I’ve learned from experience that a wine must be pretty good when there is only one bottle of it left on a store shelf surrounded by stacked rows of other bottles. So it was that the Feudo di Croce “LXXIV” Primitivo di Manduria caught my eye recently. The black bottle with gold lettering was hefty. […]
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These Malbecs from Mendoza make their mark
It’s incredible that Mendoza, a province where Argentina’s most impressive wines are produced, is the size of New York state. More than 35 million acres are under vine, a total representing just 5 percent of the area’s total land mass. The top vineyards are located in Argentina’s central zone at elevations of 4,000 to 5,000 […]
Boston Wine Expo: A weekend of delights
Looking for a midwinter wine getaway? Well, you don’t have to book a flight to Tuscany or Napa Valley when you can spend a weekend at the 2017 Boston Wine Expo, held at the gorgeous Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center. The two-day event (Feb. 18-19) is rapidly approaching, so now is the time to […]
Narrowing hundreds of wines to top 50
1. Michael David Petite Petit 2014, Lodi, $15 — Big bang for the buck in this jammy Petite Sirah fruit bomb. 2. Il Valentiano Brunello di Montalcino 2007, Tuscany, $38 — Time in the bottle has lifted this spirited wine to new heights. 3. David Pinot Noir 2013, Anderson Valley, $55 — Only 250 cases […]
Wine lovers Chianti go wrong with these choices
With winter’s chill in the air and hearty meals like beef stews and pasta Bolognese on the menu, it’s a good time to be drinking Chianti. Tuscan winemakers have resurrected this great red wine, made from Sangiovese grapes, since post-World War II days of lazy vineyard management and overproduction cheapened the product. Remember the straw-basket, […]
Make New Year's Eve sparkle
Sparkling wines and the holidays go together like pomp and circumstance. They add elegance and power to any celebration. While French Champagne still supplies the most impressive sparkle for any occasion, there are now more choices on the market to create the same spectacular sizzle at one-third the price of Napoleon’s beautiful bubbly. Here in […]
Six wines get stamp of approval from Club tasters
‘Tis the season for picking out a special wine for the connoiseur on your list. The Mill City Oenophile Club, comprised of Sun reporters and editors, met recently at Ricardo’s Trattoria in Lowell for a splendid evening of food and wine tasting. The panel, which included Richard “Ricardo” Rourke himself, blind-tasted six wines in three […]
Hospitality, holiday cheer overflow at Four Oaks' Doubleback wine dinner
Cindy and Michael Kuenzler know how to throw a party. A week ago (Dec. 1), the Dracut couple co-hosted a spectacular wine dinner at their Four Oaks Country Club with Doubleback winery owners Drew and Maura Bledsoe. More than 125 guests packed the soldout event, where they dined on Chef Beni’s superb four-course cuisine and […]
Bledsoe hits new peak with Doubleback wines
Drew Bledsoe has spent as many years (9) being a farmer of vines as he spent quarterbacking the New England Patriots (1993-2001). Boy, how time flies! Today, at age 44 (he’ll be 45 on Feb. 14, 2017) the Patriots’ Hall of Famer is still turning out winning seasons but on a different turf — the […]
Amado Sur blends make a nice holiday package
If you’re looking for a simple, expressive gift for the holidays, why not consider a bottle of wine or two? Nothing says “thank you” to a party host or hostess better than a bottle of wine. And you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a point about friendship. Wine is divine. […]
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