The first real blog

Alright, here goes. This is the first time writing this blog. But I have much that has happened in the last year. Some Good. Some bad. But real quick: This is a wine blog, mainly. But, I also have a wine TV show I am trying to sell (have been for a year). So it is also a how-to-fail-in-showbusiness blog. So it's a blog about failing, so it's more of a flog really. Yes, bad jokes! Expect more, you know you want them.

I will be back dating this blog, filling in everyone I have talked to and networked with in the last year. Plus I will be reviewing wine. Don't click away yet. When I started in the wine industry seven years ago, I was a wine retard. My publication, Wine Spectator, is the Mac daddy of all wine mags... but not intimidating. In fact, they sent me to wine school! I started writing more in-depth pieces once I acquired 'the Knowledge.' I don't know how much my magazine paid for my education, but I can tell you how much this blog will cost for yours: nothing.

It won't be formal and it will count for little if you try to take a sommelier to task (but if you do, aim for the taste-vin).

So the first wine we have here (I hate the overuse of the single person in blogs and will constantly try to avoid it) is... a 2005 'Les Granges' Cotes du Rhone (oh yeah, don't expect accents and the like. If that's what you want www.winespectatorschool.com. Get some learning!)... also it's a 'reserve'... Morrisons, Great Britain, 4 pounds.

I would have never bought this wine because I am deeply suspicious of the fact Vignerons de Chusclan the wine producer, has its name really tiny all the way at the bottom of the label. If I made a Chateau Gaffney, my name would be in BOLD... and reeeeaaaalll big.

Nonetheless... it's really hot tonight, like 90 degrees F... the term 'reserve' is not a regulated term overall, usually means the wine was aged in oak a bit longer that the crap they sell at 2 quid. But this one is a bargain. Nice colour, simple nose (most wines in this range don't really give much in way of smell) but, if you really need an aroma... there's a wee bit of milk chocolate. When the bottle was first opened it was OK, it's been open an hour and there is some serious throat burn... very alcoholic tasting. But, it's not going down the sink. It's not that bad.
Very drinkable. Good for a BBQ if your friends are big on tins of Stella and decent, cheap wine, as mine are.

Real quick, I went into Crouch End Oddbins and bought a Chapoutier Saint-Joseph. Chapoutier is a great guy, met him once long ago and he left enough of an impression that I will buy his wines. But I can only afford them if they are on clearance. His Saint-Joseph was bin end (oddbins wants to sell of the remaining stock to make room for the new vintage, this practice and vintage reports will be available in the near future)... it normally cost £13, now cost £8. Spectacular. Elegant. So expressive, yet simple. Sad I had to share. Sorry I didn't pay attention more. Next time I will... but only to tell you guys about it.