• Grenache,  Spain

    Exceptional Red

    Alto Moncayo 2010 Veraton Bodegas Alto Moncayo is truly among one of Spain’s finest wine estates. Bodegas Alto Moncayo is a joint venture of Jorge Ordoñez, Jose Miguel San Martin, Dan Phillips together with Bodegas Borsao.  Their flagship wine is Alto Moncayo made from 100% old vines Grenache grapes.  Today I will comment on their other offering, Veraton, also made from 100% old vines Grenache grapes planted between 50 and 100 years ago.  As you will soon learn, the Veraton is an outstanding wine that is a significant value for the price.  Their website is still being developed, but check out what they have and read the reviews from Robert…

  • California,  Carignane,  Exceptional Red,  Grenache,  Petite Sirah,  Sonoma,  Zinfandel

    Exceptional Red

    Ridge 2011 Sonoma Three Valleys Ridge Vineyards history begins in 1885 when Osea Perrone, a prominent Italian doctor in San Francisco, purchased 180 acres of land near the top of Monte Bello ridge.  Perrone terraced the slopes, planted vineyards and constructed the Monte Bello Winery, producing the first vintage in 1982.  In the 1940’s, William Short purchased the abandoned winery and vineyards just below Perrone’s property and planted new vines.  From there a number of partnerships were formed with the surrounding vineyards, mostly by individuals with Stanford Research Institute credentials, up until 1986 when the Japanese pharmaceutical company Otsuka became the owners.  The Ridge team is still more like a…

  • Chateauneuf de Pape,  Grenache,  Syrah

    From The Wine List…

    Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf du Pape – 2010 We decided to try a long standing restaurant, the Red Pheasant Inn & Restaurant, in Dennis, MA, owned by Bill and Denise Atwood.  The Red Pheasant is a 200 year old barn with a lovely “Inn-Type” atmosphere with several warm and cozy rooms to dine in.  When we looked at the menu, I was leaning towards duck with a port wine reduction, my wife Elaine had eyed a nice rich fish dish with butter, capers and wine sauce, and my daughter Christine chose a steak, grilled with a crispy finish.  The dilemma was to choose a wine that could possible complement…