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The best of the web for wine and spirits, as chosen by the SavvySipper editors.
Wine news from the blogosphere
Selected headlines from wine and spirits blogs
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SavvySipper's favorite tipples right now
- Anything from Shinn Estates
At $15, the 2005 crisp and apple-y Shinn Estates "Home" Chardonnay is just what you're craving as winter turns to spring. And for just $14, pick up the Red, which shows tons of raspberry fruit balanced by a bit of seed bitterness, or the passion-fruit-laden 2005 Rose. All perfect for food, or for sipping on the lawn. The 2004 Estate Merlot is equally delightful, while somewhat more serious. Might be hard to track down outside of lower Manhattan and Long Island, though - co-owners David Page and Barbara Shinn handle sales themselves, and only travel as far as they can go in an afternoon off from their West Village restaurant, Home. - Wild Horse Zinfandel, Paso Robles 2003.
For zin fans, we recommend the Wild Horse Vineyards 2003 Paso Robles zinfandel, which is well-priced at $18 a bottle. Unlike Napa zins, which are typically overwhelming fruit bombs with high alcohol, Paso zins have managed to rein that in to let some complexity and length show through. The Wild Horse does a nice job of it, with good berry fruit throughout, some dark chocolate, and, to our palate, a hint of leather at the finish. Nice acidity as well help make this a wine to pair with food. One pairing that works: mussels Portuguese style or marinara - the sweetness of the sauce matches well with the sweetness of the wine. alcohol. - Jacky Renard Burgundy (Bourgogne Cotes d'Auxerre)
Good Burgundy isn't that hard to find. Good, cheap Burgundy is much more difficult. For around $10 a bottle, the husband and wife team at Domaine Jacky Renard craft a delicious pinot noir that has lovely earthiness and hints of mushroom flavors. It'll take a bit of work to find this wine in the US (try wine-searcher.com or the distributor Bayfield Importing of Manhasset, NY ), but worth the effort. - Old School Madeira
Madeira was the wine of choice in colonial times, and no wonder - it travels well, can be stored open for months at a time without losing its flavor, and is relatively inexpensive. The Rare Wine Co. has three madeiras reflecting the styles favored when the Founding Fathers toasted the Declaration of Independence with glasses of madeira. The Boston bual, New York malmsey and Charleston sercial are all fantastic finds, reflecting what was "macaroni" (that's colonial slang for stylish - now doesn't Yankee Doodle make a bit more sense?) in the cities they're named after.They are a bit pricier than maderias usually are at around $50 a bottle (we've found them as low as $36 on sale). With blends of 30 and 50-year old madeira included, these are worth the slurge for the set. - Mud House Sauvignon blanc.
This bargain New Zealand white has been a favorite of the Editors for over a year. Now it's getting notice from Wine Spectator. For $10 to $12 a bottle, this zesty white shows all the great characteristics of NZ sav blanc without overdoing the grassiness and citrus flavors like too many other NZ vintners lately. - The Classic Martini
Using Plymouth gin and Noilly Prat vermouth, the classic martini is a wonder to enjoy. Make with two parts gin to one part vermouth, a splash of the water storing the olives you garnish the drink with.
New Links to Drink Up
Selected links for the editors
- Wine Searcher
- Looking for a place you can buy a specific wine? This may be the most useful site around. Search for wine by name or keyword, even by vintage, in a specific state. Full version requires subscription, but free version is also very useful.
- GlobalGrape
- A recently started wine blog with an adventurous, accesible approach
- Vinography
- Popular, San Francisco-based wine blog.
- Decanter magazine
- Excellent UK-based wine magazine that offers good guides to wine country, smart advice, and a less-stuffy approach to wine than Wine Spectator. Especially good for information about world wine regions often overlooked, like Western Australia and South Africa.
- Wine Spectator magazine
- The venerable US-based wine magazine. Most content is subscription only. Good for information about US wines.
- Local Wine Events
- The most comprehensive site we've found listing wine events all over the globe.
- Travel Envoy's Wine Links
- A nice attempt to gather links to wineries around the globe. Handy if you're looking to plan a visit to a particular region.
Recommended Wine Books and Products from Amazon
Books vetted and selected by the editors.
Windows on the World Complete Wine Course: 2006 Edition (Windows on the World Complete Wine Course)
Kevin Zraly is renowned for his New York wine appreciation course, which one SavvySipper editor has taken. This book just may be the best around for a self-guided course, and a lot cheaper than the $1,000 price tag for the course. Zraly approaches wine by guiding readers through the great regions.
Amazon Price: $17.96 (as of 11/18/2008) 
Great Wine Made Simple: Straight Talk from a Master Sommelier
The master sommelier Anrea Immer (now Andrea Immer Robinson) offers a well-thought guide to wine appreciation by wine varietal. Also someone the SavvySipper eds have studied with.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/18/2008)
The Cheese Plate
Cheese fanatic and New York restaurant 'maitre fromager' Max McCalman is a favorite of the SavvySipper - passionate, unpretentious and fun. Of the wave of cheese books published in recent years, this one has been largely overlooked, but is worth checking out.
Amazon Price: $23.10 (as of 11/18/2008)
Jancis Robinson's Wine Course
Perhaps the Robert Parker of John Bull's Island, Robinson offers her guide to wine appreciation
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 11/18/2008)
Wine Atlas of New Zealand
Wine atlases aren't really all that utilitarian, but we love them just the same. This one of all the Kiwi regions is a keeper.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/18/2008)
Hachette Atlas Of French Wines & Vineyards
Only recently translated into English, this atlas is a good reference to the style of wine from French regions as welll as seeing exact appellation locations.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/18/2008)
The Wine Regions of Australia: The Complete Guide
Amazon Price: (as of 11/18/2008)
Bordeaux: A Consumer's Guide to the World's Finest Wines
Robert Parker made his reputation reviewing Bordeaux, and is still a great read.
Amazon Price: $37.80 (as of 11/18/2008)
Sauternes: A Study of the Great Sweet Wines of Bordeaux, Revised Edition
Amazon Price: (as of 11/18/2008)
Savvy wine & spirits merchandise
Selections chosen by the editors, sold by Amazon
Riedel O Chardonnay/ Viognier Wine Tumblers, Set of 2
The chicest wine glasss of late are the Riedel "O" tumblers, which are fine Austrian crystal without stems. Favored both by wine types because of how the Riedel design accentuates wine's flavor on the nose and palate, and by neophytes - especially apartment dwellers who find the glasses easier to store than stemware, because the glasses fit in compact boxes that are stackable.
Amazon Price: $19.60 (as of 11/18/2008)
Riedel O Cabernet/Merlot Wine Tumblers, Set of 2
Why different kinds of glasses for different kinds of wine? Riedel says their slightly differing design makes different wines hit your tongue at different spots, accentuating different taste profiles.
Amazon Price: $23.55 (as of 11/18/2008)
Vacu Vin Wine Gift Set
Looking for a thoughtful wine gift? This set includes the Vacuvin Concetro wine saver, a corkscrew and a wine server (i.e. a thin that blocks drips from the bottle).
Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 11/18/2008)
Metrokane Rabbit 6-Piece Wine-Tool Kit, Black
This corkscrew became so poplar by making the removal of a wine cork painless. Once over $100, the price has come down to an affordable enough level it makes a good gift or treat for onesself.
Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 11/18/2008)
Wine-related collectibles from Ebay
Wine merchandise chosen by a keyword screen with Ebay. Occassionally non-wine products may be displayed (like wine-colored clothing) - we're working to correct that. Thanks for your patience.
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