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My Third Podcast -- Details about the March 21st Polaner Selections Tasting!
Twenty-two of our vignerons will be in New York on March 21st and I'm podcasting all about this exciting event!
There will be lots of side tastings, events, dinners, concerts, charity events and gallery openings associated with the week.
For more details, listen to the podcast below, either on your IPOD or on your desktop computer.
Evan Spingarn, the wine author and agronomist who also works for David Bowler Selections in New York, will not be attending any of these events although we would be happy to see him there.
To hear this interesting podcast, please click below:
The Wine Importer's Third Podcast on the Polaner Selections March 21st Tasting!
My Second Podcast!
I've gone home ill, but was able to finish up my second podast.
This podcast deals with the problems of global warming. Many of the great wine producing regions of the world are said to be at "the limits of maturation." That is, Pinot Noir was planted in Burgundy because if you plant it further south it gets too ripe but if you plant it further North it does not get sufficiently ripe.
The problem facing vignerons all over the world is whether the past decade of warmer vintages will turn upside-down the vineyard placements which originated centuries ago.
Joining me on this podcast is Evan Spingarn, the wine author and agronomist, who works for David Bowler Selections in New York.
To hear this interesting podcast, please click below:
The Wine Importer's Second Podcast!
My First Podcast!
Everyone tells me that blogging is so passé and that the future is podcasting.
I've run this blog since 1989 but I'm open to change and won't be left behind by this new podcasting technology.
So, I have put together my first pod addressing the influence of Jules Chauvet, the legendary oenologist from the Beaujolais who has greatly influenced an entire generation of natural wine makers.
To hear this pod, which you can download to your IPOD or listen to on your computer, please go to:
The Wine Importer's First Podcast!
What's on Your Playlists?
Mine are empty.
I've played the Goldberg Variations on a desktop version of ITunes, but that's as far as I have gone.
I've also converted the Gilliam Welch version of Carmen into an IPOD format, bit I forgot I don't have an IPOD which would allow me to hear Gilliam Welch singing Toreador while I ride my bicycle with my IPOD attached to my ears under my bike helmet.
Being IPODless is a sad thing.
One hypothetical advantage of using an IPOD with a bicycle is I wouldn't have to use the ITrip Auto to get IPOD reception while I drive. During my recent trip to viticultural France, I spent countless hours finding dead spots on the car radio, synchronizing the Itrip Auto with the dead spot and then desperately scouring others people's playlists to find something I wanted to listen too. I discovered Another Traveling Song by a band called Bright Eyes which I great enjoyed. I also enjoyed Nina Simone's cover of that song.
March 21st Declared IPOD-Free Day!
I know many of my readers use IPODS. Lots of you are leading the ILIFE with your IPHOTOS and IACCESSORIES and ICONNECTIVITY.
What ever happened to reading? Or silence? Or falling asleep out of boredom? How about talking with other human beings about something other than the latest IPOD models you are considering buying and how the IPHONE is going to revolutionize humanity as we know it.
And how about reading Steve Tanzer's International WIne Cellar on the IRT Lexington Line without simultaneously listening to the latest release from Gillian Welch on your 80 GB IPOD which already is filled up with 67 Gigs of Gillian Welch songs?
The more I am around the IPOD, the more I am convinced that this little gadget is as much a threat to humanity as the Bush Administration.
I am hereby declaring March 21st an IPOD-Free Day for New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Illinois and Minnesota.
23 vignerons from France will be coming to New York on that day in solidarity with IPOD-Free Day. More details to come.
Back in New York
We had a forced landing in Chicoutimi last night and we were put up overnight at the lovely Chicoutumi Hilton.
They served us a splendid buffet breakfast before we took off this morning and it was all complimentary!
I went down to the office and spent my morning talking to important people in the Connecticut wine trade. One Connecticut guy told me I was talking bullshit in a dispute we had over Arbois Savignin availability and delivery. I quickly became offended but learned later today that many people in the Connecticut wine trade use that word. They seem to have lots of bullshit acumen.
I am writing this on my cell phone while getting a haircut on East 6th Street. I'm suffering jet lag and needed to take a relaxing break from Connecticut wine power brokers.
Booked on Delta, In Plane, Pondering Meal Choices
Should I have pasta or chicken?
See you all soon in Nathan Zuckerman's Newark.
My Public Apologies to Shawn Mead
I'd like to apologize to Shawn Mead, who works for the same company as I do and who just spent three weeks in France travelling with me.
I get very nervous and panicky before travelling and went crazy last night on our way into Montpellier to catch my now cancelled Jet Blue flight to New York.
