A widow solves a Champagne riddle 7-30-2025

Revolution and evolution in wine in the 17th and 18th centuries set up the sparkling wine world we enjoy today. Christopher Merret’s experiments in secondary fermentation. Dom Pérignon’s vineyard and winemaking improvements. English breakthroughs in glass making. Continue reading “A widow solves a Champagne riddle 7-30-2025”

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label Brut Champagne NV

Pale gold-yellow color; pear, lemon, white peach, grapefruit, crisp apple, brioche, vanilla, butter, almond, white flowers on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label Brut Champagne NV”

Concannon Vineyard Mother Vine Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley 2020

Deep ruby color; black cherry, blackcurrant, boysenberry, blackberry, sweet oak, caramel, mocha, allspice, black pepper, violets on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Concannon Vineyard Mother Vine Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley 2020”

Dominio Fournier Reserva Ribera del Duero 2016

Deep ruby color; dark cherry, blackberry, plum, black fruits, licorice, oak spice, forest floor on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Dominio Fournier Reserva Ribera del Duero 2016”

Early Mountain Vineyards Novum, Virginia 2022

Deep purple-ruby color; blackberry, black raspberry, tart cherry, plum, redcurrant, strawberry, baking spice, leather, oak on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Early Mountain Vineyards Novum, Virginia 2022”

Sparkling evolution-revolution 7-23-2025

Wine has been evolving for at least 8,000 years, and so it goes in the world of sparkling wine. Continue reading “Sparkling evolution-revolution 7-23-2025”

Papapietro Perry Winery Pinot Noir Peters Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma 2022

Light-medium ruby color; cherry, raspberry, blood orange, caramel, vanilla, oak spice, rose petals on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Papapietro Perry Winery Pinot Noir Peters Vineyard, Russian River Valley, Sonoma 2022”

Weingut Loimer Brut Rosé Reserve Niederösterreich, Austria NV

Medium copper-salmon color; white nougat, cherry, strawberry, redcurrant, red delicious apple, hazelnut, plum cake, touch of saline, puff pastry, yeast, rose petals, wildflowers on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Weingut Loimer Brut Rosé Reserve Niederösterreich, Austria NV”

Ricardo Santos Bodega y Viñedos Tercos Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina 2022

Medium purple color; black cherry, blackberry, red plum, raspberry, oak, vanilla, chocolate, spice on the nose and palate. Continue reading “Ricardo Santos Bodega y Viñedos Tercos Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina 2022”