Tag Archives: travel

A Chill Carmenere Wine from Paso Robles Dubost 2014

Posted on May 1, 2018 by waywardwine

Carménère: a wine grape that Bordeaux bailed on generations ago has reared its head in Chile, Italy, and eclectic hot pockets of California. Today’s Carménère comes from Cali and the hands of Dubost winery. The Dubost family hailed from France … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged barrels, Bordeaux, California, Carmenere, drink, Dubost, France, Paso Robles, travel, wine | 2 Comments

Mellen Meyer Oregon Bubbly

Posted on March 19, 2018 by waywardwine

Can Oregon wine catch Champagne’s coattails? Our climate is too warm, our soil too rich, and our winemakers too impatient, but our grapes are Pinot and Chardonnay. So, why not try?

Well, most Oregon bubbly from Argyle to Argyle tastes nice, dry, but a bit fruity and simple. That sexy, nutty, chalky, dry, autolytic character that Champagne can have seemed elusive. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bubbly, Champagne, chardonnay, drink, Food, France, nature, Oregon, pinot noir, Sparkling wine, travel, Willamette Valley, wine | 3 Comments

Chinese Wine Review: Chateau Rongzi 2013 Shanxi China

Posted on February 19, 2018 by waywardwine

Picture China. Depending on where your from, a collage of pandas, red flags, chopsticks, tea, rice bowls, Mao portraits, and bamboo groves may pass through your mind.

Not this:

Yup. Vineyards. Since at least 7,000 BCE, China has been making alcohol from grapes. Yet wine remained a fringe product, more an exotic treat for the elite than a mass produced, daily beverage for the masses. It took until 1980 for French wine to crack into China, but public interest only swelled by 2000 with China’s global rise. Production has hovered around 7th place worldwide, sandwiched between Argentina and South Africa at 11.5 million hectoliters. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau Rongzi, China, drinks, Red wine, Rosé, Shanxi, travel, wine, wine review | 1 Comment

Break Work With Chardonnay From Italy

Posted on January 29, 2018 by waywardwine

Be honest with yourself: it has been a long day. You deserve a drink. But the last thing you want is more work. It can be interesting, sure. But complexity, tannins, grip, and food pairings sound horrid.

Let me whisk you to Italy. Specifically, Tuscany: land of rolling hills, Chianti, Renaissance palazzi, and rustic food. But leave the sweat, art, dust, gelato, and tourists of Firenze (aka Florence) behind. Head northeast, into the mountains, and you will find Pomino DOC: a few miles from where I use to excavate an Etruscan temple. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged chardonnay, drink, frescobaldi, fruit, italy, Pomino, travel, Tuscany, wine | 1 Comment

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 →