tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27525729110233499432012-02-16T13:59:19.481-05:00Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.comBlogger411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-61782912224922707992010-03-11T19:22:00.001-05:002010-03-11T19:24:05.100-05:00

Come join us on 21 March 2010 for the inaugural wine tasting event at Bella Cena, 1506 Spruce Street, Philadelphia.In the hands of Michael Coll and Giancarlo Frusone, Bella Cena has come to be one of the most creative and respected Italian restaurants in Philadelphia, known for their attention to seasonal ingredients.The six course dinner with wine pairings will be limited to 60 people and costs

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-11959757143945425392010-02-24T22:55:00.001-05:002010-02-24T22:57:33.924-05:00

Join us on Thursday, 4 March 2010, at 7:30 p.m., at the club, 1522 Latimer St. in Philadelphia as we taste four wines from the Pacific Northwest, a vast area alive with innovation producing tested classics as well.Cost is $30 and includes appetizers. Sign up at the club or call (215) 731-9909.

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-11392080181477110492010-01-06T18:58:00.003-05:002010-01-06T19:18:32.942-05:00

Join us on Thursday, 14 January 2010, at 7:30 p.m., at the club, 1522 Latimer St. in Philadelphia as we taste four wines from Southwestern France, a vast, varied and vigorous area home to some of the country's most distinctive and versatile wines.Cost is $30 and includes appetizers. Sign up at the club or call (215) 731-9909.

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-53363445235668264482009-11-10T07:38:00.003-05:002009-11-10T07:41:51.568-05:00

Join us on Thursday, 3 December 2009, at 7:30 p.m., at the club, 1522 Latimer St. in Philadelphia as we taste four wines from the Douro Valley, an area historically known for port but increasingly becoming known for their non-fortified wines.Cost is $30 and includes appetizers. Sign up at the club or call (215) 731-9909.

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-73734195818674562672009-10-06T18:11:00.003-04:002009-11-10T07:37:20.638-05:00

Join us on Thursday, 29 October 2009, at 7:30 p.m., at the club, 1522 Latimer St. in Philadelphia as we taste a four wines from a region offering some of the lushest reds and heartiest whites from the continent which has had such an impact on the world ofwine.Cost is $30 and includes appetizers. Sign up at the club or call (215) 731-9909.

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-24379605373715001232009-05-27T02:46:00.004-04:002009-11-10T07:35:25.119-05:00

Join us on Thursday, 25 June 2009, at 7:30 p.m., at the club, 1522 Latimer St. in Philadelphia as we taste a four wines from one of the country's most exciting wine producing regions today, Long Island, New York.Cost is $30 and includes appetizers. Sign up at the club or call (215) 731-9909.

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-70693171289953012252009-04-27T01:02:00.006-04:002009-11-10T07:36:24.961-05:00

Join us on Thursday, 14 May 2009, at 7:30 p.m., at the club, 1522 Latimer St. in Philadelphia as we inaugurate a new Series within a Series.  One night, one winery, four wines.  Join us as we taste four different wines from New Zealand's oldest family-owned winery, Villa Maria.Cost is $30 and includes appetizers. Sign up at the club or call (215) 731-9909.

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-58551907524199031092008-05-24T04:11:00.003-04:002008-05-26T19:01:18.846-04:00

At the suggestion of several tasting participants, our next event will explore the wines of a country whose wines represent not only tremendous value but a new world spin on old world grapes. Join us for the Wines of Argentina at the Pen & Pencil Club of Philadelphia on the 26th of June at 7:30 p.m.Cost is $30 and includes appetizers. (A dinner menu will be available afterwards.) Sign up at the

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-29227800494473383152008-05-15T02:16:00.020-04:002008-05-15T21:22:38.819-04:00

We did something a little unusual at the Pen & Pencil Club 3 May when I presented a tasting of favorites to a private group. (I should note that I stand available and ready for private wine events, tastings, consultations, and the like: contact me at the email address here on the blog.)The same format as usual, four wines, food to match. But there wasn’t a theme other than wines I like and want

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-21262923673654085282008-05-15T02:05:00.002-04:002008-05-15T02:13:59.066-04:00

After my most recent post, I should quickly say that I find dining outdoors when at home much more sensible (except when it’s too darn hot).Grill up some burgers or steaks, open up the Cotes-du-Rhone and, ah, bliss on the back deck, surrounded by trees, plants and the open sky.The same tips as above still apply, especially about the temperature. If you are going to be dining outside a lot in the

