A Curious Sight On Irving Place

An abandoned, half-finished glass of wine, on a stoop, in the middle of the day.

It's nice to see Mad Men infiltrating daily life. Who says the two martini lunch is dead?

How A Piece About Bordeaux Speaks To A Larger Issue In Journalism

A few days ago The New York Times ran this piece about Bordeaux, and how it's supposedly falling out of favor with young wine drinkers. A few of my friends forwarded me the piece, and wondered what I thought of it.

After an obligatory eye roll, I can tell you exactly what I think of it: I think it's nonsense. More importantly, it's yet another splashy headline aimed at getting clicks and forwards, the currency of attracting online advertisers. This is key, especially when discussing a news organization in the red as much as the Times.

Let's get back to the wine. The article submits that young wine drinkers are abandoning Bordeaux for other French wines, namely because Bordeaux is so expensive. Other wines, such as those from the Loire region and Beaujolais, are less expensive, but they also don't taste the same. Bordeaux is known for being full bodied and complex, and for a lot of people that's exactly what they want with dinner. Other times, though, you may want something lighter, which is when maybe something from the Bandol region might be nice.

To say that Bordeaux is falling out of favor is ridiculous. To hear it coming from a food writer is even more perplexing. Yes, Bordeaux is expensive. So are BMWs, and there are reasons for that. If you want a cheap wine, try a gallon of Yellow Tail, but if you want something that goes well with a steak dinner, a cheapo is not going to cut it. Brodeaux is also not as outrageously priced as the piece might lead you to believe. Chateau D'Arcins has a wonderful 2005 Bordeaux that you can pick up anywhere for less than $25. Chateau Puy-Blanquet, which I often send to clients, also has a 2005 Grand Cru that retails for about $30.

Wines are, ultimately, a flavor. Some you will like, others not so much. I don't like pistachio ice cream, but I wouldn't tell someone not to eat it or that it's not fashionable. The wines of France are a varied bunch, and worth exploring on every level. To compare them as one lump group is doing them a disfavor. Perhaps this writer might consider putting down his Trader Joe's Two Buck Chuck and try some new things.

I have a student in my class right now, a former quant, who often talks about his frustration with the media and how they report financial issues. He also laments sensational headlines that don't really explain the problems clearly, that often treat bankers and traders as, in his words, "mad scientists in a backroom." As someone who put together the formulas that moved our markets, he hopes to write about it with an expert's perspective.

Overall, maybe that's the problem. Maybe the issue these days is not only are news outlets competing for eyeballs on the web -- hence the crazy headlines -- but some journalists simply don't have the background to write intelligently about their beats. There's been a lot of turnover in the industry lately. Someone who was writing about entertainment a year ago might take a business writing gig to pay the bills, knowing nothing about the markets. Everyone needs to make a living. Maybe this Bordeaux piece is just symptomatic of a larger issue across the field.

2005 St. Emilion Wine Tasting

Gary V. is a man after my own heart with his bit about 2005 St. Emilions today. Video below highlights two great ones and one dud. (?!?!)

I also love that he gives a shout out to Chateau Puy Blanquet. I have sent their bottles to clients and I think they've got great 2005s. If I can get my hands on one I also often bring them to parties, if only so that I can sit in a corner and drink it myself.

My Priorities, Always In Order

This is the Bordeaux in question. Totally worth going out in the snow to get it. One of the best I've had in a while.

Agenda, originally uploaded by La Pauline.

In About A Week Or So I Can Return To My Regularly Scheduled Bordeaux Consumption

, originally uploaded by La Pauline.

Feel free to send a case or so. Preferably a 2005, St. Emilion, Grand Cru or better.

Things To Do -- At The Alliance Francaise!

1. The Alliance Francaise is starting up again their monthly wine tastings. If you've never been to these you are missing out. I'll be skipping out this winter/spring, since pregnant women drinking wine is frowned upon in this country. But you should go!

2. If wine isn't your thing, (?!?!) then check out the talks FIAF is having with fashion designers such as Donna Karan and Diane Von Furstenburg.

Bonne chance!

Good Times At The Alliance Francaise

If you like wine and want to learn more about it, your first stop should be the Alliance Francaise. They have all sorts of wine events, and tonight there was a large party in honor of a new crop of Beaujolais. It was crowded and loud and felt a little bit like a frat party for wine. I waited in line for a long time for some cheese. But overall it was a very good time. Stay tuned for the monthly wine tastings in the winter. They're not for the casual bouveuse.

Charlie Rose was a guest of honor (?!?!) and was inducted into some ancient Order of Beaujolais. I kid you not.


I have to offer a grande j'excuse to the ladies at the Trois Petits Couchons table. I know I loitered a lot, but only because the pate was so good! (And again, it was nearly impossible to get to the cheese table.) I am totally ordering some for Thanksgiving.

Also: The big winner in wine tonight was Laboure-Roi, who had a light, but still peppery Beaujolais that I couldn't get enough of. It got to a point where the winery owner knew my name, and gave me a card so I could order a case or so for the house. Methinks he was trying to distract me from emptying the small supply they'd brought to the party.

