The 2009 Renwood Chardonnay is an orphan wine. Renwood, founded in 1993, went bankrupt in 2011, its assets were sold off and there is a new Renwood Winery that is not affiliated with the old Renwood. The new Renwood focuses on Zinfandel, they control some of the oldest vines in California, and do not have…
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The 2009 Peirano Vineyards The Unknown is a blend of 70% Syrah, 20% Petite Sirah, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, along with 5% Viognier sourced from their Estate vineyard in the Lodi AVA of California. Viognier is a white wine grape, it is used to put a “shine” on the fruit flavors and add some structure, though they…
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The 2010 Once Upon A Vine Pinot Noir is sourced from multiple vineyards in several California grape growing AVA’s. The Once Upon A Vine brand is one of the family of wines (Snapdragon, Butterfly Kisses, Uppercut, Stark Raving and few others) produced by The Wine Bar, a division of Diageo Wines. This is a Brand…
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The 2012 Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay is Jacob’s Creek’s entry level Chardonnay sourced from various vineyards thru-out South Eastern Australia. One important thing to note, is that Jacob Creek’s chief winemaker, Bernard Hickin, says that the 2012 vintage in South Eastern Australia was the best vintage in 20 years. Good wine is made in the vineyards,…
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The 2010 Leese-Fitch Cabernet Sauvignon is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Alicante Bouschet, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, 4% Syrah, 1% Carignane and 1% Petite Sirah. If you are asking yourself, why with all the different grapes used, is this wine called a Cabernet Sauvignon? In California, as long as 75% of the grapes are of…
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Most people avoid French Wines because they are…confusing and so, well, French. They don’t label things what they are, and you’re just supposed to know what’s in the bottle because they’ve been growing it there, that way, in that style for forever and that’s that. So, I’m sure you’re wondering, what the heck is Vouvray?…
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The 2008 Kenwood Sonoma County Zinfandel is 87% Zinfandel, 10% Petite Sirah, 2% Sangiovese and 1% Barbera sourced from vineyards in Sonoma, Alexander Valley and Dry Creek. Kenwood has been in business since 1970 and are currently owned by F. Korbel, the California Sparkling wine company. The different lots of grapes from each vineyard were…
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I am so glad Italy decided to support those making non-traditional Super Tuscans vs. trying to eradicate these renegade winemakers – otherwise this Toscana wouldn’t be in the world. And that, my friends, would be a very sad world indeed. Comprised of 60% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, and 20% Syrah, this is all you could want…
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The 2011 Liberte’ Pinot Noir is a $9.99 Trader Joe’s exclusive, sourced from Estate vineyards in San Luis Obispo County in the southern part of the Central Coast grape growing AVA in California. The Liberte’ label and the winery, Familia Nueva is owned by Ancient Peaks Winery (Paso Robles), they have produced some of Trader…
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The 2011 Gauchezco Torrontes is sourced from grapes grown in the Cafayate region of the Salta grape growing region in Argentina. The Salta region is one of the northern most growing areas in Argentina and Cafayate has some of the highest altitude vineyards in the world, with the Torrontes grapes for the Gauchezco coming from…
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The 2010 HandCraft Petite Sirah is 82% Petite Sirah, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Sangiovese, 3% Syrah and 3% Zinfandel sourced from vineyards in more than one California grape growing AVA. HandCraft is one of DFV Wines (makers of Gnarly Head, Brazin, {noble vines} and several others), owned by the Indelicato Family (in business since 1924). The…
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The 2011 Arborbrook Croft Vineyard Pinot Gris is sourced from the certified organically farmed, Croft Vineyards in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Arborbrook is a small, family owned winery, specializing mainly in Pinot Noir, this is a small production wine, only 609 cases were produced. The grapes in the 2011 vintage provided a little more…
