California
Champagne, Corsica, Paso Robles, Napa Andrew did not disappoint with his selection! These wines were eye-opening and jaw-dropping. Particularly the reds which were best had on different days to truly enjoy them. Champagne Palmer 2012 A soft dry wine with fresh apples and a crisp citrus mouthfeel. Nicely creamy and lively with excellent acidity this vintage cuvée is ready to be enjoyed…and was! $112 Constellation […]
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Wilson and Alandra’s Tasting Selection Thomas Fogerty Wines, Santa Cruz Mountains Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Mindego Vineyard, 2018 A fine representation from this winemaker, explosive fruit, full cherry, and red fruit with excellent depth and intensity. A beauty of a Pinot from this producer. $75 La Vida Bella Vineyard, 2018 Excellent ruby color with a slight clove nose, black cherries and licorice, and rich fresh […]
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Out of all the California wines being presented at the Expo, the following selection didn’t necessarily align with my personal preferences, but they were certainly the most intriguing. I was taken aback, however, when one of my favorite winemakers (Heitz Cellars) failed to meet my expectations. As a distinguished Napa winemaker renowned for their unwavering commitment to quality, I expected their “entry-level” premium wine to […]
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We had a last-minute neighborly get-together on Thursday night, I thought of pairing the Robert Mondavi Maestro 2018 robust and full-flavored red blend (meritage), a blend of: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 17% Petit Verdot, 11% Merlot, 5% Malbec with Vegan chili. The wine a great choice, boasting sweet red plum and Bing cherry aromas, complemented by savory notes of tamari, black pepper, and […]
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I came across this wine at a local shop tasting and was impressed with its simplicity and finesse. The wine is made using a combination of both tank and barrel fermentations that are aged in neutral barrels. The fruit is sourced from three vineyards in Happy Canyon; Grassini, McGinley, and Star Lane. A bright energetic wine with spring flowers and hints of mint. The wine […]
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I recently hosted a dinner and decided to serve three “bordeaux” style wines, two from the Bordeaux region and one from California, a Cabernet Sauvignon. The first wine I opened was the Clarendelle Bordeaux 2016, which consists of 84% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Cabernet Franc. It was a pleasant wine overall, but nothing particularly stood out. I learned that Clarendelle purchases wines from […]
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From the family that makes the finest American sparkling wine. Their experience with Pinot Noir dates back to 1967, when Jack and Jamie Davies first used this elegant red varietal to make their inaugural vintage of Schramsberg Blanc de Noirs sparkling wine. They’ve expanded to making fine pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon wines in addition to their sparkling wines. Napa Valley is making wine that […]
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Our host asked for a wine with “soft tannins” as the food to be served was Asian-inspired flavors with fish as the main course. Most people think of fish and white wine, personally, I prefer to consider the time of year and flavors. In this case, it was also the dead of winter. My thoughts immediately leaned toward Pinot Noir, Gamay, or Bobal. I decided […]
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