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-67597268277679664852008-05-13T02:41:00.006-04:002008-05-13T03:17:22.245-04:00

I was walking to the train station the other day up Quince Street and I noticed the return of outdoor tables to local establishments as the weather has taken a decisive turn for the warmer. OK, that’s nice.I especially noticed one establishment that was offering a row of outdoor tables that ended within 15 feet of its dumpster, quite obviously in olfactory range. And people were sitting there. J’

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-49097331490267907402008-05-11T04:25:00.008-04:002008-05-11T04:54:58.839-04:00

A few Sundays ago I found myself at The Lemon Drop in Avalon, New Jersey (my mother’s house, one block from the Atlantic Ocean) around 8 p.m. on a Sunday night, ready to cook up some chicken thighs with rice and asparagus. I like thighs browned, then poached in red wine, with cloves and rosemary and some garlic, with the extra sauce spooned over the rice.On hand wine-wise was a bottle of Yellow

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-7441309815387534562008-05-10T23:26:00.003-04:002008-05-10T23:44:55.693-04:00

Before the Internet, every major city used to have a cluttered, somewhat disorganized store that sold local and international newspapers, intellectual journals, and every kind of magazine. Rewarding browsing was possible for hours.And before the Smoking Nazis, every major city used to have multiple quality tobacconists, who sold exotic cigarettes, loose tobacco and quality cigars.Now, sadly, the

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-1034419065245935572008-05-07T01:20:00.004-04:002008-05-07T01:27:41.213-04:00

There was an interesting note in The New York Times Magazine two weeks back in its “Green” edition about the impact of climate change in California’s wine country.The Bordeaux vines that do well in Napa – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc – do well there because the cool climate keeps them from getting overripe, just as the Bay of Biscay’s influence does so on the Bordeaux vineyards.

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-21273203151546382912008-05-06T17:55:00.003-04:002008-05-13T02:26:53.402-04:00

A bit of news from the cognac/fortified wine specialist at Moore Brothers:Apparently the big Cognac houses, Martell, Hennessy, Courvoisier, etc. are anticipating a massive increase in demand for their products from places such as Russia, China and India. This makes sense, as, in good times and bad, Cognac is a durable luxury good, and bad vintages and the like don’t bother the big houses too

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-1569128586612871042008-04-20T19:36:00.010-04:002008-04-20T21:39:38.608-04:00

It appears that the original posting of these notes vanished with the Angel's Share. The following represents tasting notes from the 2007 Wine Dinner held at the Pen & Pencil Club of Philadelphia in October 2007.NV Heidseick Monopole "Blue Top" BrutSomewhere, there's a checklist for classic Champagne: toasty aroma, plenty of mousse, crisp, appley flavor, zesty, lemon finish, and a desire to

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-41695567452631378342008-04-20T14:06:00.012-04:002008-04-20T21:50:55.406-04:00

The weekend of 27-30 March offered a wedding, a terrific dinner, and some spectacular wines Given my schedule, it's unusual to have so many nights in a row where wine was a part of my life - it was very pleasant!Notes in order:2006 Domaine de Vercheres Macon-VillagesA strange, strange wine. Macon-Villages typically offers clean, crisp, refreshing wine, always Chardonnay lightly oaked if at all,

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-88294134084159372962008-04-16T12:04:00.002-04:002008-04-17T10:40:32.581-04:00

Wines for the deck, grill, picnic, beach and porch will be featured at the next Pen & Pencil Club wine tasting on Thursday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m., at the club, 1522 Latimer St. in Philadelphia. We will be serving four wines that will liven up and enrich summer activities, wines that I serve my family and friends in the warmer months. Cost is $25 and includes appetizers. Sign up at the club or

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-27200226773554720362008-04-15T09:20:00.010-04:002008-04-17T10:40:03.848-04:00

I am a fan of the food writing of The Philadelphia Inquirer's gastronomic critic, Craig LaBan, though that may because I don't own a restaurant. His savage negative reviews are legendary; he carpet-bombed a trendoid haven, Trust, right out of existence a few years ago much to the moans of the smug, overly complacent Philadelphia restaurant community more used to coddling than criticism. (For a

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-61923703666910923182008-04-15T09:08:00.005-04:002008-04-16T12:07:50.018-04:00

I never know what wine to drink with pizza. I have had a long fondness for beer with my pizza, but generally only draft beer, for reasons I cannot explain except that I drank a lot of draft in West Philadelphia, Princeton and Highwood (Ill.) bars with pizza in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The beer wasn't usually very good (Rolling Rock, Stroh’s), but then neither was the ‘za (an old Nassauian bit of

