Wine Giques

Liquidity Event

Oh, my.  The Wine Giques have been very busy NOT writing about wine.  But don't fret, gentle reader:  it doesn't mean that we've dispensed with DRINKING the wine, as well.  We continue to pursue that noble occupation, every chance we get.

Case in point:  I was lucky enough to attend a forum hosted by a noted business school last night about investing in digital media.  Given that digital media is my other obsession (we'll speak about shoes and handsome men later), I found the topic incredibly fascinating (the presence of many handsome men did not hurt).  Speakers from Shamrock Capital, Rustic Canyon Ventures, DLA Piper, Ocean Road Partners ... each one more glorious than the previous.  But the capper came when Silicon Valley Bank, which is smart enough to fund technology startups and fine wine producers (genius!), produced this guy's doppelganger:

 
Yes, Prince Harry apparently makes fine wine.  And very fine wine, it is.  Good enough for a royal wedding, and then some.

Actually, the gentleman at hand was named Peter Stolpman.  He and his father, Tom, and mother, Marilyn, own Stolpman Vineyards, a gracious slice of paradise located in the Santa Ynez valley; an acquisition funded by those aforementioned geniuses at Silicon Valley Bank.  Stolpman is dedicated to producing Rhône-style wines, with a special focus on Côte-Rôtie, and the occasionally foray into outliers like Sangiovese.

Peter had brought along L'Avion 2008, a white made with 100% Roussanne; a 2007 Sangiovese; a 2008 Hilltops HD Syrah; and most impressively, the 2009 La Cuadrilla blend (50% Grenache, 50% Syrah)--all profits from the sale of La Cuadrilla are given directly to Stolpman's vineyard crew.  (Handsome and conscientious!)

Now, I have said repeatedly that I am a Rhône-style girl, and these wines tugged at my heartstrings:  plummy, rich in fruit, smoky, delicious textures ... and of course, that Prince Harry doppelganger.  And with prices ranging from $25 per bottle for La Cuadrilla to a little north of $50 per bottle for the Syrah, these are wines that lovely enough for your finest special events, but won't break the bank if your latest shoe obsession has gotten the best of you. 

Quaffing Oscar: Wine Pairings for the Best Picture Nominees

 
Well, it's the big weekend here in La-La Land.  Nope, not the end of another winning Pac-10 hoops season.  Nope, not the 1000th stirring episode of The Hills.  Nope, not the moment when we abandon the rain to ski the 170 inches of snow on Mammoth Mountain.  It's time for the big dance, the party where only the cool kids get to go, the ultimate in eye candy for pop culture junkies everywhere:  It's the 82nd Annual Academy Awards®, known colloquially as the Oscars®.  

And, in true Wine Giques fashion, now that we're through shopping for our fancy party shoes, we're offering up 10 wine picks to accompany the 10 Best Picture nominees, in honor of the hoi-polloi like us, who are enjoying the festivities with friends in the comfort of our own private screening, er, living rooms.  The movies are listed in alphabetical order, by the way, as we'd hate to betray our favorites:  the Wine Giques are friends to everyone in Hollywood.  After all, you never know who you're going to run into in a small town like this. 

Avatar -- Well, the more obvious among us would say that the proper wine to pair with this dimensional sci-fi extravaganza would be Blue Nun.  We're going to take the high road and suggest that you procure a magnum of 1992 Screaming Eagle, and then invite 37,352 friends over to help you enjoy the biggest, most expensive wine you've ever had.

The Blind Side --The touching tale of Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Michael Oher might deserve a wine that's a bit lyrical with a hardscrabble backstory.  We took a simpler route and chose our favorite from a recent blind tasting: 2007 Trenza Tinto.  An unusual and delicious blend of Spanish Tempranillo with classic Rhône varietals from California's San Luis Obispo region, it's the kind of wine created by winemakers who are not blinded by tradition. 

District 9 -- This one was easy.  South Africa is apparently producing both spectacular filmmakers and spectacular wines these days.  We recommend 2008 Indaba Shiraz.  Indaba apparently means "meeting of the minds" in Zulu, and although that seemed unattainable in District 9, we're sure that you won't mind meeting this lovely bottle laced with fruit and spice.  And at $10 a pop, it's an affordable pleasure -- just like this great indie film.  

An Education -- As the parents of teenage daughters, this movie frightens us.  However, we can't deny the deliciousness of its soundtrack, filled with classic torch songs and sultry French chanteuses.  We chose a French classic ourselves, 1999 Chateau Pavie Macquin St. Emilion.  Apparently, the grapes in this wine escaped a hailstorm that pummeled the rest of the countryside that year, to reach a transcendence denied others in their peer group.  Very appropriate.  

