Mark Squires

@marksquires.bsky.social

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Wine Critic thru June 2023 @ Robert Parker Wine Advocate, mostly for Portugal, Greece, USA OFF of West Coast (like N.Y. and VA). Recovered lawyer! Good at movies, SF, politics, music and other things. Also at Mastodon (epicure.social), Facebook etc.Ex-Post

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Photo time. Even street art sounds classy in French. 🤪 Paris street art on the Left Bank (as I recall, I took this near Cluny) showing Vermeer's Girl With a Pearl Earring. #paris #photography #art

This 2010 Syrah opened fat, a little flat and jammy, very ripe and unctuous on the finish, but with little focus. The alcohol showed a bit too.Much better the next day, it coated the palate with a wave of fruit and showed off power. I started liking this a lot more. A holiday treat.Then, $150, 15.2%

this is too long for BS, but the cheat sheet on photos is on Instagram. Follow the links if you care.

I have lived in Old City Philadelphia for decades. I don't get tired of walking around and seeing the history. In this post you get only a taste, from monuments like the First National Bank and Independence Hall to small individual homes that are still in use […] [Original post on epicure.social]

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Mark Squires

Heading into the holiday, American wines. This 2013 (all Riesling, a blend of producers 😀) is in nice shape, but predictably stern. Aromatic for starters, it adds a touch of steel, a hint of petrol and a stonewashed, dry and tense finish. Screwcapped, this […] [Original post on epicure.social]

In all the talk of no one's above the law, keep in mind, the law can and often does change to support those in power. Pretty soon, they will legally shoot you. All hands on deck. You have one assignment in November. NOTHING else matters. www.mediamatters.org/project-2025...

Heritage Foundation president celebrates Supreme Court immunity decision: "We are in the process of the second American Revolution"www.mediamatters.org

Summer and Greek wines bsky.app/profile/mark...

"Heat and" series: with a perky 2020 Moschofilero (Skouras drops the "h" after "c"). It emphasizes acidity and power more these days, showing a touch of mouth pucker on the finish. It's light and lively. The invigorating aromatics were my favorite part. This […] [Original post on epicure.social]

bsky.app/profile/mark... Now that the Fediverse connection to Mastodon seems to be worked out (so that I can not only cross post, but receive interactions), most "creation" posts like this are likely going to be from this account. So, if you care, take note and please follow it. If not, so be it.

The "Heat and..." series moves to Vielles Vignes Assyrtiko (80 year old vines). Fresh, clean and stern, it has the purity to do well on its own, plus the depth and grip to hold up when paired with food. It is evolving, but still young-ish. It shows no sign of […] [Original post on epicure.social]

The fediverse link is working well now! bsky.app/profile/mark...

This 2000 is in a perfect place. It is classic Pauillac. Elegant and velvety, it's youthful in its own way and pretty tasty. I could drink this all night and mostly did. It has never showed better. #bordeaux #wine

I'm so old I remember being scared because all the adults were so upset as news of JFK's assassination trickled in.

I'm so old I remember when Yahoo really did have an index of every site on the World Wide Web

@annenc.bsky.social Hi, would you add my other account to the post-post list? bsky.app/profile/mark...

bsky.app

I have figured out the Fediverse sharing between Mastodon and here. A lot of my creation will originate there for originals, so if you care,you might consider following this "shared" account which replicates my Mastodon posts here. It's just a follow--the rest is automatic: bsky.app/profile/mark...

bsky.app

The "heat and..." series continues with pink!This 2022 ($22) is good as a food pairing, but fresh enough and light enough to be great on its own in heat. Unoaked, it's a blend of Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional. Dry, 12.5% alcohol. I love Portal's summer refreshers, this being just one. #Wine

This has been their plan for a while. It must be fought at every level.

The well-funded, nationwide project to dismantle public education is also a political assault on one of the most successful systems of democratic governance + upward social mobility in US history. www.cnn.com/2024/06/19/p...

Arizona is sending taxpayer money to religious schools — and billionaires see it as a model for the US | CNN Politicswww.cnn.com As universal school voucher programs are sweeping the US, Arizona has led the way in diverting public funding to private schools.

The oldest wine ever discovered? Of course, there's really no point to tasting it now. Probably a few years too old, but you try it first. I hear they think it is not the least bit toxic. Let me know what happens! :) www.theguardian.com/science/arti...

