Reviews

Last week I spent in Central Otago attending their annual Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration in order to speak on the first day of the event but most of all to visit dear friends and check in on current release wines. It’s a favorite region of mine that more than anywhere else feels like going home. While there, I posted …

I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format. They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), and are presented links …

Silky and elegant, with cherry, sandalwood, smoke and spice flavors, this red is balanced and tangy, echoing the sweet fruit and spice notes on the finish. Drink now. 5,300 cases made, 2,000 cases imported. Source : 6668ba03bfd11ea57aca04cc7a1c404d

When I was 14, I wrote a letter. It started off as an offhand joke. A friend and I conceived the notion of an unknown stalker who would write elaborately abusive messages to another (mutual) friend. I wrote a few sentences which my friend read with glee. And a project was born. During breaktimes, the … Continue reading “On #winebitch …

On January 26th, Beringer winemaker Ryan Rech, joined the Tasting Panel on Zoom to cover 9 of his new release wines. We really enjoyed our session with him. We learned that in 2016, Ryan joined Beringer Vineyards as “Luxury Red Winemaker” and crafted wines from the Knights Valley estate. Since we are […] The post Winemaker Interview Series – Ryan …

Among Costco wines, particularly those in the Kirkland portfolio, it is really hard to beat the Oakville Cabernet for $20. This new 2019 vintage arrived right on time, usually Feb-March. We’re happy to see the price stay the same at $19.99. It was $18.99 a few years back but has been holding steady at $19.99 which is great. There are …

Justin Tyler Willett began the Tyler Winery in 2005 at age 24 after working with winemaker Joe Davis at Arcadian.  His wine trajectory since that time has been steep.  In 2011 He established the Lieu Dit label with sommelier Eric Railsback to focus on varietals of the Loire Valley grown in Santa Barbara County.  He later purchased a site on …

Jose, Javier, and Julio, long-term employees at Eyrie Vineyards in Willamette Valley How West Coast wine producers are coping with coronavirus-induced shutdown. Rather admirably in some cases. California and Oregon have both instituted statewide stay-at-home measures, though such recommendations are far less strict than what has been seen in much of Asia, Europe or New Zealand. Residents are urged to …

I taste a bunch-o-wine (technical term for more than most people). So each week, I share some of my wine reviews (mostly from samples) and tasting notes in a “mini-review” format. They are meant to be quirky, fun, and (mostly) easily-digestible reviews of (mostly) currently available wines (click here for the skinny on how to read them), and are presented links …

Delivers Key lime pith and white peach notes that streak through, with notes of quinine and honeysuckle. Offers a fresh and breezy feel from start to finish. Drink now through 2024. 17,500 cases made, 4,750 cases imported. Source : 50953aa085c72b3a14fef1f466801314

2020 was a swimming pool full of cack for many people. Here’s a new series of posts in which I honour the things that helped make that pool swimmable. — To read the full article, click the headline above. Source : https://oldparn.com/saviours-of-lockdown-almond-stuffed-olives-from-sous-chef/

On February 2nd, Black Kite and Saxon Brown winemaker Jeff Gaffner, joined the Tasting Panel on Zoom to cover 9 of his new release wines. We really enjoyed our session with him. Jeff began his career at Chateau St. Jean, under the tutelage of renowned vintner Richard Arrowood, who Jeff credits with teaching […] The post Winemaker Interview Series – …