15 August 2022 2020 Famille Gueguen Chablis Celine & Frederic

2020 Famille Gueguen Chablis Celine & Frederic

August 15, 2022 By

Earlier in the season, I bought several of these food friendly Chablis in anticipation of warmer weather. This 2020 Chablis is great to have on hand for outdoor sipping and served as an aperitif.

This affordable French wine would be perfect paired with oysters on the half shell then with lighter fish or summer salads.

Look/in the glass: Medium yellow

Nose/aroma: Floral, citrus rind

Palate/taste: Juicy pear/Fiji apple

Texture/finish: Medium-light body, fresh, crisp, great acidity, long finish

Pairing: Grilled/sautéed fish or chicken, pasta with light sauce, seafood, caprese salad

Wine type: White wine

Grape: Chardonnay

Origin: Chablis, Burgundy, France

Price: $27

Cheers, Veronique

Filed Under: Chardonnay, France, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
27 July 2022 Kopke Port Wine Tasting in Greece

Kopke Port Wine Tasting in Greece

July 27, 2022 By

A couple months ago, I was contacted by Kopke Port Wine about a tasting kit the Portuguese winery was offering some wine writers, and, as a novice to port tasting, I jumped on the opportunity to secure a samples kit.

When the kit arrived in its handsome wooden box, I wrapped it in bubble wrap and stuck it in my suitcase for a Greece trip I was leaving on the following day. I thought it’d be great to share the samples with my hubby and the friends we were traveling with.

This was the spot on our suite’s patio in Santorini where we did our wine sampling every evening. It was such a great place to enjoy some wines with our friends.

The samples kit offered the following ports and boy did they run the gamut from light and perfect as an apéritif to sweet, caramelly and perfect as after-dinner drinks.

2003 White Colheita: Golden in color. Faint and delicate aromas of dried fig. More dried fruit on the palate with layers of caramel/molasses. Rich mouthfeel and long finish. Serve as an after-dinner drink or with dessert.

20-Year-Old White Port: Golden amber in color. Dried fruit aromas with nutty notes on the nose. Mouth-coating richness with dried fruit flavors. Kopke suggests this be served as an aperitif, but I think it’d be great with dessert or a rich dish like seared foie gras.

2002 Tawny Colheita: Deep ruby in color. Big dried fruit/raisin aromas. Great acidity and long finish and I can understand why the winemaker suggests serving this port chilled with dessert.

10-Year-Old Tawny: Golden in the glass. Fantastic pour with dried fruit and honey on the nose and intense dried fruit flavors. It’d be great to sip out of a snifter in front of a fire.

20-Year-Old Tawny: Orange-amber in the glass. Dried fruit, little pumpkin pie spice on the nose and in the mouth with a rich, smooth, round, silky finish.

About Kopke Port Wine:

Kopke Port Wine (Portugal), est. 1638, is the oldest Port wine house. Located in the upper Douro DOC, a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage site since 2001, Kopke benefits from the imposing geography of the Douro Valley: the plunging valleys al low vines to be planted from altitudes of 1,900 feet on the upper ridges, down to 230 feet alongside the river, with immensely diverse terroirs. Kopke wines are sourced and produced in Quinta São Luiz, one of the most important estates in Douro region.

I didn’t realize before this tasting how much I really love and appreciate Port. These were incredible pours, served in the most amazing setting, with dear friends. A great combination.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Portugal, Product Reviews, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
4 May 2022 2019 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Los Amigos and Limerick Lane

2019 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Los Amigos and Limerick Lane

May 4, 2022 By

I’ve been a huge fan of Limerick Lane Cellars (www.limericklanewines.com) wines for many years. This boutique Sonoma wine producer makes some of my very favorite California Zinfandel and this bottle was outstanding. I love their motto “while we lack pretension, we are very serious about our craft”.

