French Wine Regions
History of French WineFrance’s history with wine dates back to the 6th century BC, when the city-state of Massalia (modern-day Marseille) began trading wines with other Mediterranean cultures. Viticulturally speaking, it …
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Crow Vineyard & Winery – Kennedyville, MD
A boat brought us to the Annapolis area one recent winter weekend. Well, a car actually brought us there, but a boat was the reason. My significant other wanted to check …
Shaw Vineyard – Finger Lakes, NY
There are some fancy, elaborate winery buildings and tasting rooms in the Finger Lakes. Shaw Vineyard on Seneca Lake has more of a rustic building and tasting room. It seems they …
Shannon Ridge 2012 “Single Vineyard Collection” Tempranillo, Lake County
Shannon Ridge is a Lake County winery that is best known for its Petite Sirah blends. Its Morine Ranch vineyard grows Cabernet Sauvignon, but they also cultivate an interesting collection of French, Italian, …
Ottimino 2009 Zinfandel, Rancho Bello Vineyard
Ottimino was established in 1999 by Brad Alper and William Knuttel. Their first bottling was from the Ranch Bello vineyard. This is Alper’s winery in many ways, but Knuttel is the name that makes …
La Follette 2009 Chardonnay Manchester Ridge Vineyard, Mendocino Ridge
Greg La FolletteGreg La Follette is not someone who would name a winery after himself. The winery was named Tandem until he sold it to Quivira Winery. The purchase agreement allowed …
Expression 44 2010 Roserock Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills
Expression Wines is a new project by William Hill, and it’s all about the Pinot. The conceit of the labeling is that each Pinot is designated by its northern latitude: Santa …
Chateau Saint Jean 2010 Chardonnay, Belle Terre Vineyard
This is an American classic Chardonnay. Imagine a big ole’ honey bear of wine, dressed up in a tuxedo but passed out on a feather bed. Golden and glossy in the glass, …
Bernardus 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Griva Vineyard, Sonoma County
Classical notes of grass and green pepper on the nose, along with plenty of grapefruit. Flavors of fig and apricot are followed by lemon zest and a touch of waxiness. The wine finishes with smoke and kiwi. A gentle roundness gives this a little more sex appeal than most Sauvignon Blancs.
Elk Cove 2009 “Five Mountain Vineyard” Pinot Noir
Here is one for the Pinot geeks of the world. Located in the Chehalem Mountains AVA, Five Mountain is one of the original Willamette Valley vineyards, dating back to 1978 and planted …
Marques de Concha 2009 “Peumo Vineyard” Carmenere
Crimson and dense, this Carmenere is one of the best examples of the varietal on the market. It offers up plenty of oak-influenced flavors, including chocolate, coffee, and licorice. Toasted spices …
Andrew Will Winery 2007 Two Blondes Vineyard
Figs and cassis meld with coffee and campfire notes, along with a strong impression of Herbes de Provence. The midpalate brings in fresher red fruits, and serious oak-influenced flavors of chocolate and allspice. The finish rolls on and on, bringing more pleasure than anyone could expect from a glass of wine.
Ravenwood 2002 Monte Rosso Vineyard Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley
A definite must-buy for Zin drinkers. Dense and full-bodied, the wine uncorks with an explosion of deep black fruit and freshly roasted coffee beans. Rich but soft tannins carve out a …
Nimbus Estate 2006 Syrah “Single Vineyard,” Casablanca
A nose of super ripe, concentrated blackberry and plum, cigar smoke, cedar, grilled meat, and a touch of alcohol heat lead the way to a red-berry-fruit palate buttressed by fine-grained tannins, …
Herman Story 2005 Grenache, Larner Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley
I love this wine–let’s just put it out there and avoid all that wine-writing propriety and distance. And the funny thing is that it’s not in the style I typically gravitate …
Viña Cobos 2004 Malbec “Bramare” Marchiori Vineyard, Mendoza
Snap up as much of this as you can, it’s one of the deals of the season. This rich red is kept in check by a spine of minerality that gives …