Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Archives

2007 Continuum

May 11, 2019May 12, 2019 bordeauxblend, cabernetsauvignon, continuum, continuumestate, napa, napavalley, pritchardhill

There are wines I like, wines I love, and wines I’m just completely obsessed with. Tim Mondavi’s Continuum belongs in the obsessed category. From Pritchard Hill, it is, for me, one of the best, if not the best, expression of what makes Napa wine quintessentially Napa. I was beyond blessed... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Instagram USA Wine

2011 Dominus – Fabulous Wine from a Challenging Vintage

April 28, 2019April 28, 2019 cabernet, christianmoueix, dominus, napa, winegeek

Let’s talk for a second about vintages - in Napa, 2011 was widely dissed upon release as a "bad" vintage, but in the past few years I’ve found the 2011 wines to be on fire with deliciousness! True, it was a rainy, difficult harvest, but the serious winemakers in Napa... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Instagram Sauvignon Blanc USA Wine Wine Info

Arkenstone, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley

April 23, 2019April 28, 2019 napavalley

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge fan of Arkenstone wines. I've visited the winery, walked the vineyards, and was so pleased to taste today in Orlando along with Jake Krausz, Estate Director. The 2015s are showing extremely well, from Sauvignon Blancs aged in oak with extensive time... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Instagram Wine Info

2013 Ao Yun – My First Chinese Wine

June 17, 2018June 8, 2019 cabernetsauvignon, Wine Bar George

Tonight was a first for me... wine from China. From the Yunnan province in Southern China on the edge of Himalayas, this Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc blend is grown at an elevation of 7000-8000 ft and was a pleasure to explore as I let it evolve in my glass. 2013... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Tasting USA Wine

2011 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

September 11, 2016October 2, 2016

I've been a fan of Ridge Vineyards for a long time now. Surprisingly enough, 2016 was the first time I've enjoyed anything besides their Zinfandel. To this day, if I'm drinking Zinfandel, Ridge is my go-to producer. They make really beautiful, complex and well-made Zin, not the overblown, jammy, and... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Tasting USA Wine Wine Info

Ridge Monte Bello

June 25, 2016September 25, 2016

I have been hearing raves about Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello for as long as I have been drinking wine. I've heard Monte Bello spoken of as "America’s First Growth," representing the American example of a classic Bordeaux blend in which Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape. Year after year Monte Bello receives... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Tasting USA Wine

2010 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve

September 5, 2014September 9, 2016

There are lots of bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet blends coming out of Napa Valley priced in the $30-$40 range. Many are, in my humble opinion, overpriced and banking on the fame of Napa as a wine region. Not so with the Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve. This blend (72%... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Italy Sangiovese Tasting Wine

2010 Renieri Invetro

August 23, 2014September 9, 2016

Sometimes, I pick up a bottle of wine for a completely random reason. Like tonight. I bought this IGT Super Tuscan at Total Wine for one reason only, because it had a glass stopper instead of a regular cork. Oh, yeah, and it cost $14. The Vino-Lok system uses glass... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot France Tasting Wine

2009 Le Baron de Brane, Margaux

July 28, 2014September 9, 2016

Let's talk for a second about Bordeaux. Some of the most expensive, highly demanded wines in the world come from this region. Unlike the rest of France where the vineyard is king, in Bordeaux, the Chateau that makes the wine is often the driving factor regarding price. Names like Mouton,... Read More

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Italy Sangiovese Syrah/Shiraz Tasting Wine

2007 Castello Banfi Summus

June 29, 2014September 9, 2016

Right off the bat, I've got to say wow. Not to be too cheesy, but Banfi sure put the super in Super Tuscan when they made this wine. I'd been holding on to this bottle for a couple of years, ever since I went to a seminar with the winemaker.... Read More