WINE: Introducing Inspector Vino

The way some people talk, you’d think that here in California, sommeliers come straight from the womb spouting phrases like ‘earthy undertones’, ‘velvety nose’ and, ‘plumy veneer’. Considering the spectrum of state-grown wines we have at our disposal, it’s not an entirely unfair expectation. Californians have access to some pretty spectacular vino. From Napa to Paso Robles to Temecula (Yes, Temecula. Hush.), there are some very talented people doing magical things to the humble grape.

My own experience with wine is limited. I like wine. It is, in fact, my drink of choice at dinner. And I have a few vintages that I routinely purchase because they made such lovely first impressions (J. Lohr’s 2004 Seven Oaks Cabernet comes to mind). But how did I know to buy them in the first place?

Enter in a man you all will come to know simply as Inspector Vino. The Inspector is a friend of mine who travels the wine world both with his mind and his body. He makes me routinely envious with his various exploits into northern wine country and plays papa to a wine cellar of prodigious dimensions. He’s also incredibly organized and has created the most comprehensive wine database of vintages, owned and to-be-bought, with wine scores and peak dates, that I have ever seen. Ok, it’s the only wine database I’ve ever seen. But trust me, it’s no less impressive.


The Inspector has generously agreed to write a biweekly column for tableauvivante called "Notes from a Wine Detective". In his column, he’ll review some local shops and his purchases and provide a little insight into the mad mad world of California wines. In fact, I think I’ll let the Inspector handle the intro…Inspector?
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Thank you, Ms. Vivante.

So I'm chatting with Ms. Vivante about her recent successes when she off-handedly remarks, "You could be my wine guy."

My first reaction? Oh, that'd be swell. For a moment I see myself wearing a red velvet smoking jacket, lounging in an overstuffed leather chair pointed at a webcam, basking in the bandwith while swirling a glass of Bordeaux and bloviating endlessly about the nose of lead pencil, crushed seashells and truffled earth. But only for a moment.

That image is quickly replaced by one of Ferris Bueller sitting on the edge of his bed tootling into a clarinet. As a cacophony of misformed notes ensues, he looks into the camera with all apparent seriousness and says, "Never had one lesson!"

That's me. Home schooled. Oenology, the play at home version. My viticultural investigations have been not so much CSI: Napa as they are elementary, Watson. Still, they have revealed some bottled treasures and there's nothing an enthusiast enjoys more than sharing their newfound joie de vin, as it were.

And so...Inspector Vino was born.

In the weeks to follow, I hope to share some of my delicious discoveries while at the same time taking you along for my new ones, some of which I intend for your proprietress to partake in. [eyes Ms. Vivante]

In the meantime, I depart you with a crisp Salud! [dashes off to begin consuming his first assignment...]

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Thanks, Inspector! All of his posts will be marked with this joyful little icon:



…and will be tagged “Inspector Vino”.

Looking forward to helping him discover some tasty wine. Thanks for reading!