Wine Review: Psagot M-series Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Just a few more days until Valentines Day and Psagot has sent me this Cabernet Sauvignon that's the "ideal lush wine for seducing". Seeing as the wife is pregnant I guess I'll be using it to seduce myself. I am rather handsome. Also, I like a guy that makes me laugh and I crack myself up all the time. It's a date!

This wine is from Israel, and I've done a few reviews of Israeli / Palestinian wines before. Also Turkey, which was a great wine drinking experience. There's something about wine from the Middle East that fascinates me. It's got to be the long history of civilization, the long history of viticulture and winemaking, and the growth of alcohol oppression there in the last few hundred years. It's not a place that should be thought of as a non-traditional wine producer but yet it is. And I love tasting wine from non-traditional places.

Before I get into talking further about this wine, I must say this: Donald Trump can go eff himself with his Middle East travel and immigration ban. He can go eff himself with everything else he's done too. The one great thing to come out of all of this is to see America resist. Especially scientists in straight-up revolt against orders with refusal to be silent. Their resistance has been glorious and it gives us hope that reason and logic will overcome. Moving on...

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A love letter to Chardonnay

To my beloved Chardonnay,

The road to our love was a rocky one. I was a fool for turning away from the prospect of "us", but you never once gave up on me. Finally coming to the realization of your beauty, both inside and out, was a life changing moment.

In these past years I have fallen madly in love with you, Chardonnay. All I need to do to feel you again, to taste you again, is to close my eyes. The thought of your supple full body, so lush and creamy, so sexy, creates a thirst within me.

Don't you ever let the haters bring you down, for I will be right by your side. Anything But Chardonnay be damned! We will not let them destroy our love. Not today; not ever.

Forever and always,

Joey

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A love letter to Riesling

My dearest Riesling,

Out of all of the wines in the world there is none other that makes me smile the way that you do. Every time you touch my lips, your spirit fills me with life and hope and love. I am instantly turned into the optimist I never thought I could be whenever you are near.

How can you do this to me? Why do you make me so happy?

Every day with you in it is interesting and full of wonder, Riesling, whether you're showing your dry sense of humor or seduction by sweet compassion. We will always be together, my love. You will always have a place in my heart and in my glass.

Lustfully yours,

Joey

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Flashback February!

Hello, readers! Unfortunately, unplanned events have made me rethink what the blog will be posting this February. The last two weeks of January put me behind writing schedule due to a sickness that just made me lethargic, unable to focus, and coughing up gross stuff later on in the process.

And, if that wasn't enough, we're moving to a new house at the beginning of March and expecting a new baby in May.

So, rather than hustling to catch up and produce stuff for February, I'm going to take the entire month to power out material for you that will get the blog set until the summer. I've got some very cool article ideas and reviews of some awesome wines for you.

So what is going to happen with February?

I have the Wine Pick, which you saw yesterday, and three new posts leading into Valentine's Day; two love letters to my favorite white varietals, and a review of a red from Israel.

Throughout the month on the blog, and on social media, it will be Flashback February as I'll be promoting my old articles for those who haven't read them and for those who have to revisit. It'll be all my best stuff, from The Adventures of Aglianico to The Rest of Us.

This is the first time anything for this blog, in its near three years, has been delayed because I simply was unable to do it. Thanks for understanding, guys.

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February Wine Pick: Noval Black Porto

This WINE PICK of the month was written for the Luke's of Cape Cod website.

Nothing warms you up in the cold of February like a glass of port. The sweet Portuguese red wine fortified with brandy is the perfect thing to sip between evening snow shovelings.

My wine pick of the month is produced by one of the oldest and famous porthouses around, Quinta do Noval. Since their registration in 1715, they've been well respected and have earned a reputation for innovation.

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