The Wine Intellect

  Another Wine for Sparkling Wine Enthusiasts I am familiar with the still wines of Olema from Sonoma, but I wanted to try a sparkling wine from the Loire Valley, and was quite intrigued to find Olema carried a Cremant De Loire. The Olema Sparkling Wine (Brut) comes from the Loire Valley's Angers region. Winemakers, Tony Biagi and Jesse Fox, work with a historical producer in the town of Brissac, that has the expertise to bring the best of the Loire Valley's sparkling wine tradition. The winery has been in operation since 1872. This sparkling wine is not like the sparkling wines I am accustomed to drinking that pack a certain punch. After the first sip, you will almost immediately notice, it is different. Not "purple unicorn" different- but there is a difference in the structure. The DNA is still sparkling wine, but when I drink this, I think clean...I think ethereal. What do I mean by this? For example, if you are familiar with A.J. De Margerie Grand Cru Brut or Veu...

The other day, I found myself on another quest for a wine made from a grape, from a wine region I had not explored (or in this case, explored well).  What did I come up with? New Age Sweet Wine .  This is a white wine made from 90% Torrontes and 10% Sauvignon Blanc . It comes from Argentina's San Rafael wine district located in the Mendoza Wine Region (Argentina's leading wine province).  Special care is taken in the production of the wine. The grapes are hand-picked and to achieve a semi- sweet and semi -sparkling wine, selected yeasts are added to the freshly pressed juice to begin the fermentation. Fermentation is then halted halfway through, by spinning the wine in a centrifuge. Let's talk about the wine: Appearance : This wine is pale lemon in color and slightly effervescent Nose : The aromas are white florals, juicy citrus, stone fruits (peach) and wet stones (the aroma characteristics are primary) Palate : off- dry, high acidity, low alcohol and light bodied. The ...

While shopping at Total Wine the other day, I decided to look for some wine from Oregon. As I was making my selection, I found myself face- to- face with a 375ml can that boasted what it contained inside: The Bubbles! Curiosity got the best of me and I quickly performed a Google search to get more information on the little gold tin. I could not believe it. This was Champagne in a can!  Who is behind this new thing? It is the Unionwine Company (based in Tualatin, Oregon) known for their three wine brands: Underwood, Kings Ridge and Alchemist. Ryan Harms, the founder and chief executive, formed the company to create something "I can share with friends and family and make accessible, without sacrificing quality". Harms was the first to produce and market wine in cans in the U.S. Underwood makes its wine from the diverse vineyards and wine growing regions of Oregon. They strive to make an approachable everyday drinking wine.  Though I purchased a can of The Bubbles, honestly, I ...

Excited to try a chardonnay from the Old World, I purchased the Louis Jadot Chardonnay Bourgogne.  I wanted to taste a chardonnay with a lighter body, unoaked and elegant.  At the time, I was not too familiar with wines from the Burgundy region, let alone, Bourgogne Blanc. Apparently, Bourgogne Blanc is a generic appellation. Thank goodness I learned that afterward, so that I was not jaded by rank! The Louis Jadot Chardonnay is a dry, 100% Chardonnay. Its grapes are Maconnais fruits blended with Cote Chalonnaise and Cote d'Or. The wine was aged in stainless steel for 12 months. This medium-bodied wine is is gold in color. It has aromas of bright, fresh citrus such as lemons. Its flavors are of bright citrus fruits, hints of pear, green apple, some minerals, and a spicy lingering finish. The ABV for this wine is 12.5%.  I included this wine in a wine tasting I led two weeks ago. When it came to food pairings, I suggested the participants try pairing it with roasted chicken...

