The Amancaya Reserve Red Blend 2017 is a mix of 72% Malbec and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from estate and contracted vineyards in the foothills of the Andes in the Mendoza region of Argentina. The grapevines are all 30 plus years old are situated between 2,600 and 4,600 feet in altitude. Amancaya is a joint project between Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite) of … [Read more...]
Trader Joe’s Reserve Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
The Story The Trader Joe's Reserve Anderson Valley Pinot Noir is a $9.99 Trader Joe's exclusive. Anderson Valley is located in coastal Mendocino and is situated between two mountain ranges. Two more things to note are this the 2018 vintage and is Lot #201. Anderson Valley has a growing reputation for the production of fine Pinot Noir wines. I noticed that the alcohol … [Read more...]
Santa Julia Reserve Malbec 2018
The Story The Santa Julia Reserva Malbec 2018 is 100% Malbec sourced from Estate vineyards in the Uco Valley in the southwest corner of the Mendoza Valley in Argentina. Santa Julia is one of the labels produced by Familia Zuccardi Estates who have been in the wine business since the 1950s. Santa Julia was started in 1982 and Julia in the name is the founders' only … [Read more...]
Federalist Bourbon Barrel-Aged Red Blend
The Story The Federalist Bourbon Barrel-Aged Red Blend 2016 is 76% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Carignane sourced from vineyards in the Mendocino County AVA of Northern California. This blend is aged in American oak casks for 6 months (35% new oak) and then transferred to Bourbon barrels (they do not specify the whiskey brand) for another 6 months. American oak has a … [Read more...]
Four Vines Truant Zinfandel 2011
The 2011 Four Vines Truant Old Vine Zinfandel is 90% Zinfandel, 7% Barbera and 3% Petite Sirah sourced mainly from the Lodi, Paso Robles and Mendocino AVA's. Here is a brief run down on "old vine" Zinfandel in California, it was first planted by Italian immigrant farmers in the late 1800s as a taste of their homeland (Zinfandel is a twin of Primitivo, an Italian … [Read more...]
