It’s mid-March and we’ve already had our first taste of spring here in Cincinnati. We’ve had some warm days, getting into the 70s. The magnolia trees and daffodils are blossoming. And I’m seeing buds on bushes and grapevines around my yard. That first taste of spring makes my palate crave more summer-oriented wines, like Sauvignon […]
Californian Wine
Review: Pam’s UN-Oaked Cabernet
When I came across the wine I’m reviewing today, I was super curious and interested to taste it. This wine comes from Ron Rubin Winery in Sonoma, California. I’ve reviewed some of their wines before and I’ve always been impressed with them, including Pam’s UN-Oaked Chardonnay. The 2021 vintage of Pam’s UN-Oaked Cabernet is the […]
Bonterra Pinot Noir – Regenerative Organic Certified Wine
It’s become almost ubiquitous for wine producers to talk about sustainability. I appreciate the fact that producers recognize the importance of it, but I often find myself skeptical. Anyone can claim to practice sustainability. There is no legally-binding definition for sustainability and it’s totally plausible that some producers could use the term as a part […]
Review: Pound for Pound, Zinfandel
“Pound for pound” is an expression used in combat sports when comparing fighters from different weight classes who would not typically compete against each other due to those differences. I don’t know if McPrice Myers, the producer of Pound for Pound Zinfandel, intended for the name of this wine to be an analogy of some […]
Review: High on the Hog, Red Wine
Paso Robles kind of flies under the radar as a wine region. They just don’t get the publicity they deserve. It’s an outstanding wine region, but one you don’t hear about as often as some other parts of California. But make no mistake, Paso Robles should not be overlooked. One of the things I correlate […]
Bull by the Horns Cabernet Sauvignon
Sometimes you want a red wine that has some oomph to it! Maybe when you’re having steak or burgers, or even just some rich cheddar cheese. Cabernet Sauvignon is a good wine to choose on those occasions. Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles makes an even better choice. The challenge, though, is to find a great […]
Review: Pam’s UN-Oaked Chardonnay 2020
Confession: When it comes to white wine, Chardonnay generally isn’t my first choice. I’m not anti-Chardonnay, I just tend to prefer other varieties. But sometimes, I come across a Chardonnay that strikes my fancy. When that happens, more often than not it’s an unoaked Chardonnay. Unoaked chardonnay is just what it sounds like — Chardonnay […]
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: Ron Rubin, Russian River Valley Chardonnay
One of the things the Russian River Valley is known for is great Chardonnay. It is one of those areas where climatic conditions are optimal for growing Chardonnay grapes. Conditions like cool breezes and fog from the Pacific Ocean, significant diurnal temperature swings, lots of sunshine and sandy soil with good drainage. Within the Russian […]
Review: Pam’s UN-Oaked Chardonnay
Summer is upon us and the heat is coming coming down, making this the season for crisp, light, fruity white wines. This one fits the bill perfectly! Chardonnay is one of those wines that is really popular with many people, but also has a number of haters. I call those folks ABC wine lovers (i.e., […]