Award Winning Virginia Chardonnay

While writing about wine over the past 16 years, I have been fortunate to taste wine from around the world, and from nearly all 50 US states. Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming are the only four missing from my American wine itinerary, and I would love to hear from any winemakers in those states.

One of my favorite wine states is Virginia. There is such a wide spread of varieties being grown there. I've sampled Virginia grapes that represent Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire, the Rhône, Spain, and Italy. Not to forget, of course, the all-American Norton grape. The good grapes in Virginia are abetted by good winemaking practices, as well.

I was blessed with samples of the winners from the 2025 Governor's Cup event, which started in 1982. A Zoom call featured the makers of the 12 wines which made this year's Governor's case, the top dozen bottles from the event. 

The 2022 Michael Shaps Chardonnay is a varietal wine composed  of grapes taken from the Wild Meadow Vineyard. Cooler nighttime temperatures at this vineyard help preserve acidity. It is Shaps' second wine to make the Governor's Case. It is 100% barrel fermented and aged 15 months on the lees. Alcohol sits at 13% and the price is $28.

This wine is a lovely golden color. The nose carries plenty of lemon, citrus minerality, and a touch of oak spice. The palate has a good bit of acidity, lemon, stone fruit, and vanilla. It finishes long, full of citrus and a bit of apricot. This wine is made for seafood, but will also fit well with chicken or lemony pasta dishes. 

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Virginia's Take Of Right Bank Blend

While writing about wine over the past 16 years, I have been fortunate to taste wine from around the world, and from nearly all 50 US states. Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming are the only four missing from my American wine itinerary, and I would love to hear from any winemakers in those states.

One of my favorite wine states is Virginia. There is such a wide spread of varieties being grown there. I’ve sampled Virginia grapes that represent Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire, the Rhône, Spain, and Italy. Not to forget, of course, the all-American Norton grape. The good grapes in Virginia are abetted by good winemaking practices, as well.

The 2017 Barboursville Vineyards Octagon is a mainly Right Bank blend of 62% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. Fermentation, under the guidance of winemaker Luca Paschina, was traditional. The blending occurred after a year of aging the three wines separately. Paschina graduated from the Enology Institute of Alba, Italy, and has 35 vintages at the Barboursville estate. Alcohol registers 13.5% abv and the wine retails for $95.

This wine is very dark. It has a fragrant nose, full of blue and black fruit, flowers, cedar, green pepper, and an underlying earthiness. The palate is fruity and rich, with blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. There is a bright acidity matched with gentle tannins. The finish is medium long and carries the fruit as a lasting memory. 

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Blood Of The Vines - Dungeons And Dragons

Pairing wine with movies!  See the trailers and hear the fascinating commentary for these movies and many more at Trailers From Hell. This week, we have three films that breathe fire. And wine pairings to keep things cool.

Ridley Scott directed Legend in 1985, with a cast that features Tom Cruise, Tim Curry, and Billy Barty. Cruise plays a pure being, known as Jack in the Green, a forest child. Curry plays Darkness, and Barty plays Screwball. Now, that's diversity. 

The good guy has to keep the bad guy from enveloping the world in constant nighttime. Considering some of the things I've seen in broad daylight, I really can't decide which is worse. However, without this conflict, there's no movie. So let's press on.

There are goblins and unicorns and elves, oh my. Legend was an expensive movie, but that didn't make people like it. Ticket sales didn't quite recoup the $25 million budget. One film reviewer complained that writing his review was like remembering a bad dream. Well, Ridley Scott still had some juice left in him after this flop, so he was able to move on with his life very comfortably.

The collaborator for Legend Vineyard Exclusives Wines is Napa Valley's Raymond Vineyards. According to the sales pitch, they help LVE bring together classic elegance, rich complexity and modern soul. That's how the blurb reads, anyway. The Raymond vineyards are owned by Burgundian vintner Jean-Charles Boisset, and farmed biodynamically. The Legend part is musician John Legend.

LVE wines offer a $95 Cabernet Sauvignon and a $55 Chardonnay. There are other options if you'd like to spend less, or more. The wines are made with estate grapes from the Raymond Napa Valley property.

Now we find the real dark side of fantasy. Dragonslayer, from 1981, was co-produced by Paramount and Disney. Moviegoers who expected a Disney film were shocked, as Dragonslayer was a tad on the violent side and sported a bit of nudity. The version seen on The Disney Channel reportedly had two scenes removed out of family-friendly concerns.

Dragonslayer is a heaping helping of all that I don't like about medieval fantasies, dragons being chief among them. There is a wizard in this one who tries to convince someone that he has magical powers. He does this by asking to be stabbed. Guy runs a sword through him and he dies on the spot. In a game of "next guy up," the new wizard seems to have his mojo working properly. 

The film's special effects were pretty good, but not good enough to win an Oscar in a two-movie category. The dragon, Vermithrax, could have used a name that didn't sound like a pest control company. I could swear I saw a Vermithrax truck driving in my neighborhood last week. 