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The 2010 Lucky Star Chardonnay is 95% Chardonnay and 5% Muscat (one of the oldest known grape varietals) sourced from multiple vineyards in the Lodi AVA, Sonoma, Lake County AVA and the Central Coast AVA. Lucky Star is a virtual winery (this is very common in California), they do not own their own vineyards or their…
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The 2009 Milton Park Shiraz is a label owned by Thorn-Clarke Wines and is sourced from vineyards in the Barossa region of South Australia, which includes both the Barossa Valley and the Eden Valley. The name Milton Park comes from their vineyard in Eden Valley, they also own vineyards in the Barossa Valley, the grapes…
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The 2010 Chasing Venus Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from 4 locally owned family vineyards (each vineyard’s grapes bring a different texture and flavor to the wine) in the Marlborough growing region in the northeast of the South Island in New Zealand. This is a label owned by Crew Wine Company, who also produce Match Book,…
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The 2011 Cloud Break Pinot Noir is sourced from vineyards in more than one California grape growing AVA. Cloud Break is a brand owned by O’Neill Vintners and Distillers, a contract maker of wines and Spirits. They own their own vineyard and have long term contracts on 15,000 acres of vines thru-out California. O’Neill also…
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The 2009 Mazzoni Toscana Rosso is a Super Tuscan blend of 72% Sangiovese and 28% Merlot grown on the Francechi Estate in the Brunello region of Montalcino in Tuscany, Italy. The Brunello region is the prime growing region for the Sangiovese grape and Brunello’s are among the best of Italian wines. Super Tuscan wines came…
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The 2011 Columbia Crest Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from grapes grown in multiple vineyards in the Columbia Valley of Washington State. Two Vines is the entry level label for Columbia Crest, who is owned by Chateau Ste. Michelle, together they are the largest wine producer, by far, in the state. In the past,…
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The Rack & Riddle Blanc de Blanc (White from White, meaning White wine made from Chardonnay grapes) is a non vintage Bubbly sourced from contracted vineyards in California’s North Coast AVA. The North Coast AVA encompasses 6 counties and 47 AVA’s, including Napa Valley, Sonoma and Mendocino. Rack & Riddle is a custom Sparkling wine…
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The 2010 R & B Swingsville Contra Costa Zinfandel is 91% Zinfandel (sourced from a single vineyard in the Contra Costa AVA), 5% Barbera (sourced from the same vineyard) and 4% Petite Sirah (sourced from a vineyard in Napa Valley). Contra Costa is located in the northern section of the Central Coast AVA, near the…
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The 2011 Berton Vineyard The Black Shiraz is a $7.49 Trader Joe’s imported wine, sourced from several contracted vineyards in the Barossa Valley growing region of southeast Australia. Berton Vineyard is a wine Estate located in the Eden Valley area of the Barossa Valley and the The Black Shiraz is their “bang for the buck”…
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The 2009 Emerald Bay Central Coast Merlot is a blend of about 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from multiple vineyards in California’s Central Coast AVA. Emerald Bay is an entry level label for Chateau Julien, a family owned winery located in the Monterey AVA, in operation since 1982. The Emerald Bay wines are…
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The 2010 Roccalta Sangiovese is a $3.99 Trader Joe’s import exclusive sourced from Sangiovese grapes grown in the Puglia (the heel of Italy’s boot) region in southeastern Italy. Sangiovese is the main grape used in Chianti and the lead grape in Super Tuscan blends. This is an IGT designated wine which means that the wine…
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The 2010 Whispering Valley Reserve Napa Valley Chardonnay is an $8.99 Aldi’s exclusive that is currently on close-out for $4.99. The 2009 Whispering Valley Chardonnay was sourced from the Delle Venezie growing region of northeast Italy, not Napa Valley, California. Aldi’s does not provide much information concerning this bottle, such as who made it and…
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The 2011 Flaco Tempranillo is an Estate bottled wine sourced from the Arganda sub region (south east of Madrid) of the Vinos de Madrid DO, smack dab in the middle of Spain. The Madrid Do is divided into 3 sub sections, Arganda, San Martin and Navalcarnero, Tempranillo is Arganda’s specialty. If you are familiar with…
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