Tag Archives: wine

Thirsty Thursday: Olivier Leflaive, Les Setilles, Bourgogne Blanc, France 2011

Posted on June 5, 2014 by waywardwine

This Thirsty Thursday we drink Chardonnay. Wait! No! Keep reading! I lied. It is not Chardonnay, it is magnificent, fabulous, white Burgundy.

Now, yes, white Burgundy must be Chardonnay. But you try and grow any grape in Burgundy. Any grape. No matter how hard you try, the resultant wine will taste of Burgundy. Why?

The weather in this eastern French valley sucks. The soil sucks. Vineyards are smaller than American homes. Traditions and rules are painfully restrictive. Wine-making is stuck in the past. And everyone looks pale, angry, and old. Continue reading →

Posted in Chardonnay, EMPTIED BOTTLES | Tagged Bourgogne, Burgundy, chardonnay, France, French wine, Leflaive, Olivier, wine | 2 Comments

Caymus Vineyards, 40th Anniversary, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California 2012

Posted on June 2, 2014 by waywardwine

Three generations and forty years on, Caymus lucked out with 2012. The vintage seemed completely tailored to their style. Up and down Napa Valley it was sunny, dry, and not drought-ridden as recently. All their lazy grapes got to stay on the vine (usually they drop lesser fruit).

Now Caymus likes a late harvest. More time lowers acids and tannins but risks rot, damage, or excessive alcohol. But weather allowed them to wait until Halloween to pick (madness in California). Their grape haul doubled 2011’s. So much ripe Cabernet resulted that they didn’t have to blend others. 17 months in half new barrels, mostly French with some from Missouri. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 40th Anniversary, Cabernet Sauvignon, Caymus, Caymus Vineyards, Napa Valley, Wagner, wine | 2 Comments

Thirsty Thursday: Il Poggione, Brunello di Montalcino, Riserva, Italy 2006

Posted on May 29, 2014 by waywardwine

This Thirsty Thursday, Wayward Wine splurges and satisfies its Europhilia with a bottle from Italy. Box Chianti this ain’t. No, within Tuscany, within Chianti, within Brunello di Montalcino, within Il Poggione’s 309 acres, sits a single vineyard called Vigna Paganelli. These … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Archaeology, Brunello, Brunello di Montalcino, il poggione, italy, Sangiovese, travel, wine | 3 Comments

Heat Wave Salve: Pine Ridge, Forefront, Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon 2011

Posted on May 15, 2014 by waywardwine

This Thirsty Thursday needs to cool it. My car thermometer claimed it hit 93F today…in Oregon…in May! My black, leather seat and I are now one. We’ve already exchanged vows. Slightly worse, my family had to evacuate their home: raging fires swept through Southern California today (ok…that’s far worse).

They’re fine. But we could all use a drink.

Tonight I turn to a native Pinot Gris produced by Pine Ridge. They call this line “Forefront” (I’m sure that sounded brave during marketing meetings…”Oh, now what. we’re Californian. Hey! Let’s make Pinot Gris in Oregon! That cutting-edge sense of adventure will appeal to our Caucasian male, desk-job slave, marketing demographic of 30 to 50 year olds. Genius! Now let’s be indecisive and slap an austere, slick, yet generic label on it”). Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 2011, Forefront, Oregon, Pine Ridge, Pinot Gris, Summer wine, Willamette Valley, wine | Leave a comment

Mellowing Madrid: EU Austerity Drinking Tour Day 111

Posted on May 5, 2014 by waywardwine

This Monday’s installment of our EU Austerity Drinking Tour finds Tracy and I 111 days deep into Europe. Bedazzling Barcelona broke us. Constant sight-seeing, drinking, and planning had turned into a chore. Shoes, ipods, clothes, health, sanity were all tattered. … Continue reading →