For September, we took a break from our usual format in favor of a pairing challenge, where the goal was to decide which wines were better matches with specific dishes. And because we didn’t feel like hand washing thirty-six wine glasses this month, we decided to have just Ali & Andy over for dinner, instead […]
(mini) Pairings Battle Read More »
The last time we compared Washington Syrah in our blind format was way back in February 2009, so we were easily overdue for a revisit. Our results were mostly positive, and while each bottle offered something distinctive, they also shared similar characteristics, with dark fruit flavors, peppery spice, and supportive acids. Ali was not impressed
Washington Syrah Showdown #2 Read More »
Our third comparison of whites from Bordeaux was a difficult one to rate, because almost all the entries were enjoyable, featuring solid citrus flavors paired with bright acidity. While our winner was by far the favorite, all bottles received some points, and most provided a lot of pleasure for not a ton of money. In
White Bordeaux Bash #3 Read More »
This month’s battle consisted of one of the most impressive selections of wine that we can remember. Every bottle wowed us with excellent concentration, structure, and pleasure, with each entry receiving at least a few points. None were weak or at all disappointing, and all bottles spoke of their origin. Exclamations such as “gorgeous”, “all-star
Brunello di Montalcino Brawl #3 Read More »
We decided to challenge the group this month with a set of three blind comparisons, with two pairs focused on location, and one designed to determine the grape variety. They were all delicious wines, from an extremely refined Champagne (provided by Andy) and a local vintage sparkler (provided by Jo), to a pair of Spanish
September was a chance to revisit the wines of Greece (the last time was in September 2012). Unfortunately, the result this time was similar to our first round, with the wines being generally underwhelming (the exception being the Assyrtiko). Our sample size was very small, with only four bottles, so this tasting was far from comprehensive.
This month’s tasting was a departure from the usual format, and was a chance to compare Cabernet Sauvignons from six different growing regions. The winner was a well-balanced Australian, showing complexity and richness for a very modest price. Not far behind was Ali’s elegant old-world Cab from Italy. David’s expensive Bordeaux entry was over-the-hill