Tasting notes for individual wines.
’Tis the season for a glass of Port. The weather is chilly, you’ve just finished a hearty meal and there is a fire in the fireplace. A glass of Port is just the thing to end your meal and help you settle comfortably into the rest of your evening. Port wine is made in several styles and all are fortified, […]
I freely admit I love bubbles and, more specifically, Champagne. It is a classic, and therefore the standard against which all sparkling wine is judged. Champagne is beautiful in the glass. Watching those tiny bubbles rise to the top of the golden liquid can be mesmerizing. As much as I enjoy watching a glass of Champagne, I would much rather […]
Parducci Wine Cellars was founded in 1921, making it the oldest winery in Mendocino County still making wine. That milestone is being celebrated with the release of 85, which also honors John Parducci who was known as Mr. Mendocino. Parducci was a lover of Petit Sirah so, as part of the celebration, a vertical of Parducci True Grit Petite Sirah […]
When I think about how I usually enjoy wine, it is almost always with food. Either I’m sipping a glass of wine while preparing a meal, or more commonly, I’m enjoying a glass of wine with my meal. So, from that standpoint it makes perfect sense that a wine tasting be accompanied by food. Experiencing food and wine pairings prepared […]
According to New Zealand Wine, Marlborough is home to 2/3 of New Zealand’s vineyard acreage. Sauvignon Blanc comprises almost 80% of plantings, with Pinot Noir coming in second followed by aromatic white varieties and Chardonnay. Marlborough has three sub-regions: Southern Valleys, Wairau Valley and Awatere Valley. Sunshine, moderate temperatures and significant diurnal temperature shifts are characteristic of the region. Soils […]
Lori Budd and I have at least two things in common — a love of Cabernet Franc and the same “gateway” Cabernet Franc wine. For both of us, the Cabernet Franc that first grabbed our attention was made by William Harrison Vineyard and Winery in Napa Valley’s St. Helena. It’s a small wine world. Lori and her husband, Mike, have […]
We recently received three wines from the Hess Collection’s new vintage release as tasting samples, giving us the opportunity to share our tasting notes and a brief history of the property. This tasting offers a tour of Hess Family Wine Estates’ Napa Valley vineyards as well. After tasting these wines I feel the need to visit the historic, family-owned property […]
When a recent opportunity to receive tasting samples of Montinore Estate wines presented itself, I was quick to respond in the affirmative. I recognized the Montinore name immediately. Last August I enjoyed a bottle of 2015 Montinore Pinot Gris we received through one of our wine club memberships. The Pinot Gris caught my attention for several reasons. First, it was […]
Today’s the day. National Zinfandel Day. #ZinDay takes place every year on the third Wednesday in November and we are happy to celebrate Zinfandel today with two wines we received as tasting samples. Both wines are made from very old vine Zinfandel in the Mokelumne River sub-AVA of the Lodi AVA. The wines are made in two very different styles, […]
The theme for this month’s Wine Pairing Weekend is American Wine for an American Holiday. Thanksgiving is fast approaching and it is just about my favorite holiday, so I’m happy to put together a paring around a Thanksgiving theme. This will be a paired-down pairing with three wines made by the Mercer family from Washington state. The Mercers were kind […]
We enjoy wine, food and travel. Pull That Cork is a chronicle of our wine adventures, the food and wine pairings we create and our travels which are increasingly organized around wine.