• California,  Grenache Blanc,  Marsanne,  Roussanne,  Santa Barbara,  Tasting Room Selection,  Vermentino,  Viognier

    Tasting Room Selection

    Margerum Wine Company M5 White 2017 In the Fall of 2018 I took a trip to Santa Barbara, CA to visit a few selective wineries and taste some of their current offerings, particularly the Rhone blends.  There were four of us tasting wines and my comments, on each of the wines tasted, incorporate nuances from everyone’s palate.  It was a great trip, the wines were outstanding and the folks I met at each of the wineries were extremely informative, helpful and very generous with their time.  The wineries have “Wine Clubs” which offer some tremendous, small production, wines that can only be obtained directly from the vineyard.  I recommend to…

  • California,  Roussanne,  Santa Barbara,  Tasting Room Selection

    Tasting Room Selection

    Jaffurs Roussanne Stolpman Vineyard 2016 In the Fall of 2018 I took a trip to Santa Barbara, CA to visit a few selective wineries and taste some of their current offerings, particularly the Rhone blends.  There were four of us tasting wines and my comments, on each of the wines tasted, incorporate nuances from everyone’s palate.  It was a great trip, the wines were outstanding and the folks I met at each of the wineries were extremely informative, helpful and very generous with their time.  The wineries have “Wine Clubs” which offer some tremendous, small production, wines that can only be obtained directly from the vineyard.  I recommend to try…

  • Bourboulenc,  Cellar Selection,  Chateauneuf de Pape,  Clairette,  France,  Grenache Blanc,  Roussanne

    Cellar Selection

    Château La Nerthe 2013 Châteauneuf-Du-Pape Blanc Château La Nerthe was born in the 12th Century around the time vines were first planted in the stone-strewn soil of Châteauneuf-du-Pape (literally the “Pope’s new castle”), the place the pontiffs chose for their summer residence when the papel court relocated to Avignon. The historic domains of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château la Nerthe, has always been graced by the attentive care of its successive owners: men of firm conviction, aristocrats, and notable experts on Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Marquis Tulle de Villefranche, Commandant Joseph Ducos and La Famille Richard, have all contributed to the reputation for excellence that La Nerthe has acquired and maintained. The vineyard of the Castle Nerthe…

  • California,  Chardonnay,  Grenache Blanc,  Marsanne,  Riesling,  Roussanne,  Semillon,  Viognier,  Weekend Selection

    Weekend Selection

    Blindfold 2013 California White Wine Established in 2009, The Prisoner Wine Co. emerged with the change in tenure of the Napa Valley red blend and the typical California Zinfandel. With over a decade of winemaking experience at Ravenswood crafting Zinfandel, winemaker, Jen Beloz started The Prisoner Wine Company along with a family of growers and a winemaking team to grow and produce a selection of premium blends, including Cuttings, Blindfold, and Thorn. Created to provide the perfect white wine companion to The Prisoner, Blindfold is bold and intriguing. In establishing their own spin on a white blend, winemaker Jen Beloz and her team sought out interesting Rhône and aromatic varietals…

  • California,  Carneros,  Chardonnay,  Grenache Blanc,  Roussanne,  Viognier,  Weekend Selection

    Weekend Selection

          Blindfold 2012 California White Wine Established in 2009, The Prisoner Wine Co. emerged with the change in tenure of the Napa Valley red blend and the typical California Zinfandel. With over a decade of winemaking experience at Ravenswood crafting Zinfandel, winemaker, Jen Beloz started The Prisoner Wine Company along with a family of growers and a winemaking team to grow and produce a selection of premium blends, including Cuttings, Blindfold, and Thorn. Created to provide the perfect white wine companion to The Prisoner, Blindfold is bold and intriguing. In establishing their own spin on a white blend, winemaker Jen Beloz and her team sought out interesting Rhône and aromatic…

  • Bourboulenc,  Chateauneuf de Pape,  Clairette,  Exceptional White,  France,  Grenache Blanc,  Roussanne

    Exceptional White

    Château La Nerthe 2013 Châteauneuf-Du-Pape Blanc The vineyard of the Castle Nerthe represents 92 hectares of the single supporter, certified in organic farming since 1998, when the 13 grape varieties of the appellation are planted.  It is about one of the biggest vineyards of Châteauneuf du Pape (the New Pope’s castle).  The land is there special.  The majority of the vineyard is pebbly with high terraces, combined with clay, lime and loamy sands sprinkled with pebbles rolling down the slopes on the Southern exposure. Today I have tried their Blanc wine, which is a combination of 4 grapes: 40% Grenache Blanc, 40% Roussanne, 10% Clairette and 10% Bourboulenc.  Only about…