Clear, medium-deep intensity, bright ruby red with purple tones. Clean on the nose with medium-full intensity aromas of tobacco, dried herbs, licorice, molasses, black fruit, plum, and boysenberry. Dry on the palate, full bodied, medium-high acidity, medium-high tannin, and medium to medium-high alcohol. Flavors of blackberry jam, dried black fruit,
Santa Barbara County is one of the youngest wine growing regions in California, measured by both vine age and the age and experience of its winemakers. Thus it wasn't hard for me to sit around a table at the home of Presqu'ile winery owner Matt Murphy with eight winemakers and
Very light violet aromas float over blueberries and vanilla on a slightly reticent nose. There is no reticence on the palate, as this opens with lush berries, blueberry and elderberry, vanilla, cloves, and violets. Vanilla and cloves show more on the mid-palate, with fruit sweetening to pure blueberry. A bit
Joie Farm is certainly one of the most delightful wineries in the Okanagan. Their crisp whites and easy-drinking rosé and Passetoutgrain, evoking the Burgundian blend of gamay and pinot noir) are consistently some of the most pleasant wines in British Columbia’s wine country. Careful and well-controlled in their approach –
An off-dry Riesling from the Hattenheimer Nussbrunnen vineyard, aromas are soft and sweet, pear, honey, and white flowers, perhaps peonies. Honey and pears dominate on the attack, adding apples, florals, and hints of dried apricot and Meyer lemon on the mid-palate. Ripe, even bruised, rather than tart, apples linger on
In 1998, Fred Strothman (who now operates JF Strothman Distillery in Grand Junction) was building St. Kathryn Cellars Winery in Palisade, CO. There were a few issues with construction and Strothman took the unconventional step of deciding an exorcism was required. He contacted Bishop Arthur Tafoya in Pueblo, CO, who
In my experience, vins clairs tastings are a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of the wine before the bubbles, and to imagine their development over time; they are a unique foray into the magical kingdom of champagne. Early in the life of a bottle of champagne, before bubbles have
Cavas can be inexpensive, easy-going bubbly, but it can also be more than that. It’s worth checking out the higher-end cuvées from good producers to get a sense of that : far from being strictly creamy, with substantial pastry notes, they can also offer freshness, fine bubbles and a crisp