Author Archives: waywardwine

About waywardwine

Follow Wayward Wine (WSET3) to tour the world's exciting vineyards, breweries, and distilleries, while discovering new drinks.

Thirsty Thursday: Gaja, Dagromis, Barolo DOCG Italy 2007

Posted on June 12, 2014 by waywardwine

So…Gaja. Angelo Gaja has pushed the Piedmont into the modern age. Considered one of the world’s greatest winemakers, he brought small French barrique and international varieties to the trapped-in-tradition Piedmont. He’s also pushed prices into the stratosphere. His basic Barbaresco runs $210 a bottle. So this Thirsty Thursday, we touch the hem of Gaja’s divine robe with: Dagromis, Barolo DOCG Italy 2007: a mere $70. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged adrien brody, Angelo Gaja, barbaresco, Barolo, Gaja, grand budapest hotel, italy, nebbiolo, Peidmont | 2 Comments

Horchata, Paella, Wine, and Architecture in Valencia, Spain

Posted on June 9, 2014 by waywardwine

After a hiatus, this Monday visits Day 115 of our EU Austerity Drinking Tour. A dull bus ride from Madrid deposits us near the coast in Valencia.

Our first hostel in weeks sits in Valencia’s ancient heart. Better still, it has a kitchen, which sends us shopping for groceries.

Along a narrow medieval street we find a garage door. Inside is Bodegas Baviera: a sliver of a wine shop wall-papered in bottles.

The thinning but hardly thin, grumpy Vicente, speaks no English but understands we want something native and cheap.

We grab a bottle of Valencia DO red, head back, and make our typical pasta. The bottle disappears immediately. It is such a grippy yet ripe, black-fruited, peppery blend that I run out again. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Baviera, Bodegas Baviera, Europe, Gulliver's travels, Holy Grail, hostel, Lonja de la seda, Silk Market, Spain, Spanish, travel, Valencia, Valencia Spain, wine, wine shop | 4 Comments

Thirsty Thursday: Olivier Leflaive, Les Setilles, Bourgogne Blanc, France 2011

Posted on June 5, 2014 by waywardwine

This Thirsty Thursday we drink Chardonnay. Wait! No! Keep reading! I lied. It is not Chardonnay, it is magnificent, fabulous, white Burgundy.

Now, yes, white Burgundy must be Chardonnay. But you try and grow any grape in Burgundy. Any grape. No matter how hard you try, the resultant wine will taste of Burgundy. Why?

The weather in this eastern French valley sucks. The soil sucks. Vineyards are smaller than American homes. Traditions and rules are painfully restrictive. Wine-making is stuck in the past. And everyone looks pale, angry, and old. Continue reading →

Posted in Chardonnay, EMPTIED BOTTLES | Tagged Bourgogne, Burgundy, chardonnay, France, French wine, Leflaive, Olivier, wine | 2 Comments

Caymus Vineyards, 40th Anniversary, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California 2012

Posted on June 2, 2014 by waywardwine

Three generations and forty years on, Caymus lucked out with 2012. The vintage seemed completely tailored to their style. Up and down Napa Valley it was sunny, dry, and not drought-ridden as recently. All their lazy grapes got to stay on the vine (usually they drop lesser fruit).

Now Caymus likes a late harvest. More time lowers acids and tannins but risks rot, damage, or excessive alcohol. But weather allowed them to wait until Halloween to pick (madness in California). Their grape haul doubled 2011’s. So much ripe Cabernet resulted that they didn’t have to blend others. 17 months in half new barrels, mostly French with some from Missouri. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 40th Anniversary, Cabernet Sauvignon, Caymus, Caymus Vineyards, Napa Valley, Wagner, wine | 2 Comments

Friday Fridge: Wine, Beer, Spirit and Occasionally Food

Posted on May 30, 2014 by waywardwine

Went for breakfast this fine Friday morning, opened our fridge to find this: Now, some might think we have a problem. I think we need a bigger boat. That glass carboy is our cold-stabilizing Vienna Lager. Since we lack a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments