behind the cork
2018 Rivallana Gran Reserva Rioja ($12) This wine was bottled for Bodegas Ondarre, located in the Rioja region of Spain. It is a “Gran Reserva” wine which means that it was aged for a minimum of five years in oak and bottle with a minimum of 2 yea...
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* Photo by Doriana Popa on Unsplash * A few years ago, as I began to develop an interest in wines, I embarked on a quest to find a truly exceptional wine that I could consistently return to and savor. Although the search for a remarkable wine...
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behind the cork
2020 J Dusi Model M Red Blend ($17.99) On a recent visit to Paso Robles, I had the pleasure of spending some time in the tasting room at J Dusi with Janell Dusi, the “J” in J Dusi and a fourth-generation winemaker in the Dusi family. Janell was ...
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* Photo by Alexander Naglestad on Unsplash * Sparkling wines really do shine during the holidays—both literally and figuratively. Here’s a few tips on the various types of sparkling wines to enjoying them to the fullest. Champagne Champagne...
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behind the cork
2022 Sonoma Grove Zinfandel ($8)  This Sonoma Grove 2022 Zinfandel is produced for the Navigator Wine Collection (formerly Precision Wine Company). They cellar and bottle the wine. The actual w...
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* Photo by Irene Kredenets on Unsplash * Last time we looked at the common flavors of white wines. So, now, here are descriptions of what common red wines tend to taste like. These are the broad, recognizable flavor profiles you can expect:...
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behind the cork
Stikky Wine** ($12)**  Looking for a good, beginner’s-level, easy to read book to learn about wine? Stikky Wine is a great place to start. The book does not rely on taking notes or memorizati...
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* Photo by Anastasiia Rozumna on Unsplash * One of the most common questions I get it is “Tell me what some good wines are?” While that’s a simple question, it’s also quite difficult to answer because not only is everyone’s palate different,...
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behind the cork
2022 Ameri “Wild Roots” Malbec ($85) Domaine Bousquet is Argentina’s largest producer and exporter of wines made from 100% certified organic fruit. The Ameri label of wines is named for co-owner Labid Al Ameri, Domaine Bousquet’s co-owner. Ameri...
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I was recently enjoying a good glass of red wine and commented that it had good complexity. I was then asked “What is complexity in a wine? While there is no standard definition and it can be subjective, here’s a brief description and some key cha...
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