Today is Beaujolais Nouveau Day, which occurs the third Thursday of November every year. It comes from a tradition in the Beaujolais region of France, dating back to the 1800’s, in which wine producers celebrate the end of the harvest season with a toast of the first wine from the season. Sure there are lots […]
Review: Koyle Gran Reserva Carmenere
Carménère is a grape with a great story. It was one of the original six grapes permitted in red Bordeaux wines. Then it was thought to be extinct, after phylloxera wiped out most of the vineyards in Europe in 1867. But then in the mid-1990’s Carménère was rediscovered growing in Chile, where it had been incorrectly […]
Domaine Bousquet Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Sauvignon Blanc is an interesting grape variety because it’s expression is so distinctly different depending on where it’s grown. This is true of all grape varieties to some extent. After all, that’s why you hear so many wine producers talk about terroir. But in my opinion, this is much more pronounced when it comes to […]
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: Gaia, Cabernet Franc
Last week, I posted a review of the Maquis, Cabernet Franc from Chile. In that review, I noted how I don’t come across Cabernet Franc as often as some other varieties. Ironically, here I am a week later with another Cabernet Franc review. This one is also from South America, but a little further east […]
Review: Maquis, Cabernet Franc
Cabernet Franc is a grape variety I don’t write about often. I have nothing against it, in fact I love a good Cab Franc. I just don’t come across it as often as other varieties. If you’re not familiar with Cabernet Franc, think of it as similar to Cabernet Sauvignon except a little bit lighter […]
Wine Travel: Rogue Valley, Oregon
Every now and then, I’ll talk with someone who spent time in Napa Valley or Sonoma back in the 1980s or 1990s. The good old days, as they say. It was a time of pioneering and excitement, when winemakers adventurously experimented in order to realize the potential of their terroir. Visiting wineries was pretty casual, […]
Review: Murças, Assobio
Last week I posted a review of a Portuguese wine called Quinta dos Murças, Minas. Today I have another wine from Quinta dos Murças, this one is called Assobio. This wine was produced under the same lead winemaker, José Luis Moreira da Silva. The name, Assobio, means “whistle” in Portuguese and is a reference to […]
Review: Quinta dos Murças, Minas 2018
The Douro is best known as the region of Portugal where the grapes for Port are grown, however this region also produces a significant amount of table wine (i.e., non-fortified, dry wine). And the quality-to-price ratio (QPR) for wines from this region is outstanding. When I’m looking for rich, full-bodied reds at a bargain price […]
Pecorino, a Beautiful Bargain
Cheese is the first thing most people think of when they hear Pecorino, but if you’re a wine lover get ready to know Pecorino as wine. And if you like vibrant white wines at amazingly reasonable prices, this is a wine you will most definitely want to get to know. Pecorino, the Grape You may […]
