Author Archives: winellama

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About winellama

I love wine...and finally decided to do something about it.

Champagne Louis de Sacy, Brut Rose Grand Cru, NV, Verzy, Champagne, France, 12% abv, 375 ml

Posted on August 1, 2014 by winellama

In December 2013, we had bought a bottle of the Louis de Sacy Brut Grand Cru and really enjoyed it (review here).  Louis de Sacy is the kind of brand I like to support – relatively small production and mostly … Continue reading →

Posted in Champagne, France, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, ROSE | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Reserve des Cleons, Muscadet Sevre et Maine, Sur Lie, AOP, Val de Loire, France, 2013, 12% abv, purchased from Trader Joe’s, Bellingham

Posted on August 1, 2014 by winellama

Next time you are in the US, run to Trader Joe’s and pick up several of these. Deemed perfect for a seafood platter including some oysters and cheap as can be – only about C$8 – this is a perfectly … Continue reading →

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Simi, Chardonnay, Russian River Valley, California, 2005, 15.5% abv.

Posted on August 1, 2014 by winellama

Start with two wine geeks – one with a broken finger suffered on a recent trip at the Simi winery and one with extreme WSET pre-exam stress. Throw in a Friday evening and three bottles of Simi Russian River Valley … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Chardonnay, OTHER, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Fontanavigna, Pallagrello Bianco, Terre del Principe, Terre del Volturno, Castel Campagnano, Campania, IGT, Italy, 2011, 13.5% abv.

Posted on July 30, 2014 by winellama

Italy has hundreds of indigenous grapes, many of which go by several names that depend on where they’re grown. This fact alone can terrorize even the most capable wine geek, let alone the average consumer thinking about buying something at the … Continue reading →

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Clos de la Coulée de Serrant, Appellation Savennières – Coulée de Serrant Contrôlée, Savennières, Loire, France, 2009, 15.5% abv.

Posted on July 29, 2014 by winellama

So often, the terms, ‘excellent’, ‘outstanding’ and ‘first class’ are bandied about and used with regard to less-than-stellar wines. Not this time. This is from the Clos de la Coulée de Serrant, a vineyard of only 7 ha in Savennières on … Continue reading →

Posted in Chenin Blanc, France, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Misadventures at #WBC2014’s Writer’s Workshop

Posted on July 28, 2014 by winellama

Recently, I had the misfortune to have one of my wine blog pieces publicly critiqued by a print writer at the 2014 Wine Bloggers’ Conference held in Santa Barbara, California. I had been naively looking forward to this part of … Continue reading →

Posted in OTHER | 7 Comments

Il Fauno Di Arcanum, IGT, Toscana, Italia, 2008, 14% abv.

Posted on July 22, 2014 by winellama

Oh happy day – a Supertuscan wine from the Castelnuovo Beradenga region of Chianti Classico that has been declassified to IGT status because it’s a blend of 62 Merlot, 23 Cab Sauvignon, 8 Cab Franc, 6 Sangiovese and 1% Petit … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon / Blends, Italy, Merlot, Petit Verdot, RED, Sangiovese | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Champagne Guiborat Fils, Cramant, Champagne, France

Posted on July 10, 2014 by winellama

On a recent trip to Cramant in Champagne, we met with Richard and Karine Fouquet, proud growers and winemakers of Guiborat Fils. Owners of 2.5 ha of chardonnay vines in the Côtes des Blancs lying south of Epernay, this is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Champagne René Geoffroy, Aÿ, Champagne, France

Posted on July 9, 2014 by winellama

I realized three things about Champagne after arriving there and having only studied it out of books up until that point.  First, it’s not actually that big.  Second, the Montagne de Reims is a misnomer – more of a large … Continue reading →

Posted in Champagne, Chardonnay, France, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, RED, ROSE, WHITE | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tilia, Torrontés , Salta, Argentina, 2011, 13% abv, C$19.00 (Liberty Wines)

Posted on July 6, 2014 by winellama

If you’ve ever suffered through any of the 6 courses required for the WSET Diploma of Wine, you’ll recognize this common study tactic.  By the third to fourth week left before the exam, you start to cull through all former … Continue reading →

Posted in Argentina, Torrontes, WHITE | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment