Category Archives: RED
Lillet Rouge, Podensac, Gironde, Bordeaux, France, NV
Imagine you’re at the Le Mans 24 Hour Race in France. Oh look – here I am! What to drink? A little apéritif served by a handsome bartender will do nicely. Meet Lillet Rouge – a blend of Merlot and … Continue reading
La Croix de Chaintres, Domaine Filliatreau, Chaintres, Saumur-Champigny AOC, Loire, France, 2011, 13% abv.
Saumur-Champigny makes some great red wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and Pineau d’Aunis, but this wine is produced from the more prevalent Cabernet Franc grape. Cabernet Franc is a parent to Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc and even Merlot, so it’s not … Continue reading
L.A. Cetto, Petite Sirah, Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico, 2011, 13.5% abv, C$17
They’ve been growing vinifera vines in Mexico since the 1500s and at one point, the King of Spain decreed that each settler would have to plant 1000 vines for each 100 natives ‘granted’ to his lands. That’s a lot of … Continue reading
Chateau Maison Blanche, Médoc, Cru Bourgeois, France, 2009, 14% abv, C$29
There’s no two ways about it. Bordeaux is confusing. What does Cru Bourgeois mean? You’ve probably heard about the Premier through Cinquième Crus – the famous First through Fifth Growths. The Premier level includes renowned chateaux Lafite, Latour and Margaux, … Continue reading
Andretti Winery, Sangiovese, Napa Valley, California, 2009, 14.9% abv.
Sangiovese is a black grape native to Central Italy and primarily Toscana whose name literally means ‘Blood of Jove’, the Italian name for Jupiter. It’s Italy’s most planted variety, is the only grape allowed in Brunello di Montalcino and is … Continue reading
Galil Mountain, Shiraz, Kibbutz Yiron, Galilee, Israel, 2011, 14.5% abv, C$22 (kosher)
Being the cradle of civilization as we know it, it shouldn’t be surprising to learn that grapes and vines have been grown in Israel since biblical times. In the Old Testament’s book of Deuteronomy, grapes were listed as one of … Continue reading
Et Fille, Pinot Noir, Kalita Vineyard, Newberg, Oregon, 2010, 13% abv.
Blind tasting – it strikes fear into the heart of wine professionals and cork dorks alike. We all know someone who seems to have an uncanny ability to pronounce what grape has been used, what country or region it’s from … Continue reading
Craggy Range Single Vineyard, Te Kahu, Hawkes Bay, Gimblett Gravels, New Zealand, 2010, 13.5% abv.
Gimblett Gravels – try saying that 10 times over after a few glasses of wine. The area is renowned for its Bordeaux blends. Located in Hawkes Bay on the eastern side of New Zealand’s North Island, Gimblett Gravels is a … Continue reading
Zinfandel, Mickey’s Block, Brown Estate, Chiles Valley, Napa Valley, California, 2011, 15.2% abv.
Oh Mickey, you’re so fine. You’re so fine, you … know the rest. Meet Mickey. We’ve held onto this Zinfandel wine for a year now to see what a little time in the bottle would do to it. It’s hard … Continue reading
winellama 