Articles by
John Tilson
THE BLENDING GAME – IS IT TIME FOR THREE BUCK CHUCK?
THE BLENDING MAN KNOWS! I have been buying wine and food from Trader Joe’s for over 40 years. Joe Coulombe founded Trader Joe’s in 1958. The first store was in South Pasadena and was called Pronto Market. The larger Trader Joe’s stores followed in 1967. Back in those olden days, I knew […]
Click here to read entire article »A FEW NEW ROSÉS & WHITE WINES FOR THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER
July and August comprise the “Dog Days of Summer” when the weather is typically the warmest. The name dates back to Greek and Roman times and the ancient belief that Sirius, also called the Dog Star, was responsible for the hot weather as it aligned closer to the sun. So be that as it […]
Click here to read entire article »EVERYTHING YOU HAVE BEEN DYING TO KNOW ABOUT NEWLY RELEASED CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS!
Just when I think I have seen it all, up pops another surprise. A good friend just sent me a collection of notes taken from a website frequented by a lot of people posting notes on wines. In this case, it seems to be from what sounds like a bunch of groupies who love […]
Click here to read entire article »COUNTERFEIT WINE AND THE ROLE OF CHINA
If you are a buyer or drinker of old or expensive wine or even if you are just curious about some of the things going on in China, consider this recent article from an Australian newspaper (remember Australia is in close proximity to China and is involved in a lot of trade with them both […]
Click here to read entire article »JOSEPH SWAN: A CALIFORNIA WINE LEGEND
THE MAN AND HIS WINES AND THE CONTINUATION OF HIS VISION Recently, I attended a dinner that featured 17 different wines from Joseph Swan Vineyards. It was organized by The Rare Wine Company with the wines almost entirely from the Joseph Swan Vineyards library. Held at The Murray Circle Restaurant at Cavallo Point in San […]
Click here to read entire article »THE JUDGMENT OF PRINCETON
Here is yet another interesting account of how wine “experts” can be caught off guard in blind tastings. This is a blind tasting of French vs. New Jersey wines. Say what? New Jersey? Were it not for the fact that I know wine is now made in every state in the USA, I would have […]
Click here to read entire article »WHEN TO TASTE, DRINK, & ENJOY YOUNG WINES & WHAT ABOUT ROSÉ?
You are never too old to learn. For over 40 years I have been drinking and tasting wine. (And, yes,Virginia, there is a difference! But that is a story for another day). Yet, one of the great joys is that there are always new discoveries. Since re-launching The Underground 2 ½ years ago, […]
Click here to read entire article »A VARIED SELECTION FEATURING SOME GREAT WINE VALUES
Happy 4th of July! A STUNNING BEAUJOLAIS, LOVELY CHINONS, AND VALUE PRICED SPANISH WINES INCLUDIING SOME TERRIFIC 2011 ALBARIÑOS FRANCE Beaujolais I am a huge fan of Beaujolais and particularly the Cru Beaujolais. They are some of the best red wine values in the world and are extremely versatile. They can be consumed […]
Click here to read entire article »THE VINEYARD OR THE WINEMAKING? WHAT REALLY MATTERS?
Allen R. Balik recently wrote an article in the Napa Valley Register entitled “Is it about the vineyard or the winemaking?” That’s an often asked question. But, is it a good question or a bad question? I would say that it depends on your perspective. Here are some of the highlights of Allen’s article: Although […]
Click here to read entire article »BLENDING GAME PREVIEW
I recently posted an article about buying a wine that looked like a rosé, but did not taste like a rosé. Rosé or no I did not care for the wine (to read that article click here). If you screw up like I did with the “rosé” and have a wine you do not […]
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