This is the second post reviewing a group of South African wines we received as tasting samples from Cape Classics, an importer of South African (and French) wines in to the US, with distribution in 49 states. We dedicated the prior post to the white wines in the selection.
We have been fans of South African wines since tasting a selection at our local wine shop several years ago. We were delighted to be contacted by Cape Classics, a US importer of a wide selection of wines from South Africa, regarding samples of their wines. We received a nice selection of both red and white wines from South Africa.
With the Holidays fast approaching, you may have a wine lover or two on your shopping list and be in need of a suggestion or two. Here are a few gift ideas for the wine lover in your life.
This is the second of two posts on a group of wines we received for review from Zonin USA. The selection of wine we received shows the range of wine production by Casa Vinicola Zonin S.P.A. Current generations of the Zonin family manage wine estates in seven well-known Italian wine regions (Veneto, Friuli, Piedmont, Lombardy, Tuscany, Sicily and Puglia) and the US state of Virginia at Barboursville.
At a recent Thursday night tasting at Fine Wines of Stockton, Pete presented the wines for the tasting. Gail asked him for suggestions as to topics for the tasting and they eventually settled on wines that are not the “usual suspects”. It gave us a chance to learn about some smaller wine regions and taste the wines. It was a fun evening that took us on a tour of European wines.
The Holidays are upon us. From now until January, there will be a series of social events to attend, not to mention family gatherings. What to serve, what to take along? Here are two suggestions. We recently received samples from Zonin USA for tasting. Here is our impression and how you might enjoy them.
We have spent the month of October immersed in Bordeaux, figuratively of course. We concluded our month-long series of tastings last Thursday night at Fine Wines of Stockton with a collection of Bordeaux from through out the appellation.
Tom Hoffman wasn’t always a winemaker. He used to teach, in South America. But, eventually he was drawn back to the family farm, to manage the vineyards. For a while he was a home winemaker. His interest in winemaking eventually became Heritage Oak Winery, located within the Mokelumne River AVA of the Lodi appellation. The winery opened in 2007.
Our continuing 2010 vintage Bordeaux tasting at Fine Wines of Stockton brings us to Pauillac. Located just north of Saint-Julien along the left bank of the Gironde estuary, it is home to an amazing three of the five châteaux classified as 1st Growth (Lafite Rothschild, Latour and Mouton Rothschild). An additional 15 otherwise classified estates are located within Pauillac as well.
We have found much to like about the 2010 Bordeaux vintage. Lots of fruit flavors, a variable amount of complexity, plenty of tannins and modest wood influence, to name just a few of our favorite qualities. We continued our tasting at Fine Wines of Stockton with Bordeaux from Saint-Julien.
We enjoy wine, food and travel. Pull That Cork is a chronicle of our wine adventures, the food and wine pairings we create and our travels which are increasingly organized around wine.
