Cellar Notes

Notes about the wines we have tried recently.

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 […]

Yarden Sparkling Wines Image

Sparkling Wines of Israel – Golan Heights Winery

I haven’t had a wine from Israel for many years so it was a pleasant surprise to have the opportunity to try some sparkling wine from Israel. I wasn’t aware they even made sparkling wine until I was offered some samples from the Golan Heights Winery. Golan Heights Winery History The first vineyards in the Golan Heights were planted in […]

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) […]

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 […]

Locations TX6 Red Wine featured photo

Locations TX6 – Texas Red Wine

Today’s Cellar Note takes us to Texas and what I believe is our first review of a Texas wine. Well, howdy partner, we are happy to make your acquaintance and a tip of our Stetsons to the folks at Locations for sending us the tasting sample. The Locations range of wines is the brainchild of winemaker Dave Phinney whose first […]

Stony Hill Chardonnay featured photo

2015 Stony Hill Vineyard Chardonnay

Today’s Cellar Note brings you a taste of Chardonnay grown and made in the mountain appellation of Spring Mountain District. Spring Mountain District AVA sits above the Napa Valley on the eastern slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains that separate Napa Valley from Sonoma Valley. The Stony Hill Vineyard Chardonnay was provided as a tasting sample. 2015 Stony Hill Vineyard Chardonnay […]

FEL Anderson Valley Chardonnay featured photo

FEL Anderson Valley Chardonnay

Anderson Valley winegrowers are cool-climate specialists. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer are the most-planted varieties in this northern California appellation. If you are a fan of sparkling wine, Anderson Valley has you covered. However, in today’s Cellar Note our focus is FEL Anderson Valley Chardonnay, which we received as a tasting sample. The Anderson Valley AVA is located about 100 […]