Petit Verdot Archives

Two Red Wines, One Pasta Dinner

November 3, 2014 by Nancy (CSW) 2 comments

The birch tree in our backyard has turned bright yellow, and its leaves are dropping rapidly, creating a brilliant carpet. The weather is cooling and my taste is turning once again to red wine. I do love fall.

Just ahead of the change of seasons, we recently received two red wines as tasting samples from our twitter friend Mark Aselstine (@wineclubguy). Yes, as you might guess from Mark’s twitter handle he has established a wine club, along with brother-in-law Matt Krause. It’s cleverly called Uncorked Ventures. But it’s more than just a wine club.

Charles Krug Winery Spring Releases — What’s New From This Napa Icon

June 4, 2014 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

The Peter Mondavi family and Charles Krug Winery have much to celebrate in 2014. The winery has completed an ambitious renovation of both their vineyards and winery as well as the Redwood Cellar tasting room originally built in 1872. Owner Peter Mondavi Sr. will celebrate his 100th birthday this year and the Charles Krug Winery spring release wines from the 2011 vintage represent both the 150th Anniversary harvest and the inaugural release of the Family Reserve Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.

A Selection of Red Wines From South Africa

December 18, 2013 by Nancy (CSW) 1 comment

This is the second post reviewing a group of South African wines we received as tasting samples from Cape Classics, an importer of South African (and French) wines in to the US, with distribution in 49 states. We dedicated the prior post to the white wines in the selection.

Inexpensive Napa/Sonoma Reds – Moniz Family Wines

November 10, 2013 by Peter Comments are Disabled

Napa and Sonoma red wines for under $20? You won’t find very many, however, the other day by chance we ran into a vintner who sells red wine from those areas and for less than $20 per bottle.

2010 Bordeaux – Final Tasting

November 6, 2013 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

We have spent the month of October immersed in Bordeaux, figuratively of course. We concluded our month-long series of tastings last Thursday night at Fine Wines of Stockton with a collection of Bordeaux from through out the appellation.

Heritage Oak Winery — A Profile

November 1, 2013 by Nancy (CSW) 2 comments

Tom Hoffman wasn’t always a winemaker. He used to teach, in South America. But, eventually he was drawn back to the family farm, to manage the vineyards. For a while he was a home winemaker. His interest in winemaking eventually became Heritage Oak Winery, located within the Mokelumne River AVA of the Lodi appellation. The winery opened in 2007.

2010 Bordeaux — Pauillac

October 29, 2013 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

Our continuing 2010 vintage Bordeaux tasting at Fine Wines of Stockton brings us to Pauillac. Located just north of Saint-Julien along the left bank of the Gironde estuary, it is home to an amazing three of the five châteaux classified as 1st Growth (Lafite Rothschild, Latour and Mouton Rothschild). An additional 15 otherwise classified estates are located within Pauillac as well.

2010 Bordeaux — Saint-Julien

October 24, 2013 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

We have found much to like about the 2010 Bordeaux vintage. Lots of fruit flavors, a variable amount of complexity, plenty of tannins and modest wood influence, to name just a few of our favorite qualities. We continued our tasting at Fine Wines of Stockton with Bordeaux from Saint-Julien.

Dos Cabezas WineWorks – Sonoita, Arizona

September 19, 2013 by Nancy (CSW) Comments are Disabled

This was our second visit to Dos Cabezas WineWorks. In 2011 it was the first Arizona winery we visited on our first tour of the Sonoita wine area. Six wines were on their tasting sheet that August, all red, one a fortified dessert wine. This year we enjoyed tasting through the since-expanded tasting sheet, eleven wines in all.

Callaghan Vineyards – Elgin, Arizona

September 13, 2013 by Peter Comments are Disabled

Kent Callaghan listens more than he talks. He’s reserved and unassuming. He’s had his hands in the dirt of his Elgin vineyard since at least 1990. I’m guessing he has learned something about that vineyard every day since. It’s reflected in the wine he makes. If you have visited his winery and tasted his wines, you know exactly what I’m talking about.