Whoa. That's even more than me! Those glasses do look kind of small though. How many can you drink this Thanksgiving?😈 #wine🍾

1/2 This single-vineyard Cab Sauv from Hatzimichalis deserves some plaudits for passing the 20-year point with some improvement, but it's easy to like, not as easy to love.It shows mid-palate finesse & silky elegance to go with some astringency. It's never very expressive; a certain dullness lingers

1/3 at least 😀A Port saga. Why you got to do me like that? This near-50-year was spontaneously leaking--a dying cork. ⏰⏰⏰Rarely happens, but cards are dealt. Força Portugal! Let's g-o-o-oooo. No tongs. Gave up & pushed it in after struggles; faster. Filtered bits of cork & a ton of sediment. To 2

If you see this post your getaway vehicle

1/2 Haven't posted on this for well over a year--always good to check in--and since this one was with BlueSky'er Sandwich King @lifeattable.bsky.social, why not? a.co/d/izR5pRN For wine:

share.inquirer.com/bJpU95 Revolutionary tavern culture. Gift link no paywall

1/2 This medium-dry Niagara Riesling is fresh and bright, most of all--beautifully balanced. It has a fair share of sugar but the acidity gobbles it up; it seems dry-ish, not sugary. It's not a big or dense wine, but you look up and it touched all the bases. And it's gone. And you would like more.

Did I go into some other timeline? How do I get back?

Personally, I've never been much of a fan of the Michelin Guide ratings. But they just came to my city and there's talk of little else.For those interested,here's the local experts rebuttal of sorts. Free gift link, should be no paywall. share.inquirer.com/etNZeh #food #philadelphia #michelinguide

First post. In the '90s, I had what might be called one of the original wine blogs. I later started working (2001) and reviewing (2006) wines for Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, covering Portugal, Greece, the USA other than the West Coast, and other areas (until June 30, 2023; last day).

1/2 1998 Montpeyroux for the win! Bought a case of this Syrah-dominant wine back when (only $25 per!),drank it all as of 3 years back. Um, why is this still here? Miscounted somehow. And that last bottle was uninspiring. I would have assumed this was dead. Never assume, peeps! Use that corkscrew.

1/2 Unlike its heralded counterpart from Northern Greece (Xinomavro),I tend to drink Agiorgitiko younger,but this beautifully structured red seemed likely to age and improve. Oh yeah. In prime time, it's got bite and velvet on the finish, and delivers waves of red-fruit flavor,without candied notes.

Ah, leaf season. Decision to occupy a high-rise rather than a single-family home looks better every year. That pile of leaves, not my building, but nearby & when they pile up in front of my building--ain't me sweeping them up😊 That's what building staff is for. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

1/2 This traditional (unfiltered, long cork) old vines LBV is a fine off-vintage success, sensual today, caressing in texture, delicious on the finish too. At age 15, its structure is less imposing & it has always been a touch compact, but air makes it lively, focused and gripping. To 2 #wine

It is getting harder to remember that the word "presidential" used to mean something. #veteransday

beware--just got a chat request asking me to verify account, threatening me with suspension --When I started that process, eventually wound up in a place asking me to give them a credit card. Yeah, uh huh, sure. --Reported. Their account profile has bsky.social but with two yys--bskyy #scam

1/2 This '04 Naoussa (all Xinomavro) is super. It's (no surprise) acquired more harmony in the cellar, but the brightness typical of the grape makes it fresh, lively and vibrant. If the tannins have moderated, this still has some power. The fruit is prime time, mid-palate finesse is very appealing.

share.inquirer.com/eHjc2i gift link, no paywall hopefully Sorry I'm not going to this, but Samara Joy is a joy to listen to. One of the great young singers around. Young woman, old soul. #music #jazz #philadelphia

@phillies.bsky.social Meanwhile, an Inky columnist thinks Harper should go back to the outfield and the Phils should sign Alonso. Offensively, that makes sense. But Harper's had arm problems. And is Alonso available or is "at any price" the rule here?

Most of us are old enough to remember when we had presidents who were actually human beings and decent people. Maybe we'll do that again one day.

1/2 Dona Maria (the producer, in very small print) tends to make wines that hold well (an old tradition for them in Alentejo, Portugal). This old vines Alicante Bouschet J.B. Bastos is no exception. From a fine '07 vintage, it projects primetime, palate-coating fruit. To 2 #wine #portugal

Well, that seems really easy. I bet I can find something red in the drinks area. It won't be wine. But it is from Wine country, Napa

1/2 This top-level cuvée was a winner in 2013 & it's aging effortlessly. Mostly all from the winery's 1990 Long Island, N.Y. vines (but it might fool right-bank Bordeaux lovers), this Merlot has bite on the finish,velvet for texture, a touch of wood & finesse. It tightens and evolves with air. To 2

One of my all-time favorite Halloween cartoons. h/t Dr. Julie Reshe from the days I was on Facebook #halloween

1/2 I have luck (good storage, foresight in choosing and care in provenance=luck!) with my oldies,but this is showing a bit too old from this bottle.As saying goes,with age it's often about the bottle, not the wine.The nose is uninviting on many levels. Structure is good, but fruit shows some decay.

I've already voted PA peeps. Don't forget, and ignore that incredibly misleading mailer coming from Trumpster billionaire Jeffrey Yass.

