• Tasting Top Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. What a Treat!

    Updated: 2013-01-11 15:28:12
    People sometimes ask me if it’s hard to taste wine every day, after so many years of doing it. Don’t I get tired, or bored, or burned out? The answer is NO! In CAPS. Especially when it’s a great flight. Oh, I guess plowing my way through 12 or 15 under-$10 Chardonnays has its elements [...]

  • From Barefoot Cellars to Motivational Speakers…. Learn from the best

    Updated: 2013-01-11 11:00:32
    It was a beautiful summer day in Burlington, Vermont. My sister Merry and I were pouring wine for Belvedere Winery (no longer exists). At the time, I was Belvedere’s director of communications and a district sales manager, representing about seven states. My sales areas included Northern California, Minnesota, and Puerto Rico… just mentioning a few [...]

  • Some Zinfandels I liked in 2012

    Updated: 2013-01-09 15:30:50
    I reviewed fewer than 300 Zinfandels last year, which is about average for me. There isn’t all that much premium Zin bottled in California’s coastal regions, which is my beat. I no longer cover the vast Sierra Foothills—Virginie Boone does that—and I miss tasting those hearty, heady Zins. Zinfandel accounted for 8.9% of all grapes [...]

  • Howling Wolf in the Sierras and lightweight in a saloon ~ What? No wine!

    Updated: 2013-01-09 11:00:20
    Years ago, I worked for Ironstone Vineyards. It was a two and a half year gig, and I intuitively knew going into it that it would only last two years. It managed to squeak out to two and a half years, with the last six months really squeaking along… except for that howling night. I’d [...]

  • Embarking on my own Greek (Wine) Odyssey

    Updated: 2013-01-09 11:00:01
    En Oeno Alethea ~ In wine, there is truth… Odyssey (Greek: Ὀδύσσεια, Odysseia)… Dictionary.com’s Greek word for “a long series of wanderings or adventures, especially when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc.” I’m thinking that the wine will negate any hardships… This blog posting has been inspired by Eklektikon, a Greek import company, that sent [...]

  • Pinot Producer Interviews – Part 1

    Updated: 2013-01-09 07:15:40
    GrapeRadio was very pleased to attend Pinot Days in San Francisco, this past June. Certainly one of the “must-go” wine festivals each year for wine lovers, Pinot Days concentrates exclusively on Pinot Noir producers. Over 150 individual producers and trade groups from overseas were represented at this year’s Pinot Days event. Most wineries were from [...]

  • Why does top Cabernet cost so much more than top Pinot Noir?

    Updated: 2013-01-08 14:56:51
    This question arose several times this past week, particularly after my twin posts on Cabs and Pinots I liked in 2012. As “Mike” commented: Regarding “bargains,” while it is undoubtedly true that it is harder to find a great CA Pinot under $30 than it is with some other varieties, I think CA Pinot provides [...]

  • Batonnage of a new sort at River Road Family Vineyards and Winery

    Updated: 2013-01-07 11:00:49
    Batonnage, the stirring of lees after fermentation, at River Road Family Vineyards and Winery (RRFVAW) is performed by winemakers Joe Freeman and Ed Morris in a new fan-dangled way. It’s also important to note that assistant winemaker Ed Norris worked as a cooper for 11 years, prior to coming to River Road Family Vineyards and [...]

  • Some Pinot Noirs I liked in 2012

    Updated: 2013-01-07 07:10:10
    My love affair with Pinot Noir continued in 2012. When it comes to that variety, my tastes are all-embracing: as Eminem sings in Just Lose It, “Black girls, White girls, Skinny girls, Fat girls, Tall girls, Small girls, I’m calling all girls,” I like all Pinot Noirs, as long as they’re good. Not for me [...]

  • A wine class you can take from the comfort of your own personal device, from Catherine Fallis, MS

    Updated: 2013-01-04 11:00:07
    Six Week Wine Expert Created by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, the Six Week Wine Expert is a web-based wine education program for both personal and professional enrichment. Designed so that you can go at your own pace (whether in six weeks, six days, or even six months), you can use whatever personal devices serves you [...]

  • Seventh Annual DARK & DELICIOUS PETITE SIRAH™ event updates ~ February 22, 2013

    Updated: 2013-01-02 11:00:40
    DARK & DELICIOUS PETITE SIRAH™ is the preeminent, Petite Sirah annual event in all of the world, held by PS I Love You, Inc.: Important California wineries pour their Petites, some very rare, older vintage Over 30 fine food restaurants, specialty food producers, and caterers join us …supporting this Seventh Annual Petite Sirah extravaganza. Each [...]

  • Happy New Year from Wine-Blog!

    Updated: 2013-01-01 11:00:29
    May 2013 bring more peace and love to the world… With more great wine and additional prosperity to you, my friends!

  • Updated Review and Rating: **** 2006 State Lane Cabernet Sauvignon, Yountville, Napa, CA

    Updated: 2012-12-31 23:03:00
    : : , , , skip to main skip to sidebar Chez Ray Winemaking Trials , tribulations and . tips Monday , December 31, 2012 Updated Review and Rating : 2006 State Lane Cabernet Sauvignon , Yountville , Napa , CA Original , Review November , 2008 : The 2006 State Lane Cabernet Sauvignon from Yountville , Napa , CA , is from a batch of frozen grapes from Brehm , fermented cool In the glass , this is medium ruby red . Aromas are bold and fragrant , well-perfumed of a deep fruit , hints of inky purple . On the palate , a pleasant front and middle the tannins tap the front and roof of your mouth . Clean , fresh , bright , but no real acid bite at all . Light , fresh , subdued red cherry finish . Three stars out of five , using the Spirit of Wine . scale Updated Review , two years later November ,

  • December 29 ~ Anniversaries ~ I’ll drink to that

    Updated: 2012-12-29 19:10:11
    December 29, 1992, I moved from Maine blueberry and lobsta country to wine country. December 29, 2005, I began my wine blog. I’ll drink to that… Nothing profound here, we can all move on for the day…

  • The Smoking Loon ~ A Contest from Don Sebastiani & Sons is a fun marketing effort

    Updated: 2012-12-28 11:00:01
    It was a dark and stormy night, and the Smoking Loon was on the prowl… PRESS RELEASE: The “Smoking Loon, that’s what they called him. Nobody quite knew who he worked for, or where his loyalties lie, but he was undeniably good at what he did. As the namesake of Don Sebastiani & Sons’ most [...]

  • Wine Market Council 2013 Conference ~ January 18 (CA), and January 29 (NYC), 2013

    Updated: 2012-12-26 14:35:38
    FROM A PRESS RELEASE: The Wine Market Council is going to be hosting two consumer research conferences each year, that highlight wine trends and their annual research results. The conferences uncover the latest behaviors and attitudes among U.S. wine consumers, allowing attendees to better understand their target markets. The 2013 conferences will be held on [...]

  • Chez Ray Red Meritage, 2008

    Updated: 2012-12-16 16:31:00
    Here is the blend that I believe comprises Chez Ray Red Meritage, 2008:  8, M8, CL8, SG8A, MS8.

Current Feed Items | Previous Months Items

Dec 2012 | Nov 2012 | Oct 2012 | Sep 2012 | Aug 2012 | Jul 2012