I am sorry for not answering sooner, but I just discovered this e-mail. My fault. To answer your question, sometimes when you are at a place that makes the wine, it tastes better there. By having it shipped over, all kinds of things can happen to the wine. It's like going to California. When you are having a great time, the wine tastes better, too.   « less

01-23-2007 - Andy, I have tried to search for it on the web without any luck. A couple of questions - which country is it from and how old is the bottle? Victor Gautier & Co. does not come up either on the web. The import company may no longer be in business or have been bought out.   « less

01-23-2007 - Dom Perignon rose is a very rare and special champagne. You did not mention a vintage, so I assume that it is a non-vintage rose. Full-bodied, with excellent depth and richness, it is certainly a wine that can be drunk alone, or with foods that are rich in flavor. So grilled meats with some sort of savory sauce would be perfect. Experiment with duck or game meats. You have a very special bottle, and the fact that you aree celebrating a milestone is awesome. Congrats!   « less

01-23-2007 - I am not familiar with a wine that starts with an "R" so I went to Cakebread's website and did a little research. The wine is called Rubaiyat, and it is an unusual blend of Pinot Noir, Syrah and Zinfandel. The components come from the Carneros region of Napa, the Red Hills district of Lake County and the Anderson Valley in Mendocino. Cakebread dose not say how many cases that they produce, but I would bet that it is very small production and is maybe only available at the winery. For more information, you can visit Cakebread's website at cakebread.com.   « less

01-23-2007 - In Tennessee, all beers with an alcohol level of 6% or more can only be sold in liquor stores. Ashe's has a wide selection of "high-proof" beers from Chimay Ale, Delirium Tremens, Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout, Dogfish Head, Great Divide Brewing Company, Mendocino Brewing Company, Rogue and Old Jock. The beers are distributed through the liquor and wine wholesalers and cannot be sold in the local grocery stores.   « less

01-23-2007 - It is funny that you ask, because I paid $175 at a restaurant the other night for a bottle of the 1985. A good vintage, the wuestion is how it has been stored. If stored properly in a cool, dark place with humidity and temperature control, it could be worth up to $200. BUt, be aware that it is ready to drink now. So, don't wait too much longer.   « less

01-23-2007 - My first thought is that you shouldn't feel out of place for drinking beer while everyone else is having wine. If that's what you like to drink, then I say stick with the beer, particularly if it doesn't upset your stomach. But, if you want to try wine with dinner, start with a light-bodied wine like Riesling or Pinot Grigio. Rieslings are typically lower in alcohol and are soft and delicate, and they are very versital with food. Most Pinot Grigio's tend to be a little drier than Rieslings, and they too work well as a wine to sip on and to serve with several food entrees. Most stores in the area will have a nice selection of both types of wines. And, you can found them for under $10 a piece. Good luck!   « less

01-23-2007 - Well, there used to be be the old standard that red wine went with beef and white wine with fish. Well, with today's lifestyle and choices of wines in the marketplace, that rule is not always right. In fact, instead of the color of the wine, I believe one of the most important things to consider when pairing food and wine is the amount of acidity in both the food and wine. Typically, white wine went with fish because the fish meat had alot of acidity, and a nice white burgundy or sauvignon blanc from Sancerre would complement the acidity in the wine. Another wine to consider with fish is Pinot Noir, once again because of the acidity in the wine complements the fish. A wine with very low acidity will not stand up to dishes with high acidity. The wine will become very flabby and sometimes come across as dull. And, a wine with too much acidity matched with a dish of low acidity will come across as very astringent and not much fruit. So, the next time you consider pairing food and wine, consider the acidity levels in the food and wine.   « less

01-23-2007 - It is now available in Knoxville. We have it at Ashe's!

01-23-2007 - Wow, what a great bottle of champagne! According to Edgerton's 2004 edition of the Wine Price File, which is a compilation of prices at auction and retail stores for most fine wines, a bottle of the 1982 Dom Perignon Cuvee Rose .750ml is worth anywhere from $300 to $325.   « less