Yearly Archives: 2010
Valdivieso Eclat: Good Things Come To Those Who Wait
I took part in another fantastic Wines of Chile online blogger tasting last month and the only problem I had was a corked bottle. Noooooo! (Very tempted here to go on a rant about alternative closures but I will resist.) Luckily the fine people at The Thomas Collective shipped me a replacement and I finally [More]
Sud de France Sunday: Let it Breathe
Drinking the 2006 Robert Skalli Reserve Cabernet from the Sud de France reminded me how much decanting can benefit a wine. At first, the Skalli was smooth but a little too dominated by oak. After an hour in the decanter, the oak had subsided and I was left with a rich cab with mellow tannins. [More]
Sud de France Sunday: Where is Tautavel?
One of my favorite things about wine (beyond the obviously relish with which I drink it) is the opportunity to learn about and discover new places through every bottle. Like Tautavel, for example. Not only is it an appellation and town, but it’s steeped in the history of ancient humankind. Some of the oldest remains [More]
Sud de France Sunday: Red or White?
So I’m going to a potluck later today and have this working in the crockpot: Pumpkin Chicken thighs rubbed with smoked, dried chile powder and cumin Onion Garlic A bit of red curry sauce So what wine with this dish? At first I was contemplating a richer-style white, but with that bit of powerful tomato-based [More]
Sud de France Sunday: Blanquette de Limoux
It’s a lovely, sunny fall afternoon in Seattle. I think it only proper to laze about on the balcony and drink sparkling wine. What’s in my glass? Blanquette de Limoux. This region of France produces really nice, fun, and affordable sparkling wines. And if you liked to be steeped in the lore and history of [More]
A Few Thoughts on the Wines of Chile Blogger Tasting
It was great to acknowledge, celebrate, and toast the rescued Chilean miners. It was serendipitous that our tasting of Chilean wines took place as the last miners were safely above ground. Our Master of Ceremonies, Sommelier Fred Dexheimer, rightly pointed out the diversity and uniqueness of all the red blends we tried. Chile not only [More]
I Love Weird Wines: Terra d’Oro Teroldego
Terra d’Oro Teroldego Originally uploaded by jamesonf I was visiting Trinchero in Napa and my guide picked up on my penchant for the unusual and esoteric. It’s not often that I am rendered speechless in surprise, but when she brought out a Teroldego from California, I was floored. Very tasty stuff, too. One of the [More]
Napa Cellars/Folie a Deux: Who Knew?
My experience with these brands can be pretty much summed up with three words: Menage a Trois. That wine is a machine when it comes to sales in a grocery store. It kills. So when I was invited to a tasting at Napa Cellars/Folie a Deux in Oakville, I was expecting crowd-pleasing juice. Scanning through [More]