Former NBA star Yao Ming makes wine now in the Napa Valley. If he hands you a bottle of his Dragon Cabernet Sauvignon, does that count as an assist? Maybe, but there will no doubt be an asterisk next to it in the statistics book. If he does hand you a bottle, it will be because you crossed his palm with $98 to get some of that Year of the Dragon 2021 vintage.

The Sword and the Sorcerer was possibly one of the lowlights of 1982, as if 1982 needed any more lowlights. Wasn't MTV enough? Albert Pyun directed this, and many other, low budget films in the fantasy realm. Some people called him "the new Ed Wood," as if the old Ed Wood needed any competition.

Richard Moll, whom you may remember from TV's Night Court, played the role of Xusia of Delos, a sorcerer. There's no record of who played the sword, although there are plenty of cool blades around in this flick. Xusia lived on the beautiful vacation spot, Tomb Island, which must have been just east of Delos. It sounds like Tomb Island may have been at least as much fun as Martha's Vineyard. 

Pyun gave his best on The Sword and the Sorcerer. It was a pretty big hit, despite the lukewarm critical response. Who listens to movie critics anyway, huh?

Cinnabar Winery has a bit of Santa Cruz magic on their menu. Sorcerer's Stone is a $50 blend of Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. Poke around on their website to find a picture of a guy who looks to be ready for a game of D&D.

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The Truth - A Great White Blend From Virginia

While writing about wine over the past 16 years, I have been fortunate to taste wine from around the world, and from nearly all 50 US states. Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming are the only four missing from my American wine itinerary, and I would love to hear from any winemakers in those states.

One of my favorite wine states is Virginia. There is such a wide spread of varieties being grown there. I've sampled Virginia grapes that represent Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire, the Rhône, Spain, and Italy. Not to forget, of course, the all-American Norton grape. The good grapes in Virginia are abetted by good winemaking practices, as well.

I was blessed with samples of the winners from the 2025 Governor's Cup event, which started in 1982. A Zoom call featured the makers of the 12 wines which made this year’s Governor's case, the top dozen bottles from the event. 

The 2023 Veritas Vineyards Monticello White won a prestigious place in the Governor's Case. Winemaker Emily Hodson said, in reference to the plethora of grape varieties in VA, "We didn't find these grapes. These grapes found us." Hodson’s family is in their 25th year in Virginia winemaking. Veritas was featured recently by Wine Enthusiast as a Virginia winery worthy of a visit.

The wine is made up of 50% Chardonnay grapes, 22% Viognier, 17% Sauvignon Blanc, and 11% Petit Manseng, all estate-grown in the Monticello AVA. The grapes all came from varied elevations, soil types and vine age. Different vinification methods were used for the various grape varieties. The juice was fermented in 30% steel and 70% oak, and it aged for ten months in mostly two-year and neutral oak. Alcohol resides at 13.2% abv and the retail price is $35.

This wine has a rich, golden hue in the glass. The nose shows a pronounced oak effect. Aromas of white flowers are joined by peach, golden apple, and a buttery note. The palate has a bright acidity, along with the aforementioned fruit and floral aspects. The finish is quite long and carries that fruit to the wonderful end. I would pair this with roasted chicken, chicken salad, risotto, or any kind of buttery pasta or seafood dish. 

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Gerard Bertrand In Los Angeles

A two-part event happened in April at a fancy hotel on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. The featured star of the afternoon was Gerard Bertrand, pitured at left. He not only brought his personable self to to the Golden State, he also brought his wines.

Part One was a walk-around exploration of some of his lower-priced bottles. These everyday wines, although priced in the $20-$30 range, are every bit as elegant as his top-shelf stuff. Those top-shelf wines were featured in Part Two, which was a seated tasting with Bertrand leading the audience through the menu.

New Wave, the first part, gave the crowd a sample of Bertrand's newer creations, heavy on the trendier items like rosés, orange wines and lighter reds. These wines were all fine examples of how younger wine drinkers can experience wines with a premium feel without dipping into next month's rent.

The Garrigue line is named for Mediterranean shrubs and aromatic herbs which grow alongside the vineyards in Bertrand's Languedoc region. This red, the darkest of the reds sampled, contains Grenache Noir, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. The wine is full of ripe red fruit, wonderful spices, and earth. The firm tannins are joined by a fresh acidity. $20.

La Grande Bleue brings to mind the water bordering the south of France. This white wine has a floral salinity and is light, fresh, and breezy. The grapes are Vermentino (Rolle), Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon. $20.

Orange Gold was my favorite of the walk-around tour. The nose is complex and sweet, with notes of flowers and dried apricots. The palate makes a 180, turning in savory apricot, lemon acidity and salinity. Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Gewürztraminer, and Muscat are the varieties in play. $25.

So'Vive contains Sauvignon, so we expect a bit of grassiness. The Muscat Petits Grains brings a sweet edge to the wine, with low acidity and big minerals. $18

Le Chouchou is a light red wine which finds Bertrand collaborating with his daughter, Emma. This Syrah, Grenache, and Cinsault blend has alcohol at a modest 11%. The color is light, the nose is full of earthy red fruit and the tannins are soft. It's a wine that is very easy to drink. $22.

