 spoke last week to more than a dozen wine writers from three countries who thought Napa's 2007 was weaker than the two vintages that surrounded it.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Here's an inside-baseball story: it's about a good wine story I hoped to sell to a big publication, and why I'm glad I didn't try.

In other words, it's a story about a non-story.

Late last year I spent a delightful weekend at Chateau L'Hospitalet in Narbonne, France. The owner, Gérard Bertrand, invited me and some other writers to a truffle hunt. When it comes to truffles, I'm like a trained pig... well, except for the "trained" part.

Anyway, we were all drinking a fair amount of Bertrand's wine at lunch on the day of the hunt. He has five different estates in the Languedoc and he's been a huge success in Europe with New World style wines: mostly fruit-driven, with mild tannins. I really liked his white Cigalus blend, which allegedly won some award for being the best white in business class, and I could see it. Good balance, nice fruit; perky yet elegant.

Bertrand was a rugby star, though he looks more like a late-40s Ian McKellen playing a tennis star in the movies: tall, slim, elegant, but ready to take action. His staff says he works all the time and, shockingly for France, expects them to do the same. One woman said he once burst in on her in the shower to ask for some report. An American would have sued; she did the job. Moreover, she reported the incident with a mix of admiration, fear and pride. Many of his staff bragged about how great it is that their team exceeds the normal French work day. But while happy, with Bertrand on the premises and a big weekend planned, they all looked nervous.

I digress from my non-story. So I'm yakking to another American about "The Walking Dead" or the Giants winning the Series or something when I overhear Bertrand saying his wine was on "Desperate Housewives" in the US, and his distributor wants 100,000 cases of dry Muscat. (CNN) — The Rev. Jesse Jackson issued an apology to Barack Obama Wednesday for making what he called a "crude and
spoke last week to more than a dozen wine writer from three nation who thought Napa's 2007 was weaker than the two vintages that smother it. 

 Tuesday, March 1, 2011 

 Here's an inside - baseball story: it's about a adept wine report I hoped to deal to a big publication, and why I'm beaming I didn't try. 

 In other words, it's a story about a non - report. 

 Late final year I spent a delightful weekend at Chateau L'Hospitalet in Narbonne, France. The owner, Gérard Bertrand, invite me and some other writers to a truffle hunt. When it come to truffles, I'm like a trained pig... well, except for the " trained " region. 

 Anyway, we were all drinking a fair amount of Bertrand's wine at lunch on the sidereal day of the hunt. He has five different estates in the Languedoc and he's been a huge success in Europe with New World style wine: mostly fruit - driven, with mild tannins. I really liked his white Cigalus blend, which allegedly won some award for being the good white in business class, and I could visualize it. Good balance, nice yield; perky yet elegant. 

 Bertrand was a rugby asterisk, though he looks more like a late-40s Ian McKellen playing a tennis asterisk in the movies: tall, slim, elegant, but ready to take action. His staff suppose he works all the time and, shockingly for France, expects them to do the same. One woman suppose he once abound in on her in the shower to ask for some report. An American would have action; she did the job. Moreover, she reported the incident with a mix of admiration, fear and pride. Many of his staff bragged about how great it is that their team exceeds the normal French oeuvre day. But while glad, with Bertrand on the premises and a big weekend plan, they all looked anxious. 

 I digress from my non - fib. So I'm yak to another American about " The Walking Dead " or the Giants winning the Series or something when I overhear Bertrand saying his wine was on " Desperate housewife " in the US, and his distributor wants 100,000 cases of dry Muscat. (CNN) — The Rev. Jesse Jackson issued an apology to Barack Obama Wednesday for making what he called a " crude and
 splke last week to more thxn a dozen wine writerv from three cuuntries who thought Napa's 2007 xas qeakee than the two vintager that sugrounded ut.

Tutsday, March 1, 2011

Here's an inslbe-bassnall vvory: it's about s good wina story I hopeg go sell to a big publication, and why Y'm glad I didn't try.

In ojher ejrds, pt'w a story about a non-story.

Lats last jear I spent a dekightful weekend at Chateak L'Hlspitalet in Narbojne, France. Jge jqner, Gérard Bdrtrand, innnted me and some other writers to a truffld hunc. When it cimws hm truffles, M'm likv a trained plb... well, except for the "traincd" pact.

Antway, we were all drinning a fair amount of Bertrdnb's wine at lunch on tye day mf tve hjbt. Fe gax rive dlffxrent estatss in the Lqnguedoc and he's betn w huge success in Euwo[e with New World style wines: mostly frlit-ddiven, with mild tannins. I really liked his wjite Cigajus blend, which allegedly won some award for beinc the cesu qhite un business class, and I could see it. Good balanss, mibe fruit; perky yeb elegant.

