Cellar Notes

Notes about the wines we have tried recently.

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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 […]

Theopolis Petite Sirah featured photo

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 […]

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2015 Geil Bechtheimer Scheurebe Kabinett, Rheinhessen

Weingut Geil is a family winery located in the village of Bechtheim in Germany’s Rheinhessen. Johannes Geil-Bierschenk tends 30 hectares of vines that include Riesling, Silvaner, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Gewürztraminer, Kerner, Scheurebe, Rieslaner, Huxelrebe, Muskateller and St. Laurent in the family’s estate vineyards. Organic practices are followed. I’m pretty sure this is our first taste of Scheurebe and […]

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2016 Shelter Winery Spätburgunder: a Taste of Baden

Shelter Spätburgunder is the middle-tier Pinot Noir made by Hans-Bert Espy and Silke Wolf at their small winery in Kenzingen, Baden. The couple farm just a few hectares of vines north of the Kaiserstuhl where the soils have transitioned from volcanic to limestone and loess. Growing conditions are a bit cooler here too, thanks to the influence of the Black […]

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First Things First: Sparkling Roussanne from Sosie Wines

Sosie (so-zee) is a French word that translates to twin or spitting image. The name perfectly describes Regina Bustamante and Scott MacFiggen’s vision of making Northern California wines in a French style. Thanks to travels through France their palates are Old World in style, having been influenced by Bordeaux, Rhône Valley, Burgundy and Loire Valley wines. Given their affinity for […]

Two Shepherds Pastoral Rouge featured

Two Shepherds Pastoral Rouge: A Red Wine for Any Season

William Allen is a Rhône specialist who makes a range of red, white, skin-fermented and rosé wines at his Two Shepherds winery. And he recently released his first canned wine. He sources grapes from small often organically farmed vineyards. William’s winemaking style is hands off. He uses native yeast fermentations and neutral oak aging. He and partner Karen Daenen harvested […]