We’ve previously reviewed a number of good wines from Cono Sur, and I’d even go so far as to say I’m a fan. The breadth of the wines they produce is phenomenal and the quality of what we’ve tasted has been consistently good. I think of them as an innovative and experimental producer from Chile, […]
Viña La Rosa is one of the oldest wineries in Chile, established in 1824 by don Francisco Ignacio Ossa y Mercado. That’s a name and a half, if you ask me. I’m not going to get into a lot of background on this wine, but instead jump ahead to, “90 alert, 90 alert!!!” As a […]
The story of Odjfell Vineyards began about 25 years ago when Norwegian ship owner Dan Odfjell acquired property in the Maipo Valley of Chile. However, the planting of vineyards didn’t begin until about 15 years ago. They now have vineyards in a few different Chilean appellations. In addition to wine production, they also breed Norwegian […]
Let’s check out another ten dollar Carménère today, this one from Santa Carolina. Although the popularity of Chilean wines has only recently exploded in the US, Santa Carolina has been around since 1875. Founded by Luis Pereyra Cotapos, it was named after his wife, Carolina Iñiguez Vicuña. The roots of wine production at Santa Carolina […]
As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, Carménère is a variety once used in Bordeaux wines that has recently made a resurgence. It was always a difficult grape in Bordeaux, due mostly to late ripening. And then it was wiped in France, in part by a phylloxera infestation in the 1880’s. For years it was considered […]
As I think back on the wines we’ve tasted over the past year, one stands out in my mind as being really interesting… and I’m just now getting it posted to the site. Perhaps it stands out, in part, because we tasted it near the end of the year, but it is also just a […]
A couple weeks ago we reviewed the Vigna Dogarina Extra Dry, which I thought was outstanding, and tonight it’s another Prosecco from Vigna Dogarina, this time it’s the Brut. If you’re not a bubbly wine buff you might not guess this, but the Brut is slightly more dry than the Extra Dry. So, I guess […]
Tonight we’re tasting another Prosecco, and it happens to be another outstanding value for sparkling wine. Like most Prosecco, Vigna Dogarina comes from the Veneto region in Italy. But that’s just the broader region. This particular Prosecco comes from Valdobbiadene, one of the most prestigious places for Prosecco. Pay close attention to the “Extra Dry” […]
When it comes to finding bubbly wine at bargain prices, Prosecco can’t be beat. Actually, Prosecco is a grape variety from the Veneto region of Italy and there is some of it produced as still wine, but the vast majority of it is bubbly. Here’s one that is simply awesome and it’s about $10 to […]
In case you haven’t seen it yet, you might want to check out the November/December issue of Mutineer Magazine. This issue includes a column, authored by yours truly, about sparkling wines—just in time for the holidays. One of the wines included in this article is the Lucien Albrecht Cremant D’Alsace – Brut Blanc de Blancs. […]
