Tag Archives: drinks

Mourvedre Part 2: Wine Review 5 Blocks Terry Hoag Paso Robles 15

Posted on January 18, 2018 by waywardwine

Our Mourvèdre adventures continue. After the lean bright Croad (read here), today we try something a bit more friendly. Former footballer-turned winemaker, Terry Hoag, makes some solid estate wines (read here) even if they’re named after pigskin puns. Only one wine sees Mourvèdre added: “5 Blocks” (referring to five field goal blocks in college…of course).

Mourvèdre plays to type, with more of a supporting role at 28%, Syrah leads with 60%, followed by 12% Grenache that rounds out the blend.
Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, California, culture, drinks, football, Mourvèdre, Paso Robles, Review, Terry Hoag, travel, wine | 3 Comments

Virginian Wine is for Lovers? Drinking Local -VS- Trendsetting

Posted on September 11, 2017 by waywardwine

My wife’s conference brings baby and I to Virginia. We stay in Alexandria: namesake of our ten month old and posh tourist excursion from Washington DC.

“Really Dad?”

Now, with a week to kill, between eponymous photo-ops, I explore Alexandria’s wine shops and bottle bars. Years have passed since I last sold or tried wine from Virginia. I remember liking it. Lean and structured, like Bordeaux, Baboursville Octagon Red seemed solid.

But a concern slowly creeps in. Alexandria’s shelves and lists feature fab Sancerre, German bubblies, Rhône growers, interesting South African Chenin Blanc, Langhe Nebbiolo, and Californian classics. Heck, every shop has at least three Oregon Pinot Noir, even unseen single vineyards, and I come from Oregon. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Alexandria, Beer, Cabernet Franc, drinks, Norton, Rkatsiteli, travel, Viognier, virginia, Virginia Wine, wine, Winery | Leave a comment

Tired of Malbec? Try Cabernet Franc from Argentina

Posted on September 6, 2017 by waywardwine

Think of Argentinian wine. If Malbec comes to mind followed by a shrug or shudder, I feel your pain. Argentina has tumbled down this monovariety’s path, much like Australia did with Shiraz decades ago. Malbec became the recession’s answer to find a big red for less. But it is a race to the bottom that backfires. The grape, and Argentina by association, are now caged by their success. They exist in most minds as a cheap alternative. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Argentina, Cabernet Franc, drinks, Food, lifestyle, Mendoza, travel, wine | Leave a comment

Drinking to Remember: Memory and Wine #MWWC34

Posted on July 25, 2017 by waywardwine

Memory and wine are odd bedfellows. We drink to forget, right? Those hangovers from downing two buck chuck definitely did not build more gray matter. That second (or third) bottle certainly wiped out a few evenings.

But good wine, hell, even just unique wine, can be a time machine. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Burgundy, Cheese, Cicero, drinks, France, memory, Monthly Wine Writing Challenge, mwwc, Space, Time, travel, wine, writing | 7 Comments

Cave Winery Tour at Jarvis Estate Napa Valley

Posted on July 25, 2017 by waywardwine

Our Napa Valley tour continues. After an extravagant whole day at Opus One (read here), we continue to dip our toes into this gilded pool with a stop at Jarvis Estate.

William Jarvis went from the Navy, to college and much travel, to found his own telecommunications company (you may have heard of HP) in Silicone Valley. Loaded, living part-time at his Chateau in France led him to wine. As one does, he bought an 1,320 acre retreat in SE Napa Valley, near Coombsville, and planted 37 acres of vines over ten years. Continue reading →