Oldest wine ever discovered in liquid form found in urn with Roman remainswww.theguardian.com Reddish-brown liquid found in untouched 2,000-year-old Roman tomb is a local, sherry-like wine

Summer heat and 2015 Alvarinho! It's bright and tight with a nuanced finish. It's developed with a stonewashed demeanor, and a hint of lemon and flint. This is more structure than fruit-oriented. It's a summer refresher with time left. $20, 12.5% #wine #portugal #vinhoverde #alvarinho

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Mark Squires

Mastodon users: Follow @bsky.brid.gy to allow #Bluesky users to find and follow you. Bluesky users: Follow @ap.brid.gy to allow #Mastodon users to find and follow you. #SocialMedia #Interoperability

This 2017 Aspros Lagos (Douloufakis on Crete) is Vidiano in acacia and oak. Deep and dry, it has good balancing acidity and some touches of maturity, but it is doing great. It should continue to hold, perhaps more than anticipated. That tight, tense finish is enticing. It's best with food.$35, 14.1%

Congrats to Roy Hersh's 20th Ann. issue. Here’s a photo of Roy, 1st day in Douro, 1994 "Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip...a 3 hour tour!"Nope, not for Gilligan or Roy. 😊 It is coincidental that an interview of me is in the Table of Contents. More detail alt text

As to the Dão wines from a prior posting. See the "alt" text on the photo for the real post. Hmm. I wonder if that's a way to get around character limits! 😊

Drinking again. Portuguese! With @matt_explores_wine and @wineparedes, including gorgeous Passarella Fugitivo Centenárias 2016 (in a great place), a super 2015 Mouchão Licoroso, a Pellada Gold Label Alfrocheiro 2011 on the brink of too old and an oxidized Guru 2010.Win some, lose some. More to come

The more I drink '05 Douro the more I think it is an underrated vintage that just needed time. This Poeira is another beauty, at peak. Fresh, tasty and showing finesse too, this has time left. It is easily exceeding expectations.

I have several Seavey vintages, but this '01 might be the best of those left (96, 97, 98, 02, but 96-97 are competitors). A classic Cab in a good place. Its old-school demeanor evolves into a balanced wine with tasty fruit too. Exceptional. Around $75 then, 14.1%. #wine #cabernet

I've come to like the '99 better. It's fresher, better balanced. This 2003 is still very good, rich, lush, seductive. Don't drink it too warm, though; alcohol is not irrelevant. Probably about $60 these days, wasn't then! Still fine, but I see no point to holding this longer. #wine #chateauneuf

Have I ever mentioned how much I love this grape? From a fave producer, it sports a fresh feel, fine aromatics and flavor. This unoaked dry white is not as flamboyant as some can be, but it is balanced, crisp and elegant. Drink young, but it should hold. For $20, it is a perfect summer white. #wine

A rare pure photo thread, 🖼️so here's a #silentsunday offering. Monet's kitchen at Giverny, from a couple of years back. #photography #monet #giverny

I don't drink enough stickies! The Loire Fesles (Chenin Blanc, 13% alc) is wonderful as it nears age 30. It's better than ever, better integrated, elegant, fresh, deep and delicious. I love dessert wines with age as they integrate the sugar and show something more. I saved this with a plan. 👍 #wine

Bit of a chill, so back to red & back to another bargain '89 ($29 then, not now!). This Pontet-Canet shows far better than its reputation. This is classic Pauillac with all that lead and slate. #Wine #bordeaux For the whole tasting note: www.instagram.com/p/C7oUmvdOFH...

Two big Barolos, a 97 Giacosa white label and the 07 Grasso Casa Mate. Both in fine form. #wine #barolo www.instagram.com/p/C7jP0wmOpG...

Mark Squires on Instagram: "Italian resto, Barolos to match (great lamb chops!). The '97 Giacosa white label holds serve, not young any more, but with a backbone and a certain stern demeanor. The Gras...www.instagram.com 1 likes, 0 comments - mark_squires_wine on May 29, 2024: "Italian resto, Barolos to match (great lamb chops!). The '97 Giacosa white label holds serve, not young any more, but with a backbone and...".

This 2014 Semi-Dry is fresh as a daisy. It has energy on the tense finish, which eviscerates the 25 or so grams of sugar. The sugar and the acidity go to war, but mostly acidity wins. This is impressive today, with at least another decade to go. Best of all--around $15 in current vintages. 11% alc.

Aging wine: the perils and the rewards, this time with a 1989 Grand Puy Lacoste, Pauillac. www.instagram.com/p/C7WVFS0OQE... #wine #bordeaux

Mark Squires on Instagram: "This was not a great vintage by reputation for the winery, but I always rather liked it. And up to 20-25 years or so (after shedding some tannins), it drank very well, far ...www.instagram.com 1 likes, 0 comments - mark_squires_wine on May 24, 2024: "This was not a great vintage by reputation for the winery, but I always rather liked it. And up to 20-25 years or so (after shedding some...".