95 posts
behind the cork
2016 Lion Tamer Red - The Hess Collection ($45) This red blend comes from The Hess Collection of wines from Napa Valley. Hess Family wines was founded by Donald Hess in 1978. Today, Tim Persson (Donald’s son in law) and his wife Sabrina are owners ...
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behind the cork
2016 Vallobera Rioja Crianza ($10) This was an unexpected recent find. A Tempranillo from Spain. And, it’s a Crianza. This style of Rioja is required to be aged for one year in oak and spend one year in the bottle before being sold. This extra agin...
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ever wonder
Early in my wine exploration, I was drinking a lot of inexpensive wine. Mostly in the $5 - $10 price range. And that’s where I did a lot of learning. When I’d splurge and buy a wine in the $10 - $15 range it would usually be a better wine. So, in ...
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behind the cork
2016 Écluse Ensemble ($48) This Bordeaux red blend from Écluse in Paso Robles is truly an ensemble of varietals. It’s produced from 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cab Franc, 15% Petit Verdot, 14% Merlot, 14% Malbec and 7% Carignane. A little bit of eve...
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general
Last time we looked at wine scores and how well they can be relied upon as an indicator when selecting wines. Some wine scores are from reputable sources (e.g., Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate)while others are less ...
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ever wonder
You’ve seen them. The wine scores posted alongside the bottles on the shelf. 90 points. 88 points. 92 points. But what does it really mean? Is it a good indicator for making your wine selection? Well, the old adage “Buyer Beware” certainly applies ...
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