USA Archives - The Boozy Epicure

2014 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir McDonald Mountain Vineyard

June 18, 2020June 20, 2020 garyfarrell, pinotnoir, wine

I had originally planned on giving this bottle a little more time in the cellar - but when Gary Farrell Pinot calls, I have to answer. This is my kind of Cali Pinot Noir - bright red fruit, cherries, cranberries, and raspberries galore with a backbone of mouth watering... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Instagram Red Blends/Other Tasting USA Wine

2007 Continuum

May 11, 2019May 12, 2019 bordeauxblend, cabernetsauvignon, continuum, continuumestate, napa, napavalley, pritchardhill

There are wines I like, wines I love, and wines I’m just completely obsessed with. Tim Mondavi’s Continuum belongs in the obsessed category. From Pritchard Hill, it is, for me, one of the best, if not the best, expression of what makes Napa wine quintessentially Napa. I was beyond blessed... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Instagram USA Wine

2011 Dominus – Fabulous Wine from a Challenging Vintage

April 28, 2019April 28, 2019 cabernet, christianmoueix, dominus, napa, winegeek

Let’s talk for a second about vintages - in Napa, 2011 was widely dissed upon release as a "bad" vintage, but in the past few years I’ve found the 2011 wines to be on fire with deliciousness! True, it was a rainy, difficult harvest, but the serious winemakers in Napa... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Instagram Sauvignon Blanc USA Wine Wine Info

Arkenstone, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley

April 23, 2019April 28, 2019 napavalley

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge fan of Arkenstone wines. I've visited the winery, walked the vineyards, and was so pleased to taste today in Orlando along with Jake Krausz, Estate Director. The 2015s are showing extremely well, from Sauvignon Blancs aged in oak with extensive time... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Tasting USA Wine

2011 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

September 11, 2016October 2, 2016

I've been a fan of Ridge Vineyards for a long time now. Surprisingly enough, 2016 was the first time I've enjoyed anything besides their Zinfandel. To this day, if I'm drinking Zinfandel, Ridge is my go-to producer. They make really beautiful, complex and well-made Zin, not the overblown, jammy, and... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Tasting USA Wine Wine Info

Ridge Monte Bello

June 25, 2016September 25, 2016

I have been hearing raves about Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello for as long as I have been drinking wine. I've heard Monte Bello spoken of as "America’s First Growth," representing the American example of a classic Bordeaux blend in which Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape. Year after year Monte Bello receives... Read More

Tasting USA Wine

Taste Testing Trader Joe’s Three Buck Chuck

April 30, 2015September 9, 2016

Orlando got our first Trader Joe's last year. As a fan of many of their products, I was excited about the opening and braved the crowds to do some shopping. And do you know what I saw? People stocking up on bottles (and in many instances cases) of Charles Shaw... Read More

Pinot Noir Tasting USA Wine

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

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