Tasting Notes Archives

Crozes Hermitage and Braised Lamb with Puréed Root Vegetables for #winePW 10

March 13, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) 13 comments

I can’t believe another month has flown by and that it is time once again for Wine Pairing Weekend. Our March pairing is co-joined with Open That Bottle Night, which happens every year on the last Saturday in February. Basically OTBN is an “excuse” to open that special bottle of wine you’ve been holding, or to try a wine you’ve been curious about. It’s up to you to make your own fun.

Domaine de Bila-Haut Occultum Lapidem: no longer a hidden gem to us

March 9, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

In 1999 Michel Chapoutier turned his interest to Roussillon with the purchase of Domaine de Bila-Haut in Latour de France. The Roussillon portion of the enormous south of France Languedoc-Roussillon region is the portion closest to Spain. The climate here is truly Mediterranean with cold winters and very warm summers that provide a long, sunny growing season.

2012 Borra Vineyards Old Vine Barbera: remembering their beginning

March 2, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

Borra Vineyards does not bottle Barbera as a varietal wine every year, but clearly the variety is special to Steve Borra. It was the first wine Borra bottled when he established his winery in 1975. Back then Borra was the first boutique winery established in Lodi.

Six Wines from the Snake River Valley, Idaho: an introduction to the wines of Idaho

February 24, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

We recently had the opportunity to taste six wines from four wineries located in the Boise area. One of the regular tasters at the Thursday night wine tastings we attend at a local wineshop regularly visits the Boise area; her brother and sister-in-law live there. During a recent trip they did a bit of wine tasting and brought back the selection of wines we tasted. It was a great introduction to the wines of the area.

HALL Wines: Two Artistic Napa Valley Cabernets

February 18, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) 2 comments

We continued talking wine education with PROTOCOL wine studio, and several of their guests, while sipping two delicious HALL Wines on a recent Tuesday evening. PROTOCOL wine studio provides wine education via Twitter on Tuesday evenings (search #WineStudio on Twitter) and in their classroom in San Diego. It was fun and instructive.

The Swartland: a brief tour of this expansive South African wine region

February 6, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) 4 comments

Research pays off. It’s what brought us to visit the Swartland wine region in South Africa. In addition to visiting the better known region of Stellenbosch and the very scenic Franschhoek, we wanted to visit an out of the way wine region.

Tulbagh: a lesser-known South African wine region worthy of exploration

January 26, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) 1 comment

The Tulbagh wine district in South Africa is a valley that is surrounded on three sides by a ring of mountains, the Obiekwaberg, Groot Winterhoek and Witsenberg mountains. Located over an hour’s drive north of Cape Town, it’s a bit out of the way but well worth exploring.

Aaldering Vineyards and Wines: Three South African Red Wines

January 15, 2015 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

Aaldering Vineyards and Wines is an Estate winery located in Devon Valley, a ward within the Stellenbosch district is South Africa. It’s history is relatively recent compared to some wine farms in South Africa, having been established in 2004 with the purchase of 24 hectares. Aaldering’s first vintage was 2007, which they released in 2010.

Decopas Sauvignon Blanc and Malbec: Time for Happy Hour!

December 30, 2014 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

We recently tasted two Argentinian wines that are new to the U.S. market. Decopas Sauvignon Blanc and Malbec are perfect for dinner, for a party or a picnic. We received these wines as samples and were impressed with their freshness, pleasant flavors and affordability.

Saké and Cheese — A Natural Pairing

December 17, 2014 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

We recently sat in on a saké and cheese pairing hosted by Charles Communications Associates. The online tasting featured saké made in Forest Grove, Oregon by SakéOne as well as saké imported from Japan by SakéOne. Each of the four sakés was paired with a different cheese provided by Marin French Cheese Company, Laura Chenel and Rogue River Blue Cheese. As we discovered during the tasting, saké makes a great partner for cheese.