Down Cellar with Jim Bryant
Barrington resident Jim Bryant is pursuing his passion and love of wine as an international wine consultant. This follows a 30-year career in senior financial and general management positions at two Fortune 100 companies. He is the owner of James R. Bryant L.L.C.; contact him at profwino@comcast.net.
2013
May/June 2013
Aldo Conterno, Italy loses another wine giant
On May 30, 2012 the world lost
another wine giant. Aldo Conterno,
owner of Poderi Aldo Conterno,
died and left an immense void in the world of
Italian wine. He was born in Monforte d'Alba in
1931, and was one of two famous sons of Giacomo
Conterno. Aldo moved to San Francisco in 1954 to
start a winery in Napa in conjunction with his two
uncles. Soon after arriving in the United States,
however, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and
served in the Korean War for two years.
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March/April 2013
Favorite White Wines and Food
Over the past seven years I have
written extensively about wines of the
world, many of which are among my
favorites. As we head into spring, I feel a focus on
a few of my repetitive choices along with several of
my favorite dishes might be appreciated.
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January/February 2013
Bordeaux, the Right Bank
The last two issues of Quintessential Barrington gave details of our visit to three of the most famous wineries on the left bank of Bordeaux. On Saturday, May 19, we left our ship at 9 a.m. for a visit to a lesser-known château in Saint-Émilion – Château Coutet. Alas, the
best made plans go awry.
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2012
November/December 2012
Encore Bordeaux
After our wine group's visit to Château
Margaux on the morning of May 18,
2012, we had lunch at Le Lion d'Or in Arcins.
This is a well-known restaurant in Bordeaux
and after a nice repast, we had largely settled down
from our opening experience.
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012
Château Margaux
On Friday, May 18, the Crystal Symphony docked quayside in
downtown Bordeaux. I and 18 others traveling with me were about to
embark on an unforgettable wine experience. As many of you who read my columns know, I take a few people who are serious about learning more about food and wine on an annual trip using either Crystal’s Symphony or Serenity as the venue.
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JULY/AUGUST 2012
Zinfandel
In my article on Chablis in Quintessential
Barrington (July/August 2010), I wrote
that it is the most misunderstood wine in the
world and told why. For a different reason, I believe
that Zinfandel is the second most misunderstood
wine.
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MAY/JUNE 2012
The Maestro of Veneto - Giuseppe Quintarelli (1927-2012)
On January 15, 2012 one of the greatest winemakers left this world. While this is one man’s opinion, it was consistently mentioned in almost every wine publication and reference book. The wine world agreed that Quintarelli, along with one other, Romano Dal Forno, produced the greatest Amarone.
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MARCH/APRIL 2012
Let’s Toast Vegetarian Dishes
For those who have known this carnivore for a long time, it really is the same guy writing this article. As I have often told my wife and others over the past four decades, if I could find more vegetarian dishes that would pair as well with wine as ratatouille does with Châteauneuf-du-Pape, I would eat less meat. Download entire story in PDF format.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012
A Bordeaux Fantasy
Although I previously wrote an article on Bordeaux for QB (March/ April 2007), I recently had an extraordinary opportunity to taste two different vintages of all five of the Premier Crus Classés-1855 (First Growth Bordeaux). Download entire story in PDF format.
2011
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2011
Holiday Wines
As we head into the Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s holiday period, I would like to offer appropriate wine selections for typical foods served at each. Since many people offer some version of the same entrée at two or more of these holidays, I’ll let the food, and not the holiday, drive the wine choices. Download entire story in PDF format.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
Refreshing Wine Values
In Quintessential Barrington’s May/June 2008 issue, I wrote about some great value wines in the marketplace, at that time. Since the wine market is constantly changing and we’re still in a sideways economy, it’s time for an update.
