red wine – Vine to Table

Is it Primitivo or is it Zinfandel (or Zin as it’s come to be known as)?

Origins- Croatia. Primitivo originally comes from an indigenous Croatian grape called crljenak kaštelansk (Kjell-nak Cas-tell-lansky)- try and pronounce that after your second glass. Before emerging as a single varietal, it was mainly used as a blending grape to increase the overall alcohol content. It’s not uncommon to be up around 16% from both Italy andContinue reading “Is it Primitivo or is it Zinfandel (or Zin as it’s come to be known as)?”

Have you ever tasted a Lagrein wine from Italy?

Alois Lageder Conus 2016 Riserva Some background … Lagrein is native to the valleys of Southern Tyrol, in northern Italy and the first mention of the ‘rott’ or red Lagrein dates back to 1526 and most likely originates in the Val Lagarina in Trentino in Northern Italy, as the name suggests. DNA testing reveals itContinue reading “Have you ever tasted a Lagrein wine from Italy?”

What did you drink to celebrate International Shiraz Day?

Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2018- one of the best I have tasted! There are few things I look forward to more than a release of the new vintage of St Henri- one of my all-time favorite wines and most definitely my favorite Penfolds wine. I have been fortunate to have tasted 20 plus vintages andContinue reading “What did you drink to celebrate International Shiraz Day?”

What has 42 ha and 70 plots and is delicious to drink? …

Chateau de Pez of course! About the Winery … It is possibly the oldest Bordeaux wine-making estate in the Saint Estéphe appellation, rivaled only by Chateau Calon Segur. The Chat. de Pez estate was created in 1452 by Jean de Briscos and has since passed through many owners with Jean-Claude Rouzaud being the current ownerContinue reading “What has 42 ha and 70 plots and is delicious to drink? …”

What has 42 ha and 70 plots and is delicious to drink? …

Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2015- timeless class Cabernet.

Mount Veeder Winery was the first on the mountain, sitting high above the fog line and receiving sunshine almost all day. It was started by Michael and Arlene Bernstein in 1970, planting Bordeaux rootstock. Later, they made history by being the first in Napa Valley to plant Petit Verdot and all five Bordeaux varietals onContinue reading “Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2015- timeless class Cabernet.”

Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz 2013 – from the cellar.

Though it was about time I pulled a 2013 RSW Shiraz from the cellar, it has been a few years since I checked in on this stunning wine and I was more than curious to see how this wine has evolved. The wine was named after Robert Strangways Wigley, a noted South Australian eccentric andContinue reading “Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz 2013 – from the cellar.”

A Red and A White for your consideration.

Tenuta Di Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva 2020 The estate dates back to the 1,300’s and was acquired by the Folonari family in 1971. Perched on the top of a picturesque hill, this 385-hectare estate, consists of 90 hectares under vines and 15 hectares of olive groves. They also have a separate farmhouse with extensive gardensContinue reading “A Red and A White for your consideration.”

Yangarra Kings Wood Shiraz 2020

This is elegant, restrained McLaren Vale Shiraz that is both seductive and appealing from the first sip. This is part of their single vineyard Premium release wines and was sourced from a 2.3hectare block 12 planted in 1999- a southeast facing vineyard planted on sandy and ironstone soil. 2020 was a tough vintage but someContinue reading “Yangarra Kings Wood Shiraz 2020”

Two Hands Charlie’s Garden Eden Valley Shiraz 2020

I have been drinking Two Hands Wines for 20 years or so and their passionate pursuit of single vineyard and single regional varietals reflecting the specific terroir is not only admirable but exceptionally rewarding, not to mention satisfying for us as wine drinkers. My case in point is the Garden series- seven Shiraz from 6Continue reading “Two Hands Charlie’s Garden Eden Valley Shiraz 2020”