Armin's Wine Stuff

Armin's Wine Stuff Drink, enjoy, post, enjoy further. Repeat.

After some recent heavy meals this was the perfect refreshing change of pace on a hot Summer evening. Salad of spinach, ...
06/14/2025

After some recent heavy meals this was the perfect refreshing change of pace on a hot Summer evening. Salad of spinach, broccoli, red onion, red bell pepper, tomato, garbanzo beans, and a vinaigrette with crushed garlic paired with a lovely Alsatian Riesling enjoyed while watching an Orioles win.
2016 Domaine Schoenheitz Riesling Herrenreben. Richly textured and honeyed (though completely dry) cut by bracing lemon flesh and grapefruit acidity with a slatey minerality weaving throughout and softly chalky tannins in the finish. Surprisingly youthful with no “petrol” evident and bouncy liveliness.
Good livin’.

A little refreshing beverage before Simple Minds/Modern English/Soft Cell this evening.I don’t dip into spirits often an...
06/10/2025

A little refreshing beverage before Simple Minds/Modern English/Soft Cell this evening.
I don’t dip into spirits often anymore but El Jimador has been my go-to for Palomas and Margaritas for nearly 20 years and I’ve had these glasses nearly as long. Plenty of up-front agave fruitiness, a little peppery, a touch earthy, perfect with citrus—every expectation met—and priced just right. There’s a lime wedge in there, too—I promise.
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After a walk through a local street festival in heat, humidity, and a brief, refreshing light rain we got our reward. A ...
06/08/2025

After a walk through a local street festival in heat, humidity, and a brief, refreshing light rain we got our reward. A charcuterie board and Lambrusco always makes a perfect pair.
Home and dry for a late lunch of bresaola, speck, stunning Molinari Finocchiona fennel salame, young Manchego, Cotswold, a lovely earthy and ripe Casatica di Bufala, olives, and peppadews with a nice local baguette. Accompanied by a beautiful dry Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro DOC “Rolfshark” from Villa di Corlo. Juicy mixed berry and violet aromatics reflected on the palate with ripe blackberry and cherry up front ceding to a bone dry finish with a lively frizzante sparkle that softens the firm blueberry-skin tannins. All certainly made an afternoon of “popcorn” movies more palatable.
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O’s and Pinots! Cool enough for red wine at OPACY today. Are the O’s hot enough for a sweep?•
06/01/2025

O’s and Pinots!
Cool enough for red wine at OPACY today. Are the O’s hot enough for a sweep?
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Perfect breezy spring evening with a little pizza and a brilliant nine-year-old Larzac red blend.2019 Clos Maïa Terrasse...
04/28/2025

Perfect breezy spring evening with a little pizza and a brilliant nine-year-old Larzac red blend.
2019 Clos Maïa Terrasses de Larzac (roughly at the mid-point between Béziers and Nîmes) is a field blend of Grenache and several local varieties made by a winemaker who learned at such venerable estates as Olivier Leflaive, Jean Louis Chave, and Mas Jullien as well as the supremely underappreciated (at least here in the US) Terrasses de Larzac winery, Le Pas deL’Escalette.
Beautiful raspberry, blueberry and, at this late stage in its evolution, lightly oxidized prune-y fruit gently weaving through chalky tannins. A fine medium-bodied wine ideal for observing a sunset on a clear evening.
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Friday wind-down with a burger and Star Wars Celebration vids on YouTube paired with a lovely 2021 Venus la Universal Di...
04/19/2025

Friday wind-down with a burger and Star Wars Celebration vids on YouTube paired with a lovely 2021 Venus la Universal Dido Montsant tinto. Garnaxta/Syrah/Carignan/Cab/Merlot Refreshingly restrained with a delicate 12.8% alcohol, this is about strawberry and raspberry fruit and freshness (though the chalky oak tannins show prominently at this stage of its evolution) finishing with oregano and thyme. Spring is here!
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Comfy Saturday in, big ol’ pot of chili working all afternoon, and a Gigondas in my glass—I am grateful for these little...
01/26/2025

Comfy Saturday in, big ol’ pot of chili working all afternoon, and a Gigondas in my glass—I am grateful for these little things.

