Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 9, 2012, 7:57 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Budini Chardonnay. By way of background, opening thoughts: Argentina - especially the Mendoza region - is home to a number of outstanding classical varietals.  Total we are sampling a value-priced chardonnay from the region.  Original tasti...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 9, 2012, 6:59 pm
Find Luzon Jumilla pricing and retail availability. By way of background: Luzon Jumilla Red Wine is from a family owned winery in the scenic valley of La Hoya de la Carrasca, southeast of Madrid, Spain. The region is characterized by warm days and cool nights, light rain and a chalky, gravelly soi...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 9, 2012, 6:25 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Montaria Alentejano Reserva. By way of background, opening thoughts:  We are sampling a red wine today from the Alentejano region of Portugal.  The blend consists of syrah, trincadeira and aragonaz - the last two being grapes more familiar to...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 7, 2012, 6:27 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Monti Montepulciano D'Abruzzo. By way of background, opening thoughts: A Montepulciano D'Abruzzo with a picture of a dog on the label.  Two comforting and friendly elements on the same bottle.  We're trying this one with seven years of age s...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 5, 2012, 3:55 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau La Tour Blanche, Sauternes. About quickie reviews: "Quickie reviews" are made on the run, often at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Our typical reviews carry more depth.  Nonetheless, key ele...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 5, 2012, 3:29 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau Guiraud, Sauternes. About quickie reviews: "Quickie reviews" are made on the run, often at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Our typical reviews carry more depth.  Nonetheless, key elements on...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 5, 2012, 3:28 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau Doisy Daene. About quickie reviews: "Quickie reviews" are made on the run, often at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Our typical reviews carry more depth.  Nonetheless, key elements on the no...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 5, 2012, 3:25 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau Climens. About quickie reviews: "Quickie reviews" are made on the run, often at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Our typical reviews carry more depth.  Nonetheless, key elements on the nose o...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 5, 2012, 3:22 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau Bastor-Lamontagne. About quickie reviews: "Quickie reviews" are made on the run, often at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Our typical reviews carry more depth.  Nonetheless, key elements on ...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 5, 2012, 3:16 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau Phelan Segur. About quickie reviews: "Quickie reviews" are made on the run, often at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Our typical reviews carry more depth.  Nonetheless, key elements on the n...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 5, 2012, 3:13 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau Lafon-Rochet. About quickie reviews: "Quickie reviews" are made on the run, often at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Our typical reviews carry more depth.  Nonetheless, key elements on the n...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 5, 2012, 3:11 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau de Pez. About quickie reviews: "Quickie reviews" are made on the run, often at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Our typical reviews carry more depth.  Nonetheless, key elements on the nose or...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 5, 2012, 3:08 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau Cos Labory. About quickie reviews: "Quickie reviews" are made on the run, often at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Our typical reviews carry more depth.  Nonetheless, key elements on the nos...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Feb 5, 2012, 3:05 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. About quickie reviews: "Quickie reviews" are made on the run, often at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Our typical reviews carry more depth.  Nonethel...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 29, 2012, 9:18 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau Dauzac, Margaux. About quickie reviews: These review are made on the run, typically at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Nonetheless, key elements on the nose or palate are indicated, along wit...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 29, 2012, 9:12 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau La Tour de By, Medoc. About quickie reviews: These review are made on the run, typically at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Nonetheless, key elements on the nose or palate are indicated, alon...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 29, 2012, 9:09 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau Greysac Medoc. About quickie reviews: These review are made on the run, typically at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Nonetheless, key elements on the nose or palate are indicated, along with ...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 29, 2012, 9:07 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau La Conseillante, Pomerol. About quickie reviews: These review are made on the run, typically at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Nonetheless, key elements on the nose or palate are indicated, ...