Tasting Notes

Tasting notes for individual wines.

Sosie white wine featured photo

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, […]

Chalk Hill Estate Sauvignon Blanc featured photo

Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc Paired with Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

There’s nothing quite as satisfying and warming as homemade soup. If the recipe is easy, so much the better. Pair that soup with a delicious white wine and your meal is complete. We recently proved that point after receiving a bottle of Chalk Hill Estate Sauvignon Blanc from the winery as a tasting sample along with a butternut squash harvested […]

Domaine Bousquet fall featured photo

Falling for Organic Wines from Domaine Bousquet

The number of wines to choose from is literally endless. With so many countries and grape varieties to choose from why drink the same wine twice? Well, especially when you discover a winery making quality wines that suit your palate it’s hard to resist going back to a wine you know you will enjoy. And if that winery also follows […]

Robert Hall featured photo

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 […]

Veramonte and Ritual featured photo

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 […]

Chile Master Class featured photo

A Detailed Look at Wines from Chile

Change is a constant in our world and in the world of wine. It’s probably fair to say that change in younger wine regions is greater than in long-established ones. As viticulturists learn the intricacies of soil and climate, where varieties are planted can change. And viticulturists and winemakers must at least respond to changes in the climate if not […]

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 […]

Notre Vue featured photo

New Wines from Notre Vue: 2019 GSM Rosé and Chardonnay Musque

Bob and Renée Stein are especially pleased to be releasing their 2019 Notre Vue GSM Rosé and Chardonnay Musque. 2019 was an extremely challenging year that was marked by two fires that struck the Sonoma County property. The first, in May, damaged the tasting room and warehouse. Then the Kincade fire, which started October 23, destroyed an outbuilding, furniture and […]

Sherry happy hour featured photo

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 […]