Author: Nancy (CSW)

Gran Moraine Rose of Pinot Noir featured photo

Gran Moraine Rosé of Pinot Noir

Rosé is wonderful for so many reasons. It is a beautiful color in the glass and can be light and refreshing or carry more flavors and complexity. It’s as variable as the grape varieties used to make it and the best examples have ample acidity. Rosé pairs well with a variety of food, depending on its style, and I rarely […]

Lodi Rose featured photo

Lodi Rosé: Pick a Variety

It seems Rosé is hitting the marketplace earlier than in the past. We used to be hard-pressed to find new vintages by May. That’s when the weather warms and we begin spending happy hour outside on the patio. But it is currently the end of April and we have already been to two Rosé tastings at a local wine shop. […]

Godelia featured photo

A Taste of DO Bierzo and Bodegas Godelia

Godello, Doña Blanca, Mencía. Are these grape varieties familiar to you? They aren’t to most of us. All three are indigenous to the Iberian Peninsula and are represented in our Cellar Note today as components of the wines made by Bodegas Godelia. Godelia is situated outside the village of Cacabelos in the Spanish wine region of DO (Denominación de Origen) […]

Navarra wine and food featured photo

Wines of Navarra and a Meal to Match #WinePW

If it’s April it must be Navarra. Yes, our Wine Pairing Weekend group of bloggers is traveling to Navarra this month to explore the region, its wine and, of course, the food. The inspiration for this trip came from Gwendolyn Alley who blogs with great enthusiasm (and skill) at Wine Predator. Gwendolyn also managed to wrangle tasting samples for us […]

Pacific Northwest wines featured photo

A Taste of the Pacific Northwest

Today’s Cellar Note includes three varietal wines from two very different wine regions in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon’s Willamette Valley is represented by Oregon Trails Wine Co. Pinot Noir and Washington state’s Columbia Valley by Pacific Crest Wine Co. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Both brands are part of the Wine Trees portfolio of wines. We received all three as tasting […]

Lost Chapters Wines featured photo

The Lost Chapters

The Lost Chapters is the name of a range of wines made by Paul Scotto and Mitch Cosentino. This dynamic duo of winemakers collaborate on twenty-odd wine labels under the Scotto Cellars umbrella of wines. Both winemakers are blending specialists. Paul considers himself a blendologist, using grape varieties to make wine with layers of flavors the way a chef uses […]

Il Censo Praruar featured photo

Il Censo Praruar Terre Siciliane Bianco

2013 Il Censo Praruar Terre Siciliane Bianco — translucent rusty orange that is just a bit cloudy in the glass; interesting aromas and flavors of iron, rocky soil, cut rose stems and walnuts. Hints of iodine and smoke mingle in the background. Juicy acidity keep this wine bright and provides an interesting counterpoint to drying tannins. The finish goes on […]