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JULY/AUGUST 2011
Distilling the Fine Points of Wine
Wine drinking in the United
States continues to rise, placing
us in first place worldwide for total
consumption. I find myself increasingly asked
to explain the various wine ratings schema in the
marketplace. While parts of this article may be
partly redundant for some readers, regardless of
the score of the rating publication, I always suggest
that the customer pay close attention to the
wine’s description, instead of its score.
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MAY/JUNE 2011
Pairing Guests and Wine
Enjoying wine seems universal,
yet some wine lovers share unique challenges.
I want to tell you about two such
common malaises and a solution to same. I have
a severe case of “wine acquisition” disease, but admittedly
want no cure.
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MARCH/APRIL 2011
Just Desserts
Dessert wines in general don’t
go in and out of favor as do certain
grape varietals. Rather, they tend to
be consumed more when life slows
down such as vacations, holidays or as the finale
to leisurely meals. Yet, for whatever reason,
dessert wines are not currently as popular as
they have been historically. As a result, prices
for these elixirs have not kept pace with similar
quality dry wines.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011
Wine at Sea
One of the most enjoyable ways to learn
more about wine and food is to book a cruise
on an upscale ship which focuses on wine and food.
While many cruise lines have offered find food and
wine for years, the last decade has witnessed further
focus in this area. The leading players in this field include
Crystal Cruises, Oceania Cruises Regent Seven
Seas Cruises, Silerveas Cruises and Windstar Cruises.
Smaller but also luxurious alternatives include
The Yachts of Seabourne and Sea Dream Yacht Club.
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2010
NOVEBMER/DECEMBER 2010
Well Red
Red wine pairing seems more visceral to me, at least with less expensive wines. I love temperanillo, the most widely planted red wine vine in Spain. It produces some of the most food friendly wines I have found. Download entire story in PDF format.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2010
Pair Shaped
As those who read my wine column know, I usually talk about wine and food pairings. However, I felt that a recap of some previous suggestions and the addition of others would be appropriate for an easy reference. Download entire story in PDF format.
JULY/AUGUST 2010
Chablis
I believe Chablis is the most misunderstood wine in the world. While it has been one of my favorite wines for decades, there is considerable confusion about the appellation. Much of the problem originated because the United States did not sign the Treaty of Versailles which ended World War I.
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MAY/JUNE 2010
Wineries and Art
In a previous issue, I attempted to answer whether wine is art. While that article was more philosophical in nature, this piece will focus on several wineries that are art as well as wine centric.
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MARCH/APRIL 2010
Inspiration
In “Uncorking the Mystique of Wine
Ratings,” (QB, Sept./ Oct. 2007), I pointed
out that many tourists return from vacations in
wine producing regions certain that wine tastes
best when consumed where it is produced. The
main reason why this seems likely is that people
are generally in a better frame of mind while on
vacation and the local wines taste best with
regional food.
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JAN/FEB 2010
In Pursuit of Wine Knowledge
As I note d in the Is Wine Art? article (September/October 2009), there are several books
that are helpful in building one’s wine knowledge foundation. As noted also, there is no
substitute for doing homework and actually drinking wide varieties of wines from all
over the world. When you consider that everyone’s palate is somewhat unique, it makes more sense
to make your own decisions about your favorite wines than to permit even the savviest writer to
overly influence you.
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2009
NOV/DEC 2009
Pinot Noir Wines Holy Grail
Whereas Cabernet Sauvignon grapes
can produce excellent wines throughout
the world, most wine aficionados believed the
only great Pinot Noirs were from France. Most
of the worlds greatest Pinot Noirs do come from
the Burgundy region of France, but one can buy
excellent examples from California, Oregon, and
New Zealand.
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SEPT/OCT 2009
Is Wine Art?
Is wine the elixir of life? Some,
myself included, think so, but whether
you concur or not, a closer examination
may be worthwhile. Although there are many
students of high quality scotch, bourbon,
rum, etc., thankfully, the lower alcohol level
of wine permits one to indulge responsibly
and still enjoy social settings whether at home
or restaurants.
