Tag Archives: Merlot

Clos Du Val – A Bit of France in the Napa Valley

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Nancy

On a recent spring day, I took a trip to Napa Valley with friends to do some wine tasting. We wanted to stop at a winery we had not visited before, and chose Clos Du Val. Located on the Silverado Trail in the Stags Leap District AVA (American Viticultural Area), Clos Du Val was established in 1972 by American entrepreneur John Goelet and French winemaker Bernard Portet. The pair made an extensive search for the perfect location to produce Bordeaux and Burgundy style wines and chose what would become Stags Leap District and Los Carneros AVAs. Continue reading →

Posted in Winery Profiles | Tagged Cabernet Sauvignon, Carneros, Clos Du Val, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Primitivo, Stags Leap | Leave a comment

The Wines of Howell Mountain

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Nancy

Howell Mountain American Viticultural Area (AVA), located within the Napa AVA, was the first sub-appellation to be designated in 1983. Howell Mountain is located on the northeast side of Napa Valley. The AVA ranges from 1400 to 2200 feet, putting it above the fog line. Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Other Wine Tastings | Tagged Bremer Family Winery, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cakebread Cellars, Dunn Vineyards, Grenache, Howell Mountain, John Robert Eppler Wines, La Jota, Merlot, Napa Valley, Notre Vin, Obsidian Howell Mountain, Petite Sirah, Red Cap Vineyards, Retro Cellars, Roberts + Rogers, SPENCE, Syrah, Zinfandel | 4 Comments

Right Bank Bordeaux Vintages 2005 to 2009

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Nancy

The Thursday night tasting at Fine Wines of Stockton had us tasting Right Bank Bordeaux vintages 2005 to 2009. All wines originated from Pomerol. Kind of. Except for one. George, the wine shop owner, was short one Right Bank wine for this vintage range, so he chose a Left Bank wine with the highest percentage of Merlot he had in his cellar. He knows how to improvise. Continue reading →

Posted in Thursday Wine Tastings | Tagged Blanson de L'Evangile, Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Château Beauregard, Château Forcas Hosen, Château La Croix de Gay, France, Merlot, Right Bank Bordeaux | Leave a comment

Left Bank Bordeaux Vintages 2005 – 2009

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Nancy

The Thursday night wine tasting at Fine Wines of Stockton was a study of five recent Bordeaux vintages. Two of these vintages, 2005 and 2009, are considered great. The growing seasons were warm and produced lush fruit and opulent, complex wines. The others, 2006, 2007 and 2008, just average. Continue reading →

Posted in Thursday Wine Tastings | Tagged Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Château Clerc Milon, Château Marquis de Terme, Merlot, Petit Verdot | Leave a comment

Cabernet Franc – That Other Cabernet

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Nancy

Cabernet Franc is most often used as a blending grape because it has such a distinctive bouquet. But, it also makes a lovely wine all on its own. Our tasting this week was six Cabernet Franc wines from the USA, France and Argentina. Continue reading →

Posted in Thursday Wine Tastings | Tagged Alexander Valley Vineyards, Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile, Conn Creek, Domaine De La Butte, Doña Paula, France, Jean-Maurice Raffault, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvion Chinon | Leave a comment

Finger Lakes Wine Tasting Series: Red Wines

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Nancy

We recently participated in a tasting of red wines produced in the Finger Lakes AVA (American Viticultural Area). The Finger Lakes AVA is located in central New York State. Continue reading →

Posted in Online Tastings | Tagged Atwater Estate Vineyards, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Damiani Wine Cellars, Finger Lakes, Hector Wine Company, Heron Hill Winery, Lemberger, McGregor Vineyards, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Rooster Hill Vineyards, Saperavi, Sereksiya Charni, Silver Thread Vineyard, Swedish Hill Winery, Syrah | 3 Comments

Pasos Vineyards – A Winery Profile

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Nancy

We had the good fortune to spend some time recently visiting with Antonio Pasos of Pasos Vineyards. His tasting room is located in Vino Piazza, The Winery Plaza in Lockeford, California. Continue reading →

Posted in Stories, Tasting Notes, Winery Profiles, Wines of the Weekend | Tagged Antonio Pasos, Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Charbono, Dastarte, Italy, Malbec, Merlot, Pasos, Pasos Vineyards, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Vino Piazza, Viognier | Leave a comment

Trione Vineyards and Winery

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Peter

Recently we received some sample wines to try from Trione Winery in Geyserville California. We had not heard of Trione before and were intrigued by their story. For more than thirty years they have been providing grapes for some of the top wineries in the area such as Duckhorn, Kendall-Jackson and Sonoma-Cutrer among others. They farm almost 700 acres in the Russian River Valley, Alexander Valley and the Sonoma Coast. Only since 2005 have they decided to make their own wines, they opened their tasting room in 2008, and so far they have garnered several awards with subsequent vintages.
Continue reading →

Posted in Other Wine Tastings, Tasting Notes | Tagged 2007 Trione Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007 Trione Vineyards Red Wine, 2008 Trione Vineyards Chardonnay, 2008 Trione Vineyards Pinot Noir, 2008 Trione Vineyards Syrah, 2010 Trione Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Trione Vineyards and Winery | 2 Comments