Pietro Est! Est! Est! is a tasty dry white wine. Nothing extraordinary, just good. Depending on who you ask, you will find a range of views about this wine.  The wine is pale yellow in color. When you initially pour it, it appears to be slightly sparkling.  On the nose, I detect white florals, citrus fruits, stone fruits and some flint or some type of mineral. On the palate, it is fresh and crisp and the acidity is pretty high. I taste citrus fruits such as lemons and limes, I taste tree fruits like green apples and pears. I also get stone fruits such as white peach and again, I have that mineral taste.  This light to medium bodied wine maintains its "zestiness" on the finish.  Pietro Est! Est! Est! is pretty versatile when it comes to food pairings. It can be enjoyed with pasta, vegetarian dishes, seafood, cured meats, lean fish, and appetizers or snacks. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed this wine with Chips and Salsa.  This wine is made of the grape varietals, M...

  Call me crazy, but yes, I have a Wine Taster's Wish List !  This year, I wanted to challenge myself to come out of my comfort zone and look for wines that would challenge my normal. This also includes trying wines from different countries as well as making purchases from different wine stores!!! For me, this is a BIG DEAL as I would hate to admit it, but I am a creature of habit (when I am not tasting). So what I did was make a list 8 wines (four white, and four red). They can be dry or they can be sweet. They can be sparkling or they can be still. In addition, instead of focusing on one area, I will select wine from different regions.  I am going to share my wish list below. Feel free to participate and share your wish list as well. Maybe there is something on your list I can add to mine! At the end of the year, we will see if I did taste what was on my wish list and whether it was a like or dislike. Red Wine Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico $77.99 This r...

  Will you be my Valentine Wine? Happy Valentine's Day! No matter how you are celebrating this day, we've got you covered! In today's post, we have included a selection of 5 white and red wines for you to consider. These bottles range from expensive to affordable, so peruse the list and let me know your thoughts. If there was something else that would have been a better selection, please share. If you have tried or end up trying any one of the wines listed below, share below. Remember, this forum was created to share knowledge and the individual's experience! Dom Perignon Vintage 2008 ($200)  This popular sparkling wine is not only great for toasting, but the perfect excuse to celebrate. It's a classic bubbly to bring energy to any event. Pahlmeyer Napa Valley Chardonnay 2018  ($55.00) After 16 months of aging, you are left with a medium- bodied wine that has a slightly sweet finish of apples, stone fruit and hazelnut. J Vineyards Pinot Noir ($25.00) A smooth wine; ...

Today, I want to introduce my readers to the Annalisa Pinot Grigio , a white wine from the Northeastern Region of Italy. This wine is truly a tasty, light wine,  perfect for beginners. Even if you are not a white wine fan, this one is a safe bet. The 2018 vintage is what I tasted. The color is a clear pale gold. Carbon dioxide was not visible. The aromas detected were fresh citrus, peaches and some green florals. On the palate, this light bodied wine is crisp and fresh. I tasted citrus fruits (lime) and stone fruits (peaches). The finish was long and lingering. This is not a sweet wine, it is dry. However, the crisp citrus notes make this wine quite lively and easy to drink. The alcohol content is moderate, at 12%.  I recommend this wine with a light fare, such as salads or fish. After tasting this wine, I had it with roasted white potatoes and shrimp in a light curry sauce with red, yellow and green peppers. This pairing could not have been a better marriage. The curry did n...

Summer is over and we are well into fall. Today's Tasting Notes are for the Il Duca Imperiale 1917 Peach . The name of this wine implies a summer drink, but I say think outside of the box. If you consider a peach harvest at the commencement of fall, you can sip this wine and bid farewell to summer without feeling as if you've committed the unthinkable in the wine world.  This light- bodied and semi -sweet wine is fresh and lovely. The obvious note at its core (on the nose and the palette) is peach. It is slightly sparkling which makes it quite lively.  Il Duca Imperiale Peach is vegan and gluten free. The alcohol content is quite low at only 5%.  It can be enjoyed with seafood, salads, and pasta or can be enjoyed on its own.  Serve this drink chilled.  It definitely make the good buy list at $12.99 from Total Wine.  I like this wine. I will admit that I do not subscribe to specific times to enjoy wine. If it is good wine, I will have it at any time. I love ...