A few weeks back, I had a series of reviews on red blends from Portugal and today I’m back at it with a wine from a legendary winery in Portugal, called Cartuxa. This winery, along with the olive grove and enoteca under the same name, are run by a philanthropic foundation, called Eugénio de Almeida. […]
Review: Gruet Blanc de Noirs
What would you say if I told you New Mexico is the source of some of the best sparkling wine in the US? Would you believe me? Would you think I’ve lost it? Well, here we are and that’s exactly what I’m saying. Gruet Winery The producer I’m talking about is Gruet (pronounced: groo-ay) and […]
Exploring Variety in Oregon Wine
Before the Covid-19 pandemic descended upon us, I had planned to visit the Willamette Valley wine region of Oregon in 2020 in order to explore the wineries in that region. But alas, that didn’t happen. So, when I had an opportunity to join a virtual masterclass and tasting called Unexplored Oregon I leapt at the opportunity. […]
Review: Esporão, Bico Amarelo
Recently, I’ve posted a number of reviews of red blends from Portugal. But red wines aren’t the only blends to consider, so today I’m highlighting a white blend from the Vinho Verde region of Portugal, the Esporão, Bico Amarelo. “Vinho Verde” translates literally as “green wine” but more appropriately is translated as “young wine” as […]
Review: Herdade de São Miguel, Colheita Seleccionada
Recently, I’ve been focusing on red blends from Portugal — and more specifically, the Alentejo region of Portugal. The wine I’m highlighting today, Herdade de São Miguel, Colheita Seleccionada, continues that theme. Some of the best wine in the world comes from vineyards in areas you might not think are great for agriculture, unless you […]
Review: Adega de Borba Reserva Red
How do you choose a wine? Do you tend to think of a specific variety, like a Cabernet Sauvignon or a Merlot? Or do you think about blends? In my opinion, blends are too often overlooked in the United States — although their popularity is growing. While varietal wines certainly have their place, blends have […]
Review: Esporão, Monte Velho Red
Regular readers of this site are probably aware of my appreciation for Portuguese wine. One driver of that appreciation is the quality to price ratio (QPR) for their wines, which tends to be very good. That catches the attention of a bargain hunter like me and makes me seek out more. This wine comes from […]
Review: Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Rosé
I don’t know about you, but I love a good sparkling wine. It shouldn’t be something just for special occasions but something you can enjoy regularly. Some sparkling wines, like Champagne, are expensive and associated with luxury — giving people the false impression that sparkling wine has to be expensive. But there are some outstanding, […]
Review: PassioneSentimento Rosso
In Italy, as well as in Europe in general, wine is heavily regulated. In order to sell a wine with a specific designation, winemakers must follow specific guidelines related where the grapes are grown, types of grapes used in a wine, ageing of the wines, winemaking processes, etc. In many ways, I think this regulation […]
Review: Ameal Loureiro
Loureiro is an unknown grape variety to many American wine consumers, but it’s one you may have unknowingly tasted before as it’s found in some Vinho Verde blends. And it’s a variety you may want to become more familiar with, because, well… it’s good! Perhaps I should say, it’s good when it’s done well. Loureiro […]