You may have noticed that the last few reviews on this site have all been for merlot. That’s also the theme of my column in the latest issue (issue #26) of Mutineer Magazine. This merlot from Estancia didn’t make that column, but it’s still a very tasty merlot worth checking out. It comes from the […]
How about another merlot review? I thought you’d like that idea. 181. You may have seen this wine or another one from the Noble Vines family in shops and wondered what it’s all about. The labels are simple. It’s just a number and a varietal name. But what does it mean? The numbers represent vine […]
If there’s one complaint we got on this site in 2012, it was the quantity of white wine reviews versus red wines. The red wine lovers have spoken and they felt under-served. So, let’s start off 2013 with a little balance and follow up my first white wine review with a red. And, let’s make […]
One trend I’ve noticed over the past few years is the growing popularity of zinfandel-based blends. It seems to be a style of wine that appeals to the collective taste of American wine drinkers. We like them too. As a result of the growing popularity of this style, more and more producers are coming 0ut […]
I’ve admitted it before, and I’ll do so again… I have a prejudice against Californian sauvignon blanc. Why? I’ve just had too much of it that is weak, flavorless and disappointing. But when I find one that’s good, I have to give them credit. Tin Barn Vineyards is the most recent producer to impress me […]
I keep waiting for the world to suddenly realize how awesome rosé can be, but it just hasn’t happened yet. I know… it’s often not as interesting as a complex white wine or as rich as a deep red wine. But rosé has its place and too many wine connoisseurs overlook it. It’s not like I […]
The Biltmore in North Carolina has been on my list of places to visit for a number of years, but I just haven’t made it there yet—that list is a long one. But I do want to visit some day to see the architecture, the landscape and taste the wine. And so, I was glad […]
Some folks I know are biased against Robert Mondavi wines. I assume that’s due to the fact that many of their wines are produced in bulk and can be found anywhere, in other words they are “supermarket brands.” In some cases this is an unfair accusation. Robert Mondavi actually produces a wide range of wines […]
We’re going slightly over our typical price limit today, but I have a good excuse. We’re checking out a new wine from Spelletich Family Wine Company, one of my favorite small producers. I’ve just come across them this year and previously reviewed their SPELLwine Sangiovese, Severed Head Red, Spelonu Red and SPELLwine Syrah, all of […]
Tonight it’s time for a double-header review from one of my favorite new small winery discoveries, SPELLwine. Both wines are red blends from Napa Valley, both are super tasty and both have crazy-fun labels. The woman behind this wine, Kristen Spelletich, told me that she only sells her wine through retail and direct. She said […]
