Category: Culture

A Washington syrah was named second best wine in the world

Check out which Washington wine just landed at No. 2 on Wine Spectator’s prestigious Top 100 list for 2017 — Syrah Walla Walla Valley Powerline Estate 2014 ($45)

In anointing it the second best wine its panel sampled this year, the magazine called it “a knockout Syrah, precise and impeccably built but explosive with personality. Smoky roasted meat and floral blackberry aromas combine with bold, supple flavors of dark plum, pepper and licorice. The tannins are big but polished.”

A syrah from Walla Walla beat out some heavy hitters from Bordeaux and other prestigious wine regions. Three other Washington wines also made the Top 100 list [ . . . ] | More at: A Washington syrah was named second best wine in the world

The stuff of the best 2017 wine reads: Everyman advice, a con man, a legendary region

 

WINE | Our columnist’s top picks include works by Jon Bonné, Peter Liem and Peter Hellman.

Wine writers attempt to reveal wine’s mysteries, strip away its pretensions, simplify its immense variety. Of course, if we ever succeed, no one would need us anymore.

The latest to try is Jon Bonné, with “ The New Wine Rules: A Genuinely Helpful Guide to Everything You Need to Know ” (Ten Speed Press, $15). This slim volume of practical advice — each of the 89 new “rules” is just a few paragraphs — headlines this holiday season’s books for the wine lovers on your gift list.

Bonné is an authoritative voice. He is a senior contributing editor for Punch, an online drinks publication, a former wine editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, author of “The New California Wine” and the forthcoming “The New French Wine,” and an occasional contributor to The Washington Post Food section.

As you might suspect, the premise of “The New Wine Rules” is that the old rules no longer apply. Bonné told me in an interview that he didn’t want to write the traditional basic wine book. “You can Google grape varieties,” he said. “I wanted to write for people who are already buying wine and want to know enough about it to enjoy it, and maybe to hold their own when they run up against someone who claims to know everything about wine in an obnoxious way.” [ . . . ]

Read More: The stuff of the best 2017 wine reads: Everyman advice, a con man, a legendary region

Proposal to ban smoking in French films ridiculed in France

A proposal that France should ban the cigarette from the silver screen has been met with widespread derision and mockery among the French.

French cinema is full of images of stars like Brigitte Bardot and Gerard Depardieu (see below) delivering cool lines with a cigarette perfectly poised in one hand.
But all that could be about to end if Senator Nadine Grelet-Certenais gets her way after she reignited the debate over whether smoking should be shown on the big screen [ . . . ]

Full story at: Proposal to ban smoking in French films ridiculed in France

Topette!

“A new Anglo-French band playing self-penned and traditional music from anywhere. They create exciting acoustic dance music, which is equally good to sit and listen to. The playing is top-class and the vibe is ‘Party!’”

The band features:

Andy Cutting (twice Radio 2 Folk Awards Musician of the Year) on Diatonic Accordion and Melodeon (Blowzabella, June Tabor, Kate Rusby, Roger Daltrey and many more)

James Delarre on Violin (Mawkin, Jim Moray, James Delarre & Saul Rose)

Julien Cartonnet on Bagpipes (of central France) and Banjo (Lost Highway, Mister Klof)

Tania Buisse on Bodhran (Lost Highway)

Barnaby Stradling on Acoustic Bass Guitar (Blowzabella, Eliza Carthy, Dark Northumbrian and many more)