special-occasions
Roagna is a renowned winemaker based in the Piedmont region of Italy, celebrated for their traditional and sustainable growing practices. They cultivate Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto grapes in prestigious vineyards like Barbaresco and Barolo, emphasizing biodiversity and minimal intervention.
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You see it everywhere: store aisles brimming with bottles of every style—red, white, rosé, orange, even bubbly—all carefully curated to complement your Thanksgiving feast. It made me wonder: what did the Pilgrims drink during their first celebration? Curious, I dug into the history to find out.
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We were presented with a remarkable lineup consisting of eight vintages of Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, ranging from 1990 to 2013 (’90, ’92, ’03, ’04, ’07, ’08, ’12, and ’13).
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Not surprisingly, with 4 years of barrel aging followed by 6 years in bottle prior to release this was stunning.
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Recently, I had the pleasure of enjoying a truly exceptional wine sourced by the individual who has been importing it to the US for the past 40 years. With only 120 bottles available, and always pre-sold to dedicated collectors, it was indeed a rare bottle. What made it even more remarkable was that it came in a magnum, allowing the wine to mature at a slower pace compared to a standard 750ml bottle.
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We were all set to conquer the 47th annual Josh Billings runaground when the universe decided to punk us. You guessed it – the race got canceled faster than a rainy picnic! The culprits? Thunderstorms and winds that were apparently more excited about the race than we were. But hey, we weren’t about to let Mother Nature rain on our parade. We clung to tradition… Read more →
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Julie and Xavier Gonet-Médeville both come from illustrious winemaking families: Julie’s lineage is renowned for the incomparable Château Gilette, while Xavier comes from a long line of Champagne growers in Le Mesnil. Leading a new generation of winemakers, they bring their family knowledge, methods, and passion to the diverse range of wines they craft together. In 2000, when his family’s Champagne vineyards were undergoing division,… Read more →
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Recently, we had the honor of welcoming some truly special visitors, prompting me to delve into my treasured Rioja wine collection. It was an occasion to celebrate both the cherished classics and the exciting new additions. These wines perfectly embodied my philosophy, which centers around enjoying well-crafted, naturally grown wines that are ready to be savored. Each bottle was a delightful experience, and we were… Read more →
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La Jota Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1990 In 1983, the Howell Mountain American Viticultural Area (AVA) became one of the first official sub-appellations of Napa Valley. While rivers, creeks, and property lines typically define an AVA, the boundaries of Howell Mountain are defined by a 1,400-foot elevation contour line as the lowest point, with the highest vineyards situated at 2,500 feet above sea level…. Read more →
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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… Read more →
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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… Read more →
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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… Read more →
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