Posts tagged as:

Wine

Wine of the Week: 90+ Cellars 2008 Lot 56 Reserve Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

15 February 2012

Move over Malbec! To date, my two favorite wines to be released by 90+ Cellars have both been Malbecs: the Lot 3 and Lot 36 from Salta and Mendoza respectively. But as of today, I have a new favorite: the Lot 56 Reserve Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley.  Simply put, this is a [...]

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A Toast for Saint Valentine: 2008 Reginato “Celestina” Sparkling Rosé of Malbec (Wine Review)

12 February 2012

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, you might be thinking about which wine to share with your special someone. Perhaps something sparking comes to mind? Though French Champagne might be the obvious choice, the Reginato “Celestina” rosé from Mendoza is a perfectly romantic alternative.
As is quite typical of rosés made from the Malbec grape, [...]

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Wine Review: 2008 Kellerei/Cantina Terlan “Terlaner Classico”

6 February 2012

The Kellerei or Cantina Terlan Classico blend is another dual identity wine from Alto Adige. Part German, part Italian, I can’t get enough of wines from this region. Terlan is one of the region’s oldest wine cooperatives, and today has about 100 members. As Glenn and I have said before, don’t fear the term cooperative. [...]

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Wine of the Week: 2010 J. Hofstätter Pinot Grigio (Alto Adige)

1 February 2012

On Saturday night we served a lovely Pinot Noir from J. Hofstätter to 500 guests (see my previous post). I thought it was elegant and representative of a light, flavorful style of Pinot Noir that seems only to come from Alto Adige. To my delight, others enjoyed it as much as I did and it [...]

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Wine for 500 (or how to please everyone without resorting to the lowest common denominator)

31 January 2012

Saturday was a big night: a celebration with 500 of my organization’s nearest and dearest donors, volunteers, and friends. I had been mulling over the wine selection for weeks, tasting various options with colleagues and on my own, writing about the results, and even getting suggestions from you, our readers. In the end, the [...]

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Wine Review: 2010 L’Ecole No. 41 Chenin Blanc

14 January 2012

In the glass, the L’Ecole No. 41 is a pale yellow, with long, dense legs and viscosity giving an observable richness.  The nose is wonderfully fruit forward.  Aromas of quince and pineapple are rounded out by minerality and a hint of smoke. Peach pit, citrusy notes, particularly grapefruit, and ripe pears on the palate. The [...]

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Wine of the Week: 2008 August Kesseler Spätburgunder Pinot N (Rheinhessen)

11 January 2012

Occasionally, I find a wine that is so surprisingly good that I am blown away.  The 2008 August Kesseler Spätburgunder Pinot N is one such wine.
The color is garnet that is starting to turn a bit brownish. The nose and palate have ripe strawberry and blackberry, spice, brambly, and just enough mushroom and black tea [...]

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Wine Review: 2006 Viñas de Luján Las Loicas Cabernet Sauvignon (100% Organic)

10 January 2012

I am not a big fan of rustic wines that conjure images of horses, hay, and barnyards, and I have wondered if perhaps I lack the patience or the palate for such wines. Upon opening, Las Loicas Cabernet Sauvignon reminded me of being down on the farm. Not all that long ago many Argentine wines [...]

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Seeking a Party Pleaser: Beaujolais Cru versus Barbera d’Alba

9 January 2012

In the continuing search for a perfect wine for a dinner for 500 guests, my colleagues and I tried two wines in a lighter style: the 2010 Jean-Marc Burgaud Régnié “Vallières” Beaujolais Cru and the 2009 Giacomo Ascheri Barbera d’Alba Vigna Fontanelle.  We were split between these two options, both of which we liked a [...]

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Wine Review: 2009 Chateau de La Chaize Brouilly, Beaujolais Cru

6 January 2012

The Chateau de La Chaize from Beaujolais’s Brouilly appellation hails from the famed 2009 vintage. It is a semi-finalist for the red wine to be served at the dinner I mentioned in my previous post. My fellow tasters and I liked that it is tasty, interesting, and fresh, with neither tannins nor acidity overly asserting [...]

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