Merlot
Merlot is back! For the past decade the step sister to Cabernet Sauvignon has been pushed to the back burner by the big, beefy California Cabs – but no more. Merlot has been brought to the forefront with the help of some great Washington wine makers and the perfect fruit grown in the Columbia Valley. [...]
Four Vines Wines
Paso Robles winemaker Christian Tietje is a hedonist. He is passionate about wine: making it, drinking it and bringing people together to enjoy it.
A former chef, Chris fell head over heels for old vine Zinfandel, and founded Four Vines in 1990 with a plan to make four “killer zins” from the four top [...]
La Caudrina Moscato D’Asti 2007
The single most dessert-friendly wine around is arguably Moscato d’Asti. Serve this slightly sweet, semi-sparkling, low-alcohol wine chilled with a favorite fruit or baked dessert. Aromas of peach, pineapple and citrus. Flavors of freshly baked brioche with hints of citrus and almond. Well balanced. It pairs well with Pannettone or a [...]
2006 Cambria “Julia’s Vineyard” Pinot Noir
Wine Enthusiast’s #1 rated wine for 2009. “This is the best Pinot Noir at this price on the market. Easily. It’s picture-perfect cool climate, absolutely dry and silky, with complex flavors of cherries, Mandarin orange, cola, pomegranates, licorice and cinnamon spice, made even richer by smoky oak. Just lovely, [...]
Finding the Perfect Wine for Beef Stew
From the Dallas Morning News
by Tina Danze
THE MISSION: Find wines that cost less than $20 to pair with Beef Stew in Red Wine With Onions and Mushrooms.
THE FOOD: Beef Bourguignon (the French name for the stew described above), served with a side of garlic mashed potatoes.
THE TASTERS:
•Hunter Hammett, sommelier, [...]
Caviar
With the holiday season upon us, many of us will enjoy Thanksgiving feasts, followed by Christmas and New Years parties. Chances are, if it’s a dressy affair, they’ll serve caviar. This has always been one my favorite little indulgences.
Big, Old Fish
The majority of the world’s caviar comes from the Caspian Sea. Russia, Iran and Turkey [...]
Crisp Sauvignon blanc
When most of us think of wine with eggs, we usually think of eggs benedict at a Champagne brunch. Good, but eggs are great for any meal. Once in a while we have eggs for dinner and we always enjoy it and wonder why we don’t do it more often. You don’t have [...]
Prices Continue to Drop
New Zealand sauvignon blanc makes up 80% of the nation’s wine exports. On the South Island’s Marlborough region, the amount of land devoted to vineyards has increase four-fold in the past six years. That’s the good news. The bad news is, the average export price of wine will fall 12% next year. [...]
Fritz Winery 2005 Zinfandel, Estate, Dry Creek Valley
The Dry Creek area of Sonoma produces some of the best California Zins you can find. Because the weather is more temperate, you don’t get the fruit bombs like the warmer climates of Paso Robles and Lodi produce.
The Fritz Zinfandel has bright color with aromas of raspberry, [...]
Louis Latour Pouilly-Vinzelles en Paradis 2006
A great summer wine made of Chardonnay grapes from the same limestone hills in Burgundy as it’s pricier cousin, Pouilly Fuisse. Aromas of pear and spice. Full flavors of apple compote and poached pear. Medium body and balanced with a slight mineral finish. Perfect with seared scallops or roast chicken. [...]
