Blog Archives

Overlooked/Underrated: Godello

My latest missive for VinePair takes a look at a white wine grape, Godello. Its home is Galicia, on the northwest coast of Spain. I’ve got the story behind the grape’s preservation, its more familiar friend, and five bottles to check out. Have a look: Why Chardonnay Fans Should Consider Godello You’ve probably heard of [More]

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A Spanish White Wine Labyrinth

I got very ambitious as a reader, picking up a copy of a (nearly) 800-page book. No regrets! I gladly sacrificed some/much sleep to stay up and finish Labyrinth of the Spirits by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. Let’s take a look at my review on Goodreads, shall we? The Labyrinth of the Spirits by Carlos Ruiz [More]

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Luzón Verde is a Go-To Organic Spanish Red Wine Bargain

Sometimes when I go to a big wine tasting event like Spain’s Great Match, it’s all about cramming as many new wines into my maw as possible. (RESPONSIBLY.) But often the most memorable tastes are when I revisit an old vinous friend. I fondly recall selling the Luzón Verde, a Spanish red wine made from [More]

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Liquid Geography Rosé is a Feel-Good Wine

I’ve been a fan of a small region in Northwest Spain for quite a while: Bierzo. (I first wrote about the region, albeit quite briefly, in 2005!) The main grape you’ll find there, Mencía, makes great red wines. Now I’m delighted to get into some pink examples. Liquid Geography rosé is the most recent bottle I’ve [More]

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I Praise This Wine Without Using Exclamation Points

I am so guilty of excessively using exclamation points. If you read the “About Me” section of this very blog, I even confess/brag about it. I refer to my predilection as deploying an “overabundance” of them. A quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald has stuck with me: “An exclamation point is like laughing at your own [More]

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Grenache Blanc From Priorat: Seek Out This Surprising White Wine

Four years ago I went to Spain on a trip with a Cava producer and the most surprising wine I drank (during a day away from sparkling) was a Grenache Blanc (Garnacha Blanca) from Priorat. The later is a region in Spain a couple hours west of Barcelona but it feels like a world away. Steep [More]

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Enjoying Verdejo, Hating on Terroir

My expanded my thoughts on the Shaya, with added anti-terroir screed.

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Space Needle and Verdejo

Space Needle Originally uploaded by jamesonf Got a sample of the 2008 Shaya Verdejo from my local distributor. Not sure if it was because of the old vines, but this Verdejo had a bit more richness and complexity. Most inexpensive Verdejo reminds me of Sauvignon Blanc: crisp, dry, lively, but not a whole lot going [More]

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