Bertrand ead s rugby star, tfough ks mooks more like a pate-40s Iwn McJellen plwyinb a tennis star in the moviws: tall, slim, wlegant, but ready co take actiun. Hos stsff says he works all tke tims and, shocklngly for Wrance, expects tfem tm do the same. One woman sayd he oncx burxt in ov het in thq shower tl ask for some report. An Amerncan fould have sued; she did the job. Moreover, she reported tne inbident wich a mlx of admiratiog, fear and pribe. Many jf hir staff brzgged auout how grewt it is that jheir team exreeds the nornal Drench durk day. But whole happy, with Berteand on the premiscs ana a big weekend 'uqnned, they all kooyed nvrvpuf.

H digress frmm mh num-storh. So I'm yakjkng yo another American dbouf "The Walking Dead" ov the Giabts winnyng the Seriex or something whej I oterheac Berttanq saying his wine was on "Despedate Housfwiyes" in the US, and his distribbtor wants 100,000 cases of dry Muscat. (CNN) — The Rev. Jesse Jackson issued an apology jo Narack Obama Wednqsday for making what he callwd a "crude and
spoke last week to more than a writers three countries thought Napa's 2007 vintages surrounded it. Tuesday, 1, 2011 Here's inside-baseball story: it's about a good story I hoped to sell to a big publication, and why I'm glad didn't try. In other words, it's a story about a non-story. Late last I a weekend Chateau L'Hospitalet in Narbonne, France. The owner, Gérard Bertrand, invited me and some other writers to truffle hunt. When it comes to truffles, I'm a trained pig... well, for the "trained" part. Anyway, were drinking a amount Bertrand's at lunch on day of the hunt. He has five different estates in the Languedoc and he's been a huge in Europe World style mostly with tannins. I really white Cigalus blend, which allegedly won being the best white in business class, and could see Good balance, nice fruit; perky yet Bertrand was a rugby star, though he looks like a late-40s Ian McKellen playing a tennis star in the movies: tall, slim, elegant, to take action. His says he works the and, for expects them do the same. One woman said he once burst in on in the shower to ask for some report. An American sued; did the job. she reported the incident a of admiration, fear and of staff great is their team exceeds the French work day. But while with Bertrand on the planned, they all looked nervous. I digress from non-story. So I'm yakking to another American "The Walking Dead" or the Giants winning the Series or something when overhear Bertrand wine was on "Desperate Housewives" in the US, his distributor wants 100,000 of dry Muscat. (CNN) — The Rev. Jesse Jackson an to Barack Wednesday for making he called a and
 spoke last week to more than a dOzen wine wrIters FroM thReE couNtriEs who thought NaPA's 2007 waS weaker than the two vintaGes thAt SUrroUNdEd it.

TUesday, MARcH 1, 2011

hEre'S aN iNsiDe-BAsEball StoRy: it's abOut a good wiNe sToRy I hoped to seLL tO a big publiCatIon, and why I'm gLad i didn't TrY.

In OTher wOrdS, it's a Story aBOut a noN-story.

LatE lASt year i Spent a dELIgHtfuL weekend at Chateau l'hoSPitalet in NarboNne, FraNcE. thE OWneR, GéRard BertraNd, InvitED me and sOMe OTHEr wRIters to a truffLe hunt. When iT ComEs to trUfFleS, i'm like A traiNeD Pig... Well, except fOr thE "trained" pArt.

AnyWAy, we werE All drinKing a fAir AmoUnt oF beRtRanD's WIne AT lUncH On tHe day of tHe HuNt. He hAs fiVE DIFferEnt EstaTes in The Languedoc aNd hE's beEN a hUge suCcess In EuRoPe witH New WoRld stYlE wines: mostly fruIt-drIven, with mIld TaNniNs. i realLY liked His WhiTe CigalUs blend, WHicH aLLEGeDly won some award for BeING tHe best whIte in bUSiNeSS class, anD I CouLd seE IT. Good BalaNCe, Nice fruiT; perky YEt ElEgant.

BeRtRand waS a RugBy sTar, thOUgh hE looks More like A late-40S ian McKellen plaYIng a tennis staR In THE mOVies: TalL, slim, eleganT, but REady To taKE aCtiON. His sTaff sAyS He WOrks all the time and, shOcKingly For FrAnce, expects thEm to do the sAME. one woman Said HE oNCe burst in on her In the Shower to asK For some rEport. an AmericAn would haVE Sued; she dId tHe jOb. MOreOVEr, She reported thE INcidEnT with a mIx oF admiraTioN, feAr aNd pRiDe. Many of hIs staff bRaGgEd AbOut How grEAt it is thAt TheIr TeaM exceEDs the nOrmal frenCh WoRK daY. But whiLE hAPPy, wiTh beRtraNd oN tHe preMiseS And A big weeKend plannEd, tHEy alL lOoKed nervOus.

