Tag: wine review


Sep
2018

Flora Springs 2017 Family Select Chardonnay

categories: Booze, Wine

I love pretty much everything from Flora Springs. You can click on that link and see all the rave reviews I’ve done on their wines — from hearty red blends indicative to Napa Valley to an enjoyably (and surprisingly) minimalistic Sauvignon Blanc. But, for me Chardonnay from Napa is a hard sell — I find many winemakers in the area, for whatever reason, seem to overwork the grape with either too much new oak influence or too much ML, or in some cases both.

While I enjoyed this Flora Springs Chardonnay (especially with the appropriate cheese!) I do have somewhat of a mixed review…

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Sep
2018

Saved 2017 Magic Maker Rosé

categories: Booze, Wine

Do you see this picture? It’s of an empty wine bottle. That’s because, despite the fact that I enjoyed this wine over the course of several days, I enjoyed it so much it just slipped my mind to take a picture. Pour, drink, enjoy. That’s my short story about how this rosé “saved” me, bringing a bit of joy to a rough week.

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Sep
2018

Savannah-Chanelle 2016 Tondre’s Grapefield Chardonnay

categories: Booze, Wine

This is a wine that is quite special to me. I’m lucky enough to have winemakers send me their wines, invite me to visit, experience their vineyards. And I’ve discovered some beautiful — and very special — wines this way. But there is a special cubby hole in my heart and in my head I save for those wines I discover alongside my partner on a random excursion into wine country. Savannah-Chanelle had the added benefit of being close to our first home together, which was closer to San Francisco’s South Bay wine country — where the terroir and, thus, the varietal expressions are wholly different.

On Saturday nights we celebrate date night, when, if we have nothing else to toast, we toast each other. So cin-cin and cheers to us…

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Sep
2018

Panther Creek Cellars 2015 Kalita Vineyard Pinot Noir

categories: Booze, Wine

I came across Panther Creek when working on an article about their new Woodinville, Washington tasting room. Indeed, the Oregon-based winery with their Willamette fruit felt the need to spread the Pinot love to the cool kids in Washington who, basically, have none. Unable to visit Oregon or Washington at the moment, the Panther Creek team was kind enough to send me a few samples. Last week I featured their estate Pinot Gris — a beautiful example of how the grape variety is making major headway in the Pacific Northwest. But let’s face it, when making, tasting, or talking wine from the Willamette, it’s all about the Pinot Noir.

You can read my full article, Oregon Wine, Washington Tasting Room: Panther Creek boosts business, bringing Willamette Valley Wine to Woodinville, Wash.

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Aug
2018

Flora Springs 2015 Merlot

categories: Booze, Wine

Here’s the thing about Flora Springs — they are utterly reliable. Whether you’re looking for something big and bold (say hello to the Trilogy blend) or something light and crips (you must taste their Sauvignon Blanc) or something right in the middle (I’ve got a Chardonnay that’s right up that alley — review to come) — they’ve got something suited to every flavor profile and they do it well. I’d have to say that having tasted much of their portfolio, producing bold reds that are approachable now but can also age for decades is kind of their “thing.” Case and point, this 100% Merlot harvested from their very own estate vineyards along Napa’s valley floor.

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