Cellar Notes

Notes about the wines we have tried recently.

Australian wine diversity featured photo

A Taste of Australia’s Vinous Diversity

Three wines, of course, cannot comprehensively survey the diversity of a whole continent full of wine. But three wines can be a starting point for the exploration of Australian wine and highlight its diverse regions, grape varieties and styles. And possibly pique your interest in Australian wine. We received all three wines as tasting samples. 2017 Tyrrell’s Wines Semillon, Hunter […]

Pasqua Famiglia Pasqua Amarone della Valpolicella featured photo

Pasqua ‘Famiglia Pasqua’ Amarone della Valpolicella

Today’s cellar note has us sipping a wine made in Valpolicella, north of Verona, near Lake Garda in northern Italy. Amarone della Valpolicella is a wine with ample body, intense flavors and a warming finish. It is just what you want to sip on a rainy, cold winter’s evening. We received this wine as a tasting sample.  Valpollicella is located […]

Prats+Symington featured photo

A Taste of Portugal’s Sunny Douro

If you can’t pack a suitcase and head off to a sunny location in winter, then pouring a glass of wine that brings the sunshine to you can be a liquid substitute. Today’s cellar note brings you exactly that…not Port wine, as you might expect, but dry red wine made by Prats & Symington in the Douro. We received both […]

Tanteun e Marietta Farouche Rouge, Vallée d’Aoste featured photo

Tanteun e Marietta Farouche Rouge

The minute I stuck my nose in the glass I knew I would love this wine. I had already noticed the translucent ruby color of this wine in the glass. Many red wines that are translucent enough to read through make me happy once I taste them. This lovely 2016 Tanteun e Marietta Farouche Rouge is no exception. 2016 Tanteun […]

Concannon Vineyard Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon

Concannon Vineyard Clone 7: History & Cabernet Sauvignon

There is a story behind just about every glass of wine. Some are more interesting than others, to be sure, and Concannon Vineyard is more interesting than most in terms of history and contributions made to the wine industry. Today we are sipping Clone 7 Cabernet Sauvignon from Concannon Vineyard that we received as a tasting sample. It is the […]

Champagne Bruno Paillard featured photo

Champagne Bruno Paillard: Make Any Occasion Grand

Champagne is the most luxurious and celebratory of libations and the standard against which all other sparkling wines are judged. This is the perfect time of year to luxuriate with a glass of Champagne and today we are sipping one of my favorites, Champagne Bruno Paillard, which we received as a tasting sample. Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru […]

Sparkling Wine for the Holidays featured photo

Bubbles for Your Holiday Celebrations

The holiday season is upon us and that means more gatherings with family and friends than usual, which also means more opportunities to enjoy sparkling wine. We have four sparklers to share with you today that we received as tasting samples. I hope you have your wine glass ready. Côte Mas Brut NV St. Hilaire, Crémant de Limoux — medium […]

Harney Lane wines featured photo

Harney Lane Wine for the Holidays and Everyday

I’m willing to bet that you closely associate Zinfandel with the Lodi wine region. Many wine drinkers do. But, you might not associate Chardonnay with Lodi. We’ve only tasted a few Lodi Chardonnays, but recently we had the opportunity to taste the new release Chardonnay from Harney Lane Winery & Vineyards along with their Old Vine Zinfandel sourced from the […]