Blog | The Chalk Report

CATCHING UP WITH ROBIN LAIL -- FOUNDER, LAIL VINEYARDS

andychalk

Apr 23, 20193 min read

CATCHING UP WITH ROBIN LAIL -- FOUNDER, LAIL VINEYARDS

Big environmental changes plus two 100 point wines. by Andrew Chalk Robin Lail, founder of prestige Napa winery, Lail Vineyards, was in...

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TUKTA THAI - CAREFUL COOKING, BYOB, AND NO PRETENSE.

andychalk

Apr 21, 20192 min read

TUKTA THAI - CAREFUL COOKING, BYOB, AND NO PRETENSE.

by Andrew Chalk I’m currently exploring restaurants in the quadrant of Dallas that you might loosely call ‘northeast’ (roughly I-30 in...

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WINE REVIEW: 2015 Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA ($46)

andychalk

Apr 20, 20191 min read

WINE REVIEW: 2015 Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA ($46)

by Andrew Chalk Ruby color with medium intensity. In the nose raspberry, blackberry, and cassis underlaid with cedar and notes of forest...

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A FORENSIC TASTING OF TEQUILA WITH THE CREATOR OF CASA NOBLE

andychalk

Apr 20, 20195 min read

A FORENSIC TASTING OF TEQUILA WITH THE CREATOR OF CASA NOBLE

by Andrew Chalk I met Jose “Pepe” Hermosillo, founder of Casa Noble Tequila, for lunch recently. He founded Casa Noble in 1993 (first...

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WINE REVIEW: 2017 Ferraris Ruchè Di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG “Clàsic” ($18)

andychalk

Apr 17, 20191 min read

WINE REVIEW: 2017 Ferraris Ruchè Di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG “Clàsic” ($18)

by Andrew Chalk This is the kind of wine that could only come from Italy. The nose contains violets, raspberries, and spices. The...

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SLO COAST WINE COLLECTIVE UNVEILS NEW NAME, LOOK AND WEB SITE

andychalk

Apr 17, 20192 min read

SLO COAST WINE COLLECTIVE UNVEILS NEW NAME, LOOK AND WEB SITE

Media Release... San Luis Obispo, CA: The San Luis Obispo (SLO) Coast Wine Collective—formerly SLO Wine Country—today announced the...

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WINE REVIEW: Ferrari Brut, ‘Metodo Classico’ Trento DOC, Italy ($25)

andychalk

Apr 17, 20191 min read

WINE REVIEW: Ferrari Brut, ‘Metodo Classico’ Trento DOC, Italy ($25)

by Andrew Chalk This is not a Prosecco. Rather, it is an Italian wine produced using the same technique used in Champagne. That used to...

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WHY MIONETTO IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROSECCO PRODUCERS

andychalk

Apr 16, 20192 min read

WHY MIONETTO IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PROSECCO PRODUCERS

by Andrew Chalk They may not be able to spell, but Mionetto has a wider range of Prosecco products than most producers. I just tasted the...

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BEFORE YOU RELEASE A MILLION DOLLAR, PROFESSIONALLY PRODUCED PROMOTIONAL VIDEO...CHECK THE SPELLING

andychalk

Apr 16, 20191 min read

BEFORE YOU RELEASE A MILLION DOLLAR, PROFESSIONALLY PRODUCED PROMOTIONAL VIDEO...CHECK THE SPELLING

by Andrew Chalk Check this out before it's pulled. Mionetto, one of my favorite Prosecco producers, has a slick, professionally produced,...

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LOCKED AND LOADED: CHALONE PREPARES TO RE-JOIN THE CALIFORNIA WINE ELITE

andychalk

Apr 15, 20195 min read

LOCKED AND LOADED: CHALONE PREPARES TO RE-JOIN THE CALIFORNIA WINE ELITE

by Andrew Chalk This year, storied winery Chalone Vineyards will release wines that it hopes will be the best in a quarter of a century....

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WINE REVIEW: 2017 Georges du Boeuf, Merlot. Pays d’Oc IGP, France ($12)

andychalk

Apr 15, 20191 min read

WINE REVIEW: 2017 Georges du Boeuf, Merlot. Pays d’Oc IGP, France ($12)

by Andrew Chalk World famous winemaker Georges du Boeuf of Beaujolais treads further afield with a line of varietal wines from the south...

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WINE REVIEW: 2015 Château Vessière, AOP Costières de Nîmes, France ($9)

andychalk

Apr 11, 20191 min read

WINE REVIEW: 2015 Château Vessière, AOP Costières de Nîmes, France ($9)

by Andrew Chalk A blend of 50% Syrah and 50% Grenache (the Syrah is named Shiraz in a misguided attempt to sound cool). From the tart...

