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Affordable everyday Wine review: Smoking Loon 2009 Zinfandel California

Taylor Eason — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:31:46 +0000

When people talk about "everyday" wine, I've sometimes wondered exactly what they mean. Is it a wine that goes with all sorts of food so it can be consumed without care? Is it a simple wine that that can appeal to many different palates? Or is it an inexpensive wine that you can afford to sip everyday? Family-owned by Sonoma County's Sebastiani and Sons, Smoking Loon wants to be all that and more.

Sparkling wine review: J Winery Cuvee 20 Brut

Taylor Eason — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:32:51 +0000

A dear friend gave me a 1.5 liter magnum of this elegant sparkling wine for Christmas and I almost peed my pants. (Available to buy online only, by the way). There's nothing quite like looking at a family-sized bottle of bubbly and savoring the ensuing drinking fantasies. I haven't opened the behemoth yet but the little 750-milliliter brothers of the California sparkler are a staple in my house. A blend of 49% Chardonnay, 49% Pinot Noir and 2% Pinot Meunier grapes, Cuvee 20's new, sleek packaging celebrates Judy Jordan's 25 years of making sparkling wine in Sonoma's Russian River Valley. They've had some time to get it right using the same production methods and grape varietals established in France. Sure, not that long in French Champagne terms but, hey, we're a new country full of zeal, still finding our wine way.

Wine review: Estancia 2009 Pinot Noir Monterey Pinnacles Ranch

Taylor Eason — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:00:25 +0000

Even generic, corporate-owned wineries like Estancia can make good wine if they have great fruit from Monterey, specifically their Pinnacles Ranch vineyard. And another thing corporate wineries have to offer is lower prices. Like under $15 for a pretty decent Pinot.

Wine review: Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs Sparkling

Taylor Eason — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:15:42 +0000

Established in 1986 as the California home of Spain's Ferrer family (who own Freixenet), Gloria Ferrer embodies the winning result of a large gamble placed 29 years ago. Sure, the Ferrers likely had some money to burn, but to throw down cash to buy 160 acres of land in Sonoma County's unproven Carneros Valley takes some courage. However, they did have some experience in the bubbly arena.

Rediscovering Chardonnay wine: The unoaked version

Taylor Eason — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:56:22 +0000

Chardonnay has become the whipping child of the wine world -- the veritable before-the-ball Cinderella or Joan of Arc. But this unfortunate rep has a reason behind it. There are a crapload of disgusting, woodchipped and buttered Chardonnays lining shelves of every American retailer. And, like Merlot before Sideways busted its ass, the quality level simply plummeted into the deep sea of average wine. Sweet-lovin' consumers fleeing White Zin, after the populist mocked them, found solace in the softer, fruitier Chardonnay grape. It was comforting and easy to drink, like a cold bottle of Kendall Jackson on a warm summer day. But enter the un-oaked Chardonnay.

Wine review: Blackstone 2007 Rubric Sonoma Reserve

Taylor Eason — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:25:55 +0000

I’m rarely a fan of the lower level Blackstone wines, seeing them as bland, sweet and too commercial. And, like most Rhianna songs that get played too often on the radio, I grew tired of hearing about and seeing Blackstone Merlot like everywhere when there were so many others of better quality for the same price.

Wine review: Snoqualmie Naked 2008 Merlot Columbia Valley

Taylor Eason — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:26:23 +0000

Snoqualmie is owned and operated by the fine folks who bring us Columbia Crest and Chateau Ste. Michelle wines in Washington State. Per their corporate mantra, this is a good value wine that's well made but there's one added benefit to this brand: Snoqualmie practices sustainable and organic grape growing.

Five refreshing white wines for spring and summer

Taylor Eason — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:25:07 +0000

Warmth is finally peeking out from underneath the underbelly of winter, escaping to where people wear shorts and sandals. When the mercury rises to this level, it's difficult to slurp red wine, so I recommend these five inexpensive white and sparkling wines that should quench the thirst tugging at your tongue.

