Decible Pinot Noir `10 $28.00 Live Blog Red #WBC12

New Zealand Martinborough.  Daniel is from Philly but moved to NZ.  This is a Pinot with an undertone of minerality.  I may be imagining this as I think of NZ, but it is very interesting, and has a great flavor.  This is a 100 case wine, so seriously, buy it and talk about it.  It is Distributed in NY, so if you see it, snap some up, and talk about it while you eat mushroom risotto, or go out to eat and order a bottle.  This wine is in a lot of restaurants in PA.  Try it, you'll like it.

Book Review: Unquenchable by Natalie Maclean ****

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Quest for the World's Best Bargain Wines is a multi-layered adventure into wine production, history & consumption wrapped in a narrative on the pure joy of living.  In Unquenchable, Natalie takes you along on visits, meals and tastings at vineyards in Australia, Germany, New York, South Africa, Argentina, Portugal and France.

Unquenchable is well organized & referenced, and gives you so many tips that it is part Travel Magazine, Wine Lesson, Pairing Guide AND Biography.  It is the book behind the blog, and as I see it, the future of wine publishing:  a great read with links to more in-depth information on the web.  NatalieMaclean.com may just be my own personal hero.  She demystifies the industry and makes wine an accessible part of everyday life. (and gives us literary references... seriously, no one has ever recommended that I read The Egoist by George Meredith. It is a great book!)

Natalie writes like a good friend who also happens to be a wine expert. Don't let the blond tipsy persona mislead you, she is the total package (or should I say, don't discount this full case of premier cru in a Trader Joe's box). To quote her bio, Natalie is: "An accredited sommelier, she is a member of the National Capital Sommelier Guild, the Wine Writers Circle and several French wine societies with complicated and impressive names".

We travel with Natalie around the globe, through the days of the week from unsung wine region to wine region, sip by sip: "I didn't "forget" to spit; I meant to drink it all". With every turn of the page, you'll be entertained, and you'll learn something.

Unquenchable introduces us to the people who produce what should be our daily tipple. JJ Prüm's fourth generation winemaker Katharina Prüm said it better than I ever could  "... the industry collects people who love life".  Unquenchable shares that love of life with us.  Thank you Natalie.  (Now I am off to re-stock the wine-rack with your "Best Value Wine Tips")