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JULY/AUGUST 2009
Argentinas Best
Having recently returned from a three-week
trip to South America spent mostly in
Argentina, I have to admit that Im a believer. It
was certainly one of my all-time experiences. This
is a country that elicits strong feelings. From the
cosmopolitan and historical European influenced
capital of Buenos Aires, to the vast, open unsettled
arid high plain desert, to the majestic Andes
stretching high into the sky, its almost unbelievable
that so much can be packed into one country and
be so easily accessed. Read on.
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MAY/JUNE 2009
Summer Wines
As winter finally relinquishes its hold,
its time to focus on white, red, and rosé
wines that are generally lighter in style than their
winter counterparts. Read on.
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MARCH/APRIL 2009
Why Cellar Wines?
We in the United States live in an instant gratification society. This is apparent
when text messengers seek this option as opposed to cell phone usage. As a longtime wine collector,
I find it incredible that almost all wine purchased
in this country (95 percent) is consumed within
three days. While not in this category, almost all
of my wine collection moved here 25 years ago has
been consumed. Why do I believe so emphatically
in cellaring wine and how did I come to this
decision? Read on.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009
Winter Wines and Food
As many of you who know me best, I
drink almost no wine without food.
Fortunately, I have lived most of my
life with someone who knows as much or more
about food preparation than I know about wine.
As I often tell my wife, Pat, if she were not such
an outstanding chef, I would not be so vertically
challenged, weight wise.
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2008
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2008
French Fantasies
Allow me to set the stage for you to
discover one of life's greatest gifts. With
the approaching holidays, this seems
to be a good time to focus on dessert wines.
They tend to be consumed more when life slows
down with vacations, holidays, or the finale to
gourmet meals.
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008
Wine Tasting Wisdom
I spend much of my life trying to expose
others to some of the treasures of the
grape vine I've found by venturing off the
beaten path. In almost all cases, my greatest
enjoyment comes from feedback along the lines of
"How did I get to be this age, believing that wine
was so important to my life, only to discover that
there's so much I didn't (don't) know that gives me
great pleasure?"
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JULY/AUGUST 2008
Coasting into Central California
Sometimes it's not only about the wine, but
the whole package. Last March, my wife and
I, together with another couple we've known since
college, went to California’s Central Coast seeking
such a “whole-package” experience. While the
other three people in our party appreciate wine, it
is not as important to them as it is to me, so some
balance was required.
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MAY/JUNE 2008
Vintage Values
From the perspective of wine heights, I think
it is largely true that the greatest wines are
expensive. However, as with food, personal tastes
in wine often dictate preferences as much or more
than the price. Many wine aficionados are able to
justify discretionary spending on long-lived items
such houses, cars, yachts, and great bottles of wine,
especially when these items are associated prominently
with the owner's status in the community
at large. But because it takes a lot of time and hard
work to build a database of favorite wines, others
prefer not to invest the time in researching their
options. Ergo, most wine buyers are looking for
great values - low prices at high ratings.
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MARCH/APRIL 2008
Hail a Cab!
For most wine experts, Cabernet Sauvignon represents the Holy Grail of wines. During most of the past three centuries, it most assuredly represented the apex of most connoisseurs' wine game. In large part, this was and still is due to the long history of success growing Cabernet Sauvignon in the Bordeaux region of France. However, Cabernet Sauvignon is relatively easy to grow and accordingly is now available from many parts of the world.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
Drifting into Port
As winter settles in for the long haul, my attention turns to Port, which seems to ease the harshness of the season. Port is one of the easiest categories of wine to understand. Essentially, there are Tawny Ports and Vintage Ports, as well as minor subcategories such as Ruby, Late Bottled Vintage, and Single Vineyard Ports.
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2007
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007
Ah, Tuscana!
