Cellar Notes

Notes about the wines we have tried recently.

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Hey French: Pasqua Has Fun With Wine

Hey French You Could Have Made This Wine But You Didn’t is a wine with a very long name and more than a bit of attitude. This new wine, made by Pasqua in northeastern Italy’s Veneto region, is a multi-vintage blend of Garganega along with Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon. It comes with a graffiti-inspired label similar to the PassioneSentimento wines […]

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A Taste of Portugal’s Vinho Verde Region

Just when you expect us to be sipping red wine we’re reaching for the lively white wines of Vinho Verde. We know we’re swimming against the stream, but these energetic wines from Portugal are perfect with appetizers or to sip while cooking even if it’s too chilly to sit on the patio. And it’s so refreshing to take a break […]

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Sosie White Blend will Brighten a Winter’s Day

As I sit writing this cellar note it is foggy and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The forecast is for a chilly day with no sunshine until this afternoon. And it’s the first day of winter. This white wine will be a delicious way to welcome winter this evening. We received this wine as a tasting sample. Regina Bustamante and Scott MacFiggen, […]

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Good Things Come in Small Packages from Robert Hall Winery

With all of us having smaller celebrations over the holidays this year it follows that purchasing wine in smaller bottles might be a good idea for many of us. And I like the idea of drinking better wine rather than drinking more wine. We’re happy to share these little gems with you that we received as tasting samples from Robert […]

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Organic Wines from Chile’s Ritual and Veramonte

The good news about these four wines just keeps on coming. All are imported into the US by González Byass USA, who sent these wines to us as tasting samples, and are part of the González Byass family of wines. That’s good news because these wines are widely available in the US and all are under $20, mostly by quite […]

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Theopolis Vineyards Petite Sirah, Yorkville Highlands, Mendocino County

Chilly weather is upon us and that means heartier dishes are likely on your table that beg to be paired with red wine. Theopolis Vineyards Petite Sirah is the perfect partner for a wintery meal and beyond. This is a very food-friendly wine. 2017 Theopolis Vineyards Petite Sirah, Yorkville Highlands, Mendocino County — medium ruby in the glass with aromas […]

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Sherry Happy Hour to Celebrate #SherryWeek

Sherry lovers around the world have been celebrating Sherry this week. November 2-8, 2020 marks the seventh International Sherry Week Celebration organized with support from the El Consejo Regulador Jerez-Xérès-Sherry. We are happy to take this opportunity to share a Sherry with you that we received as a tasting sample.  Sherry is a fortified style of wine made exclusively in […]

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District 7: Certified Sustainable Wines from California’s Monterey AVA

The more I read about District 7 wines the more impressed and curious to taste the wines I became. Some of the qualities that attracted me include: family ownership, certified sustainable vineyards and winery, 100% estate vineyards, a commitment to renewable energy and community support. Today we’re sharing four wines from District 7 that we received as tasting samples. District […]

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Jean-René Germanier Humagne Rouge, Valais, Switzerland: A Taste of Something New

Oh. My. Goodness. This wine has everything I love in a red wine. It’s an unusual variety from a country and region that is unfamiliar to me and the flavor profile is right up my alley.  2017 Jean-René Germanier Humagne Rouge, Valais, Switzerland — light ruby in the glass with aromas of red cherries, raspberries and cranberries along with wet […]

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Quinta da Fonte Souto, Portalegre, Branco, DOC Alentejo

The Symington family have spent five generations establishing themselves first in Portugal’s Port world and then as makers of quality dry wines in the Douro Valley. They own 26 quintas in the Douro and as of 2017 have expanded to Portugal’s enormous Alentejo region in southern Portugal. Quinta da Fonte Souto is that property located in the Portalegre sub-region of […]