Furthermore, I stopped translating French about a week ago. Shawn does not speak French. The last word I translated was "putain."
I know this has been a difficult and burdensome time for Shawn. I hope I can do better in the future.
My God! A French woman in her late 40s just walked by who is a mirror image of the actress who played Lucille, Gunther Tooty's wife on the old show Car 54 Where are You!
I Love Dr. Vino!
He has a great blog and is a valuable new addition to the wine scene.
Don't miss his compelling blog!
My Jet Blue Flight from Paris Has Been Cancelled!
All those apologies from Jet Blue corporate headquarters are not doing me a lot of good this morning as I'm sitting marooned at gate E80 at the Roissy airport.
I'm trying to rebook on Delta, but the only way I can do that would involve my landing in Newark. This seems an interesting idea to me, as I'm currently reading the last book in Philip Roth's Nathan Zuckerman series.
Many of the Parisians I've seen here at the airport are dead ringers for Gerard Fourignon, who is our company's printer and who sends all our beautiful government warning labels all over France from his headquarters in Villefranche in the scenic Beaujolais.
Amazing Facts About Montpellier!
I am about to board my flight to Paris where I will eventually get a flight to New York.
A strange fact about Montpellet is that two out of every five women over 35 pleasantly resemble Alice Feiring.
Another interesting fact, mentioned on Wikpedia, is that Ernest Borgnine is a native of this dynamic town.
A Point of Clarity
I get a lot of e-mails lately which refer to me and my peeps.
I have no peeps. At my age we have friends, families, colleagues or associates.
We don't have peeps.
Peep over elsewhere, please.
Do Not Use GPS in Montpellier
Our GPS kept sending us to Narbonne last night.
What a disaster!
I learned today that it is a well known fact that all GPS systems go haywire here.
Great New Wine Bar Opens in Cairanne!
Don't miss Le Tourne au Verre the next time you are cruising through the Dentelles.
Conveniently located in downtown Cairanne, I ate a delicious lunch here at a reasonable price and there was a deep list of wines which actually were interested.
So many viticultural areas are filled with such terrible restaurants and it is a great pleasure to see this new venture packing them in during lunch hour and dinner.
Don't miss it. Call them at 04 90 30 72 18 and tell them that Joe Dressner, the wine importer, sent you!
Returning to New York for Saturday Tasting at Chambers Street!
I was going to stay the next two weeks in my room overlooking the Lac de Salagou near the Mas des Chimeres, but then I heard about this Saturday's tasting at Chambers Street Wine somewhere in downtown Manhattan.
What a great line-up they're going to be showing:
Whites
Luneau-Papin Clos des Alles 2005 Muscadet
Tue-Boeuf Buisson Pouilleux 2005
Tue-Boeuf Brin de Chevre 2005
Domaine de Roally Viré Clessé 2004
Barth Muscat 2005
Barth Riesling Rebgarten 2005
Reds
Cascina ‘Tavijn Grignolino d’Asti 2005
Franco Noussan Mayolet 2005
Terres Dorées Morgon 2005
Thierry Puzelat KO In Cot We Trust 2005
Dard & Ribo Crozes-Hermitage Rouge 2004
Dard & Ribo St Joseph Rouge 2004
I not missing this tasting and have rescheduled my flights to attend and pour. See you there!
Attached is your delivery for Thursday..
Jean-Paul Brun Declared a Benefactor of Humanity and a National Treasure in La Revue du Vin de France!
I arrived here two days ago at the same time the mailman delivered the latest issue of La Revue du Vin de France.
This issue has an article by the famous writer, Gerard Oberle (whose name has accents which I can't produce on my cell phone, where I'm writing this blog) which details his view of wine, society, life and Robert Mitchum.
M. Oberle declares in this article: "The vignerons like Didier Dagueneau, Henri-Jayer or Jean-Paul Brun are benefactors of humanity and national treasures."
Putain!
Travelling and Sick!
Help!
I've been sick since being poisoned at a restaurant in Charnay-les-Macon on St-Valentines Day.
I am currently being fined $50.00 a day. I'm in the Beaujolais today and off to Dard & Ribo this morning. Tomorrow Cairanne, then Chateauneuf. Then the Languedoc and a plane back to New York on Thursday morning.
The Dives Bouteilles was smashing as was Viti Valaire Expo Mondial. I've been too ill and too busy to write more but hope to get more details on the blog when I fly back on Thursday.
Southern Wine & Spirits Acquires the Touraine and VOS Selections
All of viticultural France is abuzz over the latest moves by Southern Wine & Spirits.
Jacky Preys, the spiritual and quality leader in Touraine was quoted as saying: Ca fait du bien!
Who will be next?