Junkyard Wisdom

Welcome to my uncorked thoughts page!

One of my favorite things to do is enjoy a great bottle of wine with friends and family. It wasn’t always this way: I was raised by parents who frowned on drinking alcohol. But then again, I had a Grandfather who distilled a legendary moonshine during Prohibition. Thankfully, other influences have kept me from both extremes!

It was a visit to Bordeaux in 1985 when D’Aun and I discovered the joys of great wine. When I got home from that trip I built a simple wine rack in the basement and began collecting Chateau Mouton Rothschild wines. That didn’t last long because French wines became ridiculously overpriced. Besides, I remember the first time I opened a bottle of 1979 Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon … I’ve been hooked on California wines since.

People have started asking me for wine suggestions (by the way, I try to tweet wine suggestions via @uncorkedthought from time to time). Since folks seem interested, I’m going to post my thoughts on various wines. But this will not be straightforward wine reviews. You can grab those online in a variety of places. Instead, I want to tell the stories that come from the wine experience: how I came across the wines, why I tried them, perhaps where and when I tasted them, and what I liked or disliked about them. Enjoying wine is more than just a decision about what tastes good or bad, it’s an experience to be enjoyed as you pause from the pace of life. Sometimes an average wine is improved by fascinating conversation; sometimes a great wine is wasted on monotony. Such is life.

Before you read my stories, you should understand my bias. I love red wines. The best Cabernet Sauvignons are a gift from God that gives us reason to live another day. Many other red varietals can be wonderful, and well blended “Red Wines” (also called Table Wines) can be great. But some reds are way overrated. I have yet to taste a Merlot that’s worth more than $15 a bottle, so it has its place but not with a gourmet dinner. I do not understand why people drink Pinot Noir; to me it tastes like a combination of spoiled fruit juice and Pop Rocks without the sugar.

I really like white wines. For me, white wine is all about pairing it with the right food. A good Rose, a simple Prosecco, or a glass of dry Sauvignon Blanc can be great with appetizers. A crisp Chardonnay with salmon….delicious. And I’m told, though haven’t tried it yet, that Viognier goes great with Thai food. Of course, not all whites are worthwhile. The buttery California Chardonnays are way overdone. Very few Sauvignon Blancs are worthwhile (unless they come from New Zealand). I dislike sweet wines, though I will occasionally have one with dessert. D’Aun is crazy for Sauternes so we always have some in the house.

Geographically, I’m highly biased. California is my favorite by far. Some good wines come from Oregon. France is so overrated and overpriced it’s insulting. Italian and Spanish wines are often too smoky, though I’ve had good wines from both. South Africa, Argentina and Chile is a hit and miss game … some are great bargains, some are disturbingly bad. New Zealand produces great Sauvignon Blanc, and Australia has a wide variety of very good wines. But in the end, for me, it’s all about Northern California. Call me a homer.

Okay, so those are my biases. Or at least some of them. Now, on to the stories.

The first sip … how it all began

Body by Fisher … Wine by Fisher?

The Napa Valley Wine List

The French Laundry…the wines

Who Makes Great Wine?

What Are The Best Wine Bargains?

Where Do You Buy Your Wine?

When Is Your Wine Ready To Drink?

Why Do You Love Wine So Much?

Mr. Caymus

A Walk in the Vineyard With Tofanelli Wine

Mi Sueno … an American Success Story

The Italian Job

When All You’ve Got is a Nickel

An Educated Guess on the Way to Tahoe

Suburban Day Laborers

The Laundry Room That Became A Wine Cellar

Name That Barrel!

The New Wine Country: Thailand?

The Nickel Sale – March 2011

A Noisy Bottle of Isosceles

Ranch Hands is Here!

Bargains, Surprises, and Snake Oil at Trader Joe’s

I want to hear about your favorite wines!

Sipping Port in Portugal

Napa Journey