Added on 11/24/09 at 7:41 am
2007 Bonterra Viognier:
If the sensual texture isn’t enough to make you smile, the beautiful perfumed nose of orange blossom, apricot, and beeswax certainly will. A strong impression of stone minerality comes forward on the palate, making this wine act like a squeaky clean “old world” viognier.
Die-hard chardonnay fans typically find a bottle of viognier in front of them at some point and are amazed at how delicious they are. Bonterra consistently produces a superb quality example, and an organic one to boot. Read More
Added on 11/23/09 at 2:10 pm
2006 Kenwood Zinfandel, Jack London Vineyard:
Characteristic ripe and under-ripe red berry aromas come together with the subtle use of oak and seasoned with a hint of clove spice. Tannins and acids are slightly elevated, but in balance contributing to a fuller body style.
Zinfandel ranks only behind cabernet sauvignon among red varietal plantings in California, with single vineyard Sonoma zins among the most important.
Try with a honey glazed ham dotted with clove and be very, very happy.
14.5% alcohol, 92 points.
I’ve seen this wine a number of places, including BevMo and Costco, priced between $15-$20.
Added on 11/20/09 at 1:26 pm
2007 Girard Chardonnay, Russian River Valley:
When chardonnay stays away from the heat of the Napa Valley it retains an entirely different character. Acidity, oak, and fruit harmonize into a beautiful example of why the Russian River Valley is arguably the most important region for this varietal in the United States. Read More
Added on 10/16/09 at 9:00 am
Big House Red
So I just got through tasting and reviewing the three Big House wines that were sent to me by the distributor. While writing my tasting notes a different thought process rolled through my head. Let me explain…
A few years and beers ago my pal Dale, the bartender at Latitude 32 Grill and Pub in Pacific Beach, CA recanted a story from the previous night where a well dressed woman sashayed through the door of this neighborhood pub and asked to see the wine list. Ever the clever lad Dale is, he went back to the office where he scribbled in large permanent marker three words on a coctail napkin. “RED”, ”WHITE”, “PINK”. I don’t think she’s been back.
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Added on 10/06/09 at 5:16 pm
After just two years business, brothers Daniel and Georges Daou might be on the cusp of producing what could be the first true cult wine out of the Paso Robles AVA.
Heady talk when you consider they have not yet produced, nor even harvested, their first estate crop. However, if past business success is any measure of future potential, these siblings with San Diego ties are going to wow wine enthusiasts for decades. Read More
Added on 10/01/09 at 11:41 am
Wine Style: Using Your Senses to Explore and Enjoy Wine, by Ed McCarthy and Mary Ewing-Mulligan. Wiley, John & Sons Inc. Publishing
Wine Style proposes the reader not look at wine by varietal or region, but instead by style. By doing so, the authors have simplified wine into four categories for red wines, four for whites and two each for rose and sparklers. Compare just these few categories against the massive wall of wine at your local retailer, and one can easily see the merits of this approach. Read More
Added on 09/30/09 at 7:37 pm
This wine screams “Hey, I’m from Marlborough, New Zealand!”
Lime, passion fruit, and grapefruit flavors abound, plus the obvious and outrageous Marlborough grassiness and a hint of white pepper on the finish. The fruit and non-fruit features integrate seamlessly in what is an excellent example of the NZ style of sauvignon blanc.
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Added on 09/29/09 at 11:31 am
The Oxford Companinon to Wine, Edited by Jancis Robinson, Oxford University Press
Simply put, The Oxford Companion to Wine is the quintessential wine reference book. It is a commanding presence in an encyclopedia format offering more in-depth wine information than any other publication, period.
All wine professionals worth their weight in riesling own this book. For everyone else, it has more than 3,000 easy-to-navigate, straightforward entries to learn from. Read More
Added on 09/28/09 at 11:35 am
The Wine Bible, by Karen MacNeil, Workman Publishing
This friendly read offers personal insight into all things wine, written by a woman who is a self-made superstar in this arena. In fact, in 2004, MacNeil was named “Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year” by The James Beard Foundation and later was awarded “2005 Wine Educator of the Year” by the European Wine Council.
More about education than reference, The Wine Bible acts as the reader’s personal travel guide through the world of wine. From vine to wine and food pairings, with historical and regional vignettes, it covers every meaningful wine subject. Read More
Added on 08/27/09 at 6:15 pm
The Wine Bible, by Karen MacNeil
Tourists are leaving, Del Mar racing season is waning and the sun is shining more than at any other time of the year. It must be back-to-school days.
So, with academia descending upon our children, why not join in and learn a little more about an adult subject?
Wine may be more diverse and complex than any other beverage, but it can be made easy to understand with a minimal amount of study. An infinite number of books have been written on the subject, with a few major standouts rising above the rest.
A glass of wine is always more interesting with a story or some understanding behind it. By using these books, anyone can learn more about wine and therefore make every glass taste just a little bit better.
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