Tasting Notes

Tasting notes for individual wines.

Rías Baixas Albariño featured photo

Celebrate Springtime with Albariño from Rías Baixas

Who isn’t ready for a little sunshine after the wet, unpredictable winter most of us have experienced? If the weather still isn’t sunny where you live, maybe look for a little sunshine in your wine glass. Rías Baixas Albariño is at your service. Today we’re tasting three such sunny wines that were sent to us as tasting samples. Hello Rías […]

Uruguay wines featured photo

Uruguayan Wine: Tannat and So Much More

If you have had any introduction to wines from Uruguay it’s likely been Tannat, Uruguay’s flagship variety. I remember them for their firm tannins and complex, ripe fruit flavors. It makes sense that in a country where cows outnumber residents 4:1, and where grilling meat is a fine art (Uruguayans eat the most meat per capita anywhere in the world), […]

2018 Smith-Madrone Riesling photo of bottle and wine glass on table in front of lemon tree

Smith-Madrone Riesling: It’s Perfect for a Meal

When planning a meal do you start with the food or the wine? I may have just given away my approach by listing food before wine, but honestly sometimes we begin with the food and sometimes the wine. And, some food is more challenging to pair with wine, and some wine is more challenging to pair with food. But one […]

Pam's UN-Oaked Chardonnay and Cabernet featured photo

Pam’s UN-Oaked Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from Ron Rubin Winery

Unoaked Chardonnay is fairly common, but the same cannot be said for unoaked Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet is almost always made by fermenting and aging the wine in oak barrels of various types and ages. Winery owner and beverage specialist Ron Rubin is clearly not following the crowd with his line of UN-Oaked wines; Pam’s UN-Oaked Cabernet Sauvignon recently joined Pam’s […]

Languedoc wines featured photo

Languedoc: A Small Taste of a Very Large Wine Region

Languedoc is big and it’s varied, which means there is a lot to learn to fully understand the region. We couldn’t possibly understand all of Languedoc’s appellations by tasting only four wines, but four wines can provide an introduction to the region that prompts further exploration. And each of these wines provides a short cut to its sub-region. We received […]

Spätburgunder and Pinot Noir featured photo

Why You Should Sip German Spätburgunder, AKA Pinot Noir

Germany is certainly better known for its white wines, Riesling in particular, than it is for its red wines. But Germany’s cool growing conditions can result in red wines with lively flavors that are food friendly and have very modest alcohol. Chill them during summer and enjoy them at room temperature in winter. Today we’re sipping two such wines that […]

2021 Kono Sauvignon Blanc featured photo

Kono Sauvignon Blanc: A Reflection of Māori Traditions

New Zealand may produce only 1% of the world’s wines, but that small volume of wine is very well known among wine enthusiasts; especially its zesty Sauvignon Blanc. According to New Zealand Wine, Sauvignon Blanc represents 72% of New Zealand’s wine production and 85% of its wine exports. It is made in a range of styles using both stainless steel […]

Tangent Albarino featured photo

Tangent Albariño: Sip Something Different

Albariño has its origins in the northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula along the Atlantic Ocean near the border between Portugal and Spain. In Portugal’s Vinho Verde region, Alvarinho is often made in a lighter style and bottled with a bit of effervescence. In Galicia’s cool, wet Rias Baixas region the wines are known for their complexity and brilliant acidity. […]