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Sitting in an arbitration panel today. My local courts are banning pervert glasses😝🤭 Good job! #tech

Bordeaux week rolls on! Another oldie, very different than the Ch. Latour (Monday's post) with which it was drunk. A little weightier, a little meatier, but not as silky, as unctuous or as classic, in a lot of ways. It still showed great and again showed how Bordeaux seems to age so effortlessly.

A glass and bottle of 1989 Ch. Montrose, Bordeaux

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 28/09/2026

By reputation, '89 isn't a superstar Latour, but I always thought a lot of '89s were underestimated as some were hard in their youth (more so on the Left Bank by my own aging recollection) and took more time to unfold. Still, if not ready now, not gonna be. #wine #bordeaux #pauillac

A glass and bottle of Chateau Latour 1989 on a table

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 25/09/2026

My "Goodbye to Summer" week marches on. Flannel sheets on.Bordeaux standing up. BUT still time for wine with a summer hint or two. Of course, Santorini produces whites with depth that work all year round, but who isn't thinking about the sun and sea now, huh?You're welcome! #wine #greece #santorini

A glass and bottle of Domaine Sigalas' 2013 Kavalieros, a single vineyard Assyrtiko from Santorini, Greece. Color looks great,eh?

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 24/09/2026

If you can access, it is a map showing countries in Europe leading in daily alcohol consumption Portugal trounces everyone. At first I thought the UK was first at 26%, but missed decimal, only 2.6%. Portugal is 21%. France, Italy and Spain trail far behind. Whew www.instagram.com/p/DdokZohgJ6...

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 24/09/2026

Mailed my ballot in PA: Received, returned in 48 hours. In 72 hours, had email from officials that my ballot is in their hands and awaiting counting (by quirk of PA law, you cannot count mail ballots until election day--for which delay Dems and mail ballots are always blamed). #voting #midterms

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 24/09/2026

Endless hacker tricks (and AI hacks are coming, and quantum computer attacks!) Anyway, whew. Got party invite from a friend using something called punchbowl.I go to open--seemed ok--but asked me to sign into my Google account. 1st alarm goes off. I actually entered a PW. #tech #phishing

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Reposted by Mark Squires

Randall Grahm @randallgrahm.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Come join me in Santa Cruz, Saturday, 10/17, for the world premiere of The Terroirist scff26.eventive.org/schedule/the...

scff26.eventive.org

Santa Cruz Film Festival 2026

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 23/09/2026

Another look at the "classico" Alvarinho. Always liking this 2015 as my stash dwindles down. A fresh white, a "remember summer" wine, it has surprising depth, a green hint, a bright and somewhat tense demeanor, and powerful aromatics. There's a touch of flint, but that mostly blows off in time.

A glass and bottle of 2015 Alvarinho "Classico" from Soalheiro, meaning their standard, unoaked flagship, Vinho Verde, Portugal

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 21/09/2026

Fall Wed, 🤷chill coming, nip in the air at night. Yikes. How did that happen?? So this a "Goodbye to Summer" week. Not ready? Too bad. Go to Greece. (Don't AT me you folks living in warmer areas. I know who you are.) There's still time for summer-y wines. I will not go gently into that good night.

a GLASS AND BOTTLE of Alpha Estate 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Northern Greece

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 19/09/2026

Gorgeous day, nice crowds for Rittenhouse art fair. Virginia artist Brie Hayden specializes in antique liquor bottles! These were nice (my photo is bad ...) Contact info in alt text #philadelphia #wine

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 19/09/2026

Thoughts: 😄 I like "change temp" idea. Might help in a way. Others seem sketchy. Extra aeration helps a bad wine (meant for "drink me now")? For a good one, maybe. Plonk remains plonk. Not gonna talk about salt. 😳 It assumes, bitterness is why the wine is cheap. Often, the opposite.

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 17/09/2026

A field blend, this Reserva opens as a big boy, dark, plump and deep, chock full of ripe fruit. A creamy overlay leads to Assault by Tasty Old-Vines fruit, which has held mostly well for now. Pretty sexy. Good time to dive in, but take note--better balanced, less one-dimensional next day.

