An interesting thing that happens at large wine events: camaraderie grows as wines are consumed, people tend to become chattier and want to share their discoveries of the day. So instead of just keeping track of what I was digging at the Family Winemakers Pasadena tasting, I listened to the buzz coming from Santa Clarita…
DAOU Vineyards was next on our list of wineries that I had selected for Jordan and Natasha Siperstein. The DAOU staff welcomed us, as they do all of their guests, with open arms. Lisa Colwell (Assistant Tasting Room Manager) introduced herself and led us to a beautiful private tasting room that was set for a king. …
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…
The old saying, “a photo is worth a thousand words”, works for a great photographer. For me, I was simply excited about the dozen or so small tapa plates I sampled at the West Los Angeles restaurant, Tapenade, so I took about a dozen photos! (Facebook album link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10202058428969687.1073741853.1455706632&type=1&l=7e0bac24ed) My brother Mike and his wife…
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…
It’s been awhile since I’ve done one of my one-bottle posts, so today I wrote my title using a little Français for fun, and, because I had tasted a French Bordeaux! See below for my observations on this wine’s Color, Aroma, Taste, Conclusion and Notes. I also tried the same wine with my dinner to…
The Fifth Annual Berkeley Wine Festival Features Dinner Series with Frog’s Leap Winery, Kenwood Vineyards, Chimney Vineyards and a Grand Opening Reception With Over 45 Wines Now in its fifth year, the acclaimed Berkeley Wine Festival held at The Claremont Hotel Club & Spa, will kick off with a Grand Opening Reception on Saturday, March 1 from 4-8 p.m., where…
Admittedly, my wine knowledge is pretty focused on California. So, when I get an opportunity to add to knowledge outside of my primary area of expertise, especially when it is in a great environment, I do my best to jump at that. The Kobrand Tour d’Italia 2013 wrapped up its eight-city tour at the Hotel…
This is Part 2 of last week’s Rhone Ranger article. One can never taste everything. Of what I sampled, the wines that really stood out for me at this event were: ANDREW MURRAY VINEYARDS LOS OLIVOS, CA www.andrewmurrayvineyards.com One of my early favorites from Santa Barbara County, still going strong. 2011 Syrah, Watch Hill Vineyard…
Toscana is arguably Italy’s most renown wine region. It is also the homeland of antiquity’s Etruscans, who in turn, greatly influenced the Romans and their culture. Tuscany is rich in history, culture, art, and scenic landscapes that are filled with rolling hills and some of the world’s finest vineyards. Tuscany is not only the birthplace…
