After a drive through the countryside of Thrace (northern Greece) we arrived at Domaine Kikones in Rodope, Greece. This is not a very touristy part of Greece. It’s in the country about 20 kilometers northwest of Maroneia. My first impression upon arriving is it felt rather simple. There was no fancy chateau. No grand entrance. […]
Weingut Binz, Nackenheimer Pinot Gris Kabinett
I’ll be honest, I often don’t think of Germany when I think of pinot gris. Although there’s no good reason for that. Pinot gris is the fourth most common white wine produced in Germany, where it’s often called “grauburgunder.” I guess Oregon and Italy have just dominated my mind when it comes to this variety. […]
Casillero del Diablo Rosé Reserva
I’ve been a fan of rosé for several years. I’ll even beat my chest a little bit and say I was ahead of the curve on the recent surge in popularity of rosé. I’ve previously written that my favorite rosé in the world comes from Tavel. But that’s not to say you can’t get good […]
Serie Riberas Gran Reserva – Malbec
Most malbec we come across in the US comes from Argentina, but that’s not the only country in South America growing this variety. This one comes from Chile. This wine is produced by Concha Y Toro, the largest wine producer in Chile, under their Serie Riberas Gran Reserva brand. It’s from the Colchagua Valley region, […]
Parducci “Small Lot” Cabernet Sauvignon – Big Flavor
I’ve reviewed a couple wines from the Parducci “Small Lot” series lately, including their pinot noir and chardonnay. Both of those wines impressed me as incredible values. So I wasn’t terribly surprised when I tried their cabernet sauvignon and again it delivers a lot of bang for the buck. This wine comes from Mendocino County […]
Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec – Really Nice
I’ve reviewed a number of Trivento wines in the past. Like many wine producers they have a few different tiers in their portfolio, offering really affordable wines in the lower tier that may not be all that interesting but also having more premium tiers that display a bit more character and quality in the wine. […]
Barth Riesling Sekt Sparkling Riesling
Many Americans don’t think of Germany when looking for a sparkling wine, however they produce some wonderful sparklers. They produce more than you might expect too — sekt makes up 31% of Germany’s total wine production. This sparkler is made from riesling in the traditional méthode champenoise (meaning the carbonation is achieved by finishing the […]
Parducci Small Lot Chardonnay – Fantastic
In my recent review of Emiliana Natura Unoaked Chardonnay I shared my affinity for chardonnay without oak. But while I love a good unoaked chardonnay, I’m not entirely opposed to having some oak in my chardonnay. When it comes to oaking wines, balance is the key and this wine demonstrates that well. With 80% of […]
Emiliana Natura Unoaked Chardonnay – Crisp and Tasty
I often think of chardonnay as the most loved and most hated wine. In the U.S. it is the most sold varietal, period. Out of all the white wine and red wine varietals, more chardonnay is sold than any other varietal. This is a pretty good indication that a lot of people love it. But […]
Parducci Small Lot Pinot Noir – Great Value
A lot of wine snobs like to say it’s impossible to find good pinot noir for under $20. While it’s not as easy as some other varietals, it can be done and this wine from Parducci is a great example. Not only is this a good pinot noir for under $20, it’s a good pinot noir […]