Wine Jabber

Closin' the Wine Shop

I decided after the New Year to close the wine sales department of my company. VintageSpec grew out of a love for both wine and woodworking – after I closed Primitivo in 2002, a good customer had asked me for a recommendation as to who could build a cellar for him – and the best answer was “Me!” That first project grew into a company of 5, with a dedicated woodshop and online wine store. The growth has been tremendous, but more importantly, we’ve been able to satisfy a need and make people really happy and proud of their VintageSpec cellars, their wine selections, and their better-educated palates.

However, after 4 years of building cellars and selling fine wine, the collapse of subprime mortgage markets, and the attendant uncertainty in the general economy has permeated down to my little niche. In order to weather this downturn and emerge strengthened, VintageSpec will no longer be selling wine.

Opportunity lies everywhere – and this situation is no different. I will continue to build custom wine cellars of the highest quality and craftsmanship. My work in cataloging and managing private cellars using the latest online tools and technology continues. In addition, I will be doing more wine research, writing and education – my clients and the general wine-drinking public still want to learn about wine and hone their palates. That’s something that hasn’t changed!

I’ve also felt two books percolating in me for several years and it’s time to knuckle down and write them. All these changes present an exciting new path in wine.

To clear the remaining wine inventory, my online store will be offering our in-stock items at 10-40% off regular prices. Click here to get to the store.

I would like to thank all the customers and clients who have helped make VintageSpec a success over the last 4 years. It has been my great pleasure working with all of you. Thanks for your patronage and support. I look forward to continuing to satisfy your wine storage and handcrafted custom cellar needs.

I look forward to keeping in touch with you through this blog, which will continue unabated. I leave for France tomorrow - posts to come!

With best wishes for the New Year -

Alan Manley

Some Faves, and not-so-Faves, for 2007

At VintageSpec, Stacy and I just posted our Top Ten wines for 2007 - wines that we carried here at the store. My list was as follows:

10. 2004 Alvaro Palacios, 'Les Terrasses', Priorat, Spain, $32
A perennial fave, and an amazing value.

9. 2003 Giacomo Grimaldi, Barolo, "Le Coste", Piedmont, $57
A revelation - a modernista winemaker that lets the wine speak for itself.

8. 2004 Aalto, "Aalto", Ribera del Duero, Spain, $51
Total sexpot. Imagine Sophia Loren, c. 1965. All berries, musk and dry riverbed stones.

7. 2003 Elio Altare, Barolo, Piedmont, Italy, $83
Give it 3-5 years. Silk in a bottle. Its personality is fiery and passionate, but with feet firmly on the ground.

6. 2004 San Giusto A Rentannano, La Ricolma IGT, Tuscany, Italy, $68
A 100% Merlot in my top ten list? Will wonders never cease?

5. 2005 Schrader Cellars, CCS, Beckstoffer Tokalon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, $174
A monster, not for the faint of heart. Classic cab, but structured to age.

4. 2005 Betts & Scholl, Grenache "The O.G", Barossa Valley, Australia, $25
More fun than a barrel of monkeys - the aromatics alone make me do a happy dance every time I have this.

3. 2006 Saracco, Moscato d'Asti, Piedmont, Italy, $15
Hands-down, the best wine under $20 I tasted this year. All white fruits, flowers with a touch of jasmine and honey, beautifully effervescent.

2. 2003 Bruno Giacosa, Barolo, Rocche Falletto, Piedmont, $237
This appeals to my left brain - it demands serious attention ... then, slyly, some seeps over to the right brain, and it's all over. Party Time!

1. 2004 Mas Romani, "La Creu Alta", Priorat, Spain, $115
I nearly wept the first time I tried this. It encompasses all the joy and sadness of the world. An incredible bottle - one of the top 5 young wines I've ever tried. Not to be missed.

However, there's more to wine than the ones we taste at the store - and there are some other top tens that I should acknowledge - what follows are top wines, meals, etc. Then there's the crème de la crap ... the worst stuff! Keep reading ...

Borat goes Wine-Tasting.

Let's start the year with some giggles - Sascha Cohen has announced that he's retiring his Borat character (and Ali G as well, RIP) - here's Borat doing some wine-tasting. This is painful - there's no other word for it - but delightfully so.