Wine Archives - Page 4 of 11 - The Boozy Epicure

2012 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Hallberg Vineyard Dijon Clones and Clone 777

April 26, 2015September 9, 2016

I could go on and on about Gary Farrell wines. I've never had a bottle disappoint - EVER. There is something about the intensity of flavor matched with exquisite balance that makes Gary Farrell one of my favorite producers. Gary Farrell Vineyards and Winery are located in the beautiful Russian... Read More

Australia Misc. Syrah/Shiraz Tasting Wine

Australian Shiraz: 2011 Footbolt and 2010 Elderton

March 18, 2015September 9, 2016

A little less than a year ago, I joined a wine tasting group. We get together every couple of weeks and blind taste, building our palates and our knowledge base. Blind tasting and drinking wine for pleasure are very different things, but the process of going through a wine systematically... Read More

Chardonnay France Tasting Wine

2009 Domaine Laroche Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

February 16, 2015September 9, 2016

I'm an impatient gal. I try not to be, but sometimes, I just can't help myself. I bought the 2009 bottle of Domaine Laroche Chablis last year, thinking I'd hold onto it for a few years, since Grand Cru Chablis can definitely take some age. But I saw it in... Read More

Italy Sangiovese Tasting Wine

Crazy for Chianti

February 14, 2015September 26, 2016

When I began this whirligig obsession with wine a few years back, I snubbed Chianti. Much like the folks who snubbed Merlot after seeing Sideways, this wasn't based on knowledge or experience drinking it, just my perception of which wines were "fancy" or important. I had this image in my... Read More

Corvina Italy Red Blends/Other Tasting Wine

2009 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Costasera

December 14, 2014September 9, 2016

I've got friends who are Amarone addicts and for a long time, I didn't see what all the fuss was about. Amarone comes from the Valpolicella district in Northeastern Italy's Veneto region, made from a blend of grapes (primarily Corvina) that have been dried. The grapes are picked in bunches... Read More

France Gamay Tasting Wine

Comparative Tasting 2012 Chateau Bonnet Beaujolais, Saint-Amour and Moulin-A-Vent

December 13, 2014September 9, 2016

I love side-by-side tasting. Nothing makes similarities and differences more apparent than by tasting wines together. I'm a big fan of Beaujolais, especially during the holiday season. People rave about the ease of pairing Pinot Noir to lots of different foods, but Gamay is even easier. Low in tannin, happy... Read More

France Sauvignon Blanc Tasting Wine

2009 Henri Bourgeois Pouilly-Fume La Demoiselle de Bourgeois

October 30, 2014September 9, 2016

Sauvignon Blanc is an easy grape to love, and when it is grown in the Loire Valley of France, it's even better. I'm a big fan of Sancerre (another region in the Loire) and in general, Pouilly-Fume (not to be confused with Pouilly-Fuisse which is Chardonnay from Burgundy) doesn't disappoint.... Read More

Chardonnay Tasting USA Wine

2012 Gary Farrell Chardonnay Rochioli-Allen

October 28, 2014September 9, 2016

Chardonnay, especially when made in the United States, was a tough sell for me. I found the overly oaky, buttery styles heavy handed, clumsy, and really out of balance. It's not that I hate oak in white wine, or that I dislike the flavor profile of Chardonnay. I was having... Read More

Tasting USA Wine Zinfandel

2011 Frei Brothers Zinfandel Reserve

October 19, 2014September 9, 2016

I was a latecomer to the Zinfandel fan club. There are so many unbalanced, hot, jammy, fruit bombs out there that I didn't feel much love for the grape. Then I started drinking Ridge wines, and my world turned upside down. Finally, Zinfandel that held onto the luscious fruit, but... Read More

France Pinot Noir Tasting Wine

2010 Alain Corcia Les Avaux Beanue 1er Cru Pinot Noir

October 6, 2014September 9, 2016

Burgundy is tricky. As I've written before, some of my favorite wines are Pinot Noir from this prestigious region in France, but every time I try a new producer, I know it's a gamble. I'm not going to say I lost that bet with today's wine, I just didn't win.... Read More