WINE-TORIAL:
MARKETS
& WINE
Last month I attended the analyst presentation
for Constellation Brands (STZ) and a pre-IPO Sidotti presentation for
Truett-Hurst. Two years ago, we were very impressed with the new
management strategy of STZ and put it on our Buy conviction list.
Since then it has doubled. However, while still a sharp management team,
the fact they will become 50% beer and only 50% Wine & Spirits,
clearly does not strike this wine lover’s heart favorably. Others STZ
Upgraded to Strong Buy. While I concede the plan forward may be a
smart financial move, we have downgraded it to “Market Perform” with
intermediate term support at 46 and resistance at 58. Truett-Hurst
has several renowned wine markers advising. They will be concentrating
on the highly profitably private label sector for wines. They are
also exploring numerous marketing gimmicks- paper wine bottles for
picnics, square wine bottles to reduce shelf space etc. Their
initial IPO strategy failed (too expensive, too favorable to insiders
etc.). Truett-Hurst
raises $14.1 million in IPO
started
trading on June 20 - a day the Dow was down 353. Clearly they
should fire their astrologer (or hire one)! Until then, I would
wait and not buy this interesting
wine company.
This
summer the red wines I will be drinking will be mostly Malbec from
Argentina. This is not because I will be barbequing meats but
rather preparing for my trip there September 20-30. More next time.
1. WINE
NEWS & TRENDS
2. WINE & FINANCE
3. WINE 101
4. WINE CALENDAR
5. WINE TASTINGS & EVENTS
6. THIS AND THAT
7. WINE QUIZ
8.
LETTERS
1.
They've
Invented a Twist-Off Wine Cork and Life Will Never Be the SameWine
producers go hi-tech to outsmart fraudsters
Tesco
Redefines Social Drinking With Community-Created Wine
2. Making
Money With Wine Investments
How-much-do-wineries-really-make
Gold
Diverging From Fine Wine as Bullion Investors Lose Faith
3. Wine and
Food: Pairing Without Overthinking
The 18
Noble Grapes Wine Challenge
4.
July
24 Something
to
Wine About: Wine Tasting & Comedy
Sept
20-21
Wine
Riot
New York
5. LE
CERCLE
RIVE DROITE From Barrel to Bottle
I took
pleasure in the jazz accompaniment. French wine does resonate well
with cool jazz.
I most
enjoyed spending time with my favored Chateau
Le Prieure
while discussing vintages:
2009
would “last forever”, while 2010 was “beautiful, charming but
complicated and would also age well;” 2012 was “charming,
simple and arouse you.” Naturally, this later depiction had
most male and female wine lovers rather anxious to taste his 2012
vintages! Not greatly aroused, I preferred his Chateau Vray Croix
de Gay 2010. This despite their info sheet matches it “perfect
with Tasty and sensual cuisine.” Ditto with their Chateau Le Prieure
Grand Cru, a “perfect match with Fine and delicate cuisine”.
Note:
They increased the percentage of Cabernet Franc to 25% from 10% in
the 2010 vintage. [Currently 20%]. The remainder of course is
Merlot.
BURGUNDY
WINE
WEEK 2013
Gabriella Fine Wines Orsay Restaurant - 1057 Lexington Avenue
Again,
Jazz makes French wine taste better!
Of
their Beaujolais, I liked the Saint Amour 2012 Curvee La Crois, while
Irene preferred the Maganese soil enhanced Moulin a Vent 20122 Curve Le
Vieux bourg.
Irene
#2 enjoyed the Sparkling Brut Rose Paul De Coste.
My
favorites were their Nuit Saint George 2007 Seigneurie de Posanges
and of course the Clos de Vougeot 2006 Domaine Sylvain Loichet.
NEW
WINES OF GREECE-
ETERNALLY MODERN
This
time, Susan and I were creatures of habit and decided to stick with the
tried and true.
·
First
Boutari,
perhaps the best known quality Greek brand. Susan’s favorite was
Boutari Moschofilero 2011 a Dry White which can age to 4-5 years.
She said it was “smooth and tasteless.” After my quizzical response, she
added “no after taste”— a reference to her former Greek retsina
days.
·
Very
nice
indeed is Gaia wines, especially their Gaia Estate 2008 Dry red
Agiogitiko $45.
·
My
“Terroir”
favorite: Papagiannakos
(the first winery in Greece declared bioclimatic.) Entry
level Erythmos (90% Agioritiko and 10% Cab) matches well with food
$15 and their Savatiano 2012 (dry white) $15 even their “high end”
Retsina 2012 $12 (no bad aftertaste and pleasant enough).
New
noteworthy Finds:
·
Papaioannou
2006
Old Vines Agiorgiko
·
Zafeirakis
Malagousia
2011
6.
Climate
change study 'exaggerated and full of mistakes': Chapoutier
A
dating site for wine lovers? It's on its way
Sip,
spit: Underage wine students can now taste subject
7. Which country is the only one
whose national anthem begins with an ode to its vines and wines? A
Germany B Luxembourg C Switzerland
D Portugal
Hint: The relevant portion of the
National Anthem is translated: "where the vineyard amply grows along the
Moselle, we make heaven's wine."
Are you a
wine buff? Or just a wine bluffer?
Please fee free to forward our WEINGARTEN newsletter to any and all of
your wine loving friends.\
They are most welcome to subscribe by emailing wine@afund.com and then Vote for My Blog on LocalWineEvents.com!
Cheers
Henry Weingarten
WEINGARTEN
http://www.afund.com/wine Twitter@tafund
Voted in the top 5 blogs (#3 out of
1000+) on Local Wine Events
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">