2013 Abadia Retuerta Selección Especial Sardon de Duero…if this a well-balanced wine, harmonious and very expressive wine is any indication of the quality of wines coming out of the region, it’s a region I’ll be seeking out! A blend of 75% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah and other red varieties such as Merlot and Petit…
Author: Martin D. Redmond
Family Wine Makers Tasting Favorites
I recently attended the Family Winemakers of California (“FWC”) Grand Tasting in San Francisco. The FWC is the trade advocate for California’s “small family” wineries (according to this year’s program, case production ranged from 200 to 200,000! ). A huge tasting like this brings in trade, media, and wine lovers from across the country. There were…
Wine of The Day: 2016 Gen del Alma “Ji Ji Ji”
2016 Gen del Alma “Ji Ji Ji”; This lithe, interesting, delicious and structured wine brings to mind Cru Beaujolais! This blend of 50% Malbec and 50% Pinot Noir was all hand harvested from a single vineyard in Gualtallary, a high-altitude wine region situated within Tupungato in the northern reaches of Argentina’s Uco Valley. The vineyard, planted…
Wine of the Day: 2016 M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Rosé
2016 M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Rosé; This wine embodied everything I love about rosé ! It’s crisp, refreshing, utterly quaffable and delicious! My tasting notes follow Pale pink color with salmon highlights and strawberry, watermelon, white peach, wet stone and a kiss of garrigue aromas. On the palate it’s between light-bodied, dry, crisp and refreshing with…
My Favorite Under $20 Pét-Nat; Patrice Colin “Les Perles Gris” #Winophiles
This month the French Winophiles are exploring affordable ($20 or less) French wines. I must confess that when it comes to affordable wines, Spain and Chile are top of mind for me. France is not; with two exceptions – the Loire Valley and Beaujolais. For this month, I turn to the Loire Valley for…
Two Easy Summer Meals And Two California Rosés #WinePW
I adore Rosé wine! Here’s why. Rosés are such a versatile wines at the table, they give me a break from thinking about, or in some cases over-thinking food and wine pairings. Consequently whether one is a professional, such as a sommelier or chef; wine enthusiast, or a novice, when it comes to food and wine…
A Taste of Navarra #Wine; Spain’s Best Kept Secret
Are you familiar with the Navarra wine region of Spain? I wasn’t, until I recently had an opportunity to sample a diverse selection of wines from the new to me region. I received six sample wines that included a diverse selection of traditional Spanish grape varieties – Tempranillo, and Garnacha (a.k.a. Grenache), and international varieties Cabernet…
Wine of the Day: 2009 RARECAT Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Lieu Dit “Vinum Deus”
It’s refined and harmonious with a delicate mousse, vibrant acidity and a brioche, apple, Asian pear, citrus (lemon and a kiss of tangerine), white peach, white flower and hazelnut character RARECAT is thrilled to work in partnership with one of the oldest, most respected families still producing champagne. The Michel Gonet family has produced champagne…
A Taste of Lugana; 2013 Tenuta Roveglia “Vigne di Catullo” Lugana Riserva #ItalianFWT
When I saw this month’s theme for the Italian Food, Wine, and Travel Group (#ItalianFWT) was Alpine Wine, I had flashbacks to the multitude of experiences my wife I had when we traveled to Italy last fall. We were there for three glorious weeks. After flying into Milano in Lombardy region, we wound our way through a…
2016 Estate Crush Albariño #AlbarinoFiesta
The sixth annual celebration of the Albariño grape is being celebrated this week from August 2nd-7th. The annual event was established by TAPAS (Tempranillo Advocates Producers and Amigos Society). In years past the event was only celebrated one day, but for 2017, it is being celebrating for nearly a week. It coincides with the Fiesta del Albariño held…