Phil Ward

So, Did anyone attend the 70th Birthday Celebration with Guest Chef Charlie Trotter? Phil

There has been a Bonefish Grill on Rt 1 outside of Princeton Boro for over 5 years. They do quite a nice job the times I have been there for lunch. Wine List is not all bad either. Phil

One NZ PN I like is Cloudy Bay 2003. Just had a bottle on Friday night. Quite nice with beautiful aromas and flavors. Drinking nicely now but should develop over the next few years. For value, Matua Valley is pretty good. Phil

I am not sure but my employer finally receievd a check from a past due invoice this week that was about 60 days old. I hope they are still open? As has been said before, Neil is an imaginative chef and Karen a lovely person/co-owner. Phil

Bob, Thanks and you can also find D'Artagnan products in local markets in the meat or gourmet section. Found the saucisson yesterday at my local ShopRite in Flemington. All my best, Phil

Bob, Try the saucisson in the fall/winter, sliced and pan grilled with a good bunch of slow cooked lentille de pouys and a nice bottle of cotes-du-rhone. Phil

Once again, Thanks to all who responded to my request. I will report back, on my return, next week. Phil

Thank you to all who have responded to my query. Neighborhood places are probably better than trying to get into Gary Danko and the like. Thanks, again. Phil

I will be in SF on a Sunday night staying at The Tuscan Inn. I would like to find a NON tourist type restaurant for dinner. Price point-moderate to expensive; Style- I have a very broad palate. Thanks and please e-mail to: wardp@opici.com or message me. Again, thnaks, in advance for your recommendations. Phil

JonB, This has been a trend for over a decade. Its all about the perception of the consumer. Over sized oddly shaped bottle, that doesn't fit the normal bins. But they gather attention when you pick them up and feel the weight, the deep punt, the "cool" label, etc. As for me, just put the wine in the bottle with a high quality cork (no TCA, please), an attractive label and sell it at a fair market price. Phil

Phil, Hi... We are in agreement. I have written (probably 8,321,247 times) that scores are nothing more than two and rarely three digits at the end of a tasting note. Scores are nothing more than a way of summing up the quality of a wine but say nothing whatever about whether one person or another will or will not enjoy a particular wine. As to why "we" (the critics) award scores - simple enough. For many years my scores remained a notation to myself only, a kind of coupe memoire if you like, but were unpublished. Like many critics I began to publish scores only when readers began to demand them. Best, Rogov ← Daniel, Thanks for the response. Having written a monthly wine article for a local NJ/PA USA publication for over a decade, I have never used a score for my wine of the month recommendations. When judging wine competitions, I use the suggested scoring system. In my own notes for wines, I rely on my own star system as a guide to my tasting notes. Thanks, again. Phil

<<Domaine L. Boillot, Pommard, Les Croix Noires, 1999: Deep ruby red, with generous minerals and hints of freshly turned earthy on a medium-bodied background and showing appealing raspberry and cassis flavors, all of which linger nicely on the palate. Drink now-2008. (Re-tasted 19 Nov 2003) >> <<Indeed I did and its omission was simply a typgraphical error. I would long ago have shot the typist except that in most cases, the typist is me!! The score is 91.>> Daniel, with a tasting note like the above, personally, I would not need a score to sway me. IMHO, of course. Phil

Having almost completed the book and having been working in ther wine business since 1985, I find this book to be a very well written history of RP and also the trajectory of American/CA/OR/WA wines on the international stage. Certainly RP/ Pope Parker has had a huge affect on the wine world. Elin does a fine job of being factual and I think pretty honest in this book. Phil

Its the restaurant business and anything can happen. Phil

Geogre Taber says: <<Thanks for buying the book. I'd love to autograph it. I don't know how to work out the logistics. Let me try to figure that out. >> George, As I mentioned I also pre-ordered the book. As we both live in NJ, I would be happy to buy you a glass or two of wine at a mutually convenient restaurant and have you sign my copy. I live in central NJ, between Lambertville and Flemington. Thanks for the offer to sign the book and for posting here, as well. All my best, Phil

Okay, Call me stupid. Who is Zod, please?

Here, Here, I agree this was a fun and educational read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys wine. I dogeared many a page for future reference. Phil

I pre-ordered my copy last week. My book seller says available 9/30. Phil

Freckles, As I sit in sweltering NJ, you may color me totally green with envy of your trip. Phil

Daniel and docsconz, Thanks for the comments and notes. I guess it was just one of "those" bottles. It was not fun and was poured down the drain. Phil

Well, I pulled the last bottle from the cellar and stood it up for about a week. Decanted for an hour. Lo and behold, it reeked of Brett and and a touch of TCA. If I am not mistaken, was this not a controversial vintage for Beaucastel? I remember a long discussion back in my days as an AOL wine board maven that many fellow tasters had problems with this wine. Anyone else had a recent or past experience? Thanks, Phil PS: Glad I have no more left of 89 Beaucastel. I'll stick with Clos des Papes, La Vielle Julienne, Vieux Donjon, etc.

<<2002 Vergelegen Mill race Merlot Cabernet >> About $17.00 per bottle in New Jersey. Phil

Brad, Welcome to the world of Musar!! I have never quite understood the white but I have at least 6 vintages of the red in my cellar that I treat my wife and myself to from time to time. They age beautifully. IMHO, of course. PS: Serge Hochar, owner, is a wonderful and a gentleman and was the fist ever Decanter Magazine Wine Person of the year many years ago. Phil

John L writes: <<I remember a wine "Clos Robert" that was carried by a prestigious store (Morells) here in NY. It was pretty good and cost around ten bucks. It was good for a couple of years then the price rose and the quality fell off. (looking back--I wonder if this was produced by Mondavi given the name "Robert".) >> Nope not RM but Bob Shack a marketer of wines in NYC for Remy Amerique who named it for his then boss, Robert..... It still exists although I have not had it in years. Used to be a good value. Phil

Really Nice, Thanks for the links. It will be nice to read the actual account from Mr. Taber's perspective. Thanks, again. Phil