Taking the world one wine at a time.
Grapes 48% Merlot, 46% Cabernet, 6% Syrah Facts The name C.M.S. comes from the blend of grapes they use i.e. Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah. This makes sense considering they are the leading the grapes in the Columbia Valley region. The Hedges estate also make a white blend of Chardonnay, Marsanne, Sauvignon Blanc. The CMS has been made since 1987, and is recognized as one of the big value-driven wines coming out of Washington State.
Read More
Grapes 50% Verdejo, 30% Viura, 20% Sauvignon Blanc Facts The main characteristic of Verdejo is its freshness and acidity. It therefore makes sense that the majority of Verdejo based wines never see exposure to oak, so as not to detract from the natural flavor of the grape. The Las Brisas was therefore fermented and aged in all stainless steel. Viura (otherwise known as Macabeo) is similar in style to Verdejo in that it’s fresh…
Read More
Grape 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, with the balance being a blend of Mazuelo and Graciano. Tempranillo goes by a bunch of different synonyms, depending on the region of Spain you are in. For example, it’s called “Cencibel” in La Mancha (south of Madrid); “Ull de Llebre” (meaning “eye of the hare”, I’ve no idea why) in Catalonia; “Tinta de País” or “Tinto Fino” in Ribera del Duero; “Tinta de Toro” in Toro; and “Tinto de…
Read More
Charity Case is the latest side project by winemaking superstar Jayson Woodbridge. Whilst Jayson isn’t exactly a household name, the wines he produces are certainly getting that way. You may know Mr. Woodbridge from such wines as Layer Cake and Hundred Acre. The Charity Case Foundation was formed in’08 as a long-term project in support of Napa Valley Charities. Jayson started by calling wineries in the Valley to see if they would donate their…
Read More
Grapes Sauvignon Blanc 96%, Semillon [SEM-ee-yawn] 4% Facts The warmer weather is coming folks, so let’s get some more white wine reviews up in here!!! Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon are the main two whites grapes of the Bordeaux region of France. If you ever see a white Bordeaux, most likely it’s going to be a blend of the two. Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Muscadelle are the only three grapes that are allowed in white “Meritage”…
Read More
This is my first ever feature by an author who isn’t me! Gina Girardot Melton runs www.zestfloridafoodie.com which aims to give readers easy access to delicious food that’s a little bit off the beaten path, and miles away from the many chains and tourist traps that proliferate Florida’s landscape. Make sure you check out her site! So what’s my type? Spicy and full-bodied or complex, earthy with at touch of silkiness? To solve my dilemma,…
Read More
Don’t ever let it be said that the Mariposa is an easy restaurant to find! We were somewhere in the region of 45 minutes late for our reservation, after both Google Maps and Sprint Navigation threw in the towel so far as plotting a course for us. Of course it was made all the more difficult by the fact that it was pitch black, with very little street lighting. Once we found the restaurant ,…
Read More
Grape 90% Tempranillo 10% Graciano Facts If you caught my previous post where I visited the excellent Talisker on Main restaurant in Park City, Utah, you’ll know that I brought the Straight Line Tempranillo to the restaurant. Since this wine is one of my favorites that winemaker Jon Grant produces, I felt it was worth a little more insight! The Tempranillo grape is native to Spain and is arguably one of the most…
Read More
Grape 100% Pinot Noir Facts Couloir was founded by winemaker Jon Grant, who also finds time to hold down assistant winemaking obligations at Turley Wine Cellars. Grant learned the art of winemaking at Corison Winery and Plumpjack Winery. Couloir is a relatively brand new operation, with 2007 being the inaugural vintage. The name, Couloir, means a steep mountainside gorge and reflects Grant’s love for ski mountaineering. What a strange coincidence that I…
Read More
I‘ve had a couple of requests for more Malbec reviews, so here you go… Grape 100% Malbec Facts In a clever piece of marketing, Bodega Antigal have decided upon strapping a big copper “1” to the front of the bottle! Don’t knock it! It made me notice the bottle on the shelf! Over the last couple of years, Malbec sales have exploded in the U.S., with Nielsen reporting a 60 percent growth between January…
Read More