Surfrider Malibu Newton Canyon Red 2005
Posted on March 9, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, California Wine, Full Bodied Wines, Meritage, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $30, blended red wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Meritage (Merlot; Cabernet Sauvignon; Petit Verdot)
Region: California – USA
Cost: $22
Deeply colored and full bodied. Blackberry, cassis, and jammy red fruit flavors pair well with a variety of foods such as lamb chops, chicken marsala, Osso Bucco, steaks, pork, BBQ, or day old meat loaf.
Recommendations: First of all, I want to clear something up. It’s [...]
Trefethen Double T 2006
Posted on March 8, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, California Wine, Full Bodied Wines, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $30, blended red wine | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Blended Red Wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec)
Region: Napa, California – USA
Cost: $25
Deep color on this “Bourdeaux Blend” with silky flavors of fruit. Excellent body that pairs well with most meats or with a group of friends.
Recommendations: Well, it’s official – the last bottle from my October trip to California is [...]
Virginia Wine Expo 2010 in Review
Posted on March 3, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chambourcin, Chardonnay, Dry Wines, Full Bodied Wines, Light Wines, Meritage, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Grigio, Red Wine, Riesling, Virginia Wine, Virginia Wine Expo, White Wine, Wine Reviews, white table wine | 1 Comment
Well, the 3rd Annual Virginia Wine Expo has come and gone. I found some new vineyards and visited some old favorites. Here’s the long and short of my experience.
Athena Vineyards (http://www.athenavineyards.com)
Athena Vineyards is worth going to just to check out their unique bottle designs. Owned by former nurses, Athena Vineyards offers a great deck wine [...]
Big House Red 2008
Posted on January 21, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, California Wine, Grenache, Medium Bodied Wines, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Red Wine, Syrah, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10, blended red wine, red table wine, sangiovese, tannat, zinfandel | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Blended Red (Sangiovese, Syrah, Carignan, Barbera, Zinfandel, Mourvedre, Montepulciano, Petit Verdot, Tannat, Aglianico, Petite Sirah, Nero d’Avola, Grenache)
Region: California – USA
Cost: $7 – $10
Cherry, raspberry, blueberry, cassis, and chocolate flavors all blend together. Pair this wine with chicken, ground beef, pizza.
Recommendations: I’ll be the first to admit, my wife and I first paid attention [...]
Jacuzzi Sangiovese
Posted on January 13, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, California Wine, Medium Bodied Wines, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $30, sangiovese | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Sangiovese
Region: California – Sonoma Valley – USA
Cost: $22
Bright raspberry, cherry, and pepper flavors with a deep red color. Light and smooth on the palate, pairs well with grilled chicken, red meat, seasoned pork.
Recommendations: Sangiovese will always hold a special place in my heart as Chianti was the first red wine that I ever truly [...]
Robert Mondavi Private Selection Sauvignon Blanc
Posted on January 11, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, California Wine, Light Wines, Sauvignon Blanc, White Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20 | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: California – USA
Cost: $11
Light color with aromas of citrus that are also found on the palate. Refreshing and crisp, pairs well with seasoned white meat, creamy dishes, cheese, or by itself.
Recommendations: I’d picked up this bottle a while back with an idea of what I would be pairing it with – leftovers [...]
Middle Sister Rebel Red
Posted on January 4, 2010 - Filed Under American Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, California Wine, Medium Bodied Wines, Merlot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10, blended red wine, red table wine, wine advice | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Blended Red Wine (Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon)
Region: California – USA
Cost: $8 – $10
Dark coloring with forward flavors of fruit and cherry with a smooth finish. Pairs well with chicken, pork, and sharp cheeses.
Recommendations: I picked up this wine with a pretty good idea of what to expect, and not necessarily in a negative way. [...]
Chateau Bianca Pinot Noir
Posted on December 30, 2009 - Filed Under American Wine, Light Wines, Oregon Wines, Pinot Noir, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20 | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Region: Oregon – USA
Cost: $16
Light color with crushed fruit flavors and a bit of pepper on the finish. Pair with turkey, ham, cheese.
Recommendations: I’ve had this bottle since Thanksgiving and it finally got opened for Christmas. The light color actually reminded me a bit of a Virginia Cabernet Franc, as did a bit [...]
Tisdale Merlot
Posted on December 14, 2009 - Filed Under American Wine, California Wine, Medium Bodied Wines, Merlot, Red Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $10 | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Merlot
Region: California – USA
Cost: $5 – $8
Dark red color with flavors of black cherry and spice on the finish. Pair with steak, pork, or chocolate.
Recommendations: I’m not really a fan of Merlot. Before the merlot-loving hate-mail starts rolling in, let me quantify that. I am a strong proponent of the belief that price doesn’t [...]
Chateau St Jean Chardonnay
Posted on December 4, 2009 - Filed Under American Wine, California Wine, Chardonnay, French Oak Whites, Medium Bodied Wines, White Wine, Wine Reviews, Wine's Under $20 | Leave a Comment
Varietal: Chardonnay
Region: California – Sonoma County – USA
Cost: $14
Aromas of stone fruit with flavors of pear and sweet melon with a clean finish. Pair with seafood or chicken.
Recommendations: Having set long enough in my wine fridge since coming back from California with my wife and I, this bottle of Chardonnay was finally opened this week [...]
