Mark Squires
@marksquires.com
Wine Critic 2006--June 2023 @ RobertParker WineAdvocate, mostly for Portugal, Greece, USA OFF West Coast (like NY & VA).
RECOVERED LAWYER! Good at politics,SyFy,music, films, etc.
[email protected]; Instagram; Ex-Post.
RECOVERED LAWYER! Good at politics,SyFy,music, films, etc.
[email protected]; Instagram; Ex-Post.
What say you? Who has the best olive oil? (Over the years, I think questions like that are too simplistic, but I still enjoy the fervor.)
#oliveoil
#oliveoil
December 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
What say you? Who has the best olive oil? (Over the years, I think questions like that are too simplistic, but I still enjoy the fervor.)
#oliveoil
#oliveoil
2/2 Bright & focused, the structure drives the fruit and sugar into the palate. Age adds complexity, that caramelized sugar nuance I love.
This 20-year likely outlives you. The winery once suggested a century or so. 13.5% alcohol. $75-ish for 500ml.
#wine #greece #santorini #vinsanto
This 20-year likely outlives you. The winery once suggested a century or so. 13.5% alcohol. $75-ish for 500ml.
#wine #greece #santorini #vinsanto
December 19, 2025 at 12:13 PM
2/2 Bright & focused, the structure drives the fruit and sugar into the palate. Age adds complexity, that caramelized sugar nuance I love.
This 20-year likely outlives you. The winery once suggested a century or so. 13.5% alcohol. $75-ish for 500ml.
#wine #greece #santorini #vinsanto
This 20-year likely outlives you. The winery once suggested a century or so. 13.5% alcohol. $75-ish for 500ml.
#wine #greece #santorini #vinsanto
1/2
Argyros makes beauties on Santorini, but long-aged Vinsanto (20!) in those thin bottles is a fave! This is Assyrtiko (w/ dollops of Athiri & Aidani).It has 250g or so of sugar, but it's not unctuously sweet.The power of these wines with sun-dried grapes often creates a different impression
to 2
Argyros makes beauties on Santorini, but long-aged Vinsanto (20!) in those thin bottles is a fave! This is Assyrtiko (w/ dollops of Athiri & Aidani).It has 250g or so of sugar, but it's not unctuously sweet.The power of these wines with sun-dried grapes often creates a different impression
to 2
December 19, 2025 at 12:10 PM
1/2
Argyros makes beauties on Santorini, but long-aged Vinsanto (20!) in those thin bottles is a fave! This is Assyrtiko (w/ dollops of Athiri & Aidani).It has 250g or so of sugar, but it's not unctuously sweet.The power of these wines with sun-dried grapes often creates a different impression
to 2
Argyros makes beauties on Santorini, but long-aged Vinsanto (20!) in those thin bottles is a fave! This is Assyrtiko (w/ dollops of Athiri & Aidani).It has 250g or so of sugar, but it's not unctuously sweet.The power of these wines with sun-dried grapes often creates a different impression
to 2
1/2
2012 Herrenweg in a perfect place, even as it's nearing age 15. It still seems very youthful, with plenty of time left. (Guessing many drank it younger!) Fresh, ripe and friendly, it's not a heavily aromatic Gewürz, but it touches all the bases and goes down easy.
#wine #alsace #gewurztraminer
2012 Herrenweg in a perfect place, even as it's nearing age 15. It still seems very youthful, with plenty of time left. (Guessing many drank it younger!) Fresh, ripe and friendly, it's not a heavily aromatic Gewürz, but it touches all the bases and goes down easy.
#wine #alsace #gewurztraminer
December 18, 2025 at 11:38 AM
1/2
2012 Herrenweg in a perfect place, even as it's nearing age 15. It still seems very youthful, with plenty of time left. (Guessing many drank it younger!) Fresh, ripe and friendly, it's not a heavily aromatic Gewürz, but it touches all the bases and goes down easy.
#wine #alsace #gewurztraminer
2012 Herrenweg in a perfect place, even as it's nearing age 15. It still seems very youthful, with plenty of time left. (Guessing many drank it younger!) Fresh, ripe and friendly, it's not a heavily aromatic Gewürz, but it touches all the bases and goes down easy.
#wine #alsace #gewurztraminer
Mostly Pinot Noir & a healthy chunk of Chard, on lees for 6.5 years. It is a sparkler with a hint of austerity. Even though very dry & crisp, remains perfectly balanced, flourishes with air. Aging great, seems to be in a perfect place, elegant and lively.
Mid-$40s, 13%,bone dry
#wine #fingerlakes
Mid-$40s, 13%,bone dry
#wine #fingerlakes
December 17, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Mostly Pinot Noir & a healthy chunk of Chard, on lees for 6.5 years. It is a sparkler with a hint of austerity. Even though very dry & crisp, remains perfectly balanced, flourishes with air. Aging great, seems to be in a perfect place, elegant and lively.
