tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post3898672895252784595..comments2024-03-22T00:35:12.415-07:00Comments on HoseMaster of Wine™: MacLaren Wine Company: Steve Law, and Order Ron Washam, HMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-13994820984154025402013-04-10T08:17:30.038-07:002013-04-10T08:17:30.038-07:00Rogue Baby,
I've missed your Voice. Nice to se...Rogue Baby,<br />I've missed your Voice. Nice to see you here.<br /><br />I've had several Shane wines, but not the one you mention. He's a damn good winemaker--he's now the winemaker at Lynmar Estate after all those years assisting at Kosta Browne. (I'm hoping Google Alert kicks in and he offers to send me samples...)<br /><br />Yes, MacLaren is direct in NorCal. Contact Steve Law via his website, or shoot me a PM and I'll introduce you to him. Even better, come up here and you and I will go taste with him! Anyhow, the wines are as good as I said, and the prices are more than reasonable given their quality and provenance.<br /><br />Glad to hear about the new gig--I guess. Congratulations! But don't stop visiting here. I get lonely.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-25527638669953118512013-04-09T19:35:14.469-07:002013-04-09T19:35:14.469-07:00Have you had the Shane syrahs yet? "the unkno...Have you had the Shane syrahs yet? "the unknown" came by this morning, damn derriscious. I love a well made syrah.<br />Is MacLaren direct in no.cal? Setting up a new wine list now...new gigRogue Winohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10963991830248344293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-73846659438671995812013-04-09T19:15:16.080-07:002013-04-09T19:15:16.080-07:00A scholarship to send someone to a self-serving co...A scholarship to send someone to a self-serving conference--it's incredible, and I still can't find my checkbook.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-27781092421288069102013-04-09T18:37:26.159-07:002013-04-09T18:37:26.159-07:00Thomas,
I'm donating to the welfare of the Win...Thomas,<br />I'm donating to the welfare of the Wine Bloggers Conference by not showing up. Though I could probably start a fund to pay me to not show up, I decided to fund the cost of not showing up out of my own pocket!<br /><br />I know, I give, I give, I give...<br /><br />My Gorgeous Samantha,<br />Hey, after I buy you, I figured I'd leave you with a fifth...Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-81680710839436416272013-04-09T17:35:12.100-07:002013-04-09T17:35:12.100-07:00Ron My Love,
Dammit, now I can't help but wond...Ron My Love,<br />Dammit, now I can't help but wonder which 20% you'd have me keep...<br /><br />Thomas,<br />I saw that over on Tom's blog, (well he posted a link on Facebook this morning) and simply told him that we wine bloggers, we are beyond help. Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-7158720338402183092013-04-09T13:59:51.050-07:002013-04-09T13:59:51.050-07:00Ron,
I'm going to have to reneg on buying tha...Ron,<br /><br />I'm going to have to reneg on buying that Samantha vineyard. <br /><br />Just got a call to donate to the Wine Bloggers Conference Scholarship so that some poor blogger/s can attend.<br /><br />Where the hell is that checkbook???Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-78291907122580814252013-04-09T08:46:18.319-07:002013-04-09T08:46:18.319-07:00Marcia Love,
Frustrating when this interwebby stuf...Marcia Love,<br />Frustrating when this interwebby stuff doesn't work right. Stuff just disappears into the Cloud. I'm sure it was a brilliant comment that scientists may one day uncover, and then you will be worshiped and revered. Like I am now.<br /><br />Gabe,<br />I think that's seven points too high.<br /><br />My Gorgeous Girl,<br />Thank you, Baby. When I read my wine reviews I kind of cringe because I can hear myself struggling to be articulate about tastes and impressions and textures we just really don't have the words for. I think I'm trying to create some kind of feel for the wines, reference points that might resonate, but even that's beyond my skills. However, it's fun to struggle with it, to force myself to describe the pleasures that a good bottle of wine delivers, and try to communicate something of the wine's style and what it has to say to the poor suffering fools who read my nonsense. And, My Sweet Love, I do have to say that when you talk about wine, the way you relate to it, the insights that overflow from your work, well, you make me look like a piker.<br /><br />As for you, well, who believes expiration dates? I like 'em ripe. However, if you're having a sale, I can't imagine anything sexier than you with 80% off.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-58838267181960757332013-04-09T08:32:10.347-07:002013-04-09T08:32:10.347-07:00Ron My Love,
