This is the second time we’ve reviewed Clif’s The Climber Red Blend. The 2006 version we reviewed was comprised of the same 5 varietals (zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, merlot and petite syrah); however, in similar fashion to how Clif’s winemakers have managed The Climber white, they’ve made some significant changes to the percentages. In the […]
One of the highlights of my trip to Austria this past fall was the grüner veltliner (pronounced GROO-nah velt-LEE-nah, with your best Germanic accent). We traveled up the Danube river one day and tasted grüner veltliner from the Wachau and Wagram regions, which are beautiful areas with terraced vineyards along the shores of the Danube. […]
This is an intriguing wine. It’s classified as a Sauvignon Blanc, and at 80% of the blend, that is technically accurate. But Clif’s winemakers, Sarah Gott and Bruce Regalia blend in 4 additional varietals to create a wine that offers layers, complexity, and distinction. Those expecting typical sauvignon blanc characteristics won’t be disappointed, but The […]
Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to have tasted many barrel samples with some really experienced winemakers. With almost every visit I’ve gained some valuable perspective to help me identify what wines are revealing, and more importantly what they have the potential to reveal. Sampling the Jacob’s Creek brought me back to one tasting […]
Although the label of this wine says that it’s a nerello mascalese, that’s not the only grape that’s in here. There’s also prosecco in this wine and I really think of it as a rosé prosecco because nerello mascalese is primarily used for color. The nerello mascalese grapes in this wine come from Sambuca, Sicily […]
Tonight we’re checking out an inexpensive, yet tasty, prosecco from Villa Sandi. When I hear a name like Villa Sandi, I often assume that it’s just some name given to the wine that the producers thought would sound elegant. But in this case, there is a real villa where the company is headquartered, and it […]
Years ago, I turned my wife on to sauvignon blanc from New Zealand. It’s now her white wine of choice. In fact, when white wine ends up on the grocery list there usually isn’t any second-guessing. So tonight as I was in the process of making dinner, my wife said she was up for a […]
If you haven’t sampled an Argentine malbec recently, you’re really missing out on a unique wine experience. It shouldn’t be any surprise that a country that produces so much juice – Argentina currently ranks 5th in global wine production – should be able to produce high quality wines across every price range. But the quality […]
The Russian River Valley isn’t in Russia, it’s an AVA in Sonoma County, west of Healdsburg. This is a cool climate region, due to the influence of the Pacific Ocean, and as such is an outstanding area to produce both pinot noir and chardonnay. This is where the grapes for this Picket Fence pinot noir […]
I love reading wine labels, particularly when winemakers take the time, and make the investment to tell you a little about their wine. Gnarly Head, takes the time. And if you’ve read my post on Gnarly Head 2009 Chardonnay, you know how I feel about the Gnarly Head Brand. I’m a fan. I’m also a […]