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andychalk

Apr 10, 20194 min read

A LONG WEEKEND IN ELKHART LAKE

by Andrew Chalk Fancy getting away from it all? In winter or summer the town of Elkhart Lake, deep in the heart of Wisconsin, offers...

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Sevy's Grill: Lail Vineyards Wine and Food Dinner

andychalk

Apr 9, 20191 min read

Sevy's Grill: Lail Vineyards Wine and Food Dinner

Tuesday, April 23, 2019 6:30 PM 9:00 PM Google Calendar ICS On Tuesday, April 23rd we are so honored to host a very special dinner with...

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WINE REVIEW: THE SECRET CAKEBREAD. ZIATA IS A LABEL TO LOOK FOR

andychalk

Apr 9, 20193 min read

WINE REVIEW: THE SECRET CAKEBREAD. ZIATA IS A LABEL TO LOOK FOR

by Andrew Chalk Heard of ZIATA Wines? Me neither. But the founder and owner’s identity, Karen Cakebread, contains a household name. She...

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andychalk

Apr 8, 20191 min read

Slated! Santa Barbara Vintners Festival

WHEN & WHERE: Slated for May 4th 2019 at Rancho Sisquoc Winery, 1-4PM (VIP access begins at noon) WHAT: This festival gives novice and...

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WINE REVIEW: 2014 DAOU Cabernet Franc, 'Estate Grown', Adelaida District, Paso Robles, CA ($95)

andychalk

Apr 7, 20191 min read

WINE REVIEW: 2014 DAOU Cabernet Franc, 'Estate Grown', Adelaida District, Paso Robles, CA ($95)

by Andrew Chalk This impressive wine excels in all the categories. The appearance is deep ruby with hints of violet. The color intensity...

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WINE REVIEW: 2016 Long Meadow Ranch, Chardonnay, Anderson Valley, Monterey County, CA ($42)

andychalk

Apr 5, 20191 min read

WINE REVIEW: 2016 Long Meadow Ranch, Chardonnay, Anderson Valley, Monterey County, CA ($42)

by Andrew Chalk Anderson Valley is one the coolest regions in California, making it an excellent place to make Chardonnay in a style...

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WINE REVIEW: 2016 Papapietro Perry Pinot Noir, 'Peters Vineyard', Russian River Valley, CA ($55)

andychalk

Apr 5, 20191 min read

WINE REVIEW: 2016 Papapietro Perry Pinot Noir, 'Peters Vineyard', Russian River Valley, CA ($55)

by Andrew Chalk Only 928 cases of this wine produced by this small winery in Dry Creek Valley. Aged in François Fréres French oak. One...

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andychalk

Apr 5, 20196 min read

UPDATE ON LODI WINES!

by Andrew Chalk The California wine region of Lodi is one of the most energetic in promoting its wines. That is little surprise in that...

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WINE REVIEW: 2016 Casa das Hortas 'Portal das Hortas', Vinho Verde DOC, Portugal ($5)

andychalk

Apr 4, 20191 min read

WINE REVIEW: 2016 Casa das Hortas 'Portal das Hortas', Vinho Verde DOC, Portugal ($5)

by Andrew Chalk Crisp, fruity, inexpensive Portuguese white wine that is great for quaffing on summer days (its original raison d'être)...

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Jordan Winery Debuts 2015 Vintage Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon

with Exclusive Dallas Release Party

andychalk

Apr 4, 20191 min read

Jordan Winery Debuts 2015 Vintage Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon with Exclusive Dallas Release Party

Taste history in Dallas as the iconic winery unveils the first vintage of Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon aged entirely in French oak with an...

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THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF FINE CHINA: AN ATTEMPT AT HIGH-END CHINESE CUISINE

andychalk

Apr 1, 20194 min read

THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF FINE CHINA: AN ATTEMPT AT HIGH-END CHINESE CUISINE

by Andrew Chalk When I heard that high end Chinese cuisine was coming to downtown Dallas my first reaction was surprise, and then...

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WINE REVIEW: 2015 Sosie Pinot Noir, Spring Hill Vineyard, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, CA ($43)

andychalk

Mar 30, 20191 min read

WINE REVIEW: 2015 Sosie Pinot Noir, Spring Hill Vineyard, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, CA ($43)

by Andrew Chalk Fruit-forward and ripe, Sosie Wines likable example of the grape that is up front in California characteristics of...

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