TODAY'S TOP NEWS

• Cal wine biz adapts to aging boomers, imports & drought
• Tesco chairman Richard Broadbent under pressure to resign
• NY Part 1: State Hits Empire Wine with Illegally Shipping to Out-of-State Consumers ...
• NY Part 2: ... The Empire Strikes Back
• Aus vintners aim at premium end of US market
• Spec's and Total Wine Battle for Wine Supremacy, Consumers Drink the Benefits
• On-Premise Alc Bev consumption under pressure at bars/clubs
• Expand Your US Distribution - Enter Your Brands In 2015 BTN USA Guide Now! *Sponsored Link*

• French bulk market 'tense' in face of Languedoc shortages
• Aussies waiting for a wine miracle
• Make sure to order harvest bins while the supply lasts *Sponsored Link*

• Financial settlement from BottleRock 2013 proposed
• Fresno State students prepare to release new wines
• Fresno State losing ag dean to Montana
• Best Places to Work 2014: Rack & Riddle Wine Services
• Napa Lot Line Adjustments & Involuntary Mergers
• Changes brew up raisin success for grower Steve Spate
• Make Your Tasting Room Sales Explode (Video) *Sponsored Link*

• Rain, cooler temps expected in California
• Sinking land still a growing problem in SJ Valley
• Sustainability: A History *Sponsored Link*

• How Important are Federal Excise Taxes to the Wine Industry?
• Charity calls for booze ban on planes
• Red wine, wine brands, three-tier
• Virtual Unreality: Just Because the Internet Told You, How Do You Know It’s True? *Sponsored Link*

• Kroger to carry Truett-Hurst's Cola & fruit-flavored wines
• "No one wants Coca-Cola wines"

• 4 “Weak” Digital Marketing Metrics That Should Be Avoided
• How to sell your brand to online retail channels like Vinomofo.com and Lot18.com *Sponsored Link*

• The long, grim struggle for the long-term unemployed
• Wine Business Case Studies:: Thirteen Cases from the Real World of Wine Business Management *Sponsored Link*

• Multiple Personality Disorder Splits WII Publisher's Tweets
• This Is the Best-Selling Wine Book of All Time
• The Tastemakers: Why We're Crazy for Cupcakes but Fed Up with Fondue *Sponsored Link*

• Wine pairing Challenge: Insects as an everyday food source
• Farmers in the desert: the Horse Heaven Hills AVA
• The Pendulum Swings to Premiumization in the Veneto
• Camuto: The Wrath of My Grapes
• Primitivo: A Gentle Giant
• Good Vibrations In Your Wine Glass
• Shadows in the Vineyard: The True Story of the Plot to Poison the World's Greatest Wine *Sponsored Link*

• A couple of drinks? We won't pay, say travel insurers
• Global Wine Tourism *Sponsored Link*

• Beer Packaging Pairs Brew with Corresponding Pantone Shade
• The Art and Design of Contemporary Wine Labels*Sponsored Link*

TODAY'S FEATURED WINE

Grgic Vina: Plavac Mali: Peljesac: : 2008: Croatia

Grgic Vina was founded in Dalmatia in 1995 by Croatia-native Mike Grgich, the founder of Grgich Hills.

This varietal, Plavac Mali, is a cross between Dobricic from the island of Solta and Crljenak Kastelanski, which Grgich says is the original Zinfandel grape.

On Saturday, when first opened, I found this harsh, acidic and bitter. On Sunday, it was better but undistinguished.

Monday, it was delicious! The spice and dark fruit came out whispering reminders of its Zinfandel heritage. Tannins were still aggressive but played well with the rest of the wine.

All in all, it was a delight to discover an entirely novel set of varietals. $36.10 at the winery.

 REVIEW POLICY:

For winery tasting samples, gifts from friends or family or samplings at a party or event, review it truthfully, but only if I like it. If I have paid my own very-hard-earned money on a bottle, the gloves are off and it gets what it deserves ... whether perfect or puerile.