Cellar Notes

Notes about the wines we have tried recently.

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Roxanich Ines U Bijelom Cuvée 2010

I experienced a crazy TV moment last week while watching the new season of the Netflix original series, Dead to Me. In the first episode of the second season orange wine is prominently mentioned. Granted, neither of the characters discussing orange wine knew what it was, but it got a mention. I guess that means at least scriptwriters have been […]

Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc featured photo

Celebrate #SauvBlancDay with Merry Edwards

All around the world wine lovers are sipping extra Sauvignon Blanc today in celebration of International Sauvignon Blanc Day. Warm and sunny weather has put us in the mood to pour a splash of Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc and join the fun. We received this wine as a tasting sample. 2018 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County […]

2018 Jolie-Laide Pinot Gris

My early experience with Pinot Gris was underwhelming. Then I discovered skin-contact Pinot Gris and a whole world of gorgeous, delicious Pinot Gris opened up to me. I haven’t looked back and almost never pass up the opportunity to taste one. Joile-Laide Pinot Gris is my most recent find, a wine we purchased through a wine club called The Outliers. […]

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A Glass of Tasmanian Sparkling Wine to Brighten Your Day

Sparkling wine is widely considered a celebratory libation. Unfortunately, these do not feel like celebratory times. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic we’re staying home, only venturing out to walk in our neighborhood or shop for items we cannot order online. These are stressful times and, I would argue, the exact time when a glass of sparkling wine is […]

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Howard Park Miamup Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Today we continue our visit to Australia’s Margaret River via the wine in our glass. We’re fast falling in love with the wines from this far corner of Australia and the more research I do the more excited I become to visit this part of Australia. We received this wine as a tasting sample. Howard Park was established in 1986 […]

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New Releases from Flora Springs

If, like us, you are on winery mailing lists you have received emails announcing spring release wines. It’s a welcome bright spot, especially this year when so little is normal for most of us. Today we are sharing two recent releases from Flora Springs that we received as tasting samples. Spring wine releases this year will be especially important to […]

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Two New White Wines from Kenwood Vineyards

Winemakers are a curious lot. They are always on a quest to identify unique vineyard sites and expressions of grape varieties. Every vintage brings with it unique challenges and opportunities to craft interesting wines. Kenwood Vineyards has introduced two white wines for winter sipping and beyond. We received both wines as tasting samples. Both of these wines are new additions […]

Alois Lageder Terra Alpina featured photo

Terra Alpina Wines from Alois Lageder

My travels to the Dolomites in northeastern Italy are limited to the wine in my glass. But I have to say that virtual travel is one of the great pleasures of wine. The Dolomites, with their jagged peaks, steep slopes, valleys cut by glaciers and alpine rivers, have created a complex terroir that defines Trentino-Alto Adige. Today we are tasting […]

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The Paring: Wines with an Edge

The Paring has a backstory that includes winemaker Matt Dees and two of Santa Barbara County’s acclaimed wineries, JONATA and The Hilt. Through common ownership there is a connection to Napa’s cult wine, Screaming Eagle. Impressive connections. But when we receive wines as tasting samples for review we taste them without learning more about them than what is on the […]

Red Wines for Winter Meals and Beyond

This time of year we work red wines into our wine rotation much more often than in the summer months. Red wines just pair better with braised meals and chill winter evenings than salads and triple-digit afternoons. But until those very warm temperatures descend upon us in late summer, red wines will also pair well with grilled meats and veggies […]