Searching for "grenache"


Apr
2019

Big Sur Vineyard Rosé

categories: Booze, Wine

I’m not all into the “rosé craze” because I’m actually quite particular about the pink I drink. I expect it to be light and delicate but I also expect it to have substance and structure. I tasted this rosé “blind,” as in I didn’t look at any tasting notes or tech sheet before enjoying and there was zero information on the back of the bottle. Not that I usually rely on that kind of information, but with a rosé, as with my blends, I prefer to know what it is a rosé of. Now that I found my tech sheet (it fell behind the wine rack…) I can see why I enjoyed this rosé so much. (Who likes Rhone-style blends? Raise your hand…)

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Apr
2019

Levo Wines 2015 White Noise Rhone blend

categories: Booze, Wine

Winemake Bret Urness is a boots-in-the-dirt kind of winemaker and his wines speak to that. Sourcing from some of the best vineyards along the Central Coast (Ballard Canyon, Solpman, Duvarita anyone?, this guy makes some of the most earthy (but elegant) Rhone wines I’ve tasted — and yes that goes for the white wines as well.

I don’t know what made me stop in Tin City on a drive through the Central Coast. And I can’t say why, in particular, I walked into Bret’s urban tasting room. But I do know I’m glad I did and reliving that visit via this wine reminded me why I came away with a couple of bottles.

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Mar
2019

Lightening Wines 2017 CDP Blanc

categories: Booze, Wine

Lightening Wines is a new sip for me. Winemakers Randy and Brooke Hester were kind enough to send me a few samples to taste what their small batch winery is all about. This Napa-based winery focuses on Rhone-style wines, sourcing much of their grapes from El Dorado County, California’s self-proclaimed “Rhone-zone.” As someone who loves Rhone wines and appreciates California’s diverse expression of the grapes that are so dependent on both region and winemaker, I was eager to taste what Lightening Wines had to offer. Always skeptical about white blends in general, spoiler alert: I was very much impressed by this CDP Blanc. Well-balanced, refreshing, and just downright tasty, I was able to enjoy with several meals throughout the week.

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Feb
2019

Passaggio 2016 GSM Red Blend

categories: Booze, Wine

I don’t often write about wines I relive, but some winemakers’ wines are just too good not to talk about. And it’s amazing the difference a vintage can make. But one thing that remains consistent year after year is Cindy Cosco’s ability to craft the most delicate, nuanced wines from even the heartiest of red wine grapes. So keep reading to learn about the Passaggio 2016 GSM Red Blend, and if you haven’t already, take a look at what the Passaggio 2015 GSM was like. Both offer up their own subtleties, but I paired them with wildly different cuisines. Enjoy!

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