Trouble comes in three styles: red, pink, and white. It is a slightly fizzy wine, with vibrant fruit, nice acidity, and a bit of earthiness. $25.

Gris Blanc is Grenache rosé, heavy on the minerals with a medium acidity. Rouge Clair, also Grenache, has a bit more color but is still lightly tinted. $17.

French Cancan is a sparkling wine, a Brut Nature Orange, full of red fruit, minerals and toast. $25-$30. 

Part Two of the event covered the essence of Bertrand's new book, Multidimensional Wine. Here, we were treated to Bertrand's philosophy of winemaking. He endeavors to separate everyday wines from those that have a message, and the message is terroir.

Despite Bertrand's wine heritage, he said that he was inspired at the young age of 23 by none other than Robert Mondavi. He has taken that inspiration into a new world of wine, in which he says "organic and biodynamic vineyard practices deliver the footprint of the vintage." Probably the most salient nugget he offered was that "In this crazy world now, we need more wine." I couldn't agree more.

Castellum Sauvignon Blanc 2022 - This wine was Bertrand's example of a quest for excellence. The pretty yellow tint is inviting enough, but this is a very different Sauvignon Blanc. There is no typical "Sauvignon" smell and the palate is savory, yet brimming with yellow fruit. An eye-opener at $35. 

Domaine de l'Aigle Chardonnay 2022 - Bertrand offered this wine to illustrate how changing harvest dates, vinification and maturation, just a little, can make a big difference. This tastes like no other Chardonnay I have ever had. A very savory nose leads to an extremely earthy Chardonnay, a departure from what is expected from the variety. $35.

Château l'Hospitalet Grand Vin Rouge 2021 - This delicious red wine displays the notion that poor soil depends on August rain. The fruit is chalked up by the limestone dirt of La Clape, and the resulting minerality, acidity, and fine tannins are a delight. $50.

Cigalus Rouge 2021 - Bertrand cites that in conventional agriculture, there are 1000 ways micro-organisms affect grapes, 1500 in grapes grown organically. Soils cultivated biodynamically are affected 47,000 different ways. Here's to biodynamic farming. This wine is all about the savory. $56. 

Clos du Temple 2022 - This light, yellow gold rosé has savory strawberry notes and a savory streak that makes it a great pair with caviar. French, caviar, of course. It is all about the sense of place. $195.

Clos d'Ora 2017 - Blending is what Bertrand calls "the pinnacle, the ultimate act" of winemaking. He calls Clos d'Ora a sanctuary, where four great grapes grow in the merging area of mineral, vegetable and animal. If you're blending, do it with the best grapes. $250.

Villa Soleilla 2020 - Who wants to take on an 8000 year-old winemaking tradition started by the ancient Georgians? Gerard Bertrand, that's who. This brilliant orange wine smells of honeyed apricot and has a slightly bitter taste, but it is opulent. We paired it with three different cheeses. The cheeses were jealous of the wine. $195.

I should make it clear that Bertrand's wines from the south of France have long been favorites of mine, and this event only served to bolster that feeling. If you are interested, buy his book. If you buy his wines, he'll be happy with that, too. 

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Blood Of The Vines - You Otto Be In Pictures

Pairing wine with movies!  See the trailers and hear the fascinating commentary for these movies and many more at Trailers From Hell. This week, we have three films directed by Otto Preminger, with a wine pairing for each.

1958's Bonjour Tristesse translates as "Hello, sadness," an odd title for a film set during summertime in the French Riviera. Good acting from Jean Seberg, Deborah Kerr and David Niven meets quality directing from the big O.

The title's dolor is juxtaposed against the summery south of France. Black clothes and heavy eye shadow might have been a nice touch, although leaning a bit heavily into Goth. There may be sadness, but it is summertime, after all. I mean, we haven't yet put away the white slacks and sundresses for the season. Could someone open another bottle of rosé I could cry into?

The setting screams for a rosé from Provence. Chateau de Peyrassol Côtes de Provence Rosé - They've been harvesting grapes in this section of Provence since 1256. That's the year, not the time of day. This antidote to sadness will set you back a paltry $24.

A hundred lawyers at the bottom of the ocean is said to be the definition of "a good start." Not that I have anything against lawyers. It's always good to have one on your side, especially if a different one is coming for you.

1959's Anatomy of a Murder finds Mr. Preminger at the helm of a courtroom drama which required him to go to court. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley banned the film for language he considered to be obscene. Otto sued, and hizzoner's censorship was overturned. The film gets a high rating from the American Bar Association as one of the best courtroom dramas ever made. Well, if my lawyer likes it, it must be good.

The story was "ripped from the headlines," based on a real-life murder trial in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where the movie was shot. A local lawyer beats a murder charge against his client with a twist on the insanity plea, but there are plenty more twists as the trial unfolds. Check out Duke Ellington's role in the movie, no doubt taking a break from his work in creating the score for the film. 

