In the under $10 retail category, I was drinking one of the most delightful, charming, and refreshing wines in the history of the world. Naturally, I speak of the Whidbey Island Winery Island White. In my glass, however, it did not seem as bright and fresh as I remembered it. That’s because I was drinking [More]
Greek Wines: For Reals
I just spent a fascinating couple of hours tasting Greek wines during lunch at Crave. This is not Pine-Sol-y Retsina. These are wines made with native grapes: crisp, dry, aromatic whites and fun, fresh, stainless-steel reds. And one kick-ass rose. For the whites look for Roditis. I had a 100% Roditis and then a Roditis/Gewurtz/Sauv [More]
Unbelievable White
I have been bemoaning the lack of good Rhone whites that have come my way, but one I just tasted made me forget all that: Domaine Francois Villard St. Joseph Blanc “Mairlant (It was either the 2004 or 2005) Unbelievable. It’s a blend of 85% Marsanne, 15% Roussanne. The grapes are hand-harvested with small amounts [More]
I Will Only Drink Slovenian Whites
I am absolutely in love with the white wines from Dveri-Pax. I have had two: a 2004 Sauvignon Blanc and a 2005 Eisenthur, which is a blend of Pinot Grigio and Furmint! I prefer the latter, but the Sauv Blanc is very nice; not grassy and green-beany like nasty, gross New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. But [More]
Three Great Whites
2004 Deiss Riesling Beblenheim Criminally underpriced Alsatian Riesling. Less than $25 a bottle! Incredible purity and length. It’s been a while since I was wowed by an Alsatian wine. 2004 Verget Pouilly-Fuisse Clos du Martelet “Terroir de Vergisson” Another Verget white with a very long name. A bird of a different feather from the Old [More]
Wines for Sultry Weather
Good lord, it’s like 95 degrees and humid in Seattle. This is the kind of weather that sent me running from Chicago. Sitting in my kiln of an apartment, I cannot imagine drinking red wine.* What you need are low alcohol, crisp, unoaked wines. Like Whidbey Island Whites! I drank some of the Siegerrebe and [More]
Yes, More California Cabernets
2002 Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon. 75% Cab, 23% Merlot, 2 % Cab Franc. 100% totally awesome. Very complex, great mountain fruit. Positively Bordeaux-esque. From 2000 feet high in the Santa Cruz Mountains. A stunner. Buy a case and enjoy over the next few years. It should retail for about 35 bucks. One of the [More]
White Cottage Rules!
I just had the 2002 White Cottage Cabernet Sauvginon Howell Mountain. Awesome. A really explosive wine with a ton of flavor. The alcohol is under 14%, the oak (14 months) is integrated and unobstrusive, and the fruit and minerality are present, big time! It’s a big, lovely, balanced cab…great acidity, too. Would be so good [More]
