-
“Market Price” Sancerre: WTF, restaurants?
An obnoxious new wine list practice has invaded my city–one that stinks worse than five-day-old lobster. On the list, where you should see a producer name and a bottle price, it just says “Sancerre: MP.” (Or, the even more precious version: “Seasonal Sancerre: MP.”) I’ve seen this at two or three places now–and three is…
-
Review: Famille Hugel Gentil Alsace Blanc (2021)
Tonight’s wine is one of life’s most simple and accessible pleasures: A classic white blend from Alsace. This skinny green bottle smells and tastes amazing, costs little, and pairs with almost anything. I’ll go so far as to say that if you don’t like this style, there’s something wrong with you. I’m at Lavendou Bistro…
-
Review: Château Couhins “Les Demoiselles de Couhins” Pessac-Léognan Blanc (2019)
It’s time for some Thai food and Bordeaux–let’s go! Today’s bottle is a second wine from Château Couhins, a classified old Graves estate that is now owned by the French government’s wine research institute. This dry white wine is pale lemon with a frosty appearance (it’s very cold). Superbly aromatic with gooseberry (cats), pineapple, green…
-
Review: Trapiche “Tesoro” Uco Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (2021)
Recently, through weekly Merlot tastings, I’ve been rediscovering the joy of Merlot. And readers of this blog know about my recent infatuation (now entering its second year, so maybe things are finally getting serious) with Grenache. But my long-term honeyboo, my ride-or-die, my desert-island soul grape is still none other than Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s what…
-
You hungry, Dallas? DFW Restaurant Week is here!
Say whatever you want about Dallas sprawl, the heat, and the traffic. I like living here because we have some damn good food. And officially starting today, August 4, it’s DFW Restaurant Week! Restaurant Week comes but once a year–and when it does, it brings great cheer. In the summer (in between the wedding and…
-
Review: Château Montmirail “Beauchamp” Gigondas (2021)
Gigondas, meet gigantes! The homophonic pairing was Sarah’s idea. My wife adores the huge, creamy Greek beans known as gigantes. So when she heard me yammering on about the hearty Southern Rhône wines of Gigondas, it was ordained that the two should share a table one day soon. It was an easy enough meetup to…
-
A small-town wine adventure at Zannotti’s Wine Bar (Stillwater, OK)
“Hold on, is that a wine bar?” Screeeeech went the brakes. A moment later I was sitting in a cool, dark corner, poring over the most comprehensive wine list I’ve ever seen in Oklahoma. Anchored by the largest campus of Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK is a town of about 50,000. That sounds like almost…
-
Review: Paco & Lola Albariño (2023)
A happy hour it was indeed as we lingered over a chilled bottle of Paco & Lola Albariño. This fruity Spanish white was flowing all around the tapas bar as Dallasites hid indoors from the 95-degree heat. At tables around the room, I could spy its cheery label peeking out from ice buckets like a…
-
Local Sips: CRÚ Food & Wine Bar (Plano, TX)
Wine Fairy here, checking in with another recommended watering hole in our big old town of DFW! Read on for a local’s guide to CRÚ Food & Wine Bar in Plano’s Legacy East shopping center. I’ve been going to CRÚ’s Plano location for approximately forever. My wife and I celebrated our first over-21 Valentine’s Day…
-
Review: Château La Gaffelière “Dame de Gaffelière” Saint-Emilion (2020)
I sure do love Bordeaux, but I’d like to retire at some point–hopefully within the next 25-30 years. I really cringe at spending more than $40 retail on a bottle. That means many of the famous Bordeaux producers are a no-go, except for a small taste here or there. Lately, I’ve been really into second…
-
A chef’s secrets for cooking with wine
Cooking with wine is almost as much fun as drinking it. I hardly ever make a savory dish or sauce without adding a splash of wine to it. I first acquired this delicious habit working the line as a sauté cook. (I cooked professionally for almost a decade.) Now, as a wine student with lots…
-
Review: Palivou Estate Single Vineyard Nemea (2021)
From ancient vineyards near the ruins of Nemea, to a patio overlooking a parking lot in suburban Dallas–such was the fated journey of this bottle of red wine. And I am so grateful it made the trip. Palivou Estate’s flagship wine is a welcome discovery. Both fruit-forward and elegant, it’s a testament to what native…