Visit the Castle Engarran for the weekend national parks & gardens [ August 30th, 2010 ] Posted in » wine tour

castle-engarranOn the occasion of the weekend National parks and gardens on 5 and 6 June, the Castle of Engarran opened the doors of his 3-acre garden in the French fans. A walk inside the property where the resplendent beauty of his “madness” of the eighteenth century.
This visit was also an opportunity to explore the museum at this grape castle while tasting the delicious wines of the proposed by the castle.

The Engarran: symbol of Montpellier follies.

A folly is a wealthy suburban home craft. In the Engarran castle on a hill covered with vineyards, lies in its park, the Engarran, most feminine, the more baroque and best preserved of Montpellier follies.
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The Zinfindel Trail - part 1

zinfindelMy first encounter with Zinfandel was back in the early 1980s, on holiday in Hawaii. I chose the wine from the restaurant wine list because the name was so unusual, I didn’t know whether Zinfandel referred to the grape, the name of the wine or the grower. Since this was early in the 1980s what came to the table was a salmon pink off-dry wine which was an ideal accompaniment to the seafood on offer. And at the risk of putting off readers so soon in the story, I enjoyed this wine and thought no more about it.
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May 26th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Collier Falls

field-build1Some wine-lovers thrive on seeking out small wineries, with small production of very fine wines. So, here’s one for that list. The winery is Collier Falls Vineyards, located on West Dry Creek Road at the northern end of Dry Creek Valley near Healdsburg in Sonoma, California. Its winery carries the Dry Creek Valley appellation. The first Collier Falls wine, the 1997 Zinfandel (100% estate grapes) was released in spring, 1999. There were only 500 cases, so a good bit of it is already gone. Those who collect numbers will be impressed by the 90 points the wine was given by the Wine Spectator, and the two stars (out of a possible three) granted the wine by Connoisseur’s Guide.
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May 25th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

History of Wine

bottles-and-corksThe history of wine dates back to the Old Testament (Genesis 9:20) when said by Noah. In ancient Greece, wine was taken with water (take it without mixing was frowned upon); Teocrito described as venerable wines when they turned 4 years old. At that time it was stored in drums, containers made of goat fur amphorae waterproofed with oils and oily rags, so the air was in contact with the wine at all times. The Romans deomstraron better care, better wine through Falernianos wines a year of introducing aging containers. Although anyway not arrive until maturation when introduced wine bottle with cork.
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May 16th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Alexander Valley Vineyards Wetzel Merlot

avvlakeVarietal:Merlot

Appellation:California, Sonoma

Style:Red

Price:$18

WOW Rating:90

Entering stage left is rich plum with a plume of fresh thyme in the hat. Flavors of complexly ripe fruit with, again, nice herbal nuance, then plum, blackberry, a hint of earthy dust, along with delicate floral hint of violets. This soft but assertive red will match a big steak, or any assertive red meat dish.
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April 27th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Vine Cliff Winery Merlot Napa

vinecliff merlot napaVarietal:Merlot

Appellation:California, Napa

Style:Red

WOW Rating:93

Vine Cliff Winery has arisen to beautiful restoration in the past two decades by the Sweeney family, sensitive to the site’s 1871 roots.
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April 17th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

7th annual The Science of Wine

Festival date: May 6-8 2010

Festival venue:Ashland, OR

Festival theme:ScienceWorks hosts the 7th annual The Science of Wine
May 6th, 7th and 8th in support of ScienceWorks’ education programs.

The Science of Wine promises more “ wine! science! fun!” in 2010. The three day event includes the Winemakers’ Dinner and Live Auction on Thursday, May 6th, Wine Lectures and Reception on Friday, May 7th and Gala evening on Saturday, May 8th. Purchase your tickets today!
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April 16th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

2000 Cline Vineyards

2000-cline-e2809coakleye2809d2000 Cline “Oakley”
California Vin Gris

If your gonna drink pink, then you may want to think “Vin Gris”. A rose made in the fresh and dry style of the Rhone Valley’s famous pink wines. A nice strawberry brightness that is balanced with some dusty earth and a dryness that will work rather well with summer time appetizers. This is for the folks who want to finally drop the white Zin and step up to a more sophisticated style. Count me in for a couple bottles next to the pool this summer.
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April 4th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

Alexander Valley Vineyards Wetzel Pinot Noir

Alexander

Alexander

Visualize earthy black cherry, blackberry and serious complexity. In the mouth, there is a gripping red fruit spectrum, black cherry again, perhaps a Burgundy earthy/leather complexity.

This spectacular Pinot Noir may be one of the best bargains from California. The Alexander Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir would pair nicely with veal in a piquant sauce or with venison (or other wild game).
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March 31st, 2010 | Leave a Comment

3 out of 25…Red Wines

3 out of 25…
“That ain’t Good”

Just the other day I received my $300 tax rebate in the mail and where do you think it went? You guest it, the wine store. Isn’t that where everyone’s went? So, while I was there just getting my old squeaky cart with one bum wheel ready to go, I get this bright idea to pick up all red wines that are all $10 or under.

Well it seemed like a bright idea at the time. So I proceed to pick up a little bit of everything I thought might be a good bang for the buck. I picked out Malbec’s and Cabernet Sauvignon’s from Chile and Argentina. Shiraz and Cab-Shiraz blends from Australia. Sangiovese and Cabernet’s from Italy. Cabernet, Merlot and Red Blends from California. Some Red Bordeaux’s, and some Pinot Noir’s and Merlot’s from the Pacific Northwest. Every bottle fell within the $8 and $10 dollar range.

Once I got home I proceeded to blindly reach into one of the two cases of wine, and without looking pull out a bottle and wrap it in tin foil and place it on my desk. I tasted six bottles at a time without knowing each bottle until I had taken notes on all of them. I got through 25 bottles in four nights.
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February 11th, 2010 | Leave a Comment

CALIFORNIA: Napa Valley

california-napa-valley1Caymus Vineyards
Phone: 707.967.3010
8700 Conn Creek Road
Rutherford, CA 94573

Make a reservation for the tasting, it’s free. Excellent Cabernet. The Special Selection Cab from a dry harvested 15-acre parcel is outstanding. The tasting is limited in size so it’s comfortable, relaxing, and you might even learn a thing or two. Purchases of the Special Selection were limited to 3 bottles at our visit – and of course we bought the limit. See detailed review.

PlumpJack Winery
Phone: 707.945.1220
620 Oakville Cross Rd.
Oakville, CA 94562

Well what can I say – the first winery to offer a metal screw off top in their top end $145 per bottle cab. Should last forever… This winery is neat, comfortable, and fun. Interesting Sangiovese too. Enjoy a sandwich outside while drinking wine (your bring the sandwich).
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February 3rd, 2010 | Leave a Comment

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