From the category archives:

Wine Reviews

Wine of the Week: 2009 Franz Keller Pinot Noir (Baden, Germany)

4 January 2012

To make good on two of my wine resolutions for 2012 – to drink lighter wines and more German wines, particularly reds – I made my first wine of the new year a Franz Keller Pinot Noir. The wine comes from the Baden region in southwest Germany. Despite being the warmest winegrowing region in the [...]

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Wine Review: 2009 Weingut Josef Leitz “Leitz Out” Riesling (Rheingau, Germany)

18 December 2011

Another clever wine name from winemaker Johannes Leitz of Weingut Josef Leitz.  His “Eins, Zwei, Dry” Riesling, which I reviewed earlier this year, was one of my favorite wines this year. Whereas the “Eins, Zwei, Dry” was dominated by apple and citrus, “Leitz Out” has lots of stone fruit – imagine ripe peaches and nectarines [...]

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Sauerbraten: An Impossible Dish to Match with Wine?

12 December 2011

Not impossible at all!
When my mother told me that for Sunday dinner she would be making Sauerbraten with dumplings, one of my favorite German dishes, I knew I would have to dig deep in the cellar to find the perfect white wine. In the past, my choice of white wine has raised eyebrows in my [...]

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Wine of the Week: 2008 Magnificent Wine Company “The Originals” Syrah (Columbia Valley, Washington)

7 December 2011

The simple but bold black and white label clearly identifies The Originals Syrah as part of the Magnificent Wine Company’s family of wines. You may not be particularly familiar with Magnificent, but I’m certain that you would recognize their “House Wines.” Founded by rocking winemaker Charles Smith, the Magnificent Wine Company is now owned and [...]

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A Ninety Plus Thanksgiving

30 November 2011

To my delight, Thanksgiving started a couple of days early with the arrival of a gift of samples from 90+Cellars, showcasing their latest bottlings. It is hard for me to resist trying a new wine, so they were immediately designated the wines for Thanksgiving dinner. Both were a huge hit, particularly with my mother. She [...]

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Last Minute Recommendations for What to Serve on Thanksgiving

21 November 2011

As the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaches, Glenn and I looked back on some of our recent recommendations for beverages suitable for a feast.
White Wines
2008 Pine Ridge Dijon Clones Chardonnay – I called this the “alternative to the alternative” a reference to those wine drinkers whose mantra is “ABC: Anything But Chardonnay.” A good choice for [...]

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Wine Review: 2008 Running Brook Cabernet Franc-Merlot

14 November 2011

Sometimes I need a break from warmer climate red wines, which can be heavy, high in alcohol, and almost chewy. Reminiscent of a light German red combined with a Beaujolais Nouveau, this Running Brook Vineyard and Winery blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40%Merlot is the perfect antidote. Making wine in a marginal climate like [...]

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Wine Review: 2009 Cantina Tramin Pinot Bianco – Alto Adige/Südtirol

3 November 2011

Cantina or Kellerei? Alto Adige or Südtirol? Pinot Bianco or Weissburgunder? The words only highlight the fascinating blend of Italian and German cultures, winemaking, and language found in this northeastern corner of Italy. Tramin (I’ll skip the first word since I can’t quite decide whether to follow the German or Italian linguistics) is a cooperative [...]

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Wine Review: 2008 P.J. Valckenberg Undone Pinot Noir (Rheinhessen, Germany)

31 October 2011

Unoaked. Unadulterated. Crisp, dry “naked” flavor.
Like the description on the back label of Undone Pinot Noir from Valckenberg, this is a straightforward wine. While Germany is better known for producing white wines, increasing numbers of vineyards are being planted to red grapes – perhaps a result of global climate change bringing conditions that allow [...]

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Wine of the Week: 2009 Tikal Natural Malbec (100% Organic Malbec)

25 October 2011

Eleni and I are big fans for Tikal wines and respectively have reviewed the 2006 Amorio and 2003 Patriota. While Tikal has received high marks and recognition for making exciting wines featuring Bonarda, the 2009 Natural Malbec is a fantastic example of what impressive wines Ernesto Catena and winemaker Luis Reginato can make with 100% [...]

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