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 29, 2012, 9:04 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau Troplong Mondot Saint-Emilion . About quickie reviews: These review are made on the run, typically at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Nonetheless, key elements on the nose or palate are indic...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 29, 2012, 8:58 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau Pavie Macquin Saint-Emilion. About quickie reviews: These review are made on the run, typically at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Nonetheless, key elements on the nose or palate are indicate...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 29, 2012, 8:19 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Chateau Grand Mayne Saint-Emilion . About quickie reviews: These review are made on the run, typically at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Nonetheless, key elements on the nose or palate are indicated...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 29, 2012, 6:24 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for mencia wines from Bierzo. By way of background, opening thoughts: Mencia is a lesser-known native grape of north west Spain.  Here it is captured in a pure varietal form. Original tasting and review : This is The Pilgrimage Mencia, Bierzo, ...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 29, 2012, 5:42 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Alta Vista Atemporal . By way of background, opening thoughts: Mendoza, Argentina, is known for its malbec.   But today, we'll be sampling a meritage  which includes not only  43% of the headliner malbec, but 36% of cabernet sauvignon, 11%...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 29, 2012, 4:01 pm
Find today's prices and retail availability for Clos Fourtet Saint-Emilion. About quickie reviews: These review are made on the run, typically at large wine tastings, where the opportunity to settle in with a wine is limited.  Nonetheless, key elements on the nose or palate are indicated, along ...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 22, 2012, 7:12 pm
Find prices and retail availability.   By way of background: Haddon Cellars Merlot, 2002, from unspecified vineyard regions of California was offered as part of the Wine Insiders series. It is finished at 12% alcohol, quite light by U.S. standards. Original Review February 2007: Medium brick, ...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 22, 2012, 6:03 pm
Find Kanonkop Kadette at WineZap. By way of background:Kanonkop Kadette is a dry red wine from the Stellenbosch region of South Africa.  It is made from a blend of 45% pinotage, 29% cabernet sauvignon, 17% merlot and 9% cabernet franc, all finished at 14% alcohol for the 2008 vintage.   Original r...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 22, 2012, 4:39 pm
Find Este pricing and retail availability. By way of background: The Este Bodegas Alto Almanzora, Vino De Mesa, Spain, shows no vintage date on its labels. I'm presuming it is 2006 vintage. From searching, I also believe it to be a mix of monastrell, cabernet sauvignon, grenache, merlot, syrah an...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 22, 2012, 3:00 pm
Find prices and availability for Zagat Wine introductory mixed case. By way of background: Visionario is a white wine blend from a range of grapes acquired from throughout Friuli and Collio, Italy, called a "Venezie IGT". It hails from the northeast tip of Italy. Finished unoaked, Visionario ar...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 21, 2012, 7:01 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Simi Zinfandel. By way of background, opening thoughts: Quite a few zinfandels emanate from Sonoma County in California.  Simi is known for a fruity version.  Here we are sampling one with a few years in the cellar.  If you're a cabernet fa...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 21, 2012, 6:21 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Hundred Tree Hill Cabernet Sauvignon. By way of background:  Hundred Tree Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, 2002, from Victoria, Australia, includes 15% cabernet franc in the mix. Original review, September, 2008: In the glass, it is very deep burgundy...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 21, 2012, 5:26 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Backsberg Merlot. By way of background, opening thoughts: How many Kosher South African merlots have you tried lately?  Well, here, we'll give one a try on your behalf!  Original tasting and review : This is Backsberg Merlot, Paarl, South...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 17, 2012, 9:23 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Truchard Syrah. By way of background, opening thoughts: Truchard Vineyards operate almost 300 acres planted in the upper Carneros region of Napa.  Today we will be trying a Truchard syrah with approximately five years of age. Original tastin...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 17, 2012, 7:47 pm