I can say with all honesty, that I ca...Ron My Love,<br />I can say with all honesty, that I can't think of anyone's tasting notes I'd rather read than yours. You have this brilliant balance of wit, passion and confidence that seems, to me anyway, to march across the screen that leave me feeling like I'm being happily twisted around your finger. Damn fine work Love. As for my price, as I grow dangerously close to my expiration date I feel as if a blow out sale might be in order...you know, just to move the product before it starts to lose its freshness, but the truth is my heart responds to a cool glass of white wine, a few slices of cured meat, a gooey hunk of perfectly salty cheese and a smooth toned voice saying things like, "How's my gorgeous girl?"...cheap date right? I love you! Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-88581274539462147832013-04-08T21:18:49.492-07:002013-04-08T21:18:49.492-07:00i'm 844,932 points on that!i'm 844,932 points on that!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13849290999060380035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-66315358027051978172013-04-08T18:42:34.148-07:002013-04-08T18:42:34.148-07:00Well, this is a first. I 'posted' a nice s...Well, this is a first. I 'posted' a nice semi-witty reply about six hours ago. Damned if I remember what the bleep I said, but it seems Gmail has completely failed this time and not posted my comments.<br /><br />Nevertheless, loved the review of MacLaren. Now I will seek it out. Love a good Syrah. No million point scale necessary for me! I'd rather read what you have to say...Marcia Macomberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07237764449953259939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-59533218786311906652013-04-08T18:22:29.297-07:002013-04-08T18:22:29.297-07:00Thomas,
Yeah, I sort of figured that. Next time I&...Thomas,<br />Yeah, I sort of figured that. Next time I'll put the price in the body of the piece, though it will cut back the number of comments. Samantha's is a very nice, very steeply terraced, old vineyard. It just looks like a great Syrah spot, and seems to be. NBut it's not for sale, like all things Samantha.<br /><br />Gabe,<br />Of course, the word "bargain" is relative. From the point of view of a terrific wine from a classic variety that compares to many of the best wines in its category that are twice its price, it's a bargain. Semantics, gotta love 'em.<br /><br />I created the Million Point Scale on a very early incarnation of HoseMaster--the theory being that you'll never taste a million wines in your lifetime so you can assign every wine you taste its own unique number. No more of those pesky 89's that take up seven pages in every issue of Wine Spectator. And the scale begins at 1, not 500,000. I've had some orange wines that rated about 11, with the labels getting 10 of the points. And, honestly, the scores look amazing on shelf talkers! What's a 95 compared to 675,986? <br /><br />I once heard a guy give a number to a wine in a tasting room. I thanked him for his opinion and then rated his wife 84, which was generous considering the off aromas.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-25325124835979319732013-04-08T17:49:46.424-07:002013-04-08T17:49:46.424-07:00Really enjoyed the wine review, especially the lov...Really enjoyed the wine review, especially the love story about syrah. i do have to say that a $40 bottle does not seem inexpensive to me; not sure if it's because I'm outside of California or if it's just because I'm young and broke. But anything more than $20 loses any chance at the value category in my book.<br /> I loved the idea of the million point scale. Today we were talking about how funny it would be to walk into a tasting room and just start spitting out numbers to the people pouring wine for you. "nice pinot gris, i'm gonna give you guys 88-points on this". you would probably get some sort of douchebag award from the winery.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13849290999060380035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-57834586035397832852013-04-08T14:26:53.706-07:002013-04-08T14:26:53.706-07:00Ron,
No, I meant the price of the vineyard...
