Thanksgiving pinot noir 11-20-2024

Thanksgiving is the great American gastronomic holiday. Halloween is for foolishness, costumes, and candy. Christmas is for worship, family, and unseemly lust for gaudily wrapped material goods (somewhat antithetical to the Christian origin of the holiday). Continue reading “Thanksgiving pinot noir 11-20-2024”

Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars KARIA Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2022

Pale gold color; golden apple, mango, pear, honeydew melon, peach, lemon-lime citrus, oak spice, butter, vanilla on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars KARIA Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2022”

Ceretto ArnPhoeis Blange Langhe DOC 2022

Pale straw color; apple, grapefruit, pear, peach, Meyer lemon, minerality, almonds, honey, herbs, white flowers on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Ceretto ArnPhoeis Blange Langhe DOC 2022”

Los Vascos Cromas Carménère Gran Reserva, Valle de Colchagua, Chile 2019

Deep ruby, purple color; black cherry, plum, blackberry, raspberry, chocolate, white pepper, herbs, allspice, herbaceous on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Los Vascos Cromas Carménère Gran Reserva, Valle de Colchagua, Chile 2019”

Wine barrels 11-13-2024

It takes two to four centuries to grow the oak tree for a wine barrel. Then, after tree harvest, four, usually more, years to season the wood and the staves. Finally, it is time to turn the staves into a wine barrel. Continue reading “Wine barrels 11-13-2024”

Three Sticks Gap’s Crown Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2022

Medium gold color; yellow apple, key lime, lemon, pear, quince, minerality, oak spice on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Three Sticks Gap’s Crown Vineyard Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2022”

Varvaglione Papale Primitivo di Manduria, Puglia, Italy DOC 2020

Deep ruby color; blackberry, black cherry, blueberry, redcurrant, raspberry, plum, cocoa, chocolate, licorice, earth, oak on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Varvaglione Papale Primitivo di Manduria, Puglia, Italy DOC 2020”

Christopher Michael Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington 2022

Pale gold color; pear, peach, pineapple, mango, granny smith apple, oak spice, vanilla on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Christopher Michael Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills, Washington 2022”

Wood and wine 11-6-2024

Wine is an agricultural product. Hardly an earth-shattering revelation. But consider its scope. Not just wine vines, as essential as they may be, but in many cases—trees. Continue reading “Wood and wine 11-6-2024”