Kopke 20 Years Old White Porto

Golden amber color; dried apricot, orange marmalade, raisin, grapefruit, lemon-lime, honey, fig, walnut, toasted almond, caramel, butterscotch, marzipan on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Kopke 20 Years Old White Porto”

Texas wine ascendent 3-19-2025

Sixty years ago, Texas wine was a curious microdot in the wine world. Two Texas Tech professors piddled around with a few grapevines, originally intending to make grape jelly to supplement their income. Continue reading “Texas wine ascendent 3-19-2025”

Cockburn’s No. 1 Special Reserve Porto NV

Deep ruby, black color; dark plum, dark cherry, strawberry, licorice, pepper on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Cockburn’s No. 1 Special Reserve Porto NV”

Grapes by the numbers 2-26-2025

By best estimate, there are some 10,000 different grape varieties in the world. If you tasted a different one every day, it would take you more than 27 years to complete the task. Thankfully, the world of wine is confined to a smaller number. Continue reading “Grapes by the numbers 2-26-2025”

Wine bottle sizes 2-19-2025

It is a new year and there are sweeping changes in wine bottle sizes in America. Yep, wine makers and glass blowers have a whole new tool kit to entice you into experiencing whatever elixir they have conjured from grape juice and yeast and wood and whatever else the white-coated wine wizards have procured. Continue reading “Wine bottle sizes 2-19-2025”

Blending terms 1-29-2025

Wine labels and wine reviews may include various references to wine blending. Some are specific and informative. Others are distinctions without a difference. Let’s explore the most common blending terms. Continue reading “Blending terms 1-29-2025”

Types of blends 1-22-2025

Blending is essential to making some of the world’s most iconic wines. We explored the several ways to blend last week. This week, specific wines created by blending. Continue reading “Types of blends 1-22-2025”

Ty Ku Saké Silver Premium Junmai

Very pale amber color (this has been properly stored for five years, it likely was lighter color when younger); subtle pear notes on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Ty Ku Saké Silver Premium Junmai”

Origami Saké White Lotus Unfiltered (Nigori), Hot Springs, Arkansas

Very light green hazy-cloudy color; honeydew, cantaloupe, pineapple, pear, citrus hint on the nose and palate (when served chilled); apple, coconut, sweet potato (when served warm). Continue reading “Origami Saké White Lotus Unfiltered (Nigori), Hot Springs, Arkansas”