We need a killer wine for Anatomy. Come and gitcha red hots, right here. Napa Valley's Clif Family Winery has Kit's Killer Cab. It's actually Cabernet and Petite Sirah, so more's the better. It's an $85 wine from the people who bring you those Clif Bars you'll find if you scrounge around in your backpack. 

The Man with the Golden Arm gave us Frank Sinatra as a 1955 drug addict. It always seems unusual, that Sinatra later became so careful of his image, and here he is shooting up. To his credit, the character is trying to go straight. Upon his release from prison, he tries to get a job as a drummer. Oh, that should help him stay on the straight and narrow path. Hanging around with musicians is not one of the twelve steps.

Just when you think things might work out, here comes his old dealer. Aaaah, crap. Fix me. The company one keeps is the most important thing about changing those bad habits. Keep that in mind when you try to kick that morphine addiction.

L'Arge d'Or Wines of California's Central Coast combines the notion of a golden age with that of a big door. You can work on that while I drink up their Steakhouse Smoothy #1, a $45 blend of Mourvedre, Syrah, and Grenache. 

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A Is For Albariño, V Is For Virginia

While writing about wine over the past 16 years, I have been fortunate to taste wine from around the world, and from nearly all 50 US states. Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming are the only four missing from my American wine itinerary, and I would love to hear from any winemakers in those states.

One of my favorite wine states is Virginia. There is such a wide spread of varieties being grown there. I’ve sampled Virginia grapes that represent Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire, the Rhône, Spain, and Italy. Not to forget, of course, the all-American Norton grape. The good grapes in Virginia are abetted by good winemaking practices, as well.

I was blessed with samples of the winners from the 2025 Governor's Cup event, which started in 1982. A Zoom call featured the makers of the 12 wines which made this year’s Governor's case, the top dozen bottles from the event. Wine writer Frank Morgan heads up the judging for the event, and he hosted the online round-robin with the winemakers. Morgan really kept the program moving and running on time, a hard feat to accomplish in these online events. He also elicited great commentary from the panelists.

The 2023 Potomac Point Albariño earned a gold medal and a place in the Governor's Case of the top 12 Virginia wines, out of more than 620 entries. Owner Skip Causey and winemaker Jordan Cleary were on the Zoom call. Cleary spoke of his blend, which includes a 5% splash of Viognier in the Albariño. Cleary said he did that "for added depth and length" in the wine. The fruit was sourced from Horton Vineyards in Virginia's Monticello AVA. 

The wine was fermented in stainless steel, rested on its lees for four months, has alcohol at 13% abv, and costs $35.

This wine is a greenish yellow color, very clear. The nose offers sweet floral notes and a great helping of citrus minerality. The palate shows lemon and lime bathed in a nice salinity. The acidity is quite fresh. It finishes long and savory. Pair this one with roasted chicken, eggplant, or a Caprese sandwich. It will go plenty well with tapas, too. 

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Virginia's Top Vermentino

In writing about wine over the past 16 years, I have been fortunate to taste wine from around the world, and from nearly all 50 US states. Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah, and Wyoming are the only four missing from my American wine itinerary, and I would love to hear from any winemakers in those states.

One of my favorite wine states is Virginia. There is such a wide spread of varieties being grown there. I've sampled Virginia grapes that represent Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire, the Rhône, Spain, and Italy. Not to forget, of course, the all-American Norton grape. The good grapes in Virginia are abetted by good winemaking practices, as well.

I was blessed with samples of the winners from the 2025 Governor’s Cup event, which started in 1982. A Zoom call featured the makers of the 12 white wines which made this year's Governor's case, the top dozen bottles from the event. Wine writer Frank Morgan heads up the judging for the event, and he hosted the online round-robin with the winemakers. Morgan really kept the program moving and running on time, a hard feat to accomplish in these online events. He also elicited great commentary from the panelists.

The 2023 Barboursville Vineyards Vermentino was the top scoring wine from the Governor's Cup. Luca Paschina, the Estate Director and Winemaker at Barboursville Vineyards, says that he introduced Vermentino to the vineyard because it thrives in warmer climates. He also notes that when people get the chance to try it, they generally love it. The lovely aromatics, easy mouthfeel, and salty finish provide a big attraction for wine lovers. 

This wine looks yellow-gold with a greenish tint to it. The nose is quite aromatic, displaying a floral note along with massive citrus minerality. The palate has lemon, lime and grapefruit flavors joined by a wonderful salinity. The acidity is very fresh, but the mouthfeel has, overall, a rather soft touch. It’s great to find a Vermentino of this quality that's made in America. Virginia is for Vermentino lovers, I suppose. 

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Blood Of The Vines - Coming Of Age

Pairing wine with movies!  See the trailers and hear the fascinating commentary for these movies and many more at Trailers From Hell. This week, we have three films about growing up, and a wine pairing for each.

From 2000 comes Our Song, written and directed by Jim McKay. He's not the Wide World of Sports Jim McKay, he's the film director Jim McKay. This movie may have fallen through the cracks for you, but it's worth a search. It garnered many accolades for its realistic depiction of what it's like to be a teenage girl in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn. As it turns out, it's a lot like being a teenage girl anywhere in America.

