Tasting Notes

Tasting notes for individual wines.

German Riesling featured photo

A Taste of Riesling’s Charms

Riesling is Germany’s most-planted grape variety and likely originated in the Rheingau. It is capable of making wines in styles that range from dry to sweet. Riesling is beautifully aromatic and so delicious, but the trick is figuring out if the wine will taste sweet or not. Today we’re tasting two Rieslings, both of which were provided to us as […]

Alta Colina feature photo

Alta Colina: Rhone Specialists in Paso’s Adelaida District

Bob Tillman describes himself as someone not content to simply pursue hobbies in retirement. But after listening to the story of how he came to establish Alta Colina in the Adelaida District of Paso Robles, I wonder if he might just pursue his hobbies with a bit more drive than most retirees. Bob didn’t discover wine until he and his […]

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 […]

Domaine Bousquet featured photo

Domaine Bousquet: A Name Synonymous with Quality Organic Wines

Anne Bousquet questioned her father’s 1997 purchase of nearly 1000 acres in remote Gualtallary in Argentina’s Mendoza region with humor, asking, “What are you doing? Buying a beach? All sand, no sea?” Well, Jean Bousquet has had the last laugh as Domaine Bousquet is now well established with certified-organic vineyards in the Tupungato district of Mendoza’s Uco Valley, a modern […]

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 […]

Sipping Wine Around Australia featured photo

Sipping Australian Wine

Most of Australia is far too hot and dry to support vineyards, but many coastal areas are well suited to viticulture and this is where most of Australia’s wine regions are located. As you might imagine in a country the size of Australia there is a big range of climates and soil types as well as grape varieties. All of […]

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 Pinot Noir featured photo

A Taste of Merry Edwards Pinot Noir

Today we’re sipping Pinot Noir, which is one of my favorite varieties. Pinot Noir can be anything from weightless and etherial in the glass to medium bodied and brooding, which is part of the charm of this variety for me. These two expressions of Merry Edwards Pinot Noir, sent to us as tasting samples, are distinctly different.   Merry Edwards […]

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. […]