jcampanini@lowellsun.com Looking for a summer bargain? How about starting with a 12-bottle case of Chilean wine — six reds, six whites — for $96? Santa Rita’s Secret Reserve red blend is a barbecue bargain at $8 a bottle. If you act fast, there’s a good deal in Santa Rita Estate’s “SR” (Secret Reserve) red and […]
Author: Jim Campanini
Red wines that capture the power of the paws
jcampanini@lowellsun.com Are you a pushover for wine labels featuring animal art? I am — especially when loyal dogs and graceful horses are pictured. I don’t go much for bear, cat, fish, cow, bull and bird labels. Recently, however, I bought a Tuscan rosé with a Rhinocerous on the bottle. They say marketing is everything, and […]
14 Hands, My Man Sam will crown Derby Day
I’m going for longshots today in the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby. But even if I don’t win at the racetrack, I know I have a clear standout with 14 Hands Kentucky Derby Limited Reserve red blend when I get home. Today is the day to crack it open with the Wine Goddess, grill […]
Run for the Rosés: Eight lively Derby Day picks
Saturday, May 7, is the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby, the 1 1/4-mile race that tests the speed and stamina of the world’s best 3-year-old thoroughbreds. This weekend, some wine stores will be holding Run for the Rosés events — a takeoff on the blanket of roses presented to the winning horse. For the […]
Lefty or Righty?: Six seductive Chablis Premier Cru
There’s Chardonnay and then there’s Chablis, a dry white wine and also the name of the Bourgogne’s northernmost district from which it comes. Chablis is a wine that easily accentuates a sense of place (terroir). While Chablis typifies feminine elegance — seductive floral aromas, pure flavors — it’s structured around high acidity (a result of […]
Wine for the course: 14 Hands Kentucky Derby Red Blend
jcampanini@lowellsun.com The 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby is 16 days away, and I’m excited. That’s because I already have a winner — not the winning horse — but the winning wine. Once again, I’ll be drinking 14 Hands Winery’s Limited Release Kentucky Derby Red Blend with grapes sourced from Washington State’s Columbia Valley. The […]
Brunello takes the sting out of Bella's curse
Someone asked me the other day if I remembered what I had received for Christmas gifts. I thought hard for a moment and said I couldn’t recall exactly. Was this a dementia test, I asked? No, said the friend, explaining that life seems to be a blur these days — everything’s going by so fast. […]
Five wines that command attention
It’s the end of March and I’ve had a good week tasting several red wines — two from the France — and a wonderful dry Riesling. Here are the reviews: • 2012 Inkblot Tannat, Lodi, $26.95 — Here’s a red grape varietal that is popular in southwest France where it’s used in blends. California’s Michael […]
Missing mom and her toast of Sauvignon Blanc
There’ll be one less one wine glass on the Easter dinner table this year. My mother, Dorothy May (Fuscellaro) Campanini, passed away during the final week of January. She would have turned 97 on March 15. The architect — and cook — of every family celebration and holiday meal for 70 consecutive years — mom’s […]
Easter wines? Experts make their selections
If you’re looking for Easter wine selections, here are 19 to consider from my team of local experts. Buy local and enjoy! Andrea DiFiore, Andover Classic Wines • Vietti Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne, $19.99 — The Tre Vigne Barbera has a gorgeous ruby-purple color with ripe red cherry aromas followed by hints of mineral and […]