Mid-$40s, 13%,bone dry
#wine #fingerlakes
Mid-$40s, 13%,bone dry
#wine #fingerlakes
1/2
This 09 is basically Baga (with a sprinkling of others like Bastardo). After double decanting, it's lush, the texture surprisingly caressing at this point while the wine has a certain earthy note. It seems nuanced & complex, plus softer with age while retaining bite on the finish.
#wine #baga
This 09 is basically Baga (with a sprinkling of others like Bastardo). After double decanting, it's lush, the texture surprisingly caressing at this point while the wine has a certain earthy note. It seems nuanced & complex, plus softer with age while retaining bite on the finish.
#wine #baga
December 15, 2025 at 12:38 PM
I got excited. You always need a Port in a storm.
December 14, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I got excited. You always need a Port in a storm.
1/2 Sun-dried 2014 Monemvassia (not the same as Malvasia!) from Paros, Greece. It comes in sweet, never rich or sloppy. Age has not dimmed this small-production white. In fact, it's focused and crisp, with a tight, almost tannic feel. It's never close to seeming very sweet, despite 150 g/l of sugar
December 12, 2025 at 1:23 PM
1/2 Sun-dried 2014 Monemvassia (not the same as Malvasia!) from Paros, Greece. It comes in sweet, never rich or sloppy. Age has not dimmed this small-production white. In fact, it's focused and crisp, with a tight, almost tannic feel. It's never close to seeming very sweet, despite 150 g/l of sugar
1/2 An old friend at age 30. This bargain still shows great. Elegant, fresh and complex, it simply screams classic Bordeaux, adds silky texture and tastes great in a refined fashion.
At the time,it cost $27 retail. I think I got my money's worth.It will sure keep on aging well. 12.5 on the label
At the time,it cost $27 retail. I think I got my money's worth.It will sure keep on aging well. 12.5 on the label
December 11, 2025 at 12:39 PM
1/2 An old friend at age 30. This bargain still shows great. Elegant, fresh and complex, it simply screams classic Bordeaux, adds silky texture and tastes great in a refined fashion.
At the time,it cost $27 retail. I think I got my money's worth.It will sure keep on aging well. 12.5 on the label
At the time,it cost $27 retail. I think I got my money's worth.It will sure keep on aging well. 12.5 on the label
A few times a year I volunteer for the court as an arbitrator. It struck me that I used to dress up like this all the time. And now it feels like a fake costume. But damn, I look good!😜😈
December 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
A few times a year I volunteer for the court as an arbitrator. It struck me that I used to dress up like this all the time. And now it feels like a fake costume. But damn, I look good!😜😈
2/2
Green nuances were always part of this--more like Cab Franc. Presumably that's the winery's handling of the Cab Sauv. But the freshness is admirable, it harmonizes in the glass beautifully and the wine is sunny. It's gorgeous. 14.5%. mid-$40s.
#wine #alentejo @jportugalramos #portugal
Green nuances were always part of this--more like Cab Franc. Presumably that's the winery's handling of the Cab Sauv. But the freshness is admirable, it harmonizes in the glass beautifully and the wine is sunny. It's gorgeous. 14.5%. mid-$40s.
#wine #alentejo @jportugalramos #portugal
December 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
1/2
This single-vineyard red from J. P. Ramos changes blends each release. This 2011 is the "TC"--an equal blend of Cab Sauv & Touriga Nacional. It's aged beautifully--tight, precise and focused, with good concentration and vigor. The fruit seems alive, if laced with bell peppers and olives.
#wine
This single-vineyard red from J. P. Ramos changes blends each release. This 2011 is the "TC"--an equal blend of Cab Sauv & Touriga Nacional. It's aged beautifully--tight, precise and focused, with good concentration and vigor. The fruit seems alive, if laced with bell peppers and olives.
#wine
December 8, 2025 at 12:58 PM
1/2
This single-vineyard red from J. P. Ramos changes blends each release. This 2011 is the "TC"--an equal blend of Cab Sauv & Touriga Nacional. It's aged beautifully--tight, precise and focused, with good concentration and vigor. The fruit seems alive, if laced with bell peppers and olives.
#wine
This single-vineyard red from J. P. Ramos changes blends each release. This 2011 is the "TC"--an equal blend of Cab Sauv & Touriga Nacional. It's aged beautifully--tight, precise and focused, with good concentration and vigor. The fruit seems alive, if laced with bell peppers and olives.
#wine
1/2 The 2009 Dalamara "Paliokalias" is an organic Xinomavro from a family winery started in 1993. This is evolving well, and it's a pretty good example of why I compare Xino to Nebbiolo. Powerful and somewhat earthy, it opens a little dusty on the finish. Notable acidity, too, then silk for texture
December 5, 2025 at 12:14 PM
1/2 The 2009 Dalamara "Paliokalias" is an organic Xinomavro from a family winery started in 1993. This is evolving well, and it's a pretty good example of why I compare Xino to Nebbiolo. Powerful and somewhat earthy, it opens a little dusty on the finish. Notable acidity, too, then silk for texture
If you don't like modern....Every now and then, they have special days where they get out and drive certain of them too in demos.
Fun fact: the late Fred Simeone, who founded the car museum, was an car-obsessed neurosurgeon who operated on my back!
Fun fact: the late Fred Simeone, who founded the car museum, was an car-obsessed neurosurgeon who operated on my back!
December 3, 2025 at 2:34 PM
If you don't like modern....Every now and then, they have special days where they get out and drive certain of them too in demos.
Fun fact: the late Fred Simeone, who founded the car museum, was an car-obsessed neurosurgeon who operated on my back!
Fun fact: the late Fred Simeone, who founded the car museum, was an car-obsessed neurosurgeon who operated on my back!
Never owned a car. (Living downtown in a big city, pointless. Don't like driving either.) Still, I like seeing classics enough so I went to the Simeone Car Museum in my area.
I empathized most with "almost died," since it did seem like every time I got onto the open road in France, almost died. 😄
I empathized most with "almost died," since it did seem like every time I got onto the open road in France, almost died. 😄
December 3, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Never owned a car. (Living downtown in a big city, pointless. Don't like driving either.) Still, I like seeing classics enough so I went to the Simeone Car Museum in my area.
I empathized most with "almost died," since it did seem like every time I got onto the open road in France, almost died. 😄
I empathized most with "almost died," since it did seem like every time I got onto the open road in France, almost died. 😄
1/2
A fave Calif. winery for sweeties shows why again.Just shy of 20 years, this Cluster Select Late Harvest is everything I hoped for with age. Color darkened, no surprise, but fruit is both more concentrated & more nuanced,with caramelized sugar around the edges.
#wine #gewurztraminer #mendocino
A fave Calif. winery for sweeties shows why again.Just shy of 20 years, this Cluster Select Late Harvest is everything I hoped for with age. Color darkened, no surprise, but fruit is both more concentrated & more nuanced,with caramelized sugar around the edges.
#wine #gewurztraminer #mendocino
December 3, 2025 at 12:32 PM
1/2
A fave Calif. winery for sweeties shows why again.Just shy of 20 years, this Cluster Select Late Harvest is everything I hoped for with age. Color darkened, no surprise, but fruit is both more concentrated & more nuanced,with caramelized sugar around the edges.
#wine #gewurztraminer #mendocino
A fave Calif. winery for sweeties shows why again.Just shy of 20 years, this Cluster Select Late Harvest is everything I hoped for with age. Color darkened, no surprise, but fruit is both more concentrated & more nuanced,with caramelized sugar around the edges.
#wine #gewurztraminer #mendocino
What do you think of this? Vinho Verde, Joana Santiago winery. Oaked Alvarinho
December 2, 2025 at 4:31 PM
What do you think of this? Vinho Verde, Joana Santiago winery. Oaked Alvarinho
1/2
A lousy vintage in most of PT, but pretty nice Mouchão. Showing power, this adds finesse & focus. Alicante Bouschet-dominated, it has personality, some flavor, some licorice, too, before it closes down. Its best feature is certainly the structure, although the fruit is ripe and hardly dying.
A lousy vintage in most of PT, but pretty nice Mouchão. Showing power, this adds finesse & focus. Alicante Bouschet-dominated, it has personality, some flavor, some licorice, too, before it closes down. Its best feature is certainly the structure, although the fruit is ripe and hardly dying.
December 1, 2025 at 1:02 PM
1/2
A lousy vintage in most of PT, but pretty nice Mouchão. Showing power, this adds finesse & focus. Alicante Bouschet-dominated, it has personality, some flavor, some licorice, too, before it closes down. Its best feature is certainly the structure, although the fruit is ripe and hardly dying.
A lousy vintage in most of PT, but pretty nice Mouchão. Showing power, this adds finesse & focus. Alicante Bouschet-dominated, it has personality, some flavor, some licorice, too, before it closes down. Its best feature is certainly the structure, although the fruit is ripe and hardly dying.
PLURIBUS Mindless games
1-202-808-3981
In the last episode,that number was shown on Carol's cell when she called the hive. (No, I did not notice,but I see lots of videos now from people who did.😜)
Call it,and you will get the recording and then a text back if you used your cell phone.
