Category Archives: EMPTIED BOTTLES

Here reside my bottle breakdowns. These reviews provide information about each wine’s context: history, geography, value, etc., and composition: from appearance and aromas, to sweetness, acidity, tannin, body, length, flavors and quality within its type. Each review features a chart where I rank the wine’s qualities (e.g. light, medium, or full bodied) according to the Wine and Spirit Education Trust’s tasting guide. These are snapshots of a wine and reviewer. Don’t be surprised if the wine and your perception of it change. Use this data to buy and taste wine with purpose.

Stop worrying if a wine is bad or good. Judgment only describes the judge. Instead, treat each wine, each bottle, even each sip as a meeting unique unto itself. Find new wines here to stretch your mind and palate.

Open bottle. Open mind.

Champagne, Lanson Black Lable Brut, Reims France NV

Posted on January 13, 2011 by waywardwine

Lanson began in 1760. It is one of the oldest Grandes Marques (big brands) Champagne houses. It is the fourth largest today. Even Queen Elizabeth II awarded them a warrant to supply the royal family. Who can argue with a … Continue reading →

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Vidal Ice Wine, Newport Winery, Rhode Island 2007

Posted on January 6, 2011 by waywardwine

Open Newport Vineyards‘ Vidal Ice Wine with a crash helmet and a very small glass. Why? This dessert will swing its splintered bat of intensity at your face the second you uncork it. The wine is certainly enjoyable, in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dessert, Vidal Blanc | 2 Comments

Prosecco, Botter Spago Veneto Italy IGT NV

Posted on December 19, 2010 by waywardwine

You will need a wine key for Botter’s prosecco (as the bound, regular cork indicates). Why? Because this is what the Italians call frizzante. It is not an Italian spumante, which is fully sparkling. This frizzante (lightly sparkling) gets its … Continue reading →

Posted in Prosecco (Glera), Sparkling | 1 Comment

Savagnin: vin jaune, Domaine de Montbourgeau, L’étoile, Jura 2000

Posted on November 30, 2010 by waywardwine

The grapes are harvested late in the season, by hand, quickly crushed and pneumatic pressed. Then the wine rests for six months, before being transferred into 230 liter, old barrels to ferment. It is taste-checked a few times annually for … Continue reading →

Posted in Savagnin, White | Leave a comment

Gamay, Terres Dorées Beaujolais Nouveau 2010

Posted on November 22, 2010 by waywardwine

Jean-Paul Brun is the minimalist of Beaujolais. His wines express proper terrior because he avoids filtration, sulfiting and chaptalizing and abhors lab-created yeasts and chemicals. If you are tired of banana-flavored Beaujolais Nouveau and want something with character, grab a … Continue reading →

Posted in Gamay Noir, Red | 1 Comment