Category: New Zealand
Pinot 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 MoreValues in Oregon, California and New Zealand Pinot Noir
by Tom Gable | Sep 30, 2022 | California, Discoveries, New Zealand, Oregon, Values | 0
In going through tasting notes looking for fine values in Pinot Noir, wines from these regions tended to shine: Willamette Valley, Oregon; Russian River Valley, Sonoma; Santa Lucia Highlands, in Monterey County; and further...
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 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 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...
Read MoreSauvignon Blanc, 20 Wines from $9 to $42
by Tom Gable | Oct 27, 2020 | California, Discoveries, France, New Zealand, Values | 0
The following 20 wines were tasted during the past six months and offer a range, from easy-sipping party and wedding reception wines, to stylish, crisp and complex wines to match with shellfish and seafood. We found a decent...
Read MoreSummer Whites: Easy Sipping Party Wines, Plus a Few Complex Classics
by Tom Gable | Aug 31, 2020 | Australia, Baja California, Burgundy, California, Classics, Discoveries, France, Germany, New Zealand, Oregon, Spain, Washington | 0
The following white wines rose to the top of our tasting leaderboard the past three months, scoring for overall quality of the wines and values delivered. Most are widely available, except for classics from the cellar and...
Read MoreValues in New World Pinot Noir
by Tom Gable | May 30, 2020 | Burgundy, California, Classics, Discoveries, New Zealand, Oregon, Values | 0
In seeking gastronomic relief from the high-alcohol fruit bombs attacking our palates from all over the world, we often turn to something more friendly with food – Pinot Noir. Wines from this fine red wine grape can be enjoyed...
Read MoreSauvignon Blanc Finds, $10 to $39
by Tom Gable | Sep 29, 2019 | California, New Zealand, Uncategorized, Values | 0
The following emerged as the best values, or offering fine style for a higher price, in tasting some 50 Sauvignon Blanc wines over the past three months. Wines were purchased from online flash sale merchants, big box stores and...
Read MoreExploring New Worlds of Pinot Noir: California, Oregon, Chile, New Zealand
by Tom Gable | May 31, 2019 | California, Chile, New Zealand, Oregon | 0
A global array of winemakers, owners, merchants, distributors and educators convene each March for the annual World of Pinot Noir (WOPN) event at the Ritz Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara, to be joined by gaggles of wine geeks...
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