Tony Furtado & Belle Glos Pinot Noirs

At the age of 19, Tony Furtado won the second of two National Bluegrass Banjo Championships. But rather than launch out into a promising bluegrass career, he expanded creatively and picked up the slide guitar. The dexterity that he developed playing banjo served him well and it wasn’t long before he established himself as a solo folk artist complete with self-written songs and a voice to sing them. He’s toured with Greg Allman, Susan Tedeschi, Taj Mahal, Eric Johnson and shared the stage with the likes of Sonny Landreth, Keith Richards, David Lindley, Derek Trucks, and Norah Jones. His music hits the heartstrings of America as he draws for folk culture and current events transforming them into songs for the everyman. I hope you like him as much as I do.


Cypress Grove: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LczW1qVbzns

False Hearted Lover: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-6f6vFcKTk&feature=related

Live @ KINK Live: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs6yiOgbtbY&feature=related

Tony’s tune: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uX74jx-Tsw&feature=related

Rove Riley Rove: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INJVGjvkx80&feature=related

Jack Haggerty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHlfRDdqphA&feature=related

Thirteen Below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbViaR-xXo0&feature=related

Runnin down a dream: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEyCJbdR8vo

Molly & Tenbrooks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71el6GvgpNo&feature=related

Paradise: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyinFHBN9n8&feature=related

Swayback Jim: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDcY8r8pqCo&feature=related

The Grenada Theater: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnBbjco_Fsg&feature=related

Stagger Lee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I841UQJs2co&feature=related

Slide Technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG_SfVPSgMk&feature=related

Hartford & Drakes Bay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_qlu9CU-wM&feature=related

Banjo Solo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MahRcFrSrQo&feature=related


So tonight I begin reviewing some of the Pinot Noirs I had the opportunity to taste at a recent bash at my local wine shop. One could term it the ugly, the bad, and the good. Tonight we start with the ugly, but fear not, I have a good to go with it. The 2008 Belle Glos Clark & Telephone ($38.00) was rated 91 by Wine Spectator. They claimed it was bursting with aromas of cinnamon, caramel and hints of ginger-spiced tea. Must have been someone’s aftershave because I swear this is the first wine I’ve ever tasted that had no bouquet. And without the bouquet, there was no flavor. Very weak tasting. Interestingly, I reviewed Belle Glos’ entry level Pinot, the Meiomi, on July fourth of this year. In contrast, it had a wonderful bouquet of cranberries, cherries, plums and spice and a palate rich in berries with a touch of vanilla and oak. It was definitely a much better wine and cost only $22.00. My advice, get a bottle of their Meiomi Pinot Noir and tap your feet to the sliding sounds of Tony Furtado. Enjoy!

Cheers!