Wine Weekly

Icardi Barbera d’Asti 2004 Importer: Vinifera One of my favorite red wines for food is Barbera — specifically from Italy, and usually from the areas of Asiti, Alba, or Monferrato in Piedmont / Piemonte. The tricky thing about Barbera, though, is the wide range of styles and price points. On the one end of the [...]

Garnacha de Fuego 2006 Importer: Tempranillo Imports (Jorge Ordonez Selection) Grenache of fire! I guess that means it’s pretty darn hot in Catalayud, Spain, where the vines of this grape grow. Garnacha / Grenache is a hot weather whore of a grape, much like Syrah and Zinfandel. Luckily, this wine outperforms the old Renault Fuego [...]

Every once in a blue moon (the cheesey-looking thing in the sky, not the beer), I’m asked to do a review of a website in return for cash — what is called a “sponsored review” — via the ReviewMe! service. Whenever I am paid to do such a review, I make it clear upfront (as [...]

Out of your turkey coma yet? Before you go fighting for a parking space at the local mall, why not do your shopping from the comfort of your home, while enjoying a cold turkey sandwich and a glass of wine? Nearly everyone is into wine these days, so you can start your online shopping right [...]

Easton Zinfandel Amador County 2006 I’m looking for wines for Thanksgiving, so I’m looking for American. There’s no grape more American than Zinfandel, and it just so happens that Zins can be a decent match for the Thanksgiving meal. The “Easton” label draws my eye because in addition to being a wine geek I’m also [...]

Domaine de La Bastide Roussanne 2006 Importer: Weygandt-Metzler OK, this is from France, so it doesn’t fit the American themed Thansgiving. But it’s a great wine for matching with everything on the table, and it’s different! Tasting Notes Nose is clean, pure ripe peach and some pear, with a spicy vanilla element. On the palate [...]

Vinum Cellars Clarksburg Chenin Blanc CNW 2005 The “CNW” on the label stands for “Chard No Way” … hmm, what’s the winery trying to tell us? Here is an ideal “out of the box” idea for the Thanksgiving table — a Chenin Blanc! And Vinum is winery in Clarksburg, California, so it fits in with [...]

Wyatt Pinot Noir 2006 Tasting Notes Nose exhibits ripe red berry fruit – raspberry, black cherry, and a touch of earth and a floral element (rose petals?). In the mouth you get good ripe strawberry, raspberry, and black cherry. There is the slightest hint of a green / stemmy / herbaceous flavor that melds well [...]

Following up the last post, here are my quick suggestions for wines to match with your Thanksgiving meal. Sauvignon Blanc Generally speaking, Sauvignon Blancs go well with poultry and white meats such as turkey, due to the citrusy flavor profile. Some Sauvignons can be “greener” or more grassy than others, so it is up to [...]

Ah, the perennial feast of the United States — for the foodie it is the ultimate holiday, with its succulent roast turkey surrounded by what seems to be every side dish known to mankind. And those “other” dishes are what makes the wine match a serious challenge. A wine to go with roast turkey is [...]