The Hurt Locker -- By now, we all know about the media-manufactured rivalry between the director of this film, Kathryn Bigelow, and her ex-husband, James Cameron, who directed a certain blue-themed movie listed above.  We'd like to applaud Ms. Bigelow for blazing trails in what is still very much a boys club, and offer up a wine by one of our very favorite woman winemakers:  2005 Martinelli Jackass Hill Zinfandel, made by Helen Turley and Bryan Kvamme.  Will set you back $165, but like every fine woman, it's worth every penny. 

Inglourious Basterds -- We know Quentin Tarantino is an acquired taste, one we have grown to love over the years, as we've cultivated our knowledge of wine, shoes, movies and Japanese swords.  We can only wish that his imaginative retelling of WWII were true, then salute Christophe Waltz' tour de force performance with our favorite Grüner Veltliner, Domäne Wachau Federspiel Terrassen 2008.  Only $17, and after a few glasses, you'll no longer fear that umlaut. 

Precious -- Yes, we know the movie's actual title is longer, but we're tired of typing and want to get on to more important things, like telling you what to drink.  For this harrowing tail, we're tempted to recommend a stiff shot of oblivion-inducing Everclear, but in the interest of consistency, we'll stick to the wine.  Our choice:  2005 Brown Estate Chaos Theory.  Like the movie's heroine, it's a unique blend -- in this case, Cabernet & Zinfandel -- and it comes from one of the precious-few African-American-owned wineries in the country.

A Serious Man -- Although chaos theory is certainly appropriate for this modern retelling of the parable of Job, we chose to focus on the other physics-related aspects of the latest Coen brothers' opus.  Face it, despite its distinctly Jewish flavor, this is really a film about Shrödinger's Cat.   So we recommend the very serious 2005 EMH Vineyards Black Cat Cabernet.  A few sips, and you'll be grateful to Hashem for creating such pleasures. 

Up -- Although this putative children's movie is filled with balloons and airiness, it's ultimately a down-to-earth story about friendship, love, and coming to terms with loss.  Pixar's continuing ability to make us laugh while yanking our heartstrings is worth a rousing toast, and our libation of choice is Iron Horse Cuvee Joy!, a vintage sparkling wine from John Lasseter's beloved Sonoma County.  It's produced only in magnums, so make sure you pack as many friends as possible into your house before you unpack the bubbles and take off for the Amazon. 

Up in the Air -- Ordinarily we'd avoid a film about a professional corporate downsizer, given the current depressing state of employment and its concomitant effect on the wine industry.  However, we'd attend the opening of an envelope if George Clooney were involved ... so, here we are.  To celebrate this quirky, complicated, and ultimately satisfying film, we offer up a similarly-themed wine: 2005 Shypoke Charbono.  Made from an underused varietal grape, like the Clooney, it goes down smooth but finishes with a punch. 

So, there you have it.  There's still time to go shopping before the cameras start rolling.  And have your people call our people after the show, darling.   Kiss kiss.

Three Things.

  

Three things made me very happy last night (even though it was Giorgio the houseboy's night off):

1) The delicious vegetarian cassoulet I made.  Recipe here.

2) The big, honkin' glass of 2007 Les Hèrétiques I drank with the cassoulet.  Carignan & Syrah blend, classic flavors from the Languedoc for a classic Languedoc dish (well, sans the carnivorous stuff).

3) The Daily Show's brilliantly ironic skewering of cable news "expert" panels.

That is all.

Smoke and Wine

Summer is not letting go gracefully here in Southern California.  The end of August has given birth to dog days of uncommon ferocity, with temperatures near 100°F even on the coast, and raging wildfires that threaten to reduce both our Twitter accounts and our stargazing abilities to dust.  Outside activities are curtailed, houses are sealed up tight, and the constant pillar of smoke on the horizon has created a lurking apocalyptic anxiety even among the most cheery of Angelenos. 

Under the circumstances, we all could use a stiff drink. 

Ever the public servant, I set about cataloging my favorite fire-themed wines, to recommend them to you, dear readers, as a more social alternative to Xanax and uncontrollable sobbing.  Fires are an undeniable and unwelcome fact of life in California; winemakers are just as prone as anyone else to enjoying a bit of irony in their lives.

2003 Shafer Firebreak "Last Chance" Sangiovese:   2003 was the last vintage of this wine, and like all lost classics, we mourn its passing.   Firebreak originally earned its moniker in 1981 when winery owner John Shafer planted a vineyard near his house to serve as a firebreak after one conflagration too many.  Redolent of cherries, red currents and a bit of tobacco, it has always reminded me of my favorite Cal-Italian lover (no, I never kiss and tell):  sweet on the lips, smooth going down.  If you know someone who has a bottle, cultivate a friendship with him/her, and insist on an invitation to dinner.  $40, if you can find it. 

