by Scott W. Clemens | Aug 1, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog, Wine Reviews
Dry Creek Vineyard, 2014, Wilson Ranch, Clarksburg Chenin Blanc: Though technically at the threshold of off-dry (.6 residual sugar) it strikes my palate as completely dry with a silky texture and firm acidity. Consistent year after year, the flavors call to mind fresh...
by Scott W. Clemens | Jul 29, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog, Wine Reviews
Wines, like people, age at different rates. Some elderly people are young at heart, vibrant, full of life, and still in their prime, while others are creaking curmudgeons, dried out husks of the persons they had once been. Likewise, some old wines are vibrant and...
by Scott W. Clemens | Jul 17, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog
If you read the wine press you’ll inevitably come across the French word terroir. Though terroir literally means soil, terroir has wider connotations; it also encompasses microclimate and viticultural traditions. Taken together, the argument goes, soil, microclimate,...
by Scott W. Clemens | Jul 8, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog, Wine Reviews
Summertime calls for refreshing white wine. There are plenty of candidates to choose from: Albariño, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Vermentino — the list goes on. All are worthy to grace our table, but if I had to confine myself to just one...
by Scott W. Clemens | Jun 30, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog, Wine Reviews
Cartlidge & Browne 2013 North Coast Chardonnay: Value doesn’t mean dirt-cheap; it means better quality than expectations dictate. I suspect other reviewers have discounted this wine solely because of its reasonable price. Nonetheless, this Chardonnay is right in...
by Susanna Gaertner | Jun 8, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog
Festive afternoon on May 16th at the Santa Lucia Highlands Gala held on the beautiful grounds of Mer Soleil Winery, where scores of wineries and food purveyors gave us the best of what they have to offer. Rebecca King’s superb cheeses enhanced the elegance of...
by Susanna Gaertner | Jun 4, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog, Wine Reviews
Here’s a rosé to rave about, and this from someone who is not normally a rosé fan. I don’t enjoy their slightly sweet, pinky-dinky quality…and then I found the 2014 Mourvedre Rosé from Tercero. Instead of the usual strawberry and/or melon...
by Scott W. Clemens | Jun 2, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog, Wine Reviews
Cline Cellars, 2012 California, Cashmere: This blend of 35% Mourvedre, 24% Syrah, 23% Grenache and 18% Petite Sirah, Cashmere has an unusual cherry and peach nose and flavor, bright, round, and dry, with firm structure and everything in balance. Widely available and...
by Christine White | May 21, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog
Many people consider wine pairing an art form because it takes months, sometimes years, to learn which flavorful wines work well with different kinds of food. With thousands of selections on the market, finding the perfect wine for certain meals can be extremely...
by Scott W. Clemens | Apr 30, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog, Wine Reviews
Bridlewood Estate, 2011 Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon: Despite the fact that my notes on this wine could describe a Pinot Noir, it does possess varietal definition. The nose calls to mind black cherry and cola, while on the palate it’s more reminiscent of mulberry....
by Scott W. Clemens | Apr 25, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog, Wine Reviews
I recently judged the 9th annual Cabernet Shootout, organized by Barbara Drady of Affairs of the Vine. 397 Cabernet Sauvignons, Cabernet Francs and Cabernet blends were entered. They came from 15 California AVAs, as well as 21 other appellations spread across Oregon,...
by Scott W. Clemens | Apr 21, 2015 | Wine & Spirits, Wine & Spirits blog, Wine Reviews
A Personal Perspective For the third Rhône Shootout, a competition organized by Affairs of the Vine, last fall we tasted 247 wines made from Rhône varieties, that is, varieties that hail from the banks of the Rhône River as it flows from Switzerland...
