Before I knew Steve Martin to be a winemaker I knew him to be a “spinster”. When we saw each other weekly at a local gym he once took the seat off of my spin bike before class and suggested we do the hour standing. I took the challenge and survived. My latest visit with…
To those that know me it is no secret that I am in love with Paso Robles. Yes, I still collect wines from France and Italy but Paso is growing to become a second Napa Valley in my opinion. This area has a wide variety of wines to select from over 300 vineyards producing many…
A wise man once said that before one can understand anything properly, one has to learn how to love it. For me, this holds true with both wine and women. It seems that the bulk of my time is spent with the pleasurable task of trying to understand the qualities and complexities of wine and…
Make it: Ever been interested in planting your own small vineyard? A reader offered me 6 two-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon plants in pots as well as some cuttings pruned from his vineyard. Told that they would produce fruit if the ground around them is kept damp for the first year and that 10 to 12 vines…
Pinot Days 2013, as with Pinot Days of previous years, was a huge success. It never ceases to amaze me how many vintners, both small and large, attend this event to pour their creations for those who come to taste these wines. The wineries that are present at Pinot Days range from very small boutique…
Warren’s Blackboard – soon to be The Front Yard http://www.warrensblackboard.com/ 4222 Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91602 818-255-7290 Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Here in the Santa Clarita Valley, we have a dearth of independent quality restaurants providing fine dining experiences. I’m not saying we don’t have any, as we clearly do and they…
Visiting Vegas gave us the opportunity to try another Perlis Pick, Pinot Brasserie, as we wanted something grand for a night out, and loved the idea that Perlis knows all the best places, with this one of having the added benefit of no corkage fee. Our waiter, Fab, was as attentive as we wanted him…
Aromas and tasting notes separated by “;” Robert Mondavi To Kalon Tasting Room All Cabernet Sauvignon Reserves Aromas are listed first, followed by “;” then are my tasting notes. 2005 Pluot, toast, black cherry, mint, slight leafy vegetable, fig, earth; silky yet tannic, earthy, pepper, same cherry carries through from the nose to the…
I often receive emails asking what are some of my favorite California wines and why I don’t review more of our gems. For the record, I have a preference for Sonoma County, and a penchant for the Russian River Valley. You guessed correctly, I am passionate about Pinot Noir. I also feel my colleagues…
Quintessa (All blends using Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere) 2010 Both aromas and flavors of spiced-up blueberries, freshly cracked green peppercorns, rich Swiss dark chocolate and firm tannins. 2009 Woods after the rain, blackest of blackberries, sautéed mushrooms, black licorice, fresh anise and balanced tannins. 2008 This had…