I was fortunate enough to visit Limerick Lane in 2019 and their place is intimate, tranquil and just magical. The tasting room is mere feet from the vineyard and we had an opportunity to spend time in the field and on the patio after our tasting.

We enjoyed this Russian River Valley wine on Easter where I served grilled lamb chops and it was an amazing pairing.

At this price point for such a delicious wine, I’m sorry I only have two bottles left in the cellar. Only 325 cases of this wine were made, so if you can get your hands on some, do it. I can’t wait to taste the newer releases.

Looks: Inky dark red in the glass

Smell: Inviting dark berry and cherry with some mocha and herbal (sage?) notes on the nose

Taste: Ripe strawberry and raspberry with some peppery notes on the palate

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, with great acidity on the long finish

Pairings: Grilled beef or lamb. Would be great with skirt steak tacos

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Old vine Zinfandel

Region: Sonoma County, CA

Price: $48

Cheers, Veronique

Filed Under: United States, Wine Reviews, Zinfandel Tagged With: , , , , , ,

10 Easy to Find Kosher Wines for Passover

April 13, 2022 By

Kosher wines are made across the world, even here in the United States. To be considered “kosher”, wines must be produced using kosher-certified ingredients and tools/equipment, under the supervision of a rabbi.

Passover kicks off this week and for those of you who still need kosher wine recommendations, here are 10 Passover kosher wines that are readily available and certified kosher. These wines are ranked by price, low to high.

2019 Galil Mountain Merlot ($17 – Israel) – A delicious and versatile Merlot with berry flavors and a hint of spice on the finish. Great pairing for – most everything as it’s light-medium bodied.

2019 Segal Special Reserve Chardonnay ($20 – Israel) – Appealing tropical fruit aromas with wonderful nutty caramely flavors. Great pairing for – chicken and Matzoh ball soup.

Gilgal Brut ($23 – Israel) – A medium-bodied dry sparkling wine with bright lemony flavors that’s perfect to kick start any special occasions. Great pairing for – rich and spicy food and served as an aperitif.

2017 Yarden Galilee Chardonnay ($24 – Israel) – Pleasant floral and lemon aromas and juicy fruit flavors with just a hint of oak. Great pairing for – potato or noodle kugel, chicken or latkes.

2020 Herzog Late Harvest Chenin Blanc ($24 – California, USA) – A rich yet crisp and refreshing sweet wine with big ripe Asian apple flavors and a touch of honey. Great pairing for – dessert or even chicken liver mousse.

2021 Eola Hills Pinot Noir Rosé ($25 – Oregon, USA) – Dry rose that’s refreshing and offers lovely strawberry aromas and flavors. Great pairing for – fish and salads or alone as an aperitif.

2013 Binyamina Reserve Shiraz ($26 – Israel) – Big wine with blackberry and cherry flavors with notes of chocolate and smokiness. Great pairing for – roasted meats.

2021 Covenant Red C Sauvignon Blanc ($26 – California, USA) – Easy drinking wine with bright acidity and pink grapefruit flavors. Great pairing for – light starters, fish or served as an aperitif.

2019 Barkan Platinum Cabernet Sauvignon ($28 – Israel) – Smokey, cherry aromas with big chocolate-covered cherry flavors. Great pairing for – roasted meats.

2019 Black Tulip ($58 – Israel) – Yes, it’s a bit of a splurge but worth every penny for this full-bodied, Bordeaux style red blend with bold dark fruit flavors. Great pairing for – roasted meats.

Chag Pesach Samech!

Filed Under: Israel, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
23 March 2022 2020 Winzer Krems Kremser Sandgrube Gruner Veltliner

2020 Winzer Krems Kremser Sandgrube Gruner Veltliner

March 23, 2022 By

Gruner Veltliner wines are great food friendly wines that are also a good option served as an aperitif on their own. In anticipation of warmer weather, I bought several of these inexpensive wines by several producers to have on hand for outdoor sipping.