A Perfect Night On Planet Pauline

Four deals are closing up this week, which means that I have some time to still for a bit. In honor of free time, yesterday I strolled over to the local wine shoppe and picked up a bottle of a 2005 St. Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux. This stuff is amazing and goes does like butter.


All that work left me hungry, so I picked up a burger at La Bonbonierre, an old diner on Eighth Avenue. You'd be amazed at how well burgers and Bordeaux go together.

Finally, I needed entertainment. On Animal Planet there was an amazing show about baby cheetahs. It's a fascinating show about repopulating the worldwide cheetah population. Go learn something,

Alternate entertainment: Clueless.

...and that's how you have a perfect evening at home, a la Pauline!

I have few vices, but one thing I love are French wines. Lucky for me the Alliance Francaise has been hosting monthly wine tastings, in which they tackle a different region of France every month. Last month it was Bordeaux, a few days ago it was the Loire Valley. Next month is Provence, which mean I have some Neuf Du Pape in my futre. June is capped off with Champagne, naturally.

I'm very passionate about wine, but it has to be good wine. I've talked about my frustrations with Yellow Tail already, but I don't understand why, when there's so much good wine out there, why people conitnue to drink the crap? It's like living on a diet of Little Debbie Cakes and YooHoo. Yes, it's cheap and will temporarily sate you, but a banana and a ham and cheese would be a much better experience.

Drink some good wine tonight!

I know I've Reblogged Gary Vaynerchuck's Wine Library episodes before, but today's installment is about 2004 Bordeaux. We all know how much I love Bordeaux -- I was even at a tasting at the Alliance Francaise last week -- and I need to spread the Bordeaux gospel more. If it stops just one person from drinking Yellowtail, my work will be done.

As usual, Gary explains the wine well and why everyone is so ga-ga about it.

Because I like wine as much as I do, I was recently turned on to Gary Vaynerchuck's Wine Library video blog.

Today I found this video of Gary comparing the web 2.0 craze that is going on now with the rise of hip hop in 1985. I think he's spot on. Also, he looks a lot like my brother Robert.

It is not an exageration to say that English was not the only language spoken in my house growing up. My mother, native to Belarus, spoke Russian with my grandmother as well as German with other relatives. Both my parents spoke French and did business in France. We even had a French au pair of sorts named Fon Fon (a diminutive form of Francoise) who would watch my two brothers and I.

That said, I've always identified with the French language. With a name like Pauline Madoule Millard, it's kind of crime not to speak the language. I started learning French in an after school program in fifth grade and followed it straight through college. I even took the French AP exam and did quite well on it, thanks to a teacher named Nola who was a stickler for grammer.

Outside of school, and France, it can be hard to find other people who speak French. Luckily in New York there is the Alliance Francaise. I recently joined and spent this past evening at a mixer, sipping a sweet Beaujolais and babbling in French. It's easy to babble en fracais after a few glasses of wine.

What I learned: I am a lot better at French than I realized and that there are a lot of people who love to speak French, even if they don't have to. (English was allowed at the party, but no one used it.) In a few weeks there is a Bordeaux tasting, and you know I'll be there. Should I be concerned that good wine is my motivating factor to leave the house?

Bringing A Bottle: We Can All Improve

I Need a Drink, originally uploaded by mayotic.

Holiday hangovers are an occupational hazard of being social, but after doing a little research this weekend I've come to realize that what you're drinking is going to have a profound affect on how you feel the next day. The farther on the spectrum your booze is from, say, ether, the better you are going to feel.

As civilized adults, we know that we do not come to a party empty-handed, especially during the holidays. Someone has cleaned their home and invited you in to have your way with it. The least you can do is bring something acceptable to add to the arsenal.

This weekend I spent part of a party with another guy picking through the assorted bottles that had been brought to a party. True, everyone brought one, but the selections of red wine left a lot to be desired. While California wines can be great, you can't just pick one based on the label or because it was less than $10. Remember, the host is going to put out good stuff in the beginning, but sooner or later you're going to have to drink the crap you brought.

That said, put down the Yellow Tail and try, perhaps, a nice Bordeaux. I recommend anything by Chateu D'Arcins or Châteauneuf-du-Pape. If you insist on being trendy, an Argentinian Malbec, circa 2003 maybe, is always a good choice. I have also been known to like an Italian Super Tuscan. If you're really stumped, grab a bottle of chilled Veuve Cliquot and you're golden.


One Does Not Bring to a Party:
Georgi Vodka
Boxed wine
Wine that comes in a bottle so large it could be considered a jug.
Beer that comes in bottles larger than 8 ounces. (I'm looking at you, 40 ounce.)
Champagne that is from anywhere other than France.
Champagne that is warm
A Pucker product


For Camp Value, The Following Items Are Always Welcome:
Wine coolers, especially Bartles & James
Malibu
Pabst Blue Ribbon

...and to all a good night!

Gratuitous Vineyard Shot

Because who doesn't like a shot of a nice gal in a flowered sundress in the middle of a vineyard? A communist, that's who.

Mission Accomplished: The Dirty 30 Weekend

Long Island - Mattituck: Macari Vineyards, originally uploaded by wallyg.

The Dirty 30 Weekend was far too much fun. Photos and a recap to come, soonest.

In the meantime, please enjoy Friday's Pauline's Web Picks column.