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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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Wine and Turkey Legs: The Wine Fairy’s Guide to Scarborough Faire
Hear ye, hear ye, winos of North Texas! April 5-6 was the opening weekend for our own Renaissance festival, Scarborough Faire in Waxahachie, Texas. The Wine Fairy was there, tasting (almost) all the wines so I could report back to you. (Aye…’tis a tough job.) Scarborough Faire (a.k.a. Scarborough Renaissance Festival) has more than 15…
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Review: Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly Kermit Lynch (2023)
When people who are older and wiser than you keep warning you not to acquire a taste for Burgundy, you listen. And so, I’m really into the Beaujolais crus lately. While Beaujolais is technically part of Burgundy, the grape is Gamay and the prices are much friendlier. Tonight’s special treat is Château Thivin Côte de…
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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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Review: Lyla & Kennedy Barrel Aged Rosé (2022)
Another day, another strange rosé. Today we’re sipping on Lyla & Kennedy Barrel Aged Rosé. This was a limited-stock bottle I picked up at the wine shop because the packaging was gorgeous and the price was right. My impulsive moment is about to be either punished or rewarded–we shall see. The label text doesn’t reveal very…
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Total buzzkill: Total Wine’s rewards program devalues its best perk
It’s dark days in Dallas, y’all. First, we gave away Luka Dončić to the freakin’ Lakers. Then, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines started charging for bags. Now–because crappy things come in threes–our largest and best chain liquor store appears to be seriously scaling back their rewards program. Will the disappointments never end? Just a couple of months…
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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: Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva (2019)
I have a bottle of Chianti to talk about–but first, a magical oak tree story. Tuesday night I was out at dinner with my wife Sarah, and as we were leaving we got caught in a freak hailstorm. It was typical screwy North Texas early spring weather. Cool and sunny and then…bam! Blinding rain and…
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Review: Don Benigno Amontillado Sherry
Sherry is not easy to come by in this town, folks. (“Cherry? Yeah, we have cherry vodka.”) If you’re seeking Sherry (and you’re lucky), the liquor store person will lead you to a dusty shelf over by the jug wines, where approximately 95% of the fortified wines will be syrupy sweet and/or flavored. Even my…
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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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Mixing it up with Clos du Val’s blending seminar
It was a fab Cab lab at The Wine Authority this past Saturday. Napa Valley’s Clos du Val was in the house with barrel samples from the 2023 vintage–and one very special finished wine, the 2021 Yettalil blend ($200 retail). I booked the blending seminar for “educational” purposes. My wife (and fellow Cab lover) Sarah…
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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…