The February notes for 2010 are from a small gathering at Ali and Andy’s house for some wine, cheese, and viewing of vacation photos. This was simply an opportunity to enjoy great company and food, and to open some wines we’ve been saving. Wines are described below in the order they were poured. […]
Dinner at Ali & Andy’s Read More »
The theme for this month’s wine tasting was the “tasting of the 95s”. No, not the vintage 1995, but the score 95. That is, each bottle we tasted had received a 95 rating from either the Wine Spectator magazine, or the Wine Advocate, the publication headed by Robert Parker. All wines, save for the
Cellar Inventory Reduction Read More »
Ten years ago, one could write very few superlatives about wines from Chile. They were mostly inexpensive, lacking in substance, and while sometimes good, were overall unremarkable. As wineries have learned more about where and how to better grow grapevines, the wines have increased in character and quality. The best are easily world-class, and appear
Chilean Cabernet Challenge Read More »
When the mercury rises in the summer months, I enjoy a good Hefeweizen for their clean, bright and thirst quenching qualities. Made with about half malted wheat and half malted barley, they are bottle-conditioned and contain spent yeast cell that lend complexity and fruitiness to the resulting brew. While there was a tie for
Hefeweizen Face-Off Read More »
This month’s tasting has the potential to be the most bitterly divisive ever, as we pit one cheap, probably mass-produced white wine against another. Can one find genuine quality whites with real character for $7? Will they all taste like low-priced swill?? Will we remain friends afterward??? The rules: Any still (non-sparkling) white
The $7 or Under Showdown Read More »
Along with the McClaren Vale, the Barossa Valley is considered one of the top areas in Australia for producing world-class wines from the Syrah grape. Down under, they call the grape Shiraz, and are often made from ancient vines of 50, or even 100 years of age, generating wines of unparalleled richness and intensity.
Barossa Valley Blowout Read More »
Overall, the wines presented were very diverse, from four different countries, and as many different vintages. With a couple of exceptions, there was strong consensus of opinion about the quality of each bottle, and many had colorful analogies in describing their impressions. Although tasters chose the reds according to price, everyone agreed the lone white
Cellar Inventory Reduction Read More »