Monthly Archives: October 2021

The 2019 Testarossa Chardonnays from Central California’s Premium Vineyards

Posted on October 31, 2021 by don

It seems like ages since we tasted with Diana and Rob Jensen at their winery in Los Gatos, but then almost everything pre-Covid seems to have happened a long time ago.  We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to again … Continue reading →

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Stellar Values in California Chardonnay from Sonoma County

Posted on October 29, 2021 by don

Modern California Chardonnay is some of the best in the world. It’s fresh, balanced, often elegant and nothing like the too-ripe, oaky, buttery wines of the past.  But the best single vineyard Chardonnays can be expensive (>$50), and the inexpensive … Continue reading →

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Cathy Corison’s Elegant Cabernet Sauvignons from the Special 2018 Vintage

Posted on October 27, 2021 by don

Cathy Corison makes some of the Napa Valley’s most elegant and refined Cabernet Sauvignons.  In this article we review her wines from the cool, long-ripening 2018 vintage, including the still to be released wine from the special, old vine Kronos … Continue reading →

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Wine Art Estate: Creative Winemaking in Macedonia, Greece

Posted on October 25, 2021 by mike

Wine Art Estate is a boutique winery established  in 1993 in Drama by Yannis Papadopulous and Yannis Kalaizidis.  Drama is located in a landlocked area bordering Bulgaria in the northern half of east Macedonia (see map below).  While neglected as … Continue reading →

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Chinato and Quinquina from Italy’s Piedmont, South Africa’s Swartlands, and the Columbia Valley

Posted on October 23, 2021 by don

While technically not a Vermouth, Chinato is similar in its infusion of herbs and spices. What’s different is the addition of Cinchona. Cinchona is the dried bark of the South American tree that is a source of quinine and used … Continue reading →

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The White Burgundies of Louis Jadot from the Challenging 2018 Vintage

Posted on October 8, 2021 by don

Founded in 1859, Maison Louis Jadot is today one of Burgundy’s most important producers.  We’ve had the opportunity to taste Jadot’s wines both in France and here in the US.  Recently, we tasted several of their white wines from Burgundy, … Continue reading →

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The Wines of Aivalis of Nemea

Posted on October 7, 2021 by don

Aivalis is a small artisanal winery  in Nemea, a tiny  appellation in the Peloponnese of Greece.   Established in 1997 by Hristos  Aivalis  (pictured left with his son Sotiri) produces some of the finest Agiorgitiko  in Greece today and is  a … Continue reading →

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Hanzell Vineyards: Sonoma’s Historic Chardonnay Winery

Posted on October 5, 2021 by don

In this article we review the current Chardonnay releases of Sonoma County’s historic Hanzell Vineyards.  In 1953 James Zellerbach planted Sonoma County’s first commercial Chardonnay vineyard in the foothills of the Mayacamas after returning from Europe where he managed the … Continue reading →

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Ernest Hemingway, Pliny the Elder, Julia Child, Pope John XXIII & Others on Wine

Posted on October 2, 2021 by don

Our favorite is from Ernest Hemingway: “As I ate the oyster with their strong taste of the sea and their faint metallic taste that the cold white wine washed away, leaving only the sea taste and the succulent texture, and … Continue reading →

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Dinner and Wine at Primo on Maine’s Atlantic Coast

Posted on October 1, 2021 by don

Primo is the creation of Melissa Kelly, the first 2-time winner of the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chef: North East which she garnered in 1999 and 2013.  This magnificent restaurant is located in Rockland, Maine, close to where we recently … Continue reading →

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