Author Archives: winellama
Sangiovese, Podere Scopetone, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Montalcino, Toscana, Italia, 2017, 14% abv.
We met with Loredana Tanganelli and her daughter Giada at Podere Scopetone on the outskirts of the old walled Tuscan town of Montalcino. Loredana and husband Antonio Brandi have owned the petite estate of only about 2.5 hectares since 2009 … Continue reading
Ciliegiolo, Silio, Tenuta Montauto, Maremma di Toscana DOC, Manciano, Grosseto, Toscana, Italia, 2021, 13.5% abv.
We arrived at the cellar door tasting room of Tenuta Montauto in the Maremma di Toscana DOC north of Rome after 26 hours of travelling and little sleep. Bleary eyed and compressed, I perked up considerably when we decided to … Continue reading
Il Bistrot della Pasticciona, Lido, Roma
In March 2021, when the pandemic was so widespread that the entire world seemed to be shut down, and people were despairing of the future, I read an article about Italy and how people were struggling there. That’s when I … Continue reading
Chardonnay, Filius, Vasse Felix, Margaret River, Australia, 2019, 12.5% abv., 1,050 Thai Baht/C$40
What’s the saying? When in Rome… Well, I was in Thailand recently, and decided to do my tasting poolside at The Banyan Tree, Phuket where Khun Tiffy helped us put together a pretty table. The Filius, from Margaret River’s premier, … Continue reading
Mondeuse, Philippe et Francois Tiollier, Domaine de l’Idylle, Vin de Savoie AC, France, 2009, 12% abv., US$40
This bottle got a little lost in my wine cellar, and then you know, there was a pandemic, so we opened it at age 13 years. The cork broke and that made me worried we were going to be dealing … Continue reading
Cocktails at Flor de Oriente
I recently took a post-pandemic trip to Aruba and Curacao, two islands located in the very far southwest of the Caribbean, well out of the path of any hurricanes, and just 17 km off the coast of Venezuela. Usually when … Continue reading
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains + Clairette, Cuvée Ancestrale, Tradition, Scea Domaine Guigouret, Vigneron Récoltant, Clairette de Die AOC, Rhône Valley, France, NV, 7% abv., US$16
This wine has a history going back 2,000 years in France’s Rhône Valley, but the first bottle I found and enjoyed was in Curaçao, off the coast of Venezuela. What a find it was at the Carrefour supermarket – it … Continue reading
Tempranillo, Flor de Pingus, Ribera del Duero DO, Spain, 15% abv. 2014, US$100
I cannot afford the top line of Pingus wines, but the Flor de Pingus, Peter Sisseck’s almost equally famous second label wines from Ribera del Duero, are within reach. Pingus is slang for Peter – the Danish owner and winemaker … Continue reading
Lambrusco Reggiano, Frizzante Secco, Arte e Concerto, Lambrusco DOC, Reggio Emilia, Italy, 2019, 11.5% abv., C$23
I was looking for something interesting to serve friends with some charcuterie, and realized I had a few bottles of Lambrusco hanging around, so decided to put them to work. The wine that is, not the friends. Lambrusco is both … Continue reading
winellama 