I like my Riesling well-chilled, racy, overflowing with tropical flavor, and dry. Match them with spicy Asian or Thai cuisine, and Riesling’s crisp acidity and citrus flavors produce a delightful sensation. Riesling is also a refreshing, stand-a-lone beverage on hot, hazy summer days. Two of the best I’ve tasted for the price are actually coastal […]
Author: Jim Campanini
Plenty of pop in Kirkland's $25 Chateauneaf-du-Pape
If you’re a Costco warehouse chain cardholder, you’ve probably seen its exclusive Kirkland Signature brand of wines sold only in the store. They’re produced at the Kirkland winery in Healdsburg, Calif., located in Sonoma County. Kirkland’s domestic and foreign wines usually sell for $20 or less and are decent for every-day drinking. One of the best […]
Franciscan's whites pass the blind taste test
, jcampanini@lowellsun.com Janet Myers has built a reputation for crafting fine Cabernet Sauvignon at Napa Valley’s Franciscan Estate Winery, yet her white wines are also special. Myers has produced two beauties in the 2015 vintage: Equilibrium white blend and Sauvignon Blanc. Both exhibit intense floral aromas and exotic flavors, a welcome sign of fresh, ripe […]
Rally your lobster roll with these summer wines
Click here to see wine photos If it’s summer in New England, one of the first thing that comes to mind is: Where can I get a good lobster roll? Well, after you find it, the next hunt should be for a delicious cool summer white or rose to accompany that sweet, succulent lobsta’ meat. […]
For under $20, Pike Road leads to wine value
For five generations the Campbell family of Gaston, Ore., have grown grapes and crafted wine, building a successful enterprise at Elk Cove Vineyards which was launched in 1974. Several years ago, Pat and Joe Campbell started a sister brand, Pike Road, hoping to deliver a quality Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris at affordable prices. Elk […]
Napa Valley's Purple Heart wine is in Lowell
Odd ’n ends … • Purple Heart Wine, distributed in Massachusetts by United Liquors, is now available locally at Tutto Bene Wine & Cheese Cellars in downtown Lowell on Prescott Street. I wrote about the Bordeaux-style blend (Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot) several weeks ago when it first hit the East Coast(http://blogs.lowellsun.com/winenovice/?p=3141). The Napa Valley wine is crafted by winemaker and […]
Zin-Phomaniac: Big, bold, sexy wine for the Fourth
Barbecue, fireworks and American-made red Zinfandel. What could be better on the Fourth of July? Since the black-skinned grape was introduced to America in the mid-19th century, Zinfandel (also known as Primitivo) has become the closest thing to natural in California vineyards. It’s where some of the world’s most luscious Zinfandel wines are crafted. When I drink Zinfandel, I […]
Dark Horse comes out strong
There’s a new Dark Horse out of California that’s caught my eye — just in time for Saturday’s Belmont Stakes. But instead of betting on it, you drink it. It’s the maiden vintage (2015) of Limited Reserve Dark Horse Rosé, produced by E&J Gallo Winery of Modesto. I tried it recently at dinner with the […]
Alto Adige, Chianti Classico wines make the mark
, jcampanini@lowellsun.com The first spring wine tasting of the Mill City Mass Media Oeniphiles Club was a study in contrast: three whites from Italy’s Trentino-Alto Adige region and three reds from Tuscany’s Chianti Classico zone. The seven tasters — five women, two men — showed a preference for the Lamole di Lamole Chianti Classico bottlings. […]
Purple Heart Wines: Bold blend for the brave
For If you’re holding a Memorial Day cookout this weekend, consider making Napa Valley’s Purple Heart red wine the guest of honor. It’s not only good, it serves a worthy cause. The Bordeaux-style blend recognizes the sacrifice and service of U.S. military members and promotes the Purple Heart Foundation, a nonprofit which provides assistance to […]
