@JohnBGilman.bsky.social
@johnbgilman.bsky.social
Wine writer; reluctant holder of degree in Political Science.
"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command..."- George Orwell.
Women are smarter. Every good man must be their ally.
"The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command..."- George Orwell.
Women are smarter. Every good man must be their ally.
Heard from one of my good friends in my wine tasting group, who also happens to be an extremely accomplished pianist:
"Guitar players are just poets with a musical instrument on hand!"
"Guitar players are just poets with a musical instrument on hand!"
November 18, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Heard from one of my good friends in my wine tasting group, who also happens to be an extremely accomplished pianist:
"Guitar players are just poets with a musical instrument on hand!"
"Guitar players are just poets with a musical instrument on hand!"
"A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday Jeffrey — and may every day be another wonderful secret"... From one pedophile rapist to another.
November 18, 2025 at 1:54 PM
"A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday Jeffrey — and may every day be another wonderful secret"... From one pedophile rapist to another.
A look back to far simpler times in America: June '25...
November 16, 2025 at 1:32 PM
A look back to far simpler times in America: June '25...
Went to an amazing tasting of Sancerre & Pouilly-Fumé this week, with all the wines from Domaines Vatan, François Cotat & Didier Dagueneau. The finest Loire Valley sauvignon blanc-based wines, all of these age brilliantly well & we went all the way back to the 2001 vintage on this memorable evening.
October 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Went to an amazing tasting of Sancerre & Pouilly-Fumé this week, with all the wines from Domaines Vatan, François Cotat & Didier Dagueneau. The finest Loire Valley sauvignon blanc-based wines, all of these age brilliantly well & we went all the way back to the 2001 vintage on this memorable evening.
Diving into what are perhaps the greatest wine values to be found in the Rhône Valley, Éric Texier's Brézème Rouge bottlings. All made from old vine Sérine Syrah in the northern half of the Rhône, these are consistently stunning bargains.
October 9, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Diving into what are perhaps the greatest wine values to be found in the Rhône Valley, Éric Texier's Brézème Rouge bottlings. All made from old vine Sérine Syrah in the northern half of the Rhône, these are consistently stunning bargains.
October heirlooms.
October 2, 2025 at 5:29 PM
October heirlooms.
Though September has turned the corner, summer still lingers in some corners of the garden.
September 19, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Though September has turned the corner, summer still lingers in some corners of the garden.
I was at a fancy wine tasting dinner in New Haven a few weeks back. A few of the wine collectors there were snobbishly disparaging wine "newbies" for their current love of Sancerre, which has replaced Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio as their white wine of choice. It sounded like great progress to me!
September 16, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I was at a fancy wine tasting dinner in New Haven a few weeks back. A few of the wine collectors there were snobbishly disparaging wine "newbies" for their current love of Sancerre, which has replaced Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio as their white wine of choice. It sounded like great progress to me!
The early morning hour I spend to start each day in my garden is a gift. Communing with the bumblebees, honeybees & hummingbirds, while savoring the scents of the flowers & the songs of the birds. It brings a perspective on life much needed in our troubled times of lies, theft & brazen inhumanity.
August 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The early morning hour I spend to start each day in my garden is a gift. Communing with the bumblebees, honeybees & hummingbirds, while savoring the scents of the flowers & the songs of the birds. It brings a perspective on life much needed in our troubled times of lies, theft & brazen inhumanity.
Went to a fine vertical tasting dinner of Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon last PM, from 2014 back to 1986. We finished up with a superb bottle of 1975 Mayacamas Cabernet that was still at its absolute apogee (not bad for a 50 year-old cabernet!) & a stunning menu at Olea in New Haven, CT.
August 15, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Went to a fine vertical tasting dinner of Ridge Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon last PM, from 2014 back to 1986. We finished up with a superb bottle of 1975 Mayacamas Cabernet that was still at its absolute apogee (not bad for a 50 year-old cabernet!) & a stunning menu at Olea in New Haven, CT.
American pinot noir has progressed light years in the last decade or two. There are so many stunning pinots produced in both Oregon and California that the insanely high pricing of red Burgundy these days is almost immaterial.
August 9, 2025 at 4:11 PM
American pinot noir has progressed light years in the last decade or two. There are so many stunning pinots produced in both Oregon and California that the insanely high pricing of red Burgundy these days is almost immaterial.
A few of the wines from last PM's Loire Valley tasting. Sometimes you just have to tune out the idiot seated to your right at the table and concentrate on the unsullied beauty of the wines...
July 26, 2025 at 4:27 PM
A few of the wines from last PM's Loire Valley tasting. Sometimes you just have to tune out the idiot seated to your right at the table and concentrate on the unsullied beauty of the wines...
I am tasting utterly stunning young wines as samples this evening! I wish I was twenty years younger and could follow these great young wines into their ripe old age! The top neo-classical producers in Oregon & California are making the finest wines in the history of US winemaking these days!
July 21, 2025 at 11:24 PM
I am tasting utterly stunning young wines as samples this evening! I wish I was twenty years younger and could follow these great young wines into their ripe old age! The top neo-classical producers in Oregon & California are making the finest wines in the history of US winemaking these days!
BTW, the varieties pictured are (from top):
Pink Brandywine
Ananas Noire
(Can't remember the bright red ones)
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Midnight Roma
Green Zebra (center)
Pink Brandywine
Ananas Noire
(Can't remember the bright red ones)
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Midnight Roma
Green Zebra (center)
July 19, 2025 at 4:34 PM
BTW, the varieties pictured are (from top):
Pink Brandywine
Ananas Noire
(Can't remember the bright red ones)
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Midnight Roma
Green Zebra (center)
Pink Brandywine
Ananas Noire
(Can't remember the bright red ones)
Aunt Ruby's German Green
Midnight Roma
Green Zebra (center)
I love heirloom tomatoes, though growing them is always laced w/ some heartbreak, as the plants are vulnerable to so many diseases. But, the rainbow of flavors and colors that they deliver is so far superior to the GMO versions of tomatoes in grocery stores, seemingly made of wax, that its worth it.
July 19, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I love heirloom tomatoes, though growing them is always laced w/ some heartbreak, as the plants are vulnerable to so many diseases. But, the rainbow of flavors and colors that they deliver is so far superior to the GMO versions of tomatoes in grocery stores, seemingly made of wax, that its worth it.
Growing things in the earth is its own reward.
But, there are added benefits...
But, there are added benefits...
July 14, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Growing things in the earth is its own reward.
But, there are added benefits...
But, there are added benefits...
Garden timeline cleanse, end of June.
June 30, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Garden timeline cleanse, end of June.
I have come to the conclusion that gardeners simply want to live their lives inside of a Monet painting.
May 27, 2025 at 4:14 PM
I have come to the conclusion that gardeners simply want to live their lives inside of a Monet painting.
Had a few great old Tuscan reds with one of our wine tasting groups last evening. Pretty remarkable how some of these Chiantis from 1971, 1970 & 1961 have held up over the years!
May 23, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Had a few great old Tuscan reds with one of our wine tasting groups last evening. Pretty remarkable how some of these Chiantis from 1971, 1970 & 1961 have held up over the years!
Couple days of rain & unseasonably cool temps in NY metro area. But, the sun poked through for a bit on Tuesday & gave a little needed warmth to the garden.
May 23, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Couple days of rain & unseasonably cool temps in NY metro area. But, the sun poked through for a bit on Tuesday & gave a little needed warmth to the garden.