Author: Nancy (CSW)

Iglesia Bien Viaje in Remedios featured photo

In And Around Remedios, Cuba

The second leg of our people-to-people exchange in Cuba took us to the charming city of Remedios, just a couple of miles from the north coast of the island. But, before we reached Remedios, there was there was much to see in the rural parts of Cuba between Camagüey and Remedios. I discovered the small cities are just as interesting […]

Bila Haut Occultum Lapidem featured photo

Domaine de Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem

Our cellar note today reacquaints us with an old friend. Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem is a wine we have tasted before. Then, as now, we received this hidden gem as a tasting sample. Our review of the 2013 vintage provides background on the esteemed producer, Maison M. Chapoutier, and a bit about the wine region as well. Today we can skip […]

Au Contraire Heritance featured photo

Au Contraire and Heritance Wines

The expression au contraire takes me back to high school French. I remember my friends and I saying to one another with a laugh, “Au contraire, mon ami!” We thought we were so clever. As I read an email recently inviting us to receive tasting samples of Au Contraire and Heritance wines my thoughts drifted briefly to French class and […]

Barrel Road Red Blend featured photo

Barrel Road Red Blend

Today’s tasting note brings you something a bit different. Red wine aged in American oak barrels first used to age bourbon. This is only our second taste of wine aged this way, but I have noticed more wineries using this aging technique. I wonder if it will be a passing fad or if it will catch on. We received this […]

Arrogant Frog Paul Mas featured photo

A Taste of Domaines Paul Mas

Our Cellar Note for today takes us to the sunny, southern French region of Languedoc for a small taste of wine from a large portfolio of wines produced by Domaines Paul Mas. Who couldn’t use a little ray of sunshine in winter? We received all three wines as tasting samples. Domaines Paul Mas produces a broad portfolio of wines in […]

Jalapeno Popper Dip and Jordan Chardonnay

A #SonomaStrong Pairing: Jordan Chardonnay and Jalapeño Popper Dip #winePW

The Wine Pairing Weekend group of bloggers is beginning the year with a show of support for Sonoma wineries and an acknowledgement of the fire relief efforts since the devastating fires that scarred the wine country in early October. Jill Barth, this month’s #winePW host, set the tone perfectly in her post announcing the event: We’re calling it #SonomaStrong to […]

Ferraton wines featured photo

Rhône Reds from Ferraton Père & Fils

Today’s Cellar Note takes us to the the Rhône Valley in France and a taste of two wines from Ferraton Père & Fils, both of which we received as tasting samples. These wines are part of the négociant range of wines produced by Ferraton Père & Fils, which was founded in 1946 by Jean Orëns Ferraton. Ferraton has been owned […]

Champagne Bruno Paillard and crab salad

Champagne Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée MV

I freely admit I love bubbles and, more specifically, Champagne. It is a classic, and therefore the standard against which all sparkling wine is judged. Champagne is beautiful in the glass. Watching those tiny bubbles rise to the top of the golden liquid can be mesmerizing. As much as I enjoy watching a glass of Champagne, I would much rather […]

Cafe Ciudad

Camagüey: A Colorful Introduction to Cuba

Looking at a street map of the city of Camagüey is not at all helpful in navigating this historic Cuban city. The maze-like layout of the city was completely confusing to me, not that I minded being lost in historic Camagüey, it provided a delightful opportunity to interact with local Cubans. Pete and I had only a couple of opportunities […]