John Hammond Grammy Nomination

In a recent blog we reviewed Rough & Tough, the latest recording by our good friend John Hammond. We are thrilled that Rough & Tough received the Grammy nomination for Traditional Blues Album of the Year. John last won a Grammy in 1985 and has had several nominations since.



John performed recently at the City Winery in NYC.



City Winery, with its custom wine racks leading down to the subterranean wine cellar is a perfect backdrop for a wine lover like John.



He also sat in for a few songs with The Blind Boys of Alabama. The Blind Boys and John sang 'One Kind Favor', written by Blind Willie Jefferson and the crowd went wild.

A few weeks after the performance at City Winery, we had dinner with John & his wife Marla. We opened a bottle of Obsidian Ridge Cabernet, a big chewy cab that with proper wine cellar storage should age for years to come and also happens to be one of John's favorites.

This wine is a perfect example of why California Cabernet is so sought after. John & Marla share a beautiful duplex loft, and although the space will not accommodate a wine cellar, we are working on a design for a custom wine rack to hold John's favorite wines. Joseph & Curtis Custom Wine Cellars raise their glasses to a good luck toast for a Grammy win on January 31st . Who knows, a custom Grammy rack?

Cheers!

Fontodi Wine Dinner at Italian Wine Merchants

At Joseph and Curtis Custom Wine Cellars one of the luxuries that comes with our business is the ability to try some pretty amazing wines. In doing so we are able to recommend to our clients which wine to stock their wine cellar with. While a lot of attention went to Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2007 last year, for me the highlight of 2009 was the release of the 2006 Super Tuscans.

Sassicaia returned to form with monster grip and concentration, Masseto again comes in as Italy’s number one cult wine, but it might be Flaccianello that stole the spotlight. I actually agree with Wine Spectator in crowning this the wine of the vintage with its 99 Points. I have been fortunate to do many blind tasting with Chris Deas and Italian Wine Merchants, and Flaccianello, along with Bruno Giacosa, are two routine winners.



And ironically, it’s the lower scoring 1999 example that I think may be drinking best. Its always great to see ratings on different wines...but nothing beats the real thing. We love to help our clients build beautiful wine cellars as well as fill them! Here is a great opportunity to taste some amazing wines and great food as well!

Cheers!

FONTODI WINE DINNER
Special Winemaker Dinner with Fontodi Flaccianello
Featuring Giovanni Manetti, a vintage vertical of Flaccianello, and more

Wednesday, February 3, 2010
7:00-10:00 PM
$195.00

Perhaps the most talked about wine of the historic 2006 Tuscan vintage is Flaccianello, but the legendary Super Tuscan wine that delivers the structure and longevity of a classic Brunello, has long been a staple in Italy’s cache of great wines. For this event, Fontodi winemaker, Giovanni Manetti will fly in to lead a vertical of Flaccianello and much more. Experience back vintage Flaccianello (’99,’95, ‘88) including the iconic 2006 release. Fontodi also crafts a highly regarded Chianti Classico that we will pour alongside their flagship Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del Sorbo as well as other cult favorites.

Fontodi Wine Tasting:
Pinot Nero 2006
Syrah 2000
Chianti Classico 2006
Chianti Classico Riserva 1993
Vigna del Sorbo 2006
Flaccianello 2006
Flaccianello 1999
Flaccianello 1995
Flaccianello 1988 (magnum)
Vin Santo 2001

Click here for details.