McKay was told by everyone he talked to, that following up his previous young girl film with another one was career suicide. It wasn't. He has worked a lot since then, largely in television.

The perfect pairing for Our Song has to be a wine from the McBride Sisters Wine Company. They were the first black sisters to start a wine business. Their mantra has this film written all over it: "Go where you don't belong. Someday you will." They have a rosé, a Riesling and a red blend for $15 each. Their California sparkler is $25. 

1959's Blue Denim comes from a time in America when parents worried that their kids were sneaking into a pair of jeans on the way to school. Or worse, letting someone sneak into theirs on the way home. Blue denim trousers were the mark of troubled youth back then, only exceeded by black slacks and a ducktail. Heathens. 

Nothing says "coming of age" quite like an unplanned teenage pregnancy. Adults are made, not born. Throw in some talk of abortion and you have a genuine late-'50s potboiler. 

Denim by Beaubois is a good pairing here. From the Costieres de Nimes region of the Southern Rhône Valley, where the denim fabric was born, so they say. And who am I to argue? This Syrah/Grenache/Mourvèdre blend comes complete with a blue denim label for about $25. You can't get a good pair of jeans for that price. 

Bleak obsession drives the 1970 British-West German collaboration, Deep End. It's funny how bleakness seems to have popped up more in movies which required an international effort to produce. Unfortunately, that's about all that's funny here. The film's main setting is a bath house where swimming and less innocent things happen. The main character is a 15-year-old dropout who develops a crush on an older woman with whom he works. Right, he quickly gets in over his head.

Nelson Hill Winery has a line of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir which they call the Deep End, after the vineyard where the grapes are grown.  They say the wine is more beauty than brawn, which sets it apart from most other California Pinot Noirs. It sells for about $45.

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More Grenache In This GSM, But Just Barely

We are looking today at another bargain wine from Trader Joe's, where shoppers can find plenty of really decent wines at a low cost. The 2023 Ténèbres GSM comes from the Pays d'Oc IGP, which covers a good part of the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the southeast part of France. 

The three grape varieties of a GSM are split fairly evenly: 34% Grenache, 33% Syrah, and 33% Mourvèdre. The low cost I mentioned is just $6 and the alcohol content is 13.5% abv. 

This wine is very dark in the glass. The nose is quite aromatic, with aromas of blackberry, plum, cinnamon, and vanilla coming through. It is the oak spice which dominates the bouquet, however. The palate displays plenty of oak, too, but with jammy, dark, fruit notes to help distract us from the aging process. Tannins are firm enough to pair with whatever beef you like. 

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South African White Blend At A Bargain Price

Mbali is the Zulu word for flower, and the label shows the King Protea, South Africa's national flower. Also, the country's national cricket team is called the Proteas.

The blend of white grapes consist of 79% Chenin Blanc and 21% Viognier, taken from South Africa's Western Cape region. The alcohol content is 13.5% abv and I bought it for $6 at Trader Joe's.

This wine is straw colored in the glass, and it pours up a bit frizzante. It smells wonderful, with notes of honeysuckle leading the way, followed by lemon, lime, and apple aromas. The palate shows delightful stone fruit, tropical fruit, and a hint of citrus. The acidity is not as fresh as I would like, but it serves the purpose of livening up the sip and affording easy pairings with a salad, a baked potato, or a Caprese sandwich. It is not a terribly complex wine, but for six bucks it will certainly do. 

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Blood Of The Vines - Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay

Pairing‌‌‌ ‌‌‌wine‌‌‌ ‌‌‌with‌‌‌ ‌‌‌movies!‌‌‌  ‌‌‌See‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌hear‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌fascinating‌‌‌ ‌‌‌commentary‌‌‌ ‌‌‌for‌‌‌ ‌‌‌these‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌movies‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌many‌‌‌ ‌‌‌more‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌at‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌From‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Hell.‌‌‌  This week, we have wine pairings for three movies featuring rock. And roll.

Elvis: That's the Way It Is tells the musical story of Elvis Presley's 1970 concert in Las Vegas. Besides the show at the International Hotel, the off-Strip locale now called Westgate, there is also footage from an Arizona performance and some rehearsal scenes from a Los Angeles soundstage included. If you're a fan of Elvis the singer, and not Elvis the actor, you will find a treasure trove of tunes to make you happy. From "Mystery Train" to "Suspicious Minds," the hit list is lengthy. I count 19 songs, some of which were hits for The Big E, while others are cover versions.

As a kid, I wondered how it was that Elvis got so bad so fast. The local radio station I listened to as a kid featured Golden Weekends that were packed with his brilliant '50s rockers, but also jammed with what I heard as the lousy stuff, post-1960. It's all in That's the Way It Is, performed by an Elvis who was making his big return to the concert stage after years of playing dumb roles in tedious movies. I'll drink to that.

