Category Archives: Between $30 and $49.99 | Reviewed

Bodegas Valdemar | A Legacy of Innovation in La Rioja

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Bodegas Valdemar | A Legacy of Innovation in La Rioja

Bodegas Valdemar

My incredibly loyal readers know just how fond I am of Spanish wines. They often seriously over-deliver for the price and have an endearing ability to combine the best aspects of old-world wines (balanced, food-friendly and terroir-driven) with those of new world wines (more fruit-forward).

As a Sommelier friend was recently explaining to me, if he is looking to introduce a new world wine drinker to the old-world wine scene, he always starts in Spain. And if he were introducing them to the wines of Bodegas Valdemar, he would have both modern and old-world options to choose from within the same portfolio!

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Smith Madrone Vineyards | A Spring Mountain Must…

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Smith Madrone Vineyards | A Spring Mountain Must

Smith Madrone

The views of Napa Valley below from Smith Madrone Vineyards

Something From Nothing | The Beginnings of Smith Madrone Vineyards

Tucked away at the very end of Spring Mountain Road lies Smith Madrone Vineyards. Situated at the highest point in the Spring Mountain District, its steeply sloped mountain vineyards reach grades of up to 34% at elevations between 1300 and 2000 feet.

Notable and familiar neighbors include Bothe Napa Valley State Park directly to the North, Barnett Vineyards immediately to the West and Keenan Winery lies due South.

The history of the property dates all the way back to the 1880 when a man by the name of George Cook secured a land grant authorized by then President Chester A. Arthur and planted vineyards and olive trees on the estate.

But when Stu Smith discovered this special parcel of land, with its expansive views of Napa Valley and rocky, well-drained volcanic soils, the existing vineyards were in disrepair and the property was still mostly just a forest!

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Chateau Cantenac Brown | Making It’s Mark in Margaux

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Chateau Cantenac Brown | Making It’s Mark in Margaux

Cantenac Brown

A Grand Tasting in The Big Apple

Recently I had the incredible honor of being invited to attend the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2012 vintage release tasting at Cipriani’s in New York. The weather outside was frightful – they were calling for 3 feet of snow on that 26th day of January, and it was quickly accumulating outside.

But inside members of the wine media, restauranteurs and wine buyers from all over were warm with excitement. Why? Over 100 of the most prestigious Chateau in Bordeaux were on site to showcase their newly released 2012 vintage wines, either represented by their Chateau owners themselves or their representatives. Amongst the representatives in attendance was Mr. Jose Sanfins, the accomplished and passionate Technical Director of Chateau Cantenac Brown.

A Successful Vintage and a Great Find

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Whitehall Lane Cabernet Review | Whitehall Lane Winery

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– Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon Review | Whitehall Lane Winery –

Whitehall Lane Winery

On my most recent trip to Napa Valley I had driven past Whitehall Lane Winery in Rutherford several times. The thought occurred to me that I had surprisingly never tasted any of their wines so I decided to stop in one night around 5:40 p.m. while on our way back to The Carneros Inn after seeing that they were open until 6 p.m. This is pretty late for wine tastings as most wineries close their doors between 4 and 5.

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Gary Farrell Chardonnay Review | Russian River Selection

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Gary Farrell Chardonnay | Gary Farrell Winery

Gary Farrell Chardonnay

On my most recent trip to California wine country in October, I started out my trip in Napa and then made my way to the quaint yet trendy town of Healdsburg in Sonoma. It was my first time visiting this incredible town and it surely won’t be the last. There were so many fine restaurants and wineries I wanted to visit yet I had only a few days there to explore.

While Garry Farrell Winery was on my list of respected producers to visit, I was sadly unable to make it there during my trip. So I was more than delighted to receive the Gary Farrell Chardonnay Russian River Selection as a media sample.

The Gary Farrell Chardonnay is a cool-climate Chardonnay, sourced from select vineyards in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley during the 2012 growing season. Without as much heat as say Napa Valley, the grapes don’t ripen quite as much resulting in lower alcohol and higher acid wines. The result is a Chardonnay like you might find in Burgundy with good balance and mineral character.

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Champagne Delamotte | Salon Quality | Affordable Price

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Champagne Delamotte Brut Review | Salon Quality at an Affordable Price

Champagne Delamotte

If you’re anything like me, when you start to hear Christmas music,  your inner child gets excited while the grown-up part of you gets instantly stressed with everything the holiday season entails. Not the least of which entails finding elegant, well-crafted Champagne that will impress without also depressing you due to it’s price. But fortunately I may be able to help in at least this one critical area. In terms of sheer bang for the buck, the Costco Kirkland Signature Champagne I recently reviewed is an excellent option but sometimes you want something a little more special and prestigious to celebrate with. Today The Fermented Fruit is actually celebrating a small milestone itself (more on that later). These special occasions call for the Champagne Delamotte Brut.

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