Category: France
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
Easy Sipping Party, Picnic, and Patio Wines Under $30
by Tom Gable | Aug 31, 2023 | Argentina, Australia, Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Discoveries, France, Oregon, Values, Washington | 0
We do much of our searching for good values in quality wines at different Costcos in our region and screening discount daily offers from online merchants or big retail chains that help wineries clear inventories as new wines...
Read MorePinot Gris for Summer Sipping from Global Masters 2023 Awards
by Tom Gable | Jul 19, 2023 | Australia, Burgundy, California, Discoveries, France, Italy, New Zealand, Oregon, Values | 0
Pinot Gris originated in France and has become popular worldwide, mainly as Pinot Grigio. It is boosted by wines of good value and wide distribution from Northern Italy (200 million bottles annually from its largest region...
Read MoreCabernet Sauvignon Winners from the Global Wine Masters
by Tom Gable | May 31, 2023 | Argentina, Australia, Bordeaux, California, Chile, Classics, Discoveries, France, Italy, Pauillac, Values, Washington | 0
For Cabernet Sauvignon fans, the latest results from the annual Global Wine Masters Competition give us a stunning array of quality choices from around the world, including great values under $30. The categories and approximate...
Read MoreValue Red Wines for the Kitchen, Grill or Easy Sipping
by Tom Gable | Mar 31, 2023 | Argentina, Australia, Bordeaux, California, Discoveries, France, Italy, Values | 0
The following scored highest in their price ranges in wines tasted the past three months. Some were tasted with food, others in comparative tastings. The wines were purchased from Costco, local grocery stores and wine merchants...
Read MorePinot Noir Discoveries, from Values to Burgundy Classics
by Tom Gable | Feb 28, 2023 | Burgundy, California, Classics, Discoveries, France, New Zealand, Oregon, Values | 0
With the continuing and rapidly rising cost of Burgundy wines, we continue to search for fine Pinot Noir from around the world. We’ve found some winners in Oregon and New Zealand, with their own sense of place and styles that...
Read MoreMemorable Chardonnay Wines from 2022
The top 20 include nine from California and eleven from Burgundy. On the former, I’ve been a fan of Stony Hill of Napa and Hanzell of Sonoma for some 40 years. I prefer more classic styles, which these small producers...
Read MoreTop 20 Reds Tasted During 2022
by Tom Gable | Dec 31, 2022 | Argentina, Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Classics, France, Spain | 0
The news media and various entertainment, search engine and research websites are currently featuring their “Best of 2022” lists, with occasional predictions for 2023. In the spirit of sharing, here are my Top 20 Red Wines...
Read MoreSo Many Wines, So Little Time
by Tom Gable | Nov 30, 2022 | Argentina, Australia, Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Chile, Classics, Discoveries, France, Germany, Italy, Rhone, South Africa, Spain, Values | 0
Readers often ask where I get my wines, particularly after posting tasting notes on some great values from around the world. Start with the big box stores (e.g., Costco) and local wine merchants. For expanding my horizons and to...
Read MoreFun summer sipping with Rosés and white Rhone varietals
by Tom Gable | Aug 31, 2022 | California, Discoveries, France, Oregon, Rhone, Values | 0
After tasting through an ever-broadening array of Rosé wines over the past two months, we were pleased to find several excellent values, including some with depth and style. Our favorites were mostly from Cotes de Provence and...
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 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...
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