Tasting Notes

Tasting notes for individual wines.

Photo of wine glass and bottle of 2023 Pink Flamingo Gris de Gris in a garden setting

Pink Flamingo Gris de Gris: More than Just a Pretty Label

The Camargue is situated along the coast of southern France south of the city of Arles between two forks of the Rhône River. The Petite-Rhône forms the western boundary and the Grande-Rhône forms the eastern boundary of what is the largest river delta in western Europe. You may be familiar with the Camargue horse, a stocky, grey breed indigenous to […]

Photo of 2023 Domaine Bousquet LO CA Chardonnay and Malbec bottles and glasses of wine on a table with garden in the background

LO CA: Domaine Bousquet’s Low-Calorie Wines

One thing you may have gathered about the folks at Domaine Bousquet, from reading about them here and elsewhere, is that they never stand still. Jean Bousquet’s goal from the very beginning was to farm organically and make the best quality wines possible in Mendoza’s Uco Valley. Jean’s daughter Anne Bousquet and her husband Labid Al Ameri have for some […]

Photo of four Livermore Valley AVA wines on a table with trees in the background

Livermore Valley Wine: A Blend of History and Family Winemaking

California’s Livermore Valley AVA is situated about 35 miles east of San Francisco Bay. The valley has an unusual east-west orientation within the Coast Range that allows cool, maritime breezes to be funneled inland through the valley from the bay. The region is still quite warm with ample sunshine and cool nights. Valley floor and mountainside vineyard locations boast well-drained […]

Photo of Alileo Young Bianco and Syrah boxed wines on a table

Alileo: Wine from Sicily’s West Coast in a Box

Many wineries are turning to bag-in-box (BIB) packaging for their wines to reduce their carbon footprint among other things. BIB wines are lighter to transport, take up less space and keep wine fresh longer than glass bottles. Alileo is one such brand packaged in a box. In addition to BIB, Alileo packages sparkling wine under crown cap and cork and […]

Featured photo 2019 Smith-Madrone wines, Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, on a table with painting in the background

Smith-Madrone: Mountain Winemaking at its Best

I have a thing for mountainside vineyards. Growing vines on the side of a mountain is definitely not the easiest place to grow them, but some of the most interesting and complex wines I’ve tasted are grown there. Smith-Madrone wines are both. They are also elegant, unexpected and affordable. Affordable and Napa Valley are sometimes mutually exclusive with regard to […]

A Return to Uruguay for a Taste of Tannat

Last spring we tasted a group of wines from Uruguay that included Sauvignon Blanc, Moscatel and Cabernet Franc in addition to the country’s flagship variety, Tannat. That tasting was accompanied by a webinar that provided a detailed introduction to the country, its wine regions and growing conditions. We were impressed by the quality and affordability of the wines we tasted. […]

Featured photo Brilla! Prosecco Rosé and Valdo Marca Pro Prosecco bottles on a table with garden in background

Prosecco: Bubbly for Any Occasion or None at All

Prosecco has many appealing qualities beginning with those delightful bubbles that always feel celebratory — even if it’s just a mid-week meal at home. Their light, fruit flavors make them a good accompaniment to appetizers or a light meal especially in warmer weather. Then there’s Prosecco’s affordability, which means we can enjoy them without breaking the bank and use them […]

Domaine Bousquet Varietal Series wines featured photo of four wines on table with trees in background

A Taste of Domaine Bousquet’s Varietal Series Wines

If you are looking for an introduction to organic wines, one or more of Domaine Bousquet’s Varietal Series wines will be a delicious introduction. These wines are fresh and balanced. If you are already acquainted with organic wines, you will also appreciate how reasonably priced these wines are. We recently tasted four wines from the current release, which we received […]

Photo of two Esporão Reserva wines on table with trees in the background

New Esporão Reserva Wines: A Taste of History and Authenticity

For wine lovers who want a good backstory with their wine, look to Esporão. Herdade do Esporão is a historic estate in Portugal’s Alentejo wine region where traditional winemaking techniques are employed in modern winemaking facilities. And Esporão is fully committed to organic viticulture and sustainability. Today we are tasting two wines, which we received as tasting samples, that offer […]

Photo of 2021 Flora Springs Trilogy wine bottle and glass in front of wine books

A Taste of Flora Springs’ Flagship Red: 2021 Trilogy

The 2021 vintage of Trilogy marks the 38th bottling of what Flora Springs has always considered its flagship red wine. It continues to be sourced from Komes and Garvey family vineyards. Trilogy is a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend sourced primarily from the family’s Komes Ranch Vineyard. We received this wine as a tasting sample. Flora Springs’ history begins with the […]