California

News, Reviews October 14, 2013

Grape Expectations – Eight Wines that Pair With Summer and Fall.

Ok, first-things-first, I didn’t write the title for this article. “Grape Expectations” is way beyond my reaches of my creativity. Secondly; I wrote this article a couple of months ago for the Jacksonville Magazine “Taste” Edition…and I know we’re out of Summer now….but I think it still has relevance…since the weather here is Florida is so bloody-warm well into November! 4 Summer Wines Taltarni “Tache,” Brut Sparkling, Australia Description The term Tache (meaning “stained” in…

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Reviews February 25, 2013

Fess Parker Viognier, Santa Barbara, California.

Grapes 80% Viognier (VEE-ohn-yay), 13% Marsanne, 5% Grenache Blanc, 2% Roussanne   Facts After just getting back from my time spent in Texas, and tasting a few Viogniers that the wineries had to offer, I was reminded how much I love this grape! I’ve always found that Viognier has a tendency to be forgotten about by the vast amount of the wine drinking public (me included), but truth-be-told it’s probably my favorite white grape…when it’s…

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Interview February 4, 2013

Interview with Tom Eddy from Tom Eddy Winery.

How long have you been making wine? Well, this is my 40th year, coming up, of winemaking. I started with big wineries and my ultimate goal was to have my own place.   So I’m guessing, with 40 years, you’ve always been involved in winemaking… Yeah, I discovered wine when I was still in High School….   …as did most of us! <laughs> Yeah! True. So I fell in love with wine from an early…

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Reviews February 1, 2013

Castello di Amorosa “La Castellana” Napa Valley, California.

Grapes 70% Cabernet, 16% Merlot, 14% Sangiovese   Facts The Universe is a strange place…. ”Oh dear…he’s getting all weird and deep on us!” Wait a minute!!! Hear me out!!! So I was pouring at a wine tasting at a private residence last week, here in Jacksonville, and I happened to be looking through their wine cellar…because I’m nosy like that. Now let me just tell you that this is one of the most INSANE…

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News January 15, 2013

French Winemakers in a Tizzy over Obama Inauguration “Champagne California”

In a move COMPLETELY UNCHARACTERISTIC of their nation, French winemakers have once again screamed “SACRE BLEU!!!” over a U.S. wine. This time, it’s the wine that Mr. Barack Hussein Obama II plans to serve at his upcoming inauguration. The problem all stems from the name of the wine and the order of its wording: “Korbel Natural, Special Inaugural Cuvée Champagne, California.” Just so you know, I’ve actually seen another name for this wine in similar…

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Reviews December 4, 2012

Edmeades Late Harvest Zinfandel, Mendocino, California.

Grapes 100% Zinfandel   Facts I don’t feature dessert wines enough. It’s a shame really. The problem is that the majority of wine drinkers (at least the ones I encounter) just don’t understand dessert wines! I shouldn’t have to religiously state that “…dessert wines are generally meant to accompany (or even be served as) dessert…” but it seems that is continuously the case.Sure, you can’t get home from a long day at work and rip…

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Pairings November 27, 2012

Spinach and Pepperjack Stuffed Chicken Paired with Robert Mondavi Napa Chardonnay.

I increasingly seem to find myself banging-on about the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) movement. Of course a great number of us have become bored with the same-old over-oaked Cali Chards, but that doesn’t mean to say oak doesn’t have a place in modern Chardonnay. Winemakers treat oak the same way that chefs treat salt when cooking. Without salt, a dish can barely come alive by itself. Adding even the tiniest amount to an unseasoned dish…

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Reviews November 17, 2012

Fulcrum “Floodgate Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma.

Grapes 100% Pinot Noir   Facts Good Pinot Noir is hard to find. Actually that’s an understatement. Good Pinot is a NIGHTMARE to find, and when you do find it you end up paying a premium. Sure, you can find Pinot for under $15 retail; but to be absolutely truthful, they generally don’t do the grape justice. I’m not saying that you ALWAYS have to spend upwards of $50 on a bottle (the price of…

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Reviews November 6, 2012

No Matter Your Political Affiliation, You Need Schmor Donkey and Elephant Wine!

…and so we arrive at Election Day 2012. I don’t know about you, but I’m just going to be happy that it’s all over…mainly for the fact that I can’t vote (since I’m officially only a U.S. resident) and also so I don’t have to read any more of the misguided rhetoric which seems to have comprised the majority of my Facebook feed for the last 2 months! Then again, we’re still going to have…

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News October 17, 2012

22 Winos Saved from Sinking “Wine-Tasting Boat.”

22 people who were having the time of their lives aboard San Francisco Bay’s only “floating wine tasting room,” had to be rescued this last Friday from after the boat hit hit a spot of bother near Alcatraz Island, officials have stated. The 45-foot long “Neptune” started taking on water after an impact with an underwater shoal left a 1-foot hole in the side of the boat. The captain attempted to steer it to San…

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