Cellar Notes

Notes about the wines we have tried recently.

Ehlers Estate feature photo

Spring Releases from Ehlers Estate

This is the time of year we wine drinkers begin to step up our search for white and rosé wines for summer enjoyment. Cue the spring winery releases. We recently received these two new wines from Napa Valley’s Ehlers Estate as tasting samples and we are happy to share them with you. Ehlers Estate is tucked away in Napa Valley […]

Chalk Hill Chardonnay featured photo

Chalk Hill Chardonnay Paired with a Savory Tart

By Memorial Day the weather forecast predicts triple-digit temperatures. So that means it’s time to get white wine chilling. Conveniently, #ChardonnayDay always falls on the Thursday before Memorial Day as a reminder, in case the weather forecast doesn’t do so. Today we’re sipping a meal-worthy Chardonnay we received as a tasting sample. Chalk Hill AVA lies in the northeast corner […]

Roxanich Ines featured photo

Roxanich Ines U Bijelom Cuvée 2010

I experienced a crazy TV moment last week while watching the new season of the Netflix original series, Dead to Me. In the first episode of the second season orange wine is prominently mentioned. Granted, neither of the characters discussing orange wine knew what it was, but it got a mention. I guess that means at least scriptwriters have been […]

Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc featured photo

Celebrate #SauvBlancDay with Merry Edwards

All around the world wine lovers are sipping extra Sauvignon Blanc today in celebration of International Sauvignon Blanc Day. Warm and sunny weather has put us in the mood to pour a splash of Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc and join the fun. We received this wine as a tasting sample. 2018 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County […]

2018 Jolie-Laide Pinot Gris

My early experience with Pinot Gris was underwhelming. Then I discovered skin-contact Pinot Gris and a whole world of gorgeous, delicious Pinot Gris opened up to me. I haven’t looked back and almost never pass up the opportunity to taste one. Joile-Laide Pinot Gris is my most recent find, a wine we purchased through a wine club called The Outliers. […]

Jansz sparkling wine featured photo

A Glass of Tasmanian Sparkling Wine to Brighten Your Day

Sparkling wine is widely considered a celebratory libation. Unfortunately, these do not feel like celebratory times. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic we’re staying home, only venturing out to walk in our neighborhood or shop for items we cannot order online. These are stressful times and, I would argue, the exact time when a glass of sparkling wine is […]

Howard Park featured photo

Howard Park Miamup Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Today we continue our visit to Australia’s Margaret River via the wine in our glass. We’re fast falling in love with the wines from this far corner of Australia and the more research I do the more excited I become to visit this part of Australia. We received this wine as a tasting sample. Howard Park was established in 1986 […]

Flora Springs New Release featured photo

New Releases from Flora Springs

If, like us, you are on winery mailing lists you have received emails announcing spring release wines. It’s a welcome bright spot, especially this year when so little is normal for most of us. Today we are sharing two recent releases from Flora Springs that we received as tasting samples. Spring wine releases this year will be especially important to […]

Kenwood white wines featured photo

Two New White Wines from Kenwood Vineyards

Winemakers are a curious lot. They are always on a quest to identify unique vineyard sites and expressions of grape varieties. Every vintage brings with it unique challenges and opportunities to craft interesting wines. Kenwood Vineyards has introduced two white wines for winter sipping and beyond. We received both wines as tasting samples. Both of these wines are new additions […]

Alois Lageder Terra Alpina featured photo

Terra Alpina Wines from Alois Lageder

My travels to the Dolomites in northeastern Italy are limited to the wine in my glass. But I have to say that virtual travel is one of the great pleasures of wine. The Dolomites, with their jagged peaks, steep slopes, valleys cut by glaciers and alpine rivers, have created a complex terroir that defines Trentino-Alto Adige. Today we are tasting […]