2022 Domaine Notee Dame des Paillières Gigondas Les Mourres. Classic blend of 80% Grenache/10% each Syrah and Mourvèdre from a venerable (since the 15th century), multi-generational family estate. Seemingly dark and brooding at first sip with character of blackberry and plum but, ultimately, light and lively carrying a garrigue mix of thyme and mint and rosemary in the nose and mid-palate. A lingering licorice and orange acidity carry through the soft and chalky tannins and not-remotely-evident 15% ABV that does not compete at all with the spice of the chili. Perfect with 2001: A Space Odyssey.
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Catching up on some of my early winter wines.First up, 2022 Anthill Farms Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. A winery more know...
01/25/2025

Catching up on some of my early winter wines.

First up, 2022 Anthill Farms Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. A winery more known for single vineyard offerings, this broad Anderson Valley designate really delivers for the money. Aromas are super-bright cherry and raspberry with pine-y forest floor and sweet pipe to***co. Opens with an evident carbonic maceration tingle and juicy but firm fruit balanced with an old school 13.4% ABV that keeps everything soft and supple with delicate cinnamon and earthy mushroom on the finish. Paired beautifully with the Hoth battle scene in The Empire Strikes Back.

Next, a 2023 Cantina Valle Isacro Südtirol Lagrein for a relatively warm day. Light of body but bold of flavor. Violets, red/blackberry make up the palate with gentle cocoa-laced tannins and fine-grained nutmeg on the finish. A fine R2-approved sipper that paired nicely with left-over Christmas lasagna.

Finally, a shiny 2023 Bulgarian Chardonnay from Chateau Burgozone. Unoaked (stainless steel) showing crisp green apple and white peach. Persistent apple skin acidity cuts through the flinty minerality and the juicy, rich body. A striking value alternative for lovers of Burgundy.
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Baby bear.Went into the evening last Thursday specifically looking for a Cab Franc and presented me with this beauty. 2...
01/05/2025

Baby bear.
Went into the evening last Thursday specifically looking for a Cab Franc and presented me with this beauty. 2016 Armstrong Family Winery (Columbia Valley, Washington) Cabernet Franc (Fronk!) that hit the sweet spot I was looking for between the archetypes of lean austerity of Chinon and the ripe bombast of Napa. Ripe raspberry/black cherry, moss, and pipe to***co, with delicate cinnamon and anise on the finish. Plush tannins but no signs of slowing down. Big enough for a New York strip but delicate enough to not overpower it.
Just right.
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A late November bottle haunting this post in December.2020 Chateau Massiac Minervois. Syrah, Grenache, and, perhaps (i...
12/11/2024

A late November bottle haunting this post in December.

2020 Chateau Massiac Minervois. Syrah, Grenache, and, perhaps (in this vintage, judging by some characteristics), Mourvèdre—organically produced by a family winery on the rocky soils of the rolling landscape at the mid-point between Carcassonne and Narbonne.

An inky purple blackberry brandy garrigue bomb with thyme, oregano, and menthol dancing throughout and a bit of a smoky, gamey note. This made me incredibly warm and happy on a cold late-November evening and I plan to wrap myself in it all winter.
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-roussillon

First time visiting last Saturday. Two old friends sharing a meal of an inspired duck confit ravioli and a gorgeous vea...
11/28/2024

First time visiting last Saturday. Two old friends sharing a meal of an inspired duck confit ravioli and a gorgeous veal chop. Big, rich food with more gamey notes matched perfectly with this classic savory and spicy Amarone. A wonderful meal presented by a lovely family staff—hopefully, we will visit again soon.
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Warming on a cool Autumn evening last Saturday.Spitball Manhattan at Cooperstown Beverage Exchange. Fairly classic Manha...
11/28/2024

Warming on a cool Autumn evening last Saturday.
Spitball Manhattan at Cooperstown Beverage Exchange. Fairly classic Manhattan with an understated and Fall-appropriate spin of cinnamon whiskey. Love to stop here when in Cooperstown and the staff is always great.
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