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Review: Greek Wine Cellars “Flowers” Agiorgitiko Nemea (2020)
If I’ve never tasted a grape variety before and it’s on the WSET Level 3 syllabus, I’m buying it. That’s my shopping strategy from now until my exam date in November. No more safe and familiar Chards and Cabs on the list–I’m going Agiorgitiko to Zweigelt and loving it. And so, I wound up with…
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Local Sips: Tasting Tuesday at Antonio Ristorante (Addison, TX)
Do you like Italian wine and Italian food? Of course–everybody does, unless they’re nuts. Would you like to know a weeknight date idea that won’t empty your wallet or leave you so full you swear you’ll never eat again? Then check out Antonio Ristorante in Addison Circle. Antonio’s offers a seasonal 3-course tasting menu on…
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A Pinot Comparison (Saturday Tasting at Blind Bishop)
Pinot is loved for its versatility, and that chameleonic quality was on display at Saturday’s themed wine tasting at Blind Bishop in Dallas. We tried six different expressions of Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio/Gris. It was the first summery day of the season, and wine lovers streamed into the sun-filled tasting room. Two gentleman pourers…
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Review: Long Shadows Poet’s Leap Columbia Valley Riesling (2022)
We can do some damage to a Riesling in this house–or as my wife says, “We make short work of tall bottles.” Riesling may not ever be trendy, but it’s classic. It’s one of my favorite white grapes. My earliest experiences with Riesling were the blue bottles of Spätlese from the grocery store or the…
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Under $12 Review: Ed Edmundo Red Blend (2020)
I am not now (nor have I ever been) “serious” about wine. Ew. Perish the thought. But at some point–and it wasn’t too long ago–there was a change. I got a little more…focused about wine. Or disciplined. Or perceptive. Something shifted, and I started paying more attention to what was in the glass. The result…
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Review: Lavau Tavel Rosé (2020)
My most recent wine find is a shamrock in a field of clovers. A crane among chickens. A redhead in a room full of blondes. It’s a piquant and powerful rosé from Tavel. I’d heard about Tavel from wine geeks. But I’d never had the opportunity to taste one because unlike Côtes-du-Rhône and Provence rosés…
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Review: The Black Stump Durif-Shiraz (2022)
An oddball wine from Down Under is tonight’s random tipple. I don’t remember buying this, but I’m almost certain it was in my first shipment from the Wall Street Journal wine club. That means it cost approximately negative two dollars after introductory offers…so my expectations were dialed down low. The Black Stump is a blend…
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Review: Domaine Philippe et Vincent Jaboulet Viognier (2022)
Viognier? More like, “Viogn-yay!” Today we’re reviewing a fruit-packed, exquisitely floral Viognier from veteran Rhône winemaker Philippe Jaboulet (and son). The Jaboulets sold their renowned family business Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aîné in 2006, retained a few small plots, and have since started a new life as independent winemakers. So this is no trend-chasing, clumsily made…
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Under $12 Review: ALDI’s California Heritage Pinot Grigio
Our wine review of the day is…ta-da! A $5 Pinot Grigio from ALDI. Wait, wait–I can explain: I bought this wine to put in my Italian sausage and kale pasta. But then I remembered that drinking bad wine helps you appreciate the good ones more. So I put on a brave face, twisted that screw…
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Review: Saint-Hilaire Blanquette de Limoux Brut (2021)
Our wine topic today is a budget sparkler with a cool story. The year was 1531. At the abbey of Saint-Hilaire at the base of the Pyrenees, some monks noticed that bubbles appeared in casks of fermenting white wine. They documented their findings and worked out methods for production and distribution. Thus, Saint-Hilaire is France’s…
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Review: Tacama Gran Blanco Tres Cepas (2022)
I’ll admit it: It’s novelty that primarily drives my personal wine choices. Why drink something you’ve already tasted? There are exceptions (for exceptional wines and comfort wines)–but most nights, I just want to try something new. The second most important thing is price. And so today, we have an inexpensive and novel wine: Tacama Vineyards’…
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California Uncorked: Napa Valley & Beyond (Total Wine class review)
Nothing helps smooth the path to the weekend better than a midweek wine or spirits tasting. And so, I frequently take Thursday evening classes at the Total Wine in West Plano, Texas. It’s like an educational version of a Thirsty Thursday happy hour! Last night’s class was “California Uncorked: Napa Valley & Beyond.” It’s an…