Although carménère has in recent years come to be thought of as a signature Chilean grape, its roots go back to Europe. More specifically, it is thought to have originated in the Médoc region of Bordeaux. It was once thought to be the “lost grape of Bordeaux,” having gone extinct from phylloxera in 1867. But cuttings of […]
3 Spells Rosé – A Rosé with Personality
Today it’s rainy and icky outside and I’m feeling kind of moody, but things are turning more springlike and for that reason I’m going to focus on a happy wine for spring. A rosé! I love rosé and I think it’s an under-appreciated wine in general — although not under-appreciated by me. When it’s made […]
DeMorgenzon DMZ Chardonnay – A Chard to Love
South Africa is rising quickly on my list of locations for really good bargain-priced wines. I showed up late to this party, but I’m sticking around now that I’ve found it. This is the latest in my list of South African wines worth raving about. And this one is a chardonnay. I almost never “rave” […]
Kim Crawford, Small Parcels Rise and Shine, Pinot Noir – Superb!
I’ve raved about Kim Crawford wines from New Zealand in the past. The fact is, I have yet to taste a wine from Kim Crawford that I don’t love. Although they’ve only been around for about two decades, they know their stuff. They only make a few varieties of wine, and they make them really […]
Noble Vines 1 Red Blend – Juicy, Jammy Red
Red blends are where it’s at when you want a tasty red wine at a bargain price. And they seem to be all the rage too. I’ve hear people raving over red blends all the time, and some of my favorite wines are red blends. Although not all red blends are the same, so it’s […]
Brancott Estate Pinot Noir – Intensely Aromatic
Yesterday I posted a review of a bargain-priced pinot noir that was pretty good for the price. It wasn’t a wine that would totally knock your socks off, but it was good and a great value for a pinot noir. This wine from Brancott Estate is a similar story. This wine comes from Marlborough, New […]
Harlow Ridge Lodi Pinot Noir – A Well-Balanced Bargain
As I’ve commented recently, I try to make sure I post reviews of both unique (although perhaps harder to find) gems and more widely distributed, easy to find wines. This one comes from Bronco Wine Company, a producer I’ve written about a number of times. They produce over 100 brands of wine, including many of […]
Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon – Full of Spice
It’s no secret to regular readers here that I’m a fan of the good value wines that come out of Chile. I’ve reviewed a bunch of Chilean wines over the years. And I’ll probably review a bunch more in the coming years. One varietal from Chile that has been hit and miss for me is […]
Forest Glen Tehachapi Clone Pinot Grigio – Good Deal!
At times I struggle to find the right balance on this site. My personal interest lead me down the path of more obscure, unique and interesting wines. But I know that many readers come here just wanting to find recommendations on something simple they can pick up at their local shop, wherever that shop is. […]
Raats Original Chenin Blanc
As I mentioned in my last review, I’ve become a fan of chenin blanc over the past year. Particularly those from South Africa. This one comes from Raats Family Wines in Stellenbosch — a producer I recently praised for their super-tasty Red Jasper cabernet franc blend. In that review I mentioned that Raats specializes in […]