2009 Bordeaux – The Final Tasting of the Year

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Nancy

Thursday night at Fine Wines of Stockton we tasted the final group of 2009 Bordeaux. Continue reading →

Posted in Bordeaux, Thursday Wine Tastings | Tagged Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Fine Wines of Stockton, France, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon | Leave a comment

Christmas and New Year Wines

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Nancy

Our mission for the Thursday night tasting at Fine Wines of Stockton was to choose a favorite wine to have with hors d’oeuvres and one for a holiday dinner. Continue reading →

Posted in Thursday Wine Tastings | Tagged Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Fine Wines of Stockton, Italy, Merlot, Prosecco | Leave a comment

Fall Napa Valley Wine Tasting

Posted on December 8, 2012 by Nancy

On a recent weekday I spent a day wine tasting in Napa Valley with a group of friends. The weather was warm for December, in the mid 60s, and mostly overcast. The drive from Stockton to Napa takes us through the San Francisco Bay Delta. Continue reading →

Posted in Other Wine Tastings, Vacations and Trips | Tagged Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Chimney Rock, Elizabeth Spencer, Inglenook, Merlot, Napa Valley, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Rutherford, Sonoma, Sonoma Coast, Stags Leap, Wine, Zinfandel | 1 Comment

Holiday Wine Tasting With Carolyn Wente

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Nancy

Our friend Dave joined us for a recent online tasting with Carolyn Wente, CEO of Wente Family Estates. She shared some of her favorite Holiday recipes with us as we tasted some of the Wente wines. Continue reading →

Posted in Holiday Wine, Online Tastings | Tagged Arroyo Seco, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Double Decker, Gerwurztraminer, Livermore Valley, Merlot, Murrieta's Well, Orange Muscat, Petite Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Viognier, Wente Vineyards | Leave a comment

Thanksgiving Times Two

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Nancy

We enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving with family in San Francisco. It was a gloriously clear day. The view from the City to Marin County was crystal clear, it couldn’t have been a nicer day. Continue reading →

Posted in Holiday Wine, Special Occasions | Tagged Cabernet Franc, Chablis, Columbia Valley, France, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Washington, Willamette Valley | 1 Comment

Another Wine for Our Cellar

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Nancy

So, in our quest for the next Bordeaux to place in the cellar, we tasted a 2009 Chateau Bernadotte, a Cru Bourgeois from Haut-Medoc, over this past weekend. Continue reading →

Posted in Bordeaux, Tasting Notes | Tagged Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Haut-Medoc, Italy, Merlot, Spain, Spanish, Syrah, Wine | Leave a comment

Tuscany And Its Wines

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Nancy

We had the opportunity to taste 6 Italian red wines, 4 of which were Tuscan and 2 were from other Italian regions. This got me curious about Tuscan wines, Tuscan food and where is Tuscany any way? Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Cabernet Sauvignon, Italy, Malvasia, Merlot, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Trebbiano, Tuscany, Vermentino, Wine | 3 Comments

Halloween Mystery Wines – Tasting in the Dark

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Peter

We had a fun online tasting the night before Halloween. We were sent four wines in black bags (Tasting in the Dark) so we couldn’t see the labels and a Halloween mask to wear while doing the tasting. Continue reading →

Posted in Online Tastings | Tagged Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore, Livermore Valley, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petite Syrah, Portuguese Wine, Small Lot, Souzao, Wente Vineyards, Wine | 2 Comments

More 2009 Bordeaux

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Peter

We just attended another tasting of 2009 Bordeaux at Fine Wines of Stockton. Five reds and a Sauternes.
It’s always great when you can participate in a wine tasting and walk away liking every wine you tried! Continue reading →

Posted in Bordeaux, Thursday Wine Tastings | Tagged Baron de Brane, Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau Brane-Catenac, Chateau de Malle, Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, Chateau Grand-Puy-Ducasse, Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Chateau La Tour de Mons, Croix De Beaucaillou, France, Lacoste-Borie, Margaux, Merlot, Pauillac, Pichon Lalande, Reserve de la Comtesse, Sauternes, St. Julien, Wine | Leave a comment

2009 Bordeaux Tasting

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Peter

We missed the first 2009 Bordeaux tasting at our local wine shop, Fine Wines of Stockton, while we were in Nepal but fortunately we were here for the second one. Continue reading →

Posted in Thursday Wine Tastings | Tagged Bordeaux, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, France, Margaux, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, St. Julien, Wine | Leave a comment

Birthday Wine – 2005 Burrell School Valedictorian

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Peter

Dave brought a 2005 Burrell School Valedictorian, a wine from the Santa Cruz Mountains. Continue reading →

Posted in Special Occasions, Tasting Notes | Tagged Burrell School, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Santa Cruz Mountains | 1 Comment

Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Posted on August 1, 2012 by Peter

Last week we tasted six wines from the Columbia Valley in the state of Washington. Continue reading →

Posted in Tasting Notes, Thursday Wine Tastings | Tagged Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Canoe Ridge, Chateau Ste Michelle, Cold Creek, Columbia Valley, Goose Ridge, Indian Wells, Merlot, Walla Walla, Washington, Waterbrook, Wine | Leave a comment