I paired this Austrian wine with oysters on the half shell then with pan seared cod and it was a great match for both.

Look/in the glass: Medium yellow

Nose/aroma: Peach and juicy apple

Palate/taste: Apple, sweet citrus, pear, little sweetness

Texture/finish: Medium body, bit of effervescence, crisp, great acidity and minerality, medium finish

Pairing: Grilled/sautéed fish or chicken, pasta with light sauce, seafood, Asian/Mexican foods with a little spice

Wine type: White wine

Grape: Gruner Veltliner

Origin: Kremstal, Austria

Price: $15

Enjoy these Gruner Veltliner wines this summer.

Cheers,Veronique

Filed Under: Austria, Gruner Veltliner, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
19 January 2022 2006 Daniel Etienne Defaix Chablis Premier Cru

2006 Daniel Etienne Defaix Chablis Premier Cru

January 19, 2022 By

About Château de Faix and Daniel-Etienne Defaix

Daniel-Etienne Defaix is a 14th generation winemaker whose ancestors were vignerons in the 16th century at the Château de Faix, near Chablis. Etienne-Paul Defaix installed the family as vignerons in Chablis during the eighteenth century. Daniel-Etienne Defaix is excelling at continuing his family’s winemaking tradition. Daniel-Etienne Defaix only releases his wines after they’ve gone through several years of aging in the bottle. This vintage was released after 14 years of bottle aging!

About the 2006 Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Premier Cru Côte de Léchet

I purchased this gem at Amanti Vino in Morristown, NJ, a wonderful wine shop where the owner curates the area’s best and most interesting wines. We enjoyed it with Greek food and it was a great pairing.

Fresh and crisp for its age with great minerality. A very nice Chablis that’s drinking well now but could hold up a few more years. I need to get my hands on more of this white Burgundy.

Looks: Golden yellow in the glass

Smell: Floral, Asian pear with some nutty notes

Taste: Ripe/juicy honeycrisp apple, sweet Meyer lemon, fresh with a little crispness

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, great minerality, dry finish

Pairings: Grilled fish and seafood, light creamy pasta, sushi, poached chicken

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Chardonnay

Region: Burgundy, France

Price: $55

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Chardonnay, France, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
12 January 2022 Champagne Louis de Sacy NV Brut Originel

Champagne Louis de Sacy NV Brut Originel

January 12, 2022 By

I purchased this wonderful grower Champagne at my favorite wine shop, Amanti Vino, in Morristown, NJ. The owner always has special finds and small production bottling that one cannot find at other stores. If you’re a fan of quality, small producer wines, check out her website.

Creamy, refined, fresh and elegant wine with flavors of ripe pear and apple with a touch of citrus and great minerality.

Smell: floral and fruity (apple) with nutty and yeasty notes

Taste: juicy pear, sweet meyer lemon, ripe stone fruit and toasted bread

Texture and Finish: fine moussy bubbles, great minerality, long finish

Pairings: oysters, seafood, sushi, light cream sauced pasta, shellfish

Style: sparkling

Grape Type(s): 55% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier

Region: Champagne, France

Price: $35

I need to order more of this well-made grower Champagne, a great bottle for $35.

Cheers, Veronique

Filed Under: Chardonnay, France, Pinot Noir, Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
21 July 2021 2017 Sean Minor North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

2017 Sean Minor North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

July 21, 2021 By

About Sean Minor Wines

The goal of Sean Minor Wines is to make enjoyable, approachable, quality wines that won’t break the bank. The popular California North Coast wine producer doesn’t own vineyards and instead sources fruit from some of the top sustainably conscious growers in California and Oregon.

About the 2017 Sean Minor North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon

I uncorked this affordable California Cabernet Sauvignon the other night to pair with cheese burgers and it was a perfect pairing.