It...Ron,<br /><br />No, I meant the price of the vineyard...<br /><br />It's a weird thing, but I hate lists so much that I usually don't read them--and so, I didn't read the list.<br /><br />I know, I know.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-17361777777748156502013-04-08T12:06:50.495-07:002013-04-08T12:06:50.495-07:00Daniel,
Your scale makes as much sense as any othe...Daniel,<br />Your scale makes as much sense as any other. I've never liked numbers with wines, but we all do have internal responses to wines, rate them on some personal scale, but I'd rather just talk about them. That's what's fun about wine for me.<br /><br />Thomas,<br />Sure, you get the really stupid Gomer Pyle reference, but can't find the price of Samantha's at the top of the page--$38. Unless you mean My Gorgeous Samantha, who is priceless.<br /><br />Steve,<br />Thanks, and thanks for the wines. I think you'd be wise to have a Gruner in your portfolio just to serve at winemaker dinners. Gruner tastes good with winemaker, especially one that's been spit-roasted. Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-86815591903148124162013-04-08T11:01:04.384-07:002013-04-08T11:01:04.384-07:00Drouthy Hosemaster,
I appreciate you taking the ti...Drouthy Hosemaster,<br />I appreciate you taking the time to put into words, the thoughts and memories that drinking my Syrahs conjured up. Reading them makes the death wish feel worth it. It is a terrible affliction to be as passionate about a single varietal, especially when you look at it from a Sales perspective. However, I have been thinking of adding a tasty Gruner or a drinkable Orange wine to flesh out my sales portfolio. That should do it…<br /> As to which wines cannot be enjoyed alone or with Neebors… the two wines above would certainly fit that bill.<br />Your Neebor,<br />Steve<br />Drouthy Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16354475481570894985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-46037716695273584452013-04-08T10:29:07.711-07:002013-04-08T10:29:07.711-07:00that's pronounced weens, but it should be wine...that's pronounced weens, but it should be wines.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-37461830910384136112013-04-08T10:28:41.983-07:002013-04-08T10:28:41.983-07:00I got the Neebors reference, but you knew that i w...I got the Neebors reference, but you knew that i would.<br /><br />The prices you lit really do look good relative to your impressions of the wiens. What's the Samantha's Vineyard price?<br /><br />Incidentally, I once had a wine alone that I didn't enjoy and so I had it with friends that I didn't enjoy and that made the wine much better.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-54290920347206788902013-04-08T09:35:20.565-07:002013-04-08T09:35:20.565-07:00Master Hose,
If you had given these wines a score ...Master Hose,<br />If you had given these wines a score (91! 93! 96! or the dreaded 89+!), I would have allowed them to fade from my memory, or any desire to drink them.<br />Somehow you managed to write as if you were actually talking to a friend about why you love these wines, and that makes me actually consider drinking California wine like these. Up in the PNW, and working for an importer, I rarely drink anything I don't sell or am forced to drink where a restaurant is all about 'local'...<br /><br />I think wine should be rated as such:<br />(from worst to first)<br />I wouldn't clean my car’s engine with it<br />I’d drink it as a bet<br />I’d drink it if there was no other wine<br />I’d drink it quickly and hope the alcohol kills my taste buds (like Bud)<br />I’ll drink a few glasses<br />I’ll drink a bottle<br />I’ll buy some bottles and lay them down<br />I want cases in my cellar<br />I want a barrel of my own<br />I want to buy the vineyard<br />Naturally, most wines we really like will fall into the middle somewhere, but every once in a while…<br />Happy Monday!<br />d<br /><br />Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947624477553194151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-5981078389854438522013-04-08T08:59:25.932-07:002013-04-08T08:59:25.932-07:00Puff Daddy,
I always think about the Million Point...Puff Daddy,<br />I always think about the Million Point Scale when I write these self-indulgent winery reviews. Maybe you're right, maybe I should bring it back. I always loved writing, "543,219+ --I may have underestimated it." <br /><br />The comedy comes easy to me, but the wine essays are far more challenging. To make them interesting, first of all (and I'm still working on that...obviously), and also to write about wine in a way that more accurately reflects, in my opinion, how we really talk about wine. <br /><br />And, aside from that, it's this kind of piece that keeps me at HoseMaster. Cranking out satire is not much of a challenge for me, and, therefore, doing it all the time feels thankless and tiresome. I make others laugh, but only rarely do I make myself laugh. So, there you have it, I review wines because, clearly, it's laughable.<br /><br />And, beyond that, MacLaren makes damned fine Syrah.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-87406510225202912172013-04-08T08:42:10.672-07:002013-04-08T08:42:10.672-07:00I have wondered about this idea--the Hosemaster as...I have wondered about this idea--the Hosemaster as wine reviewer, and not really loved it.<br /><br />But, this latest is proof that you can do it and still be the Hosemaster and not some latter day version of Robert Finigan with verbal diarrhea or George Carlin getting lost in a vineyard and not knowing how to find his way out.<br /><br />I would prefer that there be some form of qualitative rating to accompany all this brilliant work, but every since you gave up on the very promising million-point system, you have been pretty adamant that you don't like ratings anymore.<br /><br />Your love of St. Jospeh makes me want to go to church--or to take more aspirin.Charlie Olkenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02513782687786106137noreply@blogger.com