I've been a fan of the Wine & Spirits magazine for a number of yrs. In fact, it's the first new wine magazine I've subscribed to in over 30 yrs. The WS is the only wine magazine I have remained a subscriber (I followed it from the very start) and every Fall, when I lamely re-subscribe, a flog myself for weeks over my stupidity.
So my latest Wine & Spirits issue arrived today in the mail (how quaint/retro is that?). The 1'st Annual Insiders Guide. It is a series of short articles, written by or intervied by a W&S writer, of folks who are recognized (often not that widely) as experts in specific wines from specific regions. They tell a bit about that region and then give 6 recommendations of wines these experts think are particularly good/representative of that regions. To wit: ElaineBrown on SonomaCoast PinotNoir/CyrusLimon on Cold-Climate Syrah/KevinPogue on Walla**2 Syrah/DavidSchildnecht on Sarr/LarryPiggins on RRV FieldBlends/BrettZimmerman on SouthernRhones/JeremyParzen on FriuliWhiteBlends...and much more. You can find the Table of Contents at:
W&S/Table of Contents
I haven't bee this excited to receive a wine mag in the mail since the early days of Vintage/WineWorld/Connoisseur'sGuide/WineSpectator. I immediately dropped everything, ripped that plastic-wrap open, and started reading, skipping around from this one to that.
And then I saw it...the dreaded redhead pictured there on page 2...SweetAlice. "Has W&S no journalistic standards whatsoever??". She has an interview article of Pascaline Lepeltier and Don Rice on AnjouCabernet. And then a joint article (with LisaGranik) on Georgian Wines.
So, against my better judgement, and a big roll-of-the-eyes, I turned to read SweetAlice's two articles...certain they would be filled with the usual vitriolic diatribes against industrialized/Parkerized wines and the same/tired impassioned espousing for natural wines...with little or no solid information.
But...surprise/surprise...both of SweetAlice's articles were very well-written and very informative...not her usual tiresome screed. Of course, the 6 Georgian wines that Alice recommends are natural wines, several of which I have tried and are quite good. But not once is the word "natural" used (that I noticed). Either SweetAlice reigned in her diatribes and adopted a different writing style for this W&S issue...or there was some very good editing of her two articles from up-stairs. But I thought both of these SweetAlice articles were some of the best writings I've seen from her.
Anyway...this latest W&S issue is a must read. Hie thee on down to your nearest Borders Books and pick up a copy of this issue. You won't be disappointed. Tell them TomHill sent you!!
Tom
