You won’t find Leg X wine on any store shelves or online distributors. It’s a special red Zinfandel crafted by my twin brother John in his Providence, R.I., garage. This is his sixth vintage. Most every Italian, Greek and Portuguese family I know of has a winemaker dangling in the family tree. John is the […]
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Michael Mondavi wines express spirit of Napa Valley
I’ve tasted quite a few Sauvignon Blancs in my wine exploration, and few have captured my imagination like Animo Heritage Sauvignon Blanc from Michael Mondavi Family Estate in Napa Valley. It’s a premium white, costing $65 a bottle, and only 132 cases were produced in 2015. I prefer less expensive bottlings, simply because I know […]
Two inexpensive Italian wines that play to the crowd
If you are looking for two fun wines for your next summer deck party, I recommend my two new Italian companions — “Rubio” of Il Bastardo Sangiovese di Toscana and “Blanca” of La Bastarda Pinot Grigio Terre di Siciliana. Both 2015 wines are expressive, food friendly and sell for $9 or less at most wine […]
Doubleback to Four Oaks for Bledsoe's 'beauty' of a wine
Michael Kuenzler is walking around with a big smile on his face these days, and who can blame him? Last December, the owner of Four Oaks Restaurant in Dracut made a big bet on Drew Bledsoe’s 2014 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon becoming one of the best premium wines of the year. He purchased a dozen cases […]
Back from France, American wines will have to do for now
Ten days ago, I was attending a lavish banquet at Chateau Kirwan in Margaux, where we dined on beef tenderloin and shrimp and drank the estate’s silky smooth 1995 Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux. Now I’m back at work. I am not depressed. Instead, I’m looking forward to my next trip with the Wine Goddess, wherever […]
Believe the hype: Hipperia is superior
Spanish winemakers are crafting beautiful, inexpensive wines, and their products continue to grow market share in the United States and the rest of the world. For years, these wines were the world’s best-kept secrets. That’s because Spaniards would drink a large share of the annual output, leaving little incentive to export in a major fashion. […]
Italian Chiaretto makes a run at French rosés
Chiaretto is exclusively an Italian wine phenomenon. The word refers to a dry Italian rosé made in the beautiful Lake Garda region that straddles the provinces of Lombardia and Veneto. The chiaretto process dates back to 1896, when lawyer Pompeo Molmenti used knowledge gained in France to delicately press red grapes at his Lake Garda […]
Joseph Phelps built up quite a wine-asty
I had a sip or two of Joseph Phelps Vineyards iconic Insignia a year ago at a wine tasting, and the taste stuck with me for a long time. It’s a beautiful Bordeaux-style red from Napa Valley. Insignia is selling for $159 for the 2008 vintage up to $259 a bottle for more recent releases. […]
For a road trip, bring a six-pack — of vino
It’s party pack time, a six-bottle sampler for a weekend getaway or an extended trip to the beach. In my mind, the key to any good summer road trip includes a rosé, a crisp white wine, and a punchier red varietal or blend. Andiamo! (Let’s go!) THE ROSATTOS: There are simple, good rosés, and then […]
Taster's Choice: Four wines to kick start summer
The Mill City Oenophiles Club made its spring debut earlier this month, sampling an impressive array of five summer wines from Argentina, Chile and Italy’s Venezia Giulia region. Four of the wines — two rosés, a Pinot Noir and a Cabernet Sauvignon — are discussed in this article. The fifth wine tasted, a Sauvignon Blanc, […]
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