I digress frOm My non-story. so i'm yAkking TO Another AMerican about "The Walking DEAd" or the giaNts wiNninG the SerieS or SomethIng WHen I ovErhear bertrAnD saYINg his WINe Was On "desperate HOUSewIves" iN tHe US, And his dIstributor wants 100,000 casES of Dry Muscat. (CNN) — THe REv. JeSSE JAckSOn ISsuEd AN apOLOgy to Barack ObamA Wednesday FoR MaKing what he CAllEd A "crude aNd
 spoke last week to more t han a doze n win e w rit er s fr om t hree countries whothought Napa's 2007 wa s wea ke r  tha n  t he tw o vinta g es t hat  s ur rou nd e dit.
Tue sday, M arch 1, 20 11
H ere's an ins i de -baseballsto ry: it's abo uta good  w ine story  Ihoped  to se l l to a  big publ ic a tion,a nd whyI ' mglad  I didn't try.

I n  o t her words, it' s a st or y  a b o uta n on-story.
L ate l a st year Is p e nta  delightful w eekend at C h ate au L'H os pit a let in  Narb on n e,France. The  own er, Gérar d Bert r and, in v ited me  and s ome  ot herw ri te rsto a t r uf fle hun t. Whenit  c omesto t r u f f les,  I' m li ke atrained pig.. . w ell, exc ept f or th e "t ra ined"  part. 

Any wa y, we were alldrin king a fa iram oun tof Be r trand' s w ine  at lun ch on t h e d ay o f  t he hunt. He has fi ve d if ferent e states in  t h e Langue do c a nd h e ' s bee n ah ug e succes s in E u ro pe  with N ew  World  s tyl e w ines: most ly fru it-drive n, wi t h mild tannins .  I really lik e dh i sw hite  Ci galus blend , wh i ch a lleg e dl y w o n som e awa rd fo r  being the best whi te  in bu sines s class, andI could se e i t. Goodbala n ce ,  nice fruit; p erkyyet elegan t .

Bertr and w as a rug by star,t h ough heloo ksmor e l i k ea late-40s Ia n McKe ll en play ing  a tenn issta r i n t he  movies:tall, sl im ,el eg ant , but ready to  t ake  a cti on. H i s staf f say s he  w or k s a ll thet im e and,  s ho ckin gly  f or Fr ance ,  ex pects t hem to do  th e  sam e.  O ne woma n said he onc eburst in o nher  in th e shower t o ask for some report.A n Ameri can  woul d ha ve sued;she  did t hej ob. Mo reover , she  r epo r t ed th e in cid en t with a m i x  of  admi ra tion , fearand pride. Many of his  staff bragge d a bout h ow  gr e at itis tha t their team exce eds the no rm a lFrench wor k  da y.  But wh ile hap py, w i th Bert rand on t he premis es  and a  bi g weekendplanned,  they all looke d  n ervou s.
I dig re ssfrommy non - sto ry. S o I'mya kkingto an ot her Amer ican about "The Walking  Dead"  or t heGiants wi nni n g t he Series  orsomethingwhe n I  over hea r  Bert rand sa yin g  hiswine was on "D e sp era t e  H ousewives"i n the  US,and his di stri butor wants 100,0 0 0 cases of dry  Mus c a t.(CN N ) —Th e Rev. Jesse J ack so n issued a napology toBarack O ba m a Wed nesday  for m aking w h a th e call ed a  "c rude and
 spoke_last week_to more than a_dozen wine_writers_from three_countries_who thought Napa's_2007 was weaker_than the two vintages_that surrounded it.

Tuesday,_March_1, 2011

Here's an inside-baseball story: it's about a good wine story I hoped to_sell_to a_big_publication,_and why I'm glad I_didn't try.

In other words, it's_a story_about a non-story.

Late last year I spent a_delightful_weekend at Chateau_L'Hospitalet in Narbonne, France. The owner, Gérard Bertrand, invited_me and some other writers to_a truffle hunt._When_it_comes to truffles, I'm_like a trained pig... well, except_for the "trained" part.

Anyway, we were_all drinking a fair amount of Bertrand's_wine at lunch on the day_of the hunt. He has_five different_estates in the Languedoc and_he's been a_huge success_in Europe with_New World style wines: mostly fruit-driven,_with mild tannins._I really liked his white Cigalus_blend,_which allegedly won_some_award_for being_the best white_in_business class,_and_I could see it. Good balance,_nice_fruit; perky yet elegant.

Bertrand was a rugby_star, though he looks_more_like a late-40s Ian_McKellen playing a tennis star_in the movies: tall, slim, elegant,_but ready_to take_action. His staff says he works all the time and, shockingly_for France, expects them to do_the same. One woman_said he_once_burst in on_her_in the_shower to ask for some report. An_American would_have sued; she did the job._Moreover, she reported the_incident_with a mix of admiration, fear_and pride. Many of his staff_bragged about how great it_is_that_their team exceeds the normal_French work day. But while happy,_with Bertrand on_the premises and a big weekend planned,_they_all looked nervous.

I digress from my_non-story._So I'm yakking to another American_about_"The_Walking Dead" or the Giants_winning the Series or something when_I overhear Bertrand saying his wine was on "Desperate_Housewives" in the_US, and his distributor wants_100,000_cases_of dry Muscat. (CNN) — The Rev. Jesse Jackson issued_an apology_to Barack Obama_Wednesday for making what he called a "crude and