2006 Fire Station Red Cabernet Sauvignon:  This label was actually created by John Drady, owner of Sonoma Coast Winery.  A firefighter himself, Drady accurately assessed that making available a kick-ass wine just might help fundraising efforts for fire departments everywhere.  He was correct.  I prefer mine served by the smokin' hot gents from Engine Company 29.  Cherry, raspberry, chocolate-coffee, not overly tannic, and a bargain at $12.

2006 Sea Smoke TEN Pinot Noir:  Yes, it's less about fire and more about fog, but I thought it deserved a place on the list.  As I slurped it down at a wine-tasting event, I made these notes in my WineSnob iPhone app:  "Deserves its name.  Tastes of salt air."  Yes, I write that kind of crap at wine-tastings.  The wine is a classic, and at $125 bucks a bottle, it better be.   Be sensible, go buy it, and run away to Washington State coastline with your favorite sailor, where you'll be able to enjoy it in the aforementioned cool salt air.

And, just for fun, here's the song in the title from Hank Williams III.  Please don't forget to donate to your local Red Cross. If you're in the LA area, donations of money and pet food are welcome, as well.  Photo provided to the New York Times by a reader.

When Worlds Collide

By chance I happened to watch the Preakness yesterday. It's not Freakness, Dottie, and it is a race, not a horse. Race two of the Triple Crown. Horses were my daughter's passion for a good number of years until she lost her favorite teacher, and her desire to ride.

I love horses, just being around them, and especially loved this running of the Preakness. The winning jockey,Calvin Borel, is from Louisiana and speaks that particular dialect that reminds me of New Orleans and surrounds. The winning horse's owner, Jess Jackson, happens to be a member of wine royalty. The winning horse, Rachel Alexandra, a filly...

Horses, like wine, are a passion of the very wealthy. We say that you must start with several million to make a million in the wine industry. I think it must be the same with horses. 

Obama's Veep Choice - Joe Biden

I woke up this morning to find out that Joe Biden (D-DE) is Obama's running mate. It makes sense to me that someone who speaks so slowly and deliberately would chose someone who has a direct line between their brain and mouth. So, in that same vein (and the fact that Joe is another old white man) it makes sense that we should get Joe some wine that will go straight to his head - something big, alcoholic, and mature  like Renwood Grandpere. Like most other Amador County Zinfandels, Grandpere is massive and almost port-like with an intensity of fruit. Hopefully it's give his utterances a nice gloss without loosening his tongue too much.

WWOD? (What Would Obama Drink?)

So, the Pennsylvania primaries will soon be upon us, and despite half the Democratic Party's attempts to deprive the populace of democratic process, there will be two candidates in that race.   And then there's this other guy in the wings, some old white dude who implies he believes in democratic process, but may in fact, just be another fan of executive-branch imperialism. (Please note that we Wine Giques are independents, but we do not like George Bush.  He's been very, very bad for the grapes.) 

But I digress.  The road to the Presidency is long and arduous, and at Gique Headquarters we definitely recommend the ready consumption of alcohol to help smooth it all out.  So, we thought, what if we were to line up all this election's Presidential candidates (both current and past) and make some recommendations regarding what they should be drinking?  This could be the genesis of a new political party itself, we think:  one that exercises diplomacy through high-profile tastings featuring monogrammed-spit-bucket expectoration contests and stinky-cheese-flinging challenges.  We like it already.  But we need a name.  Please post your suggestions in the comments section. 

So, without further ado, here are the 2008 Wine Giques Presidential Pairings™:

Hillary Clinton: Time and again, Hillary has proved that she's a fighter.  She survived Bill's shenanigans.  She won the hearts of the toughest crowd on the planet, NYC Firefighters.  (Take that, Rudy.) She's thumbing her nose at the haters among us.  We say, "you go, girl," and recommend a spicy wine with body, something that's built to last:  2005 Frank Family Vineyards Zinfandel, $35.

Barack Obama:  That Barry, he's one handsome dude.  Smooth talker, good on TV, has some moves at hoops:  he's Washington's version of Magic Johnson.  But like Magic, there's more under the covers than maybe we want to know.  We recommend a mellow blend, an exciting combination of American and "Mediterranean" styles, something perhaps a little precious for the true connoisseur:  Merryvale 2003 Profile, about $70. 

John Edwards:  Poor John -- right ideas, wrong time.  His Handsome Jim appearance hides some real political chops.  But the Dems aren't looking for another Southern White Guy right now.  We recommend a Virginia gem that's often overlooked by the media:  Barboursville Vineyards 2004 Octagon, $30.  Drink it on the verandah in South Carolina, John, and spend some time with your wife. 

Bill Richardson:  You know what?  Richardson's a dickhead.  He's not getting any recommendations.  As a matter of fact, we're banishing him to the driest county in Alabama that we can find. And if he ever tries to run for President again, we'll stuff a used cork up his nose.  Sour grapes for being kicked out of the race, we suppose.  (Pun intended.)

Dennis Kucinich:  Pocket Candidate™ Kucinich was actually a little damaged by the presence of his preternaturally hot, younger wife.  "What's she doing with him?" the crowd muttered, every time they appeared together.  We have no idea why she's with him, but given his predeliction for the type, we recommend 2004 Redhead Red, from Fife.  About $12.00

Mike Gravel:  Gravel's early days as a peacenik, his years in Alaska, and his French parentage all lead us to recommend a wine from the frosty regions of Alsace:  2005 Martin Schaetzel Tokay Pinot Gris Oberberg, about $12.  (Note:  Also organic, to undo the effects of some of that global warming up near the polar regions.) 

Joe Biden:  Senior Senator from Delaware?  There are people there?  Who would have thought?  On a more serious note, surely his Irish Catholic heritage has made Senator Joe intimately familiar with communion wine.  We're stepping out of the box a bit to recommend a good sherry, Williams & Humbert Non-Vintage Oloroso Jerez Solera Especial 15 Years Old, about $30.

Chris Dodd: See Bill Richardson above.  Prick.

John McCain:  Dude is brave, but OLD.  Come on, John.  No one believes your malarkey about the damn war . . . and we're worried that you're going to pull a Reagan and go all Alzheimer's on us.  But given your heroic military career, we think you deserve a structured, highly-decorated American Cabernet: 2005 Shafer Vineyards One Point Five, $70.  We'll even hang a little medal on a ribbon around its neck for you.

Mitt Romney:  Yeah, yeah, we know Mormons don't drink, although we can't help to notice that the state-controlled wine stores in Salt Lake City seem to offer some of the best wine selections on the planet.  But even Mitt needs to attend a party or two.  We recommend he tote along a non-alcoholic bubbly, just for show: Ariel NV Non-alcoholic Brut, about $8.00.

Rudy Giuliani:  Mamma mia, our lusty, many-times-married amico Rudy is both tough and tender, a true Italian mammone.    We recommend a lively Italian red, something good, perhaps a little pricey, made affordable by Rudy's many dancing gigs: 2004 Antinoria Solaia, $125.

MIke Huckabee:  Yeah, we know the Southern Baptists hew to the same views as the Mormons (except maybe for the Garden of Eden being in MIssouri part), but that didn't stop Angela's feisty 4' 11" grandmother from tippling a bit.  We recommend Granny Maude's favorite, Scuppernong wine:  not a varietal, but still good for what ails ya.  Available at a Piggly-Wiggly near you (except in dry counties, Bill Richardson.)

Ron Paul:  A strict Constitutionalist (and fellow Blue Devil, Angela adds).  We can't resist pointing Mr. Paul to one his heroes (and fellow William & Mary grad, Angela adds), Thomas Jefferson.  Mr. Jefferson famously loved the grape, and counted a number of French classics among his private collection.  We recommend a Romanée-Conti, 1983 Domaine de la Romanée Conti Romanée St. Vivant, $899.  (Yes, that's $899).  We wish him luck finding it; it's currently as elusive as our Constitutionally-guaranteed personal liberties.    

Fred Thompson:  He's not really a candidate, he just plays one on teevee.  Nice try, Fred.  Given the abortive nature of your campaign, we're recommending something that should be consumed right away: (Oops) 2006 Cheeky Little Red, $10.    It's okay not to be a keeper; carpe diem, we always say.  See you on Law & Order.

Mike Gravel (Libertarian):  Again?  Good for you, Mike, you don't give up.  See reco's above.  Make sure we know if you make it onto the ballot, okay?  We might recommend an actual Champagne to celebrate.

Occasionally, we think about other things.

So, our lives aren't TOTALLY consumed with fine food, wine and boys.  Well, yes they are, and this thing involves a boy.  His name is John Ondrasik, and his band is Five for Fighting.  He released a hit single last fall --"What Kind of World Do You Want?" -- and was inspired to create a venue for people to upload videos about the kind of world THEY want, and to support a small group of great charities in the process.

Go check out the website, watch some videos, feel good.  And in the meantime, we'll get together our warm fuzzy video about a world full of nothing but tasty vino, handsome men and teddy bears.  Anyone want to audition for a cameo role?