Bottle, cork and glass of 2012 Quinta do Vallado Reserva Field Blend, from Douro, Portugal

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 14/09/2026

Morlet's 2014 is a beauty, but it's not what you think of from Sonoma--mostly Semillon & Sauv Blanc.Yet everything comes together. Crisp, tingly on the finish, and a little different, vive la difference, right? Liked it a lot. Holding well, but dive in. New years are $125. 14.8% alc. #wine #sonoma

2014 La Proportion Dorée, a Sonoma county white blend from Morlet Family Vineyards; see 2d photo for more info

Back label showing 68% Semillon, 32% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Muscadelle

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 14/09/2026

Much of last year can be said to be injuries to key personnel on the o-line. It's only Game 1, but the "This better not be the new normal for the...offensive line" headline from the Inky article is troubling. You wonder if Jurgens and Dickerson injuries were stakes in the heart #sports #nfl #eagles

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 11/09/2026

So many conflicting emotions. I remember working for a jackass. As people in office gathered around the TV as the attacks hit, he was just "go back to work." People weren't gonna work much more that day. The city shut down, everyone assuming we might be next. Walked home past Independence Hall,

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 10/09/2026

'01 Private Res. is super, stuffed but balanced, beautiful fruit and some grip still on the finish. Tasted next to 2001 Schrader, I preferred this, even tho' I brought the Schrader. 😄 Fair to note that the styles were certainly very different, Schrader showing more finesse, this more concentration.

2001 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve on table

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 08/09/2026

Start Napa week...01 Beckstoffer from Schrader is an elegant Cab with finesse, silky texture and lifted fruit. Tasted next to a Beringer Private Res. 01, this was leaner, but perhaps livelier, and with subtler concentration. I confess to liking the Beringer a bit better, but this wasn't a slouch.

A bottle of 2001 Schrader Cabernet Sauvignon from Beckstoffer, Original Tokalon Vineyard, 14.8%

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 07/09/2026

Rewatched recently. One of the greatest sequels ever done, manages to be as exciting as the original even though this time you know what's going to happen Shout out to Carrie Henn who portrayed Newt, age 10, the focal point of film tension. Her only film role! Which is rather incredible #film #sf

The 1986 sequel "Aliens"--the movie poster.

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 04/09/2026

1/3 or 4😇 My Phillies edition, w/ Portuguese consultant F. Paredes and his Harper jersey. We had wine too. I don't like long threads but at least there's more than one wine 1) Luis Pato's Vinhas Velhas Branco 2016. It's in fine form, an old vines blend (Sercial, Bical, Sercialinho) from Bairrada.

Portuguese importer/consultant Frank Paredes holding a bottle of 2020 Titan of Tavora-Varosa Branco, while proudly wearing his #3 Bryce Harper Phillies jersey. People, this is how you dress in Philly. At least until Eagles season.

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 02/09/2026

👉52 posts. 👉Over 16,000 followers. 👉Following over 235,000 Whew. I've seen some strange numbers, but this may take the cake. (Posts are generally marked as spam by Bluesky.)

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 02/09/2026

1/3 My Riesling secret--prefer some sugar. Yes, some say an off-dry style is out of fashion. DO NOT vex me, heathens! The faithful know those off-dry German miracles are perfect contrasts of acidity and sugar. The war between Acidity & Sugar often ends well for fruit and the drinker. Hence,off-dry

A glass and bottle of 2016 Semi-Dry Riesling from Hermann J. Wiemer in the Finger Lakes, N.Y.

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 31/08/2026

1/3 This 02 is another Seavey I've loved (& keep revisiting), but it evolved slowly and it took quite a while to hit peak for some years. It could be hard and closed in its first 15 years. This is arguably the best bottle I've had from the lot, a clear winner from winemaker Philippe Melka. #wine

2002 Seavey Cabernet Sauvignon on a table, showing lots of sediment!

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 29/08/2026

I know election season is almost here. Somehow GOP got my email and I'm getting tons of GOP spam. Been a lonnnnnng time since I voted for a GOPer, but I guess Trump, Scalise, you name it remain hopeful😈. But now I'm getting mail from Ken gag-me Paxton? Aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Make it stop.

