The Douro is best known as the region of Portugal where the grapes for Port are grown, however this region also produces a significant amount of table wine (i.e., non-fortified, dry wine). And the quality-to-price ratio (QPR) for wines from this region is outstanding. When I’m looking for rich, full-bodied reds at a bargain price […]
Red Wines
Review: Herdade do Rocim Amphora Tinto
Some wines are made for the masses, some wines are made for aficionados and some wines are made for wine geeks. To me, this is a wine for wine geeks. That doesn’t mean that everyone else wouldn’t enjoy the wine, it just means there’s something special about the wine that wine geeks will totally geek […]
Review: Ron Rubin, Pinot Noir
Ron Rubin, the person and namesake of the Ron Rubin Winery, is more than just a wine producer — you might call him a beverage mogul. He grew up working in his family’s wholesale liquor company in Illinois, which he expanded into wine distribution. He is the owner of the tea company, The Republic of […]
Review: Esporão, Reserva Red
Today I’m continuing the recent series of red blends from Portugal with a wine from one of the larger producers in Alentejo, Esporão. This is a producer that grows about 40 different varieties of grapes, but also olive groves, orchards and other produces. It sounds like a beautiful place. This blend includes some of the […]
Review: Cartuxa, Tinto
A few weeks back, I had a series of reviews on red blends from Portugal and today I’m back at it with a wine from a legendary winery in Portugal, called Cartuxa. This winery, along with the olive grove and enoteca under the same name, are run by a philanthropic foundation, called Eugénio de Almeida. […]
Exploring Variety in Oregon Wine
Before the Covid-19 pandemic descended upon us, I had planned to visit the Willamette Valley wine region of Oregon in 2020 in order to explore the wineries in that region. But alas, that didn’t happen. So, when I had an opportunity to join a virtual masterclass and tasting called Unexplored Oregon I leapt at the opportunity. […]
Review: Herdade de São Miguel, Colheita Seleccionada
Recently, I’ve been focusing on red blends from Portugal — and more specifically, the Alentejo region of Portugal. The wine I’m highlighting today, Herdade de São Miguel, Colheita Seleccionada, continues that theme. Some of the best wine in the world comes from vineyards in areas you might not think are great for agriculture, unless you […]
Review: Adega de Borba Reserva Red
How do you choose a wine? Do you tend to think of a specific variety, like a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot? Or do you think about blends? In my opinion, blends are too often overlooked in the United States — although their popularity is growing. While varietal wines certainly have their place, blends have […]
Review: Esporão, Monte Velho Red
Regular readers of this site are probably aware of my appreciation for Portuguese wine. One driver of that appreciation is the quality to price ratio (QPR) for their wines, which tends to be very good. That catches the attention of a bargain hunter like me and makes me seek out more. This wine comes from […]
Review: PassioneSentimento Rosso
In Italy, as well as in Europe in general, wine is heavily regulated. In order to sell a wine with a specific designation, winemakers must follow specific guidelines related where the grapes are grown, types of grapes used in a wine, ageing of the wines, winemaking processes, etc. In many ways, I think this regulation […]