Let's get some Elvis wine. Not because it's so great, which it may be, but because it's Elvis wine. The Elvis Presley Collection is sold under the Wines That Rock umbrella, and it features the incredibly named Belt Buckle, The King, Blue Christmas Pinot Grigio, and Blue Hawaii White Blend, which is actually blue. A friend of mine once advised me to "never eat blue food." In this case, I'll make an exception. Each of the wines cost less than $20. 

In 1959, Go Johnny Go hit the silver screens. The film stars famous disc jockey Alan Freed as a talent scout. The release date was a scant five months before Freed became infamous for losing his gig in the big payola scandal. Like many rock careers, Freed's was short and sweet. The one-sheet bills him as "The King of Rock 'n' Roll," which was a reach, even before the pay-to-play scandal. Let's give him credit for coining the phrase of the genre, but making him the king of rock 'n' roll? Everybody knows that's Jimmy Clanton, right?

Jimmy C is in this movie, as are Chuck Berry, Richie Valens, and Eddie Cochran. The latter two stars both died within a year of the film's release. Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck appears, tickling the ivories on a Chuck Berry tune.

It seems a little harsh to pair an alcoholic beverage with a movie that starred a guy who died at age 43 from cirrhosis of the liver. But here we go. I heard a radio commercial from Freed's show that had Nat King Cole shilling for Italian Swiss Colony California Pale Sherry. Unfortunately, that's no longer an option. 

Even though DJ no longer means what it meant when Freed was a DJ, you can get DJ Daddy Kool's Strawberry Moscato for the sweet price of just $8.99. From Moldova, the wine is actually made from Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains grapes, not strawberries. BTW, there actually is a performer named DJ Kool. Anyone who recorded a song entitled "Let Me Clear My Throat" has to be worth a listen.

The artist we all know as Prince starred in and scored Purple Rain in 1984. It's a romance at heart, but it deals with dark subthemes while showing off the musical talent of its star. This film, with its charismatic frontman, huge hit soundtrack, and four top ten hits, pushed Prince into a limelight he hadn't known before. 

Some critics bashed Purple Rain for its misogyny, and one even called for it to be pulled from the National Film Registry. Others heaped so much praise on it that those who hadn't yet gone to the theater to see it had to wonder what they were missing. They were missing a lot.

Purple Wines of Ohio offers some sweet-leaning bottles, none of which appear to be purple. They are cheap, however. But, how about an actual wine for Prince? Prince Vineyards has several lines of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons that sell for around $100 a bottle. Sip on that while you watch a superstar in the making. 

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A Pair For Springtime, From Argentina

From Bodega Santa Julia of Mendoza, Argentina, comes a line of wines known as Del Mercado. There is a flagship Malbec which is joined by the Torrontés del Mercado and the Rosé del Mercado.

The 2023 Rosé del Mercado was made from Malbec grapes grown in the Lujan de Cuyo region of the Uco Valley, as were the grapes for the 2022 Torrontés del Mercado. Both wines were made with organic grapes, both clock in at 13.5% abv, both were on sale for $12 at Whole Foods Market, and both come in a big one liter bottle.

The Torrontés appears pale yellow in the glass. The nose has a floral note first, then some citrus minerality, and then a light lanolin salinity. It reminds me a bit of the seashore. The palate carries a brisk acidity and has lemon and stone fruit flavors. The pairing possibilities can reach beyond the salad range and go with risotto, shellfish, and roasted chicken. 

The rosé seems to have more in common with a white wine than a red. The copper color is beautiful. Its nose displays cherry, but with a strong backbeat of citrus minerality. The palate expresses cherry and strawberry, while also bringing a lemony note to the table. The acidity is fabulous, really nice. I paired mine with lemongrass chicken and was delighted. 

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A French Wine For Less Than $10

Imagine my surprise when I stumbled across a selection of Esprit Cépage wines at my local Whole Foods Market, selling for less than $10. The 2023 Esprit Cépage Blanc is the one I picked up. I’ll probably try the Rouge soon. It's only a dollar more.

The Blanc is made from organic grapes, which are not identified by variety on the label. It is labeled as a Vin de France, the designation which replaced Vin de Table in 2010. There is no specific appellation other than it comes from France as an ordinary, everyday wine. It's a lot like the "California" appellation on a California wine. Sure it's from California, but where? The alcoholic content is 13.5% abv and I paid only $8.

This wine, I believe, is a Grenache Blanc. Some of the info I found online suggested that, and my taste buds agree. If there is a little Sauvignon Blanc in there, I would not be surprised. However, the yellow tint in the glass suggests GB. The nose brings citrus aromas along with apple notes. The palate is rather racy in the acidity department, and the finish leaves stone fruit, lemons, and limes lingering. It's an enjoyable wine and a likely pair with some sort of seafood or salad.

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Blood Of The Vines - Coburn Is King

Pairing‌‌‌ ‌‌‌wine‌‌‌ ‌‌‌with‌‌‌ ‌‌‌movies!‌‌‌  ‌‌‌See‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌hear‌‌‌ ‌‌‌the‌‌‌ ‌‌‌fascinating‌‌‌ ‌‌‌commentary‌‌‌ ‌‌‌for‌‌‌ ‌‌‌these‌‌‌ ‌‌‌‌‌movies‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌and‌‌‌ ‌‌‌many‌‌‌ ‌‌‌more‌,‌‌ ‌‌‌at‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Trailers‌‌‌ ‌‌‌From‌‌‌ ‌‌‌Hell.‌‌‌  This week, we select wine parings for three movies that star James Coburn.

1967's In Like Flint is the sequel to the previous year's Our Man Flint. Both are spy movies, played for laughs. Coburn gives the sort of performance that captivated me as a preteenager. That experience was a great icebreaker when I found myself standing next to Coburn at a Hollywood after-party. I told him I wanted to be Derek Flint when I was younger. He turned his head to look at me. "Still do," I said. He flashed that incredible James Coburn smile as our respective friends came to collect their plus-ones. 

The masculine sexual overtones of the title, In Like Flint, give away the plot. A feminist movement threatens to oust the male population from its ruling capacity. Remember, this was 1967. Things are quite different now. Right?

The pairing for In Like Flint should be something flinty, if that's not too on the nose. A Chablis would be ideal. You can hardly go wrong with that as your ask at the wine store. If you feel more comfortable looking for an actual label, try a Chablis from Louis Jadot. That's about as reliable as it gets in the $20 range.

Coburn scored again in 1967 with The President's Analyst. When we think about the President having an analyst, our thoughts may go to "What analyst? I don't need an analyst! But if I did have an analyst it would be the biggest, most beautiful analyst the world has ever known." And probably blonde.

Although technically a psychiatrist, Adam Arkin's Stanley Keyworth on The West Wing is what I would like the President's analyst to be. Trustworthy, loyal, and loaded with sarcasm. And, able to solve your mental health problem in 42 billable minutes. 

Analyst runs a bit longer, but it doesn’t seem like it. Imagine the secrets an analyst to the president would have. Imagine how many people would like to get those secrets. Imagine the lengths someone would go to for that information. Coburn's character imagines all that, and more. His tangle with The Phone Company is the stuff of which nightmares are made. Of course, today we sweat out what Google knows about us.

Pairing a wine with James Coburn could be as easy as saying "Cockburn's Port." Of course, that works better when you actually say it instead of reading it in print. How about a wine called The Therapist? Imagine how I felt when that fell into my lap. Slate Theory makes the white blend of Muscat Blanc and Muscat Canelli in the Texas Hill Country. $32 gets you well.

Hard Times was Walter Hill's 1975 debut as a director. The film not only has Coburn, but Charles Bronson, Jill Ireland, and Strother freaking Martin. The names look great on a marquee or a one-sheet, and the performances are fantastic.

The Depression-era, bare knuckles streetfighter portrayed by Bronson fit right in with Coburn's hustler, a guy by the name of Speed. The south Louisiana setting worked well and critics liked the film enough to scrawl out some kind words about it. The general public was even kinder, giving up their hard-earned dollar bills to see it. 

How could we not enjoy a good ol' Temecula wine with Hard Times, particularly when it is a Bare Knuckle Malbec? Wiens Cellars has it for $65. Don't sell Temecula short. There are some high quality wines being made in Riverside County.

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Red Rhône Blend

Domaine Guigal was founded by Etienne, furthered by son Marcel and now his son, Phillippe, represents the third generation toiling in the Côte Rôtie appellation of the Rhône Valley. It is, as they say, une affaire de famille. 

The 2020 Guigal Cotes du Rhône is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvdère from the southern Rhône Valley, grown in various types of soil, featuring sediment, limestone, and granite. The vines average 35 years in the ground. After vinification, the wine spent a year and a half in oak. Alcohol hits 15% abv and the bottle cost me $20, at my local supermarket.

This wine is inky dark in the glass. The nose sports aromas of blackberry, plum, and currant, with notes of sweet oak spice, white pepper, and a bit of anise. There is also a tarry sensation in the bouquet. The palate displays all the fruit you can handle, along with some of that oak. The tannic grip is fairly intense upon opening and should be left to breathe a bit before serving. It is a great pairing with any kind of fatty beef. 

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Long Live This Loire Valley Rosé

While searching for bargain wines at Trader Joe's I came across a rosé that I had never noticed before. The Vive La Loire! Touraine Rosé blend appears to be a non-vintage wine from the Loire Valley, specifically the Touraine region. 

The organic blend is about half and half Gamay and Cöt, a tad heavier on the Gamay. The grape description is interesting in that Gamay is usually associated with the Beaujolais region, and the use of the name Cöt, for Malbec, is generally found in the southwest part of France. Plus, I don't remember ever having a rosé wine made from Malbec. This one's exciting!

The alcohol level is perfect for a pink wine, 12% abv. The price isn't bad, either. At $12, it's a little steeper than most other rosés at Trader Joes. 

This wine has a beautiful salmon orange color in the glass, almost a copper shade. Big red fruit aromas decorate the nose, with a hint of orange peel thrown into the mix. The palate also shows that red fruit, in a big way. Cherry, strawberry, and red vines combine for a bold and complex profile. The acidity is fresh, but not bracing. This wine will be a good sipper during the spring and summer months. 

