Tag Archives: Oak

Sauvignette Eh!? Wine Review of Unsworth Vineyard Vancouver Island BC

Posted on September 20, 2018 by waywardwine

Ok! Vancouver Island wines have given us challenging results. Maybe, the standard grapes Chardonnay (review here), Gamay (here), even Sparkling pinot (here) provide little more than acidity, edge, reflecting regional limits. Maybe a more climate-friendly hybrid grape might work.

Sauvignette. Continue reading →

Posted in Vancouver Island, White wine | Tagged Cabernet Sauvignon, Canada, drink, grapes, lees, Oak, Sauvignette, Sauvignon blanc, travel, Vancouver Island, wine | 2 Comments

An Amarone for October: Le Ragose 2007

Posted on October 9, 2017 by waywardwine

Cold fixes in this side of the hemisphere. Leaves catch fire. Grey and rain dampen the ether. It is not Port season yet. But it is Fall. And I have the perfect wine.

Fly to Valpolicella, valley of many cellars. In the hills overlooking fair Verona grow swaths of vines. The Galli family tend 70 terraced acres near 1,200 feet above sea level: the highest in the region. They bought the abandoned vineyard in 1969. Here, it is dry, above the fog line, cool yet sunny: perfect for appassimento, aka grape-drying. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Amarone, Corvina, drink, Galli, grapes, italy, Oak, travel, Valpollicella, verona, wine | Leave a comment

A Paso Robles Right Bank Wine-Off Daou vs Justin

Posted on December 19, 2016 by waywardwine

With our house a block of ice, I turn to southern climes for sunnier respite. This manic Monday’s glass travels to Paso Robles AVA: California’s hot hills of heritage Zinfandel vines and huge Syrah wines. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, drink, merlot, Oak, Paso Robles, Paso Robles California, Red, snow, travel, wine, winter | 1 Comment

Gaja For The Rest of Us: Ca’Marcanda Promis 2013 Bolgheri Tuscany Italy

Posted on November 28, 2016 by waywardwine

Winter closes in. For sad psychological reasons, I now don jackets or sweaters to enjoy chilled whites. I suppose a red will not hurt. Also, we have guests and pizza for dinner. So, a modern Italian seems apt. I rummage around in my crawl space. Why not open an $100 Chianti? Erm….no.

I have lost all grip on reality. My job allows me to try and collect fancy, expensive things. The cost to retail has become my reference point. A wine that costs a shop $25 ends up $33 to $40 on the shelf for the unwashed masses. So all I remember is that I spent $25. Or worse, I was given it. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged drinks, Food, Gaja, italy, merlot, Oak, pizza, Sangiovese, super tuscan, Syrah, travel, Tuscany, wine, Winery | 3 Comments

Etude Winery Visit Napa Valley Carneros

Posted on May 2, 2016 by waywardwine

After an unnecessarily ostentatious day-long tour from Mt Veeder to Howell Mountain with Cardinal (read P1 here read P2 here), we somehow wake up early. Our mouths blackened and livers tested by endless Cabernet, Merlot, and Malbec, we rejoice knowing that today, after four days of monster reds, we try Napa Valley Pinot Noir.

We bomb down to Carneros, Napa’s most southerly AVA.

Carneros Napa Valley Map Continue reading →