April 2026: Uncorking Excellence: First Expressions of Spring
Greetings all!
As winter quietly recedes and the first expressions of spring emerge, we find ourselves once again drawn to the ritual of the glass. Where place, craftsmanship, and time converge.
This month, I’ve selected seven bottles that invite both contemplation and pleasure. Each offers a distinct sense of origin and intention; worthy of both the enthusiast and the unapologetic snob.
November 2025: Uncorking Excellence: Thanksgiving Pairings
Greetings all!
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I’m excited to share some exceptional wine suggestions for your festive dinner. Let’s toast to a delightful holiday!
Start with Sparkling Wine
Kick off the festivities with a sparkling wine! Here are some great options, all available in various sweetness levels:
- French Champagne
- California Sparkling Wine
- Italian Prosecco
- Spanish Cava
Sweetness Classification Dry – Sweet:
- Brut Nature/Bruto Natural/Naturherb/Zero Dosage
- Extra Brut/Extra Bruto/Extraherb
- Brut/Bruto/Herb
- Extra-Sec/Extra-Dry/Extra Trocken
- Sec/Secco/Seco/Dry/Trocken
- Demi-Sec/Semi-Seco/Medium Dry/Abboccato/Halbtrocken
- Doux/Dulce/Sweet/Mild
September 2025: Uncorking Excellence: Sweet Corn & Albariño
Greetings all!
As summer draws to a close and fall begins to settle in, I find myself craving one of my favorite late summer delights: sweet corn. It inspired me to whip up a delicious sweet corn chowder for a Saturday lunch with the family.
Wine Pairing Suggestion:
I recommend pairing it with a refreshing Albariño. During my recent visit to Downtown Liquor in Alexandria, I had the pleasure of speaking with Andy, who helped me select a fantastic option: the 2021 Lagar de Cervera. This white wine hails from Rías Baixas, Spain.
July 2025: Uncorking Excellence: Bourbon, BBQ & Opus One
Greetings all!
Indulge your senses as I recount a delightful culinary journey that unfolded this past Saturday night, centered around a sumptuous pulled pork dinner that would tantalize even the most discerning palates.
The magic began at the witching hour of 2 AM, when I retrieved a glorious 14-pound pork shoulder from its chilly confines, allowing it to reach the perfect room temperature. I embarked on a smoking adventure at 4 AM, preheating my trusty recteq smoker to a precise 250°F, infused with an enchanting blend of apple and cherry wood pellets.
In the spirit of effortless elegance, I nestled the pork shoulder into a disposable aluminum pan for convenience. A symphony of flavors awaited as I lavished the shoulder with a luscious rub: a decadent ¼ cup of molasses, a zesty ¼ cup of yellow mustard, and a harmonious mix of 1/3 cup Ron’s Screamin’ Pig Rub and 1/3 cup Rossarooski’s Honey Rib Rub. Each ingredient danced together, creating a rich tapestry of taste.
February 2025: Uncorking Excellence: Champagne Tasting
Greetings,
I hope all is well!
My wife and I, along with her cousin Paul and his wife Barb, attended a Champagne tasting in Scottsdale Arizona at Vincent’s Bistro. I first enjoyed Vincent’s in 1986. This is a wonderful restaurant with a magnificent wine list. The tasting included over 100 Champagnes – Moet & Chandon, Barons De Rothchild, Louis Roederer to name a few. One of the Champagnes we tried was the only Champagne used by the British Royal family for special events during the reign of Queen Elizabeth: Pere & Fils, Lanson 1760 Brut.
January 2025: Uncorking Excellence: Experiencing French Bordeaux
Greetings,
Happy New Year! Hope all is well!
My wife and I were invited to a grilled ribeye steak dinner with all the steak house sides. The hosts are wine educated enthusiasts. They love high quality fruit forward Malbec, Zinfandel, and Cabernet Sauvignon. I thought we could try something elegant but less fruit forward.
I brought a 2015 Chateau St Julien. This is a left bank French Bordeaux. Left bank French Bordeaux’s are a higher percentage Cabernet Sauvignon blend while right bank French Bordeaux’s are a higher percentage blend of Merlot. French Bordeaux’s are “Old World” less fruit forward than American “New World” Cabernet Sauvignons. The Chateau St. Julien Is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 7% Petite Verdot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak.
December 2024: Uncorking Excellence: Celebrating the New Year!
Greetings,
New Years Eve is just ahead. Here are a couple of wines that will be wonderful choices to ring in the New Year. These wines can be purchased locally.
Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne
The modern day Maison of Veuve Clicquot possesses one of the finest Champagne vineyards, both in terms of its size and quality of vines. It’s 390 hectares are divided between twelve of the seventeen Grand Cru vineyards and twenty of the forty four Premier Cru vineyards that constitute the entire Champagne Region of France.
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