Walla Walla. Eastern Washington State — no trees; great brown hills; cold in the winter – hot in the summer. More Steinbeck than Stendhal. Who would think that you could make cabernet — the wine of politesse and great houses — in such a … western setting. But the Walla Walla wines are wonderful: American [...]
Entries Tagged as 'United States'
2008 Waters Interlude Columbia Valley
August 25th, 2010 · 2 Comments · Color, Country, Red, United States
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2007 Winderlea Estate Pinot Noir
April 5th, 2010 · 1 Comment · Color, Red, United States
2007 Winderlea Estate Pinot Noir. Here is a beautiful pinot noir, quite innocent of any history. A vineyard created in 2006. Formerly a province of the Goldschmidt Winery which claims 16 years of experience on its website. Can we set aside this carping suspicion of the arriviste and just try the wine? Why not. This [...]
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Clendenen Family Vineyards Petit Verdot 2004 and Circa Estate Winery Cabernet Franc 2007
February 7th, 2010 · No Comments · Color, Country, Red, United States
Always a bridesmaid? Here are two lesser-known Bordeaux blending varietals which have escaped the mixing room to arrive in their own bottles. First, Petit Verdot — the little green one. The least known of the five principal grapes of Bordeaux (the others: Cabernet Sauvignon; Malbec: Cabernet Franc; and Merlot). Petit Verdot is an ancient varietal, [...]
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2008 Kung Fu Girl Riesling
December 20th, 2009 · 3 Comments · Charles Smith Wines, United States, White, Winemaker
Who drinks Riesling in the winter? Anyone chasing a little sun and summer fruit. Anyone serving Asian food or other spicy cuisine. Or brined and pickled foods — sauerkraut or preserved fish like pickled herring or gravlax. These wines play in the borderland between sweet and acid. They go well with food which is naturally [...]
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Fleur de California Petite Sirah 2006
December 5th, 2009 · No Comments · Color, Country, Red, United States
Let’s consider the Petite Sirah grape. Despite failing in its birthplace, this resourceful immigrant has flourished in the New Worlds of California and Australia. Petite Sirah first appeared in France around 1870 when the botanist François Durif caught sight of it in someone’s vineyard and named it after himself. Durif remains another name for this [...]
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