#streaming
1-202-808-3981
In the last episode,that number was shown on Carol's cell when she called the hive. (No, I did not notice,but I see lots of videos now from people who did.😜)
Call it,and you will get the recording and then a text back if you used your cell phone.
#streaming
November 28, 2025 at 1:38 PM
PLURIBUS Mindless games
1-202-808-3981
In the last episode,that number was shown on Carol's cell when she called the hive. (No, I did not notice,but I see lots of videos now from people who did.😜)
Call it,and you will get the recording and then a text back if you used your cell phone.
#streaming
1-202-808-3981
In the last episode,that number was shown on Carol's cell when she called the hive. (No, I did not notice,but I see lots of videos now from people who did.😜)
Call it,and you will get the recording and then a text back if you used your cell phone.
#streaming
1/2
This single-vineyard Cab Sauv from Hatzimichalis deserves some plaudits for passing the 20-year point with some improvement, but it's easy to like, not as easy to love.It shows mid-palate finesse & silky elegance to go with some astringency. It's never very expressive; a certain dullness lingers
This single-vineyard Cab Sauv from Hatzimichalis deserves some plaudits for passing the 20-year point with some improvement, but it's easy to like, not as easy to love.It shows mid-palate finesse & silky elegance to go with some astringency. It's never very expressive; a certain dullness lingers
November 26, 2025 at 12:35 PM
1/2
This single-vineyard Cab Sauv from Hatzimichalis deserves some plaudits for passing the 20-year point with some improvement, but it's easy to like, not as easy to love.It shows mid-palate finesse & silky elegance to go with some astringency. It's never very expressive; a certain dullness lingers
This single-vineyard Cab Sauv from Hatzimichalis deserves some plaudits for passing the 20-year point with some improvement, but it's easy to like, not as easy to love.It shows mid-palate finesse & silky elegance to go with some astringency. It's never very expressive; a certain dullness lingers
1/3 at least 😀A Port saga.
Why you got to do me like that? This near-50-year was spontaneously leaking--a dying cork. ⏰⏰⏰Rarely happens, but cards are dealt. Força Portugal! Let's g-o-o-oooo.
No tongs. Gave up & pushed it in after struggles; faster. Filtered bits of cork & a ton of sediment.
To 2
Why you got to do me like that? This near-50-year was spontaneously leaking--a dying cork. ⏰⏰⏰Rarely happens, but cards are dealt. Força Portugal! Let's g-o-o-oooo.
No tongs. Gave up & pushed it in after struggles; faster. Filtered bits of cork & a ton of sediment.
To 2
November 25, 2025 at 12:58 PM
1/3 at least 😀A Port saga.
Why you got to do me like that? This near-50-year was spontaneously leaking--a dying cork. ⏰⏰⏰Rarely happens, but cards are dealt. Força Portugal! Let's g-o-o-oooo.
No tongs. Gave up & pushed it in after struggles; faster. Filtered bits of cork & a ton of sediment.
To 2
Why you got to do me like that? This near-50-year was spontaneously leaking--a dying cork. ⏰⏰⏰Rarely happens, but cards are dealt. Força Portugal! Let's g-o-o-oooo.
No tongs. Gave up & pushed it in after struggles; faster. Filtered bits of cork & a ton of sediment.
To 2
Ok, now that I'm in front of my computer, these were the three I knew. Collected, in the sense that I downloaded pictures someone posted. Not bought the cars. 😄
It's a company almost forgotten, I guess, that did some aesthetically appealing things!
It's a company almost forgotten, I guess, that did some aesthetically appealing things!
November 23, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Ok, now that I'm in front of my computer, these were the three I knew. Collected, in the sense that I downloaded pictures someone posted. Not bought the cars. 😄
It's a company almost forgotten, I guess, that did some aesthetically appealing things!
It's a company almost forgotten, I guess, that did some aesthetically appealing things!
If you see this post your getaway vehicle
November 22, 2025 at 8:52 PM
If you see this post your getaway vehicle
1/2
Haven't posted on this for well over a year--always good to check in--and since this one was with BlueSky'er Sandwich King @lifeattable.bsky.social, why not?
a.co/d/izR5pRN
For wine:
Haven't posted on this for well over a year--always good to check in--and since this one was with BlueSky'er Sandwich King @lifeattable.bsky.social, why not?
a.co/d/izR5pRN
For wine:
November 22, 2025 at 4:59 PM
1/2
Haven't posted on this for well over a year--always good to check in--and since this one was with BlueSky'er Sandwich King @lifeattable.bsky.social, why not?
a.co/d/izR5pRN
For wine:
Haven't posted on this for well over a year--always good to check in--and since this one was with BlueSky'er Sandwich King @lifeattable.bsky.social, why not?
a.co/d/izR5pRN
For wine: