On November 5, 2011, 120 or so wine professionals and wine lovers, as well as the wine curious, gathered in the home of Palate Press Publisher David Honig for the Third Annual Palate Press grand tasting. There were more than 230 different wines from around the world on eight different
Editors' note: To close 2011, Palate Press: The online wine magazine will be featuring some of our top stories from the past year. Our sixth piece comes from Lenn Thompson, giving us coverage of the Virginia wine industry's continued growth and the future challenges the state may face. Virginia wines
Franciacorta has the most demanding standards for any sparkling wine region in the world. They're a substitute for tradition, because the Italian region has been in the bubbles business for only 50 years, which is nothing in Europe. As everybody is thinking about bubbly this week, I decided to take
Clear, medium-deep intensity lemon yellow. Clean on the nose with heady aromas of sweet cooked apples, macerated pineapple, vanilla, clove, and candied ginger. Medium-dry on the palate with full body and slight residual sugar. Medium alcohol, medium acidity, rich texture, with lush—almost over the top—flavors. Stewed yellow apples, spiced Turkish
Clear, medium-deep intensity lemon yellow. Clean on the nose with heady aromas of sweet cooked apples, macerated pineapple, vanilla, clove, and candied ginger. Medium-dry on the palate with full body and slight residual sugar. Medium alcohol, medium acidity, rich texture, with lush—almost over the top—flavors. Stewed yellow apples, spiced Turkish
This chardonnay is the product of grapes from an exceptional vineyard, yes, but also of a high-powered alliance between Rajat Parr (wine director for the Mina Group of restaurants, including RN74, in San Francisco), Charles Banks (former owner of Screaming Eagle, no less), and Sashi Moorman (a winemaker who worked
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A rich, oaky, meaty, buttery nose. Plenty of vanilla in aroma and flavor. Some wild herbs and a bit of lemon and apricot skin in the flavor, too. A medium-heavy body though the label says its only 13.5% alcohol. Peppery, medium-length finish. Without food vanilla dominates but with food this is