation and handouts plus wine.

Cost is $20

Start Time: 7:00
Date: 2009-02-04
End Time: 9:00

It is another busy day in December and I stop at a good account with a couple of wines to taste. As I fight the wind and snow, I enter the store and there is this incredible smell and the sound of laughter in the back room. The people in the back look up and say “T-bone!!” and invite me to join in the festivities.
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MORIC Neckenmarkter Blaufrankisch 2005, Mittelburgenland Austria

FROM DAVID SCHILDKNECHT FOR ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE: The 2005 Blaufrankisch Neckenmarkter delivers aromas of blackberry, smoked meat, and walnut, making for a pleasantly bitter, rather Cabernet Franc-like cast. Juicy, faintly bitter and salty, with subtle tart black fruit and walnut oil on the palate, this clings with a tart, bitter-sweet cast and striking salinity. There will be plenty of rewards for anyone who takes this wine through its paces at the dinner table. And it may gain over a couple of years in bottle, but will, I suspect, be best drunk within 3-4 years.

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2005 Rocca di Frassinello Poggio alla Guardia Maremma Toscana IGT

A collaboration between Baron Lafite Rothschild and Castellare di Castellinathis, this is the entry level wine of this estate of Rocca di Frassinello. On the nose it has ripe plum anise pepper and Granite. 45 Merlot, 40 Cab and 15 Sangioveto and ages in steel and concrete. Great structure and length. Great value compared to the higher end wines from this estate. Great texture on the palate mochaey and black berries not red berries.

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Every Friday…almost……I participate in a ritual where I and some of my contemporaries gather at a co-conspirators wine store on Milwaukee’s chic east side on the even chicier Brady Street called Waterford Wine. http://www.waterfordwine.com/

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A huge pet peeve of mine is going to a restaurant and never being offered some kind of sparkling wine as an aperitif or with appetizers. It is just about the easiest way for a waiter of waitress to add a couple of drinks to a bill. I can’t believe how rare this is, even casual places can step it up and bring their bubble game to the table. Why not?

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Title: Buon anno nuovo Dinner
Location: La Merenda
Link out: Click here
Description: A five course dinner focusing on regional Italian food paired with classic wines from corresponding regions. $55 includes tax and gratuity.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2009-01-15
End Time: 22:00