While I believe my heart belongs to Piemonte, I've come to believe my soul belongs to Tuscana. As many of you know, I have been going to Piemonte to harvest for more than a decade, and even though I currently import wines from only this region, I realized I always found an excuse to visit Tuscana on these trips.
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007
Uncorking the Mystique of Wine Ratings
As almost all serious wine consumers know, wines are rated by many individuals and institutions and graded on a point scale. Robert M. Parker conceived the widely used 100-point scale in the late 1970s, and most others have more or less adopted it. I acknowledge the need for reference points, especially for those just starting out on the wine adventure, but I would like to offer some insights.
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JULY/AUGUST 2007
Stories from My Wine Travels
One of the benefits of having traveled
extensively to vineyards throughout the world is
meeting some very interesting people and gathering
up some very fond memories and fun stories. One
of my closest friends (who has heard all these stories)
suggested I relay a few for others’ enjoyment.
Lest I forget, anyone who missed my homage to Len
Evans in the November/December issue of Quintessential
Barrington should reference that article about the
wine person who most impacted me.
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MAY/JUNE 2007
Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Most wine aficionados are well aware that Robert
M. Parker is one of the most influential people in
the wine industry. Through his publication, The
Wine Advocate, he rates various wines on a scale of 50
to 100, and many retailers have a love-hate relationship
with him. If Parker rates a wine above 90 points,
retailers have a hard time getting the wine, and
if it rates 89 or below, they can't sell it.
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MARCH/APRIL 2007
The Fine Wines of Bordeaux
While it’s true that there has never been
so much good wine available from so many worldwide
viticultural areas, the currently available and
highly praised 2003 and 2005 Bordeaux varieties now
being offered give us a wonderful reason to look
at this famous region.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007
Jimmy’s Wine Rules
Over the past 40 years of serious studying
and drinking wine, I have developed what I call “Jimmy’s
Rules,” which I hope might facilitate your
own learning curve in the enjoyment of great wine.
Santé!
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2006
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006
In Memoriam: Len Evans
While I always enjoy bringing you the latest
information on great wines, this month I wanted honor
one of the wine industry’s most notable individuals,
Len Evans of Australia, who died on August 17, 2006.
Len was the most famous personality in the history
of Australian wine. He is known to be the person
who conceived the strategic plan behind Australia’s
significant wine success story of the last ten years.
But Len was far more than a successful businessman.
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006
Exploring Great Barbecue Wines
As the temperatures moderate in September,
I spend more time thinking of wine and food matches.
Even into early fall, weekends are serious barbecuing
time. It’s still warm enough that great shellfish
and fish can be cooked outdoors, and they go well
with the wines reviewed in our last two issues. Try
wild salmon with one of the French Chardonnay wines
we’ve discussed, or pick a Pinot Noir
as many in the Pacific Northwest do. Alternatively,
grilled shellfish go perfectly with any of the “ABC” (Anything
But Chardonnay) wines from our last issue.
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JULY/AUGUST 2006
Calling All ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) Wine Enthusiasts
Many wine lovers have reacted to the Chardonnay
overload of recent years by moving to the “ABC” (anything
but Chardonnay) school of choosing wine. And great
alternatives to Chardonnay do abound.
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MAY/JUNE 2006
Chardonnay. Earth’s Ubiquitous White Wine
The consumption of Chardonnay in the
United States continues to lead all other
wines. Yet many sophisticated drinkers and
knowledgeable wine enthusiasts lament the
current obsession with the grape and lean
toward the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay)
school. Why the great divide?
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MARCH/APRIL 2006
The Wine of Kings, and the King of Wines
The cooler temperatures of late winter and early
spring beg for a hearty red wine, so let’s
take a trip to my favorite wine region, Piemonte.
It’s an Italian region that includes Torino
(the site of the February 2006 Olympic games) and
is the home of Barolo, a robust red often described
as the “wine of kings and the king of wines.”
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entire story in PDF format.