1/2 This '05 single quinta is gentle (tho still has some bite), juicy and mature,without being an old relic.It's in a nice place, if somewhat on the lighter side. It seems more elegant than thin, tho, with a nice nose of flowers and darker berries. Add a tasty finish. #wine #port #douro #portugal

1/2 click on photo, tho it still sucks.😀This 08 Agiorgitiko from Skouras can hold longer thanks to its structure. Still asserting itself, with some tannic pop and good acidity to boot,it is vibrant. But in the mid-palate, it's all finesse, ending with typical red fruits. #wine #greece #agiorgitiko

1/2 Had some '98 Barde recently. This '00 has similarities, but this is better. They both lean to ripeness and good fruit, but this is fresher and tighter, the fruit wrapped around the more imposing backbone. It seems more serious & adds a brighter feel to go with extra power. To reply #wine

Seems like an uptick in last month of what I generously call "dating accounts" on Bluesky.New followers seem like: --2-3 legit --2-3 might be --12-15,scams or spam, of which vast majority are those "dating" ones. To add insult to injury--they often sneak in with no notification they've followed me⁉️

Well, this should be interesting. I don't practice any more, and not for a long while, but I have a continuing legal education seminar (keepin' up the old license!) on Law Firm adoption of AI. I admit the written materials seemed intriguing. Judgment reserved.

1/2 98 Ponte, 1st vintage of a famous, old-vines field blend, was the curious wine of lunch tasting I mentioned recently. (Photo: Miguel Roquette of Crasto, making sure he hasn't poisoned me.)Nose, awful. Color, browning. Maybe a touch of maderization.And yet, revived & drank rather well. TO REPLY

Everyday you look up and wonder how much further we can go from our essential values. Do you like the gold plating he installed? After all, 21st C America is about making us look like a monarchy. Because 18th century Versailles is the way to go.. 🙉🙈😱 Dictators and their egos.

1/2 This was a good vintage for the winery and the region, but few are this graceful. It's kinda gorgeous today for its finesse and its balance.It's mostly the Tourigas (this is one of only two vintages,the 2019 is the other, with more T.Franca than T.Nacional).Despite its age, this is prime time.

I attended one in June. This seemed 3 to 5 times larger, far more enthusiastic. The only danger the was the woman with the American flag who kept waving it near my eye.😊 Doing my part in yellow, as advised. To the right, Independence Hall. Phila. doesn't do kings. #nokings #philadelphia

Science is amazing. It only took 2,000 years, but still, hard to believe they could rescue these. #herculaneum #newscientist #science #herculaneum www.newscientist.com/article/2498...

1/2 A fun liquid lunch. From L, Miguel Roquette (Crasto), importer Frank Paredes, Jorge Borges (Wine and Soul), me,Xito Olazabal of Vale Meão. There were thrills and spills, including the first Ponte ('98) from Crasto,a young Crasto Touriga National ('20) and a beautiful '07 Vale in prime time

Portugal's Chardonnay? This upscale label is gorgeous today, powerful & fresh, with a gripping finish. There's a light touch with wood (one-third new Hungarian oak of 600 liters). It's rather delicious too. Lots of life left, 10 years seems likely. 13% alc, $60. #wine #encruzado #Dão #portugal

What??? Wot? WTF? Is it possible to opt-out of this timeline? #ai

1/2 This Riserva (one wine used to celebrate most recent anniversary of my Italian citizenship!) is showing a little too old on the nose & a bit browning around the edges.The palate is a lot better,with a bright feel. There's a somewhat dusty finish, but it blossoms a bit with air, quite drinkable.

1/2 Into the 40sF overnight. The universe is trying to tell me something: It's Port time! If you're not hearing it, I'd suggest hearing aids. 😈😀 You would think a LBV nearing age 15 would be easy,but this is unfiltered, from a big vintage (2011) and good producer. #wine #port #douro #portugal #lbv

Vaxxed, flu, COVID youtu.be/2_sunJ5vDoc?...

I am not usually one for mass disaster films, but this film about a California wildfire and 22 trapped students on a bus is incredibly tense and tightly written. Matthew McConaughey is great. If you need to get your pulse rate up this will do it. #film #streaming youtu.be/XSDHjkuwaic?...

1/2 Every time I come back to this,I'm reminded of two things: what a great value this was (although the days when I could get this 375ml for $18 are, alas, gone);and how much more interesting mature Sauternes is.It's more focused, and more easily absorbing wood these days. #wine #sauternes #barsac

A friend sent a message this week: hoped I was celebrating my birthday well. Acute bronchitis all week, actually. So no Birthday celebrations are just an acknowledgement of the inevitable march to the grave and decay. 😁But consider the alternative, right? Still. I'd rather mourn lost youth. Cough.

1/2 A chill overnight. "More reds!" The '96 is the first vintage of this historic, small-production label from Margarida Borges. This is an old-vines Douro field blend with purity and modest oak treatment. In prime time, but certainly ready, this coats the palate. To part 2 #wine #portugal #douro

A center City Philadelphia townhouse from a lawyer who accumulated $100,000 books. Watch the video, it's pretty cool. Gift link, should be accessible share.inquirer.com/8YU94N

Sad to announce that Francisco Olazabal, Sr., Douro icon, head of the family that owns Vale Meão and Founding Mestre and Chancellor Emeritus of the Confraria do Vinho do Porto, passed this week. He left a mark on the region. #wine #douro #portugal #port

Awwww. He thinks everyone still has printers and prints everything out. 🤭🤭