The wine had lovely dark berry aromas and it was smooth with a small amount of tannins. For that price, admittedly I don’t drink a lot of Cali Cabs at this pricepoint, I thought it was a nice glass of wine! This wine is easy to locate at wine stores across the country, even in this vintage from a few years back.

Looks: Dark ruby red in the glass

Smell: Dark berries, cassis notes

Taste: Juicy dark cherry and blackberry flavors with some coffee notes on the finish

Texture and Finish: Full-bodied, light tannins, smooth, dry finish

Pairings: Grilled meats – beef or lamb, cheesy burger

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Cabernet Sauvignon

Region: North Coast, CA, USA

Price: $21.99

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Cabernet Sauvignon, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
7 July 2021 2019 Early Mountain Vineyards Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc

2019 Early Mountain Vineyards Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc

July 7, 2021 By

This Virginia wine was in my April wine club pack put together by The Cork Report. There were only 370 cases made, so finding a bottle could prove challenging, but definitely worth it.

Photo by Early Mountain Vineyards

About Early Mountain Vineyards

Early Mountain Vineyards is a 350-acre property situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The popular Virginia winery was voted the number one USA tasting room by USA Today in 2016.

Early Mountain Vineyards was acquired by Jean Case in 2012. Case, a philanthropist, is the Chairman of the National Geographic Society and CEO of the Case Impact Network and the Case Foundation. Her primary vision in buying the winery was to advance respect for Virginia wines.

One of the first things Case did after buying the winery was hire Ben Jordan, a native Virginian, as Winemaker. Jordan started his winemaking career in Sonoma County, CA and was the GM and Winemaker with Michael Shaps Wineworks in Charlottesville, VA prior to joining Early Mountain Vineyards. Jordan and Early Mountain align on a philosophy “to craft high quality wines that showcase a commitment to the vineyard and the expression of place”.

About the 2019 Early Mountain Vineyards Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc

The 2019 Early Mountain Vineyards Shenandoah Valley Cabernet Franc shows what kind of wines can be crafted when left to the care of an artisan like Ben Jordan. More Burgundy than Bordeaux in style, this Virginia Cabernet Franc is a delight of dark fruit and berry on the nose and palate with a smooth/silky texture. I served the wine with grilled steaks and roasted mushrooms and it was outstanding.

Looks: Medium ruby red in the glass

Smell: Dark berries, plum and tobacco aromas

Taste: Juicy dark cherry and ripe raspberry/blackberry flavors with some leather/earthy notes

Texture and Finish: Medium-bodied, medium tannins, smooth, dry finish

Pairings: Grilled meats – beef or lamb, cheesy burger, roasted mushrooms

Style: Red Wine

Grape Type(s): Cabernet Franc

Region: Shenandoah Valley, VA, USA

Price: $30

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Cabernet Franc, Red Wine, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,
16 June 2021 2018 Gary Farrell Russian River Valley Chardonnay

2018 Gary Farrell Russian River Valley Chardonnay

June 16, 2021 By

This 2018 Chardonnay by Russian River Valley’s Gary Farrell Vineyards proves yet again that everyone should have an open mind about California Chardonnay. Unoaked Chardonnays lovers will enjoy this wine with its nice level of acidity and cripness while more traditional Cali Chard fans will appreciate a glass of this beauty with its touch of oak.

The nose is of juicy ripe lemon/pink grapefruit. Great balance between the Meyer lemon/lime flavors and the richer flavors of honey and juicy peach. Crisp and refreshing.

Simply a beautiful example of what this Russian River Valley pioneer and Winemaker Theresa Heredia produce together. Plus, so much value at this price.

Pairings: Brie or Camembert cheese, seafood like lobster or crab, cheesy quiche.

Style: White Wine

Grape Type(s): Chardonnay

Aging: 8 months in 30% new French oak

Region: Russian River Valley, CA, USA

Price: $35

This wine was provided to me for sampling and I’m adding to my repertoire as it’s truly enjoyable.

Filed Under: Chardonnay, United States, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
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