Author Archives: waywardwine

About waywardwine

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

Chardonnay, Sevastopol Winery “Krimskoye” Semi-Sweet, “Premium Crimean White Champagne” NV

Posted on April 18, 2011 by waywardwine

Quietly poking into the US market, like an accidental cellphone call, is the sparkler from Sevastopol Winery. It comes from Crimea: today a sub-republic of Ukraine. This peninsula, provides a funny hat for the Black Sea. If the name Crimea … Continue reading →

Posted in Chardonnay, Sparkling | Tagged Black sea, bubbly, Bulgars, Champagne, chardonnay, Cimmerians, Crimea, Khazars, Krimskoye, Russian, Sevastopol, Sparkling wine, Tatar, Ukraine, wine | 1 Comment

Cabernet Franc, Raffault “Les Galuches”, Chinon, France 2009

Posted on April 11, 2011 by waywardwine

Cabernet franc: the parent you wished you had. Not to be confused with its bombastic child, cabernet sauvignon (born from pollen swapping with sauvignon blanc). The cabs do share similarities: strong tannins, notes of cassis, berry, pepper and herbs. Yet … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Red | Tagged Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chinon, France, Loire Valley, Oak (wine), Vienne, wine, Wine tasting descriptors | 3 Comments

Malbec-Merlot, Mission La Caminade, Cahors 2007

Posted on April 4, 2011 by waywardwine

Already tired of malbec? Branch out from Argentina and take a twelve dollar trip to the grape’s ancestral home: Cahors. Upriver from Bordeaux, the village of Cahors rests on a kink along the Lot river in the center of southwestern … Continue reading →

Posted in Malbec | Tagged Argentina, Bordeaux, Cahors, Clos la Coutale, France, Grape, malbec, Wine tasting descriptors | 1 Comment

Port, Warre’s Late Bottled Vintage, Portugal 2000

Posted on March 28, 2011 by waywardwine

While bitter winter still slips through window seams, turn to Port. Nothing warms an evening’s end better. Styles range from cheap and charming non-vintage Ruby to decades-old Vintage Ports. Somewhere in the middle are Late Bottled Vintage Ports, like Warre’s 2000 LBV. British … Continue reading →

Posted in Port | Tagged Awesome, bellydancer, bottle, Late Bottled Vintage, LBV, Port, Port wine, Portugal, Vintage, Warre's, wine, Wine tasting descriptors | 1 Comment

Grenache Blend, Bonny Doon Vineyard, Le Cigare Volant, Santa Cruz, CA, USA, Earth 2004

Posted on March 21, 2011 by waywardwine

One should never drink and vlog, but considering that half the bottle is gone, my memory served me decently here. To clarify, the Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC has allowed 18 grapes since 2009, although 13 has been industry standard since 1936. Cigare … Continue reading →