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 27/08/2026

1/2 Sogrape's 2011 from Carvalhais Dão region is Encruzado that ages, and here's some proof. It's no longer young, but the maturity isn't decay either. There's concentrated fruit, a bright finish and complexity. It even got better up to a point. Mature notes were more prominent the next day, though

2011 Carvalhais Encruzado, from Sogrape's Dão Quinta, the Chardonnay of Portugal?

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 24/08/2026

1/2 "Stickies" in Aussie = a lost art. Love 'em! Posted on Gewurz Cluster Select (botrytis) recently. Held great, but a bigger star (bought more of it)--RIESLING CS LH ('02). Every time I've come back to this over the years, it's been intriguing and delicious. Predictably, the color has darkened.

Botrytis...A glass and bottle of 2002 Navarro Riesling "Cluster Select Late Harvest" from Anderson Valley, Mendocino, CA, 10.1% alc

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 23/08/2026

😨 Nothing matters to them but their money, a continuing theme. They're gonna do it. The Tech Bro motto--move fast, break things--works. It's true--Congress, the public, can't keep up. By the time alarms sound, it is too late. I guess Musk will have armed satellites soon controlling space. #tech

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 21/08/2026

1/2 Whenever I rant about fat, overly oaky Chards, I'm reminded there is also this, that a friend brought along. Crisp, textured, focused and penetrating, this Grand Cru 2019 tingles a bit on the finish and always seems bright. Very youthful to boot, it's still developing, but in a reasonable place

2019 Chablis Grand Cru Valmur from J. Moreau & Fils, bottle, glass on table

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 20/08/2026

@keithboykin.bsky.social 7https://www.instagram.com/reel/DcOqJXJRX9a/?igsh=OW56bnJvemJmZ3l4 Excellent piece. I wish you would post on Bluesky more

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 19/08/2026

1/2 This 2021 high-altitude Assyrtiko from Alpha in N. Greece is a bookend to Monday's Santorini. Assyrtiko's been getting good off of Santorini too! 🫡 Gorgeous today, there's precision and a textured finish--it's all come together perfectly. It did need a couple of years in bottle to blossom.

A bottle of Alpha Estate's Assyrtiko in the Florina appellation, Greece, 2021

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 17/08/2026

1/2 The 2016 Pyritis "Mega Cuvée" from Karamolegos on Santorini, meaning a blend of parcels (2 from Pyrgos Village, 1 from Megalochori, often with 120-year-old vines), is all Assyrtiko. This is a great time to dive in. It has come together well, graceful, elegant and ripe enough. #wine #greece

A bottle of 2016 Pyritis--the Santorini blend of vineyards from Karamolegos Winery, Greece.

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 17/08/2026

Wow. I never was as big a fan as some were--she went viral--but dead at 36--that's simply a tragedy. The cheerleader finally ran out of lives. If you don't know what that means--that was her role on Heroes, which I loved early on. Coincidentally just rewatching S. 1 on Netflix. #film #heroes #tv

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 16/08/2026

Even if you don't follow sports, imagine coming from Africa, never having played a down of pro football and getting your feet wet in a pro game--preseason, to be sure, but quite a journey. #eagles #football #sports @inquirer.com gift link share.inquirer.com/w7bafF

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Joshua Weru and Uar Bernard suited up for the Eagles on Saturday night. It was their first football game at any level.

The two International Player Pathway program products took another step in their remarkable journeys.

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 15/08/2026

Oh, sure, he was just "auditing" the court's systems. Uh huh. Even if true, this makes me shudder. We are SO unprepared for AI. #ai #tech #law

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 13/08/2026

1/2 The 2018 old vines Baga from Pato/Wouters (they're the "Nossa" of Nossa Calcario) is classic, with tight but controlled tannins, and obvious acidity. The fruit is fresh, with a surprising feel of ripeness too. It's drinking decently, but another year or two of cellaring wouldn't hurt. #wine

A glass of 2018 Baga "Nossa Calcario" from Pato/Wouters in Bairrada, Portugal, on table with the bottle

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 11/08/2026

Great cast and a mesmerizing, subtly cruel performance from Javier Bardem. Might be the best single streaming performance I've seen this year. tv.apple.com/us/show/cape... #film #apple #tv

tv.apple.com

Watch Cape Fear - Apple TV

From executive producers Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. When convicted murderer Max Cady is released from prison, he begins infiltrating the fa…

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 10/08/2026

1/2 Summer's waning, don't think I've had a rosé yet. Yikes?! 2025. Something different for me, a blend (Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah) partly owned by Brad Pitt, bottled at Famille Perrin. My first! Clean, reasonably concentrated, some bite on the end as it warms. Leans most to balance and finesse

The pretty 2025 Miraval Cotes de Provence Rosé, with cork, and a glass of wine

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 09/08/2026

Ominous "Sit here or die" sign at Hedonism Wine. Cheeky bastards. Looking thru some photos. Visited London a few years back (again). Of course, I went to the Tate, the British Museum. Nah, just kidding. Went to the wine store Nah, just kidding. Did all of that and had a bag of chips #wine #london

My photo of Hedonism Wines storefront, London, with the bench: "sit here or die"

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 06/08/2026

1/2 This 2017 Vinhas Velhas is an old vines blend from Madre de Agua, a relatively young Dão winery (2007), but winemaker is Paulo Nunes (better known at Passarella). This sure seems to reflect what I find to be his style, polished, bright and fresh with pure fruit from the Serra da Estrela area.

2017 Madre de Agua Vinhas Velhas from Portugal, Dão

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 05/08/2026

Easy. The first commercial mobile phone was in 1983. I don't remember when I got my first, but it wasn't then, probably mid 90s. Even from what I remember, things have improved so much it can barely be quantified and described. Fast, big screens, surf-the-Internet power, vids, amazing apps.

Maxwell Smart shoe phone from the show Get Smart

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 05/08/2026

The investor class knows nothing but greed. I think she's right on the money. If you want to see the forceful video version.... www.instagram.com/reel/DbpMZRB...

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 03/08/2026

1/2 The pretty and familiar sea-blue bottle is 2019 Santorini from Gavalas, an elegant, Assyrtiko-dominated creature. Ripe but restrained, it's a textured white with a polished feel, tasty and harmonious. Not a big blockbuster style, or meant to be, but it drinks beautifully. To reply #wine

Makes me wanna start singing "La mer..." with Charles Trenet, or "Beyond the Sea" if you prefer the Bobby Darin version.

This bottle is the classic Santorini (2019) from Gavalas in its sea-blue bottle with square-ish shoulders, on a table. Assyrtiko-dominated. You may sing now.

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 30/07/2026

1/2 Baumard's 2002 Quarts de Chaume, the Loire icon, is a sweet Chenin Blanc, never close to cloying. It's solid and concentrated even at its age. Easy going, tasty and friendly, it adds a long finish, but most of all, it's focused and perfectly balanced. #wine #cheninblanc #loirevalley #drinks

A glass and bottle of 2002 Domaine des Baumard, Quarts de Chaume, Loire valley on table. Chenin Blanc, sweet.

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 28/07/2026

Recently received waves of emails re: changes in TermsofService on a number of apps,including, for instance VENMO. (VENMO, btw, has determined that if litigation in court is necessary, it may only be in NY) Is there something going on, a change in law, causing all these companies to revise? #tech

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Mark Squires @marksquires.com · 27/07/2026

1/2 Let the color speak for itself! 😁Ermelinda Freitas' 2000 Moscatel de Setúbal (Muscat of Alexandria) Superior is a fortified dessert-wine style able to hold pretty much indefinitely. A whiff of brandy underneath is overwhelmed by the good fruit, aromatics and orange-y nuances. #wine #portugal

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