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-66057357006236580282008-04-15T08:54:00.010-04:002009-05-12T01:42:19.038-04:00

I was one of the last customers to enjoy a weekday luncheon at Philadelphia’s temple of haute cuisine, as they only serve lunch on Friday and Saturdays now (and just this week chef Georges Perrier announced he was scrapping his prix-fixe-only dinners and will serve a la carte). I still think the $52 lunch menu was a bargain, given that it offered an appetizer, entrée and the fabulous, Lucullan,

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-10567181382671937782008-04-15T08:18:00.009-04:002008-04-15T08:45:43.172-04:00

Many, many people of the huge crowd at the Pen and Pencil Club said this may have been the best tasting ever. I hear that occasionally and say perhaps so, knowing the customers are being effusive, but this time I feel they may be right. This one rocked. Even the two real live Hungarians we had at this one were delighted, and while I knew they’d be there I was still concerned: I am going to talk

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-87315343592428476552008-04-15T08:13:00.001-04:002008-04-15T08:17:03.543-04:00

The circular for the Chicago-based Wine Discount Center came the other day and I was once again reminded of their fascinating selection and very fair pricing. They are not paying me for this, by the way, but I’d recommend a look at their Web site and signing up for their newsletter – this month it features a dry Alsatian Muscat, a Prum Mosel Kabinett and some excellent Portuguese wines among

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-55819992262931750602008-04-08T17:23:00.011-04:002008-04-08T18:04:51.914-04:00

Overall a successful and delightful tasting. Dave Wolf’s food was terrific and matched the wines well.2005 Domaine de Petit Paris MonbazillacWow, what a way to start! Americans have an irrational aversion to sweet wine, and it’s almost unknown here to serve them as an aperitif. Europeans do so much more often – the French drink ruby port as an aperitif – and often serve cheese with sweet wines.

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-44581489458558661162008-03-19T05:39:00.002-04:002008-03-19T05:44:07.026-04:00

The next Pen and Pencil Club wine tasting will be Thursday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. as I present a tasting from Hungary. NOTE: This is a change from the original date of March 27.Cost is $25 and includes appetizers. (A dinner menu will be available afterwards.) Sign up at the bar or leave a message at the club. Hope to see you there!

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-82329828724205041652008-02-27T18:57:00.012-05:002008-02-27T21:18:47.530-05:00

NB: Reviews employ Broadbent 5-star scoring system.2006 Folie A Deux Menage a TroisThis is 60 percent zin, 20 percent Cab Sauv, 20 percent Merlot. Dark wine right to the rim. Limpid, almost too-soft mouthfeel - the Cab helps prevent it being flabby - with sweet cherry flavors and aroma first. Then a nice lusciousness, lighter than most Zins. Decent

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-13484033008804283872008-01-31T10:53:00.000-05:002008-01-31T11:03:45.337-05:00

The next Pen and Pencil Club wine tasting will be Thursday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. as I present a tasting from three French Appellation Contrôlées: Bergerac, Monbazillac and Armagnac.Cost is $25 and includes appetizers. (A dinner menu will be available afterwards.) Sign up at the bar or leave a message at the club. Hope to see you there!

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-72461260719213778802008-01-08T17:58:00.000-05:002008-01-08T18:01:00.344-05:00

The next Pen and Pencil Club wine tasting will be Thursday, January 24 at 7:30 p.m. as I present "Big California Reds".Cost is $25 and includes appetizers. (A dinner menu will be available afterwards.) Sign up at the bar or leave a message at the club. Hope to see you there!

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-27692000279612896582007-07-19T14:27:00.000-04:002007-07-19T14:31:23.993-04:00

The next Pen and Pencil Club wine tasting will be Thursday, July 19 at 7:30 p.m. as I present the wines of the southern Rhône valley.Cost is $25 and includes appetizers. (A dinner menu will be available afterwards.) Sign up at the bar or leave a message at the club. Hope to see you there!

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-22033466552108509352007-04-26T02:51:00.000-04:002007-04-26T03:31:57.319-04:00

Very well attended and it appeared that fun was had by all.In speaking to many guests, I was struck by the wide variety of opinions on the wines. The same wine that several people disliked intensely won raves a table over -- and for the same reasons, sometimes ("It was too tannic" vs. "I loved all that tannin")! Most times, there's one wine of the four that everybody loves and one that many were

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-78296822253729937742007-04-23T17:42:00.000-04:002007-04-23T17:47:35.967-04:00

The next Pen and Pencil Club wine tasting will be Thursday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. as I present the wines of South Africa, one of the most exciting places in the wine world right now.Cost is $25 and includes appetizers. (A dinner menu will be available afterwards.) Sign up at the bar or leave a message at the club. Hope to see you there!

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-83786664513956384212007-04-16T23:00:00.000-04:002007-04-16T23:05:04.845-04:00

Far and wide here: Apremont (Vin de Savoie) Pierre Boniface 2005 A much better Liquor Control Board choice than the Vacqueryas below, this $12 bottle delighted all. Light, fresh and floral, a simple treat. Some of it went in the Cuban-style shrimp stew and the rest accompanied it. A gently pleasing wine, with wildflower notes and a trace of something sweeter on the crisp finish, from the

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-20470924048830706392007-04-12T00:49:00.000-04:002007-04-12T00:51:04.600-04:00

I endorse this approach completely: the way to learn about wine is to pull corks (and twist screwcaps).http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/11/dining/11pour.htmlAnd the gentleman at Chambers Wine picked a heck of a list.I think I will post my version of a Case to Learn with this week. A great idea!

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-35604993565860168882007-04-10T01:48:00.000-04:002007-04-23T17:40:13.623-04:00

This is going to be a work in progress as I have been taking tasting notes since January with the idea of posting them here. Doing them all at once would eat up huge amounts of time, so they will appear in bits and pieces here.I will shamelessly rip off Michael Broadbent's 5-star rating system -- 0 is white zinfandel, 5 is Latour 1982 -- but with a catch. For many years the capsule movie reviews

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-88047575169721769782007-04-06T01:24:00.000-04:002007-04-08T04:23:05.998-04:00

Our next Pen & Pencil Club wine tasting: Wines from places you didn't know made wines! $25 for four wines and appetizers. Details...

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-81685263027109288062007-04-06T00:33:00.000-04:002007-04-08T04:22:58.944-04:00

The title is a line uttered by the brilliant Graham Stark in a hilarious turn as a supercilious French waiter in Blake Edwards' Victor/Victoria, one of my all-time favorite films (how Robert Preston did not win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his star turn as an aging, gay cabaret performer I will never know; if you haven't seen the movie, do so now!).Stark's line comes in response to

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-57097408607297107172007-03-29T23:42:00.000-04:002007-04-08T04:22:44.487-04:00

I would like wine to be as much a part of my life in Philadelphia as it is when I am in Paris.Now, it's always different on vacation than normal life. More free time, more flexibility, more time to drink.But even if I was on vacation in Philadelphia, it would not be the same. Not even close.In Paris, wine is part of the rhythm that makes the city go. It adorns most, if not all, tables in

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-56642415987896261292007-03-29T01:12:00.000-04:002007-04-08T04:22:36.323-04:00

1996 vintage Champagnes are getting hard to find in the stores. (For those of you lucky enough to have laid down a case or two of this vintage, and still have it, I am: 1) insanely jealous; 2) willing to be your dinner guest at any time; 3) making plans to raid your wine cellar).However, as a recent experience showed me, a little hunting and they can be found, especially in bigger cities or in

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-56756560149608570092007-03-22T00:53:00.000-04:002007-04-08T04:22:25.957-04:00

As Bordeaux prices sail into the stratosphere for top vintages -- a D. Sokolin New York Times ad today listed a bottle (one bottle) of 2003 Ausone for $1,499 (!) -- these great wines become more and more inaccessible for the average wine fan. This is a terrible tragedy, really, because these are the finest red wines in the world on a consistent basis -- as good as great Burgundy can be the

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-85455265411866563302007-03-22T00:32:00.000-04:002007-04-08T04:22:11.618-04:00

The latest in our series of Thursday tastings at the Pen and Pencil Club will be April 19, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. I will be presenting "Wines from places you didn't know made wine" -- four wines, some white, some red, from areas (far) outside the traditional wine regions. Come and see what surprises we come up with! Cost is $25 and includes appetizers. (A dinner menu will be available afterwards.)

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2752572911023349943.post-81403386788845693852007-03-21T01:13:00.000-04:002007-04-08T04:21:50.324-04:00

After many delays and false starts, here is my wine blog.Here you will find:Details and writeups on my wine tastings at the Pen and Pencil Club and announcements of future tastings;An archive of listings of wines from past Pen and Pencil tastings;Wine commentary and tasting notes from bottles I've pulled corks on;and other wine news and events of interest.Please comment and add suggestions as you

Brad Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09001715355964957270noreply@blogger.com0