The evolutionary winemaking journey of what we might call modern Carménère red wines in Chile looks something like this: Treating it like Merlot because they actually thought it was Merlot -> Living with the fact that its tannins were just going to be green and harsh, tough nuggies -> Over-ripening the bejeezus out of the…
Category: kick-ass wines
Wine in the Time of Coronavirus, Part 11 (“Just Babysitters” – Bacigalupi Recent Releases)
Out of the dozen or so virtual, online, live sample tastings in which I’ve participated the last several months (necessitated due to the COVID-19 pandemic), I might have been looking forward to this one with Bacigalupi Vineyards the most. The thing is, I am kind of a fan boy for their matriarch, the indefatigable Helen…
Wine in the Time of Coronavirus, Part 10 (“The Vineyard Is the Style” – Fort Ross Vineyard Recent Releases)
Add yet another locale to the list of gorgeous places that I’m supposed to be visiting, but the opportunity for which has been heinously denied to me due to the USA’s botched response to the current pandemic: Fort Ross Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast. My experience with FRV, as has been the new normal lately,…
Wine in the Time of Coronavirus, Part 9 (Tenuta Sette Cieli Bolgheri Recent Releases)
On the border of Bolgheri, within sight of the legendary Sassicaia and equally-legendary Ornellaia, nestled in Tuscany’s gorgeous and golden-lit rolling hills, protected by surrounding forests, sits the former horse ranch and now premium wine producer Tenuta Sette Cieli. I know that those rolling Sette Cieli hills are gorgeous because I’ve seen them. Over Zoom…