Rob Theakston
Bodegas Valdemar, located in the renowned Rioja region of Spain, has been producing wine since 1889. Today, we’re taking a look at two wines harvested from the Conde Valdemar vineyards, a significant part of this family-owned winery, located in the Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Alta sub-regions. We’re also revisiting its Crianza offering, which won a…
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As its full title is quite a mouthful, The Book of Rosé: The Provençal Vineyard That Revolutionized Rosé By Whispering Angel and Château D’Esclans (a vineyard that failed to woo Chris nearly a decade ago) sounds pretty all-encompassing. However, this is not the case, as the book focuses solely on one vineyard and one family.…
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Founders Nicky and Gaby Hahn settled in the Santa Lucia Highlands in the late 1970s. Now in its second generation of family ownership, Hahn Family Wines produces a wide assortment of wines at a variety of price points, including its excellent SLH series as well as the Appellation Series, concentrating exclusively on estate vineyards located…
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The wine world continues its march toward delivery and subscription services at a steady, measured pace. Since our last foray into the enterprise, a few have folded while others made it through the pandemic and other economic challenges with success and growth. 90+ Cellars provides a refreshingly unique angle in a market where surprises and…
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Situated in the Central Coast and Paso Robles regions of California, J. Lohr produces numerous varietals at a wide range of price points, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot. Today we are trying two of its Cabernet Sauvignons and a Syrah whose quality was an unexpected but pleasantly welcome surprise, especially for its asking price.…
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Enjoying a bit of history has never hurt anyone and the number of folks who would be well served by taking up the pursuit with zeal is rarely in short supply. According to Valdo’s website: One of the first references to Prosecco in literature can be found in Pliny the Elder’s Naturalis Historia, a naturalistic…
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By now, complaining that the film Sideways damaged Merlot’s reputation and sales is as superfluous and exhaustive an exercise for wine scribes as the film’s actual declarations. This will be my first and final allusion to the topic when discussing this pleasant and inoffensive varietal. Today, we have three sturdy Merlots suitable to uncork for…
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Franciscan was founded in 1972 by Justin Meyers and Raymond Duncan, and was christened as such in tribute to the Franciscan Friars who brought viticulture to California. Since then, the brand has built a venerable reputation for consistency and quality without escalating costs. The label also produces a critically acclaimed Meritage Bordeaux-style red blend, but…
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Part of the Gallo family of wineries, William Hill’s North Coast series focuses on California’s North Coast which comprises six counties north of San Francisco including parts of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, Mendocino, Marin, and Solano, so your mileage may vary when attempting to dial in for a bit more detail. And unlike some of William…
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Closing in on a quarter-century of existence, the La Posta program continues to partner with single-grower, single-vineyard wines otherwise lacking in scale or logistics to reach a wider audience and a reasonable price point. The program continues to expand, with nine offerings available in the portfolio, and today we are revisiting two of the label’s…
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