Find 2 Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva pricing and retail availability. By way of background: The 2 Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva hails from the Colchagua Valley, Chile. The 2005 vintage is finished at 13.9% alcohol.  The two brothers named by the label are Alex and Erik, who created Big...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 15, 2012, 4:08 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for bargain Napa merlot. By way of background: Decker Estates Cellars Merlot from Napa, CA, shows a robust 14.4% alcohol. Grapes are selected from various parcels in the region. Original review, May, 2009: In the glass, Decker Merlot, 2003, is med...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 15, 2012, 4:05 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Simi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. By way of background, opening thoughts: Simi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is selected from best Alexander Valley lots of the much larger Simi labeling.  We sampled a prior straight labeled Simi cabernet sauvigno...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 13, 2012, 9:54 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for JT Cellars Petite Sirah. By way of background, opening thoughts: Lodi, California, creates some classic big, soft red wines.  Total we will be sampling a moderately-aged Lodi-based petite sirah. Original tasting and review : This is JT Cell...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 12, 2012, 11:24 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Two Vines Cabernet Sauvignon. By way of background, opening thoughts:  The Two Vines label is Columbia Crest's bargain-priced entries into Washington state varietals.  Our past review of Two Vines Merlot Cabernet blend showed an incredible va...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 11, 2012, 11:56 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Wyatt Pinot Noir. By way of background, opening thoughts: Wyatt collects grapes for its basic "California" appelation vineyards from unspecified vineyards around the state.  Wyatt Cabernet Sauvignon was a "best value" when we reviewed it here...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 11, 2012, 6:50 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Finca La Linda Tempranillo. By way of background: This is another selection from the Luigi Bosca estates, founded in 1901. Finca La Linda is 100% tempranillo, coming in at 14.1% alcohol, aged in American oak for six months. Original review, Au...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 10, 2012, 11:01 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Altos de Luzon. By way of background, opening thoughts: Jumilla is almost the "comfort food" region of Spain - producing lovely, accessible monastrell and tempranillo red wines that are typically soft and luxuriant, although capable of sitting...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Jan 9, 2012, 8:22 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Mollydooker Scooter Merlot. By way of background, opening thoughts: Anyone reading this site knows that I (jorray) am an unabashed fan of the Mollydooker line.  That puts me admittedly on one end of the distribution, but so it is.  The big, ...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Dec 13, 2011, 7:45 pm
... it for an evening. Four stars out of five. Interesting - that's slightly higher than I rated the Montes Alpha Syrah, another excellent value wine. Robert Parker gave the 2006 version of the Kaiken Ultra Malbec 91 points, but I don't see that he rated the 2005. I'm not generally a huge fan o...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Dec 13, 2011, 6:36 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Santa Rita Reserva Malbec. By way of background, opening thoughts: The designations "reserve" or "reserva" have little authoritative meanings in wine.  If a "reserve" bottling is available alongside a bottling from the same vintner, grape and ...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Dec 13, 2011, 3:58 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Kaiken Malbec. By way of background, opening thoughts: Malbec and Mendoza, Argentina, always go together well.  In the past, I sampled a Kaiken Ultra Malbec and liked it a great deal.  Today, we are trying the value-priced malbec from this s...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Dec 11, 2011, 9:10 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Henry Lagarde Syrah. By way of background, opening thoughts:  The Mendoza region of Argentina is known for its malbec.  Certainly, syrah is a lesser-recognized varietal from the region.  But in our quest for values from around the world, we ...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Dec 9, 2011, 5:24 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Domaine Sainte Leocadie . Original Review, January, 2008: This Domaine Sainte Leocadie is from the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, an appelation called Minervois. In the glass, it is dark, mahogany red. It has a sweet, candied aroma, ak...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Dec 9, 2011, 3:34 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Cameron Hughes Cabernet Sauvignon. By way of background, opening thoughts: Negociant Cameron Hughes plucked this Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon from several high-end but unnamed vineyards in the region.  It sells at the higher end price range ...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Dec 4, 2011, 8:48 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Pedro Romero Amontillado Sherry. By way of background, opening thoughts: Amontillado sherries are in between the dry, light fino's and the more intense, rich oloroso's.  All Amontillado's are fortified after fermentation.  Within the categor...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Dec 4, 2011, 8:34 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Bodegas Lan Crianza. By way of background, opening thoughts: Crianza wines from Spain have spent a full year in oak barrels.  Today we are sampling a value-priced yet well-regarded crianza from the Rioja region. Original tasting and review : ...
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Jorray posted an article on Spirit of Wine - Dec 3, 2011, 2:19 pm
Check out today's pricing and retail availability for Lucas & Lewellen Cabernet Sauvignon. By way of background, opening thoughts: Santa Barbara is an AVA quite south in California, just above Los Angeles.  Here we are tasting a well-aged cabernet sauvignon from the region. Original tasting and ...
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