We asked sommelier, writer, and four-time Beard Award winner Natalie MacLean to tell us her favorite summertime wines that don’t cost an arm and a leg. Best Patio Sipper: Ca’ Del Solo Vineyard Muscat 2007 (Monterey, CA): Medium-bodied and slightly off-dry white. About $17. Best Poolside Chiller: Nobilo Regional Collection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (New Zealand): Pure grassy goodness! About $16. Best Barbecue Quaffer: Peter Lehmann Shiraz Grenache 2005 (Australia): A full-bodied palate-whacker of a wine. About $15.
Wine Articles
Wine as a Career
Pursuing wealth has its obvious rewards, but making money is much easier when you’re doing something you love. Starting a business requires plenty of time and energy, and as such it should be something that is worth trading your life to undertake. Follow your passion, experts say, and you’ll succeed. This aphorism certainly applies to Natalie MacLean, many times over. The accredited sommelier, wine journalist and author of Red, White, and Drunk All Over got her business start early — she opened a dance school in her Nova Scotia basement when she was 15. She photocopied handmade notices and took […]
Wine & Life
What goes with death row? How about a silky, fleshy pinot noir from Burgundy? Natalie MacLean can do half of the food and drink thing (see Question No. 7) and has to keep fending off the FedEx guy, who often hints he would like to come in (No. 18). Sommelier and wine writer Natalie MacLean got her start with half a bottle of syrupy sparkling wine behind the shed at a high school dance. Perhaps there’s hope yet for us all. 1. What comment most often appeared on your report cards? “Enjoys writing stories.” I also couldn’t resist a good […]
Investing in Wine
Buy now, drink later Prices for great wine are soaring. But by ordering tomorrow’s best bottles today, you can ensure you’ll never go thirsty.By Pamela Young If you are passionate about wine, well-supplied with cash, and very, very patient, now may be the right time to stock up on Château Ausone 2005. Ordering this blue-chip Bordeaux on the “futures” market while it is still aging in the barrel will set you back $1,395 a bottle, or $16,740 a case. Of course, you won’t be able to collect this robust yet ethereal red at your local liquor store until 2008 — […]
Canadian Wines 3
Here’s my idea of a holiday: a ski trip with my family to the charming little town of Sutton, just north of the U.S. border in Quebec—and an opportunity to sample the local wines. This annual Presidents Week ski trip is also a pilgrimage of sorts to the wonderfully quirky Auberge Agnes Horth where we reconnect with friends who are also drawn to this area, a former outpost for British loyalists that later attracted artists and free spirits. Our hosts at the inn, Ray and Carla, offer their guests a laid back, family atmosphere and a belly full of gourmet […]
Wine Tastings
Several years ago I organized a wine tasting night, hoping to take advantage of my neighbor’s expertise in that area. Everyone brought a bottle of red wine, each one wrapped in a brown paper bag so we could taste without being influenced by the label or price. The least expensive bottle on the table, a California Zinfandel, won raves. It surprised those of us who splurged on a $20 bottle – about twice the price of the winner – thinking that more expensive meant better quality. That’s only one of a few good reasons wine tastings exist. Milwaukee native Michael […]
Steakhouse Wine Lists
Don’t be surprised if it’s easier this month to get a reservation at Smith & Wollensky. The reason: With the economy in decline and expense accounts under increased scrutiny, businesspeople may be skipping the steakhouse–and the overpriced wines that flow there. That appears to be what’s happening at Morton’s and Ruth’s Chris. In the last year, Morton’s stock has dropped 75%. Ruth’s Hospitality Group, which owns the Ruth’s Chris chain, has followed a nearly identical downward trajectory. In Depth: Most and Least Pricey U.S. Steakhouse Wine Lists “There are two major problems facing both of the steakhouse operators,” says Chris […]
Internet & Wine 3
As my close friends know painfully well, I’m not exactly good at making decisions. At the wine store, I’m the customer who gets asked “Can I help you?” twice by the same salesperson because I’ve meandered between shelves for so long that they have forgotten our first encounter. Then I usually say something brilliant like, “Can you help me find a red wine that tastes…you know, tasty…um, like the one I bought a few weeks ago…I think it was French…?” It’s not that I’m a complete oeno-idiot. I know most of the major regions and varietals, and my palate can […]
Economy & Wine 4
Looking ahead to 2009 seems to be a scary proposition if you listen to the economists. Stocks and the housing market haven’t hit bottom, they say, while uncertainty about jobs and a new president are adding to our jitters. While it isn’t fun to live with uncertainty, it is fun to talk about wine. This time of year, it’s especially fun to make educated guesses about what trends are afoot. For their insights, we asked Guy Stout, master sommelier for Glazer’s distributing; Ray Ayala, wine specialist with Republic Beverages; and Natalie MacLean, wine expert and author with a popular newsletter, […]
Malbec
Until recently, the Malbec grape was known primarily as a minor player in French Bordeaux blends. But it is becoming better known as a varietal on its own, with some excellent vintages coming from Argentina, and price points that make them very attractive. Malbecs are known for their deep purple color, hard tannins, and earthy coarseness, said Al Spoler, co-host of Cellar Notes on WYPR radio. “The adjective ‘rustic’ applies to it very easily,” he said. “It’s wine made by peasants for their own consumption.” Argentina grows the most Malbec, with the stars coming from the Mendoza region. Exports to […]
