Cellar Notes

Notes about the wines we have tried recently.

Hess Collection featured photo

The Hess Collection: New Releases

We recently received three wines from the Hess Collection’s new vintage release as tasting samples, giving us the opportunity to share our tasting notes and a brief history of the property. This tasting offers a tour of Hess Family Wine Estates’ Napa Valley vineyards as well. After tasting these wines I feel the need to visit the historic, family-owned property […]

Vermut Lustau featured photo

Vermut Lustau: Sherry Vermouth You Must Try

Josh placed a small wine glass containing a generous taste of a chestnut-colored liquid on our table and stood back. This was a surprise, we hadn’t ordered another wine. After a pause, Josh said, “Taste this. If you can tell me what it is, I will buy your dessert.” Pete and I looked at each other and smiled. We had […]

Bervini 1955 featured photo

Bervini 1955 Prosecco & Rosé Spumante

Bubbles. Who doesn’t love them? The lively effervesce that comes with a sparkling wine is an excellent way to introduce a bit of variety into your wine enjoyment. And, in general they’re very versatile food partners. We recently had the opportunity to taste two sparkling wines, which we received as tasting samples, made by Bervini 1955. The winery is located […]

Locations NZ featured photo

Locations NZ6: New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc

When it comes to identifying a grape variety by the aromas that waft from a glass of wine I am not the most proficient. I am always willing to give it the old college try but, in all honesty, there are only a few varieties I can reliably identify blind. Sauvignon Blanc is at the top of the list. Admittedly, […]

Abadia Retuerta Seleccion Especial featured

Abadia Retuerta Selección Especial

Every glass of wine is an adventure in aromas, flavors and textures – at the very least. If you are at all curious about the wine in your glass, there is the added bonus of exploring geography, wine classifications, grape varieties and winemaking techniques. I can’t help but examine the label of every wine I drink; and I am always […]

Nino Franco Featured Photo

Celebrating #NationalProseccoDay with Nino Franco Rustico Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG

August 13 has been officially declared #NationalProseccoDay, just in case you need a reason to celebrate with this delicious Italian sparkling wine. We certainly have reason to celebrate. We recently received 14 coupe glasses and two bottles of Nino Franco Rustico Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG as tasting samples. The reason for sending us all of those classic sparkling wine glasses […]

Colome Wines Featured

Colomé Torrontés and Malbec

Torrontés and Malbec are Argentina’s best-known wine grape varieties, at least to those of us that are the focus Argentina’s export market. Of the two varieties, Malbec is definitely better known, but Torrontés is perhaps more distinctive. I remember my first taste of Torrontés years ago, I was floored by the floral aromas and flavors. Malbec, which originated in France, […]

Casillero del Diablo Merlot featured

Casillero del Diablo Reserva Merlot

This summer has been warmer than the past few. We have been hit with heat waves lasting several days that have brought temperatures over 100º F. In between we’ve enjoyed cooler temperatures in the 80s and 90s with mornings and evenings that cool off nicely. This is when we reach for red wine, otherwise it’s mostly rosé and white wine. […]

Valdivieso Wines

Viña Valdivieso Brut Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc

When I think of Chilean wine, I have to I admit, I don’t think of sparkling wine. I think of red wine — Cabernet Sauvignon or Carménère. Today I have the opportunity to challenge that association by sharing my tasting notes of a sparkling rosé and white wine from longtime Chilean producer Viña Valdivieso. This may be my first taste […]