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Blood Of The Vines - Horse Sense

Pairing wine with movies!  See the trailers and hear the fascinating commentary for these movies and many more at Trailers From Hell. This week, we concentrate on the neighsayers with wine pairings for three thoroughbred films. Giddyup!

The Black Stallion is a 1979 adventure about a boy who is shipwrecked on a desert isle with the black horse. The two become pals, as there was no one else on the island with whom to talk or whinny. A rescue brings them both back home for more escapades and, eventually, a race. In that one, bet on the dark horse.

The film spawned a sequel, a prequel and a TV series. That's pretty good for a movie starring a non-talking horse. Mr. Ed was green with envy. Mickey Rooney was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar, but he couldn't go the distance. He did land a role in the series, however. 

Bucephalus was Alexander the Great's black steed, and it is the wine pairing here. It's a blend of Napa Valley grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel, from the Black Stallion Winery. It's pricey at $230, so don't spill any during the exciting parts of the movie.

The soundtrack of The Horse Soldiers rides in on the strains of "Dixie" and out to "When Johnny Comes Marching Home." You not only get a western, you get a Civil War movie, too. And John Wayne's in both of them.  

Heck, you even get John Ford directing at no extra charge, and a story that was ripped from the headlines of the Vicksburg Post, circa 1863. A western? In Mississippi? That's right, pilgrim. Mississippi was once The West. The Duke plays the railroad-builder-turned-Yankee-Colonel who is sent into Mississippi on a mission to blow up a railroad. Now that's iron horse irony for you.

Besides Wayne and Ford, you get character actors like Ken Curtis, Denver Pyle and Strother Martin. That's the hick trifecta, right there - a dialogue coach's dream, a speech therapist's nightmare.  

It may be my imagination, but I think this movie has more horses in it than I've ever seen before in a film. It makes me wonder if actors get paid more for saddle sores. We should probably check with a bow-legged actor for the answer.

Wild Horse Winery, just south of Paso Robles, advises us to "Live Naturally, Enjoy Wildly."  Their 2006 Cheval Sauvage not only means "wild horse" in French, it's the kind of masculine Pinot Noir John Wayne might share with his brave steed after a tough day of breaking the Confederacy.

The Appaloosa is a 1966 Western, sometimes titled as Southwest to Sonora, in case you didn't catch on right away that it's a Western. Marlon Brando plays a Mexican-American who has a beautiful horse. But you know, in the movies as in real life, we can't have nice things. Not without putting up a fight, anyway. 

As fights go, the climax of The Appaloosa is a doozy. It shows the lengths that some men will travel for what, or who, they love. It also shows why you shouldn't have a chrome gun.

Sol Invictus Vineyards has a Riesling for just $22. It's from Idaho, but the best thing about it is that it's named Appaloosa. That's a recco if I ever heard one.

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A Good Cigare Is A Wine

The Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Orange 2022 is labeled, unofficially, as "skin contact wine of the earth." The orange color comes from fermenting white wine grapes on their skins, which has become a fairly trendy trick for winemakers in recent years. 

The "le cigare" in the name refers to the French term for UFO. The back label tells an abbreviated version of the story about legislation put on the books in the Rhône Valley back in the 1950s. The law banned UFOs from landing in the vineyards. It appears to have worked.

This orange wine was made from 44.5% Grenache Blanc grapes, 25% Pinot Gris, 14% Grenache Gris, 9.5% Orange Muscat, and 7% Chenin Blanc, all grown in a handful of Central Coast vineyards. Le Cigare Orange is vegan friendly and gluten free, carries alcohol at 11.5% abv and cost about $12 at my neighborhood Whole Foods Market. 

This wine has a beautiful salmon orange color, quite brilliant. The nose displays the stone fruit and citrus one might expect from a white wine, but also a boatload of cherry and strawberry aromas. There is a lovely tangerine citrus note that comes after swirling the wine. Stone fruit dominates the palate, but with a considerable salinity over it, the kind of savory attraction for which winemaker Randall Grahm has made his calling card. 

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You Had Me At Vouvray

I was bargain hunting at Trader Joe's again, which is a great place to go bargain hunting. The 2023 Vignobles Lacheteau Vouvray caught my eye, as it has before. Any time I see Vouvray on a wine label, my eye is caught. 

The French region of Vouvray is in the Loire Valley, or white wine heaven if you prefer. The main grape there is the Chenin Blanc, which is what makes up this interesting vin blanc. Alcohol is quite restrained, at 11% abv, and it sells for less than $10 at Trader Joe's. I hope they keep it in stock, because I have a spicy shrimp dish on my radar for the coming week. 

This wine has a straw-yellow color in the glass. Its nose shows aromas of stone fruit, like peach, apricot, and white nectarine. There is also a hint of Meyer lemon in the sniff. The palate is just creamy goodness. The fruit flavors are joined by a savory minerality and salinity, which is overpoweringly wonderful. The acidity is fresh, but not razor sharp. Pair it with a spicy dish and thank me later. Spicy seafood would be perfect.  

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