Wine review: Mulderbosch 2008 Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch (South Africa)

Taylor Eason — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 14:03:05 +0000

In new world regions like South Africa, Chenin Blanc transforms. They often call this white grape "Steen" in South Africa. And the Mulderbosch Chenin was mistaken for a White Burgundy at a recent blind tasting... embarrassing all the certified sommeliers in attendance.

Wine review: Glen Ellen 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Proprietor’s Reserve California

Taylor Eason — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 15:12:00 +0000

There are days when blind wine tastings (link) slap my ass and call me Sally. Like when a stereotypically derided wine brand like Glen Ellen actually represents well in the glass. It's not a tempting bottle to reach for from the samples rack on a random weeknight, so blind was the *only* way to assess it without prejudice.

Wine review: Bogle 2008 Petite Sirah California

Taylor Eason — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:58:11 +0000

Bogle Vineyards, a third generation, family-owned and -operated winery, owns 1,500 acres and isn’t beholden to a bank. That's how they can sell high quality wine at a low price. That, and they've been making Petite Sirah a long time.

Wine review: Menage a Trois 2008 White Blend

Taylor Eason — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 17:43:02 +0000

This brand has gotten HUGELY popular in the past few years, mainly by releasing sweeter, less complex wines for the masses. Unabashed in their promotion and their choice of tropical-tasting, fragrant grapes, the winemakers at Folie à Deux (the producer) have struck a chord -- with seemingly everyone from critics to consumers in this Juicy Fruit Gum-like white wine.

Wine review: Matanzas Creek 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma (California)

Taylor Eason — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:44:10 +0000

This California winery boasts a fantastically talented French winemaker who crafts decidedly European-style white and red wines. In essence: food wines with more acidity. This is a "grown-up" Sauvignon Blanc.

Sparkling wine review: Cristalino Brut Cava

Taylor Eason — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 19:16:54 +0000

Besides Segura Viudas Cava, this little $10 number is a favorite in the "cheap" sparkling wine category. Widely available too.

Wine review: Bogle 2008 Merlot California

Taylor Eason — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:06:03 +0000

This wine is so rich and concentrated, it's like drinking a Merlot in Zin clothing. Intense cherry cola, ripe plum, toasty coconut and sweet blueberry wash over your tongue, kinda leaving you wondering where the Merlot went.

Wine review: Martini Prosecco DOC

Taylor Eason — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:59:13 +0000

Prosecco, the name of a perfumey grape as well as a lightly fizzy, refreshing sparkling wine from Italy, can be absolutely beautiful but also complete crap. Shopping by name or specific region is imperative and Martini and Rossi is always consistent (you might have heard of their sweet Asti Spumante? Not the same thing).

Wine review: Mettler 2007 “Epicenter” Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi

Taylor Eason — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:26:18 +0000

The Mettler Family's grapegrowing roots date back to the 1770's, so they've had a couple of years to get the farming formula in California's Lodi region right. Their 2007 Epicenter Zin is not a wine for those seeking light-hearted red wine. Burly, muscular, concentrated flavors don every drop.

3 great boxed wines – yes, tasty 3 liter wines in a box exist

Taylor Eason — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:33:15 +0000

I've been a proponent of wine-in-a-box, or "cask wine" as the Aussies call it, for years. But with the recession siphoning our wallets, these vinous countertop accoutrement are becoming as popular as half off restaurant coupons. Whereas before Australian wineries ruled the boxed segment, lately Californians have toyed with the concept of the cask. And using good wine instead of the plonk once reserved for this "lowly" form of wine service.

Wine review: Apothic Red Wine 2008 California

Taylor Eason — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 14:13:04 +0000

One word: Delicious. If you're one for lovin' on sweet-ish, juicy smackin', full-bodied reds, RUN, don't walk, to pick up this bottle.

Wine review: Kim Crawford 2009 Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough

Taylor Eason — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:03:39 +0000

Overwhelming flavors, reminiscent of sucking on a key lime. Grapefruit and green herbs rush up the nose and onto the tongue. The acidity is almost too present -- the wine isn't as balanced or as smooth as other vintages.