Category: California
Lodi – the Motherlode of Affordable California Win...
Posted by Tom Gable | Mar 28, 2019 | California, Discoveries, Values | 0
Cork Dork: Insights into the Quest for Sommelier S...
Posted by Tom Gable | Feb 28, 2018 | Burgundy, California, Discoveries, France, Italy, New Zealand, Research | 0
Zinfandel, Rioja and Rhone Adventures in Red Wines
Posted by Tom Gable | Jan 31, 2018 | California, Discoveries, Rhone, Spain | 0
Cool Wine Country: Santa Lucia Highlands
Posted by Tom Gable | Feb 28, 2017 | California, Discoveries | 0
In Search of the Napa Nose; Style and Sense of Place
by Tom Gable | Mar 31, 2022 | California, Classics | 0
Last month, I bemoaned the trend in California wineries toward making high-alcohol, thick fruit bombs out of Cabernet Sauvignon, with an accompanying loss of varietal character and sense of place. The wines secure high scores...
Read MoreBeyond the California Cult Fruit Bombs – Classic Wines from Napa
Having followed the evolution of the California wine industry since 1972, I’ve seen many changes in winemaking styles to appeal to new markets and critics whose rankings drive sales. In the past two decades, one trend is for the...
Read MoreAdventures in Viognier
by Tom Gable | Jan 31, 2022 | Australia, California, France, New Zealand, Rhone, South Africa, Washington | 0
Enjoyed a recent blind tasting of Viognier with the Carmel Valley Wine Club, San Diego, tasting No. 306 over 32 years. Previously done in person, now on Zoom, which has reduced the banter and camaraderie but improved tallying...
Read MoreFavorites from 2021 — Classics and Values
by Tom Gable | Dec 31, 2021 | Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Classics, Discoveries, France, New Zealand, Oregon, Rhone, Values | 0
It’s always memorable to go through our tasting notes for the year. We recorded the notes during a wide range of tasting experiences, from trying new wines at home, to dinner parties with friends, to trade tastings, industry...
Read MoreWarming Up to Good Values in Winter Reds
Beef stew, pasta with meatballs, ribs, BBQ, Tuscan bean stew, meatloaf, boeuf bourguignons and more – winter dishes in need of matching to a bolder red wine with a decent price. Fortunately, local merchants, warehouse stores,...
Read More15 Bigger Red Wines Under $20
by Tom Gable | Sep 30, 2021 | Argentina, Burgundy, California, France, Values, Washington | 0
The following notes are from tastings the past four months with a focus on wines scoring above 14.5 on the UC Davis scale (87 other scales) and costing less than $20. The range starts at $9. We added one at $24 for the big...
Read MoreExploring New World Pinot Noir, $12 to $88
by Tom Gable | Jul 31, 2021 | Burgundy, California, Classics, Discoveries, France, New Zealand, Oregon, Values | 0
The following notes are from Pinot Noir wines tasted from the New World over the past six months and rated as good, very good and excellent. For background on Pinot Noir in the New World, versus its home in Burgundy, France,...
Read MoreGood Values Along the White Wine Roads Less Traveled
by Tom Gable | Jun 30, 2021 | Australia, Baja California, California, Discoveries, France, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Values | 0
With abundant supplies of fine value Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc wines currently available from all over the world, it is easy to go with those whites as the default choice for summer sipping. For a little exploration, here...
Read MoreDo California Red Wines Improve With Age?
by Tom Gable | May 31, 2021 | Bordeaux, California, Classics, Discoveries | 0
Can fine red wines from California age, most notably the Bordeaux varietals? Even those far below the cult-level wine prices? It depends, of course, on too many variables to list here. But, in general, many do improve with age....
Read MoreRobust Red Wines to Complement Your Mastery of the Grill
by Tom Gable | Apr 30, 2021 | Argentina, Baja California, California, Discoveries, Rhone, Spain, Values | 0
In getting an early start on firing up the barbie as the days get longer and the nights warmer, we’ve been sampling more robust red wines that can be a match for grilled foods. The dishes ranged from burgers and bratwurst to...
Read MoreEasy Sipping Spring and Summer White Wines
by Tom Gable | Mar 31, 2021 | Burgundy, California, Champagne, Discoveries, France, New Zealand, Spain, Values | 0
With warmer weather in the offing and restrictions easing on getting together in crowds of more than four and spaced at two-meter intervals, it’s time to explore lower-cost, tasty wines to have handy for any group gathering or...
Read MoreWhite, Red Wine Values for Continued Hunkering in 2021
by Tom Gable | Dec 30, 2020 | Burgundy, California, Discoveries, France, Italy, New Zealand, Values | 0
Some celebrants usher in the New Year with a little bubbly and an expensive vintage wine or two. Based on requests from some friends for lower cost wines to get through the first quarter of 2021 under a pandemic budget, we took...
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Recent Posts
- Rioja Adventures Round Two; Classic Reds, Sprightly Rosados and Crisp Blancos
- Discovering Rioja: fine values in high quality aged wines
- Pre-Dessert: Discoveries in Portuguese Table Wines
- In Search of the Napa Nose; Style and Sense of Place
- Beyond the California Cult Fruit Bombs – Classic Wines from Napa