Cellar Notes

Notes about the wines we have tried recently.

Domaine Bousquet sparkling wine featured photo

Beautiful Organic Sparkling Wine from Argentina’s Domaine Bousquet

Opening a bottle of sparkling wine takes a bit of additional care and attention, but the reward is a glass of wine made more beautiful by its lively bubbles. Once you sip that wine the bubbles fill your mouth adding texture and energy, in addition to a variety of flavors. And there is something mesmerizing about simply watching the bubbles […]

2019 Quinta da Fonte Souto Branco, Portalegre, DOC Alentejo photo

Quinta da Fonte Souto Branco — A Taste of Alentejo’s Portalegre

When the Symington family decided to expand beyond the Douro, where they have spent five generations establishing themselves as makers of quality Port and dry red wines, they chose Portalegre. In 2017 they purchased an estate they have named Quinta da Fonte Souto. The 511-acre property has just over 100 acres of vineyards at elevations between 1600 and 1800 feet […]

Domaine de Cala Rosé featured photo

2020 Domaine de Cala Rosé — Welcome In My Glass Any Time of Year

Today we’re thinking of Provence, pretending we’re sitting at a shady table on a warm afternoon watching the sea and sipping rosé. We’re waiting for lunch to arrive and planning a lazy afternoon. Well, a girl can dream can’t she? The second best thing to being in Provence sipping rosé is sipping a glass of Provençal rosé at home on […]

Sosie Red Blend Rossi Ranch, Sonoma Valley, Sonoma County photo

2019 Sosie Rossi Ranch Red Blend: Made For A Meal

Sosie Wines proprietors Regina Bustamante and Scott MacFiggen are well acquainted with the wines of France, and that influence is reflected in the wines they craft. They source grapes from a number of very special vineyards in Northern California and take a light hand in winemaking. Rossi Ranch in Sonoma Valley is one of those special vineyards. We received this […]

White Wines For Summer Imported by González Byass photo

White Wines For Summer Imported by González Byass

Austria, Spain and Chile are represented in this group of white wines imported in the US by González Byass. In addition to the importer they share affordability and offer a variety of grape varieties to enjoy for summer sipping. We received these wines as tasting samples. 2020 Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Terrassen, Wachau, Austria — pale yellow with aromas […]

Priest Ranch Grenache Blanc featured photo

Priest Ranch Napa Valley Grenache Blanc: A Taste of The Unexpected

Summer is here, temperatures are rising and we’re enjoying lighter meals. We’re grilling and trying to keep cool. White wines are more likely to grace our dinner table this time of year and Grenache Blanc is a delicious choice to accompany meals or sip before dinner. Grenache Blanc from Napa Valley isn’t the most common of choices, but Priest Ranch […]

The Pairing featured photo

New Release Wines From The Pairing

Today we’re sipping three new releases from The Pairing that were sent to us as tasting samples. The Pairing range of wines is part of a highly-regarded family of wines that includes JONATA and The Hilt. This is our second taste of The Pairing wines. Matt Dees is the winemaker for all three ranges and the vineyard sources for The […]

Winebow featured photo

Wines From Around The World For Summer Sipping And Grilling

In the Northern Hemisphere summer officially begins on the summer solstice, June 20th this year. Temperatures have been summery for weeks where we live, and we are already regularly enjoying wine on the patio. So, the question of what to sip on warm afternoons or with a grilled meal is pressing. We have six choices from around the world, all […]

2017 Sullivan Rutherford Estates Coeur de Vigne, Rutherford, Napa Valley photo

Sullivan Rutherford Estate 2017 Coeur de Vigne

Today we’re sipping a delightful Cabernet Sauvignon blend that hails from Napa Valley’s Rutherford sub-AVA. We received this wine as a tasting sample and it provided us the opportunity to sip delicious wine and take a brief look at the region’s history. I never know where a wine I taste is going to take me. In the case of Coeur […]