For many years, I’ve been a big fan of buttery, rich Mer Soleil Chardonnay where you can pick up lemon blossoms in the aroma of the wine from the Meyer lemons planted on the Mer Soleil property in the Santa Lucia Highlands of California. I was less familiar with Mer Soleil Reserve Pinot Noir ($39.99), until recently. Now I’m a fan of that Mer Soleil selection as well. It’s one … [Read more...]
RICKSHAW Pinot Noir
Last week I asked my wife, Faith, to pick me up an inexpensive bottle of California Pinot Noir when she stopped by the wine store - “Surprise me,” I said. Now, Faith tends to choose wines based on bottle labels and art that she likes. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) So, I shouldn’t have been surprised that she brought home a bottle of 2019 RICKSHAW Pinot Noir … [Read more...]
Bonanza California Cabernet Sauvignon
A venerable California institution, the Wagner Family of Wine - currently operated by Chuck, Charlie, and Jenny Wagner - has a long and respected history of making wines in Napa Valley dating back to the 1850s. Some 45 years ago Chuck Wagner founded Caymus Vineyards with his mother and father, Lorna and Charlie Wagner. Today, Chuck, his older son Charlie, and older daughter … [Read more...]
Saldo 2018 California Zinfandel
You may be familiar with one of the best-selling California red wines on the market, The Prisoner, created by The Prisoner Wine Company. But The Prisoner Wine Company—named for the iconic wine originally made by founding winemaker Dave Phinney—makes much more than just The Prisoner red wine. Indeed, The Prisoner Wine Company produces a wide range of red and white wines, and … [Read more...]
Vivanco Crianza 2016
In the Spanish wine region of Rioja, the wine control board - Consejo Regulador DOCa Rioja - designates four different styles of Rioja wine: Rioja, Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. Crianza - which is the focus of this column - is probably the most accessible of the Rioja wines, with most selling for under (and sometimes well-under) $15 per bottle. A Crianza wine is aged a … [Read more...]
Malbec Based Red Wine: Piattelli Trinita Grand Reserve
Last week I asked my wife to pick up a bottle of wine with Malbec in it to pair with duck confit pasta, which I was making for dinner - see the recipe in the Scheff’s Table column of Utah Bites. Malbec is usually a good partner for duck confit. Well with no other guidance from me, Faith came home with an excellent choice: Piattelli Trinita Grand Reserve ($22.99). Not … [Read more...]
Adobe Road Winery Redline
One of the more interesting wine bottles to come across my desk this past year is called Redline, a red wine blend from California’s Adobe Road Winery. What first got my attention was the cool looking bottle with a silkscreened vintage sports car tachometer on the bottle. Why? I’ll explain. Located in the heart of Sonoma County, Kevin Buckler and his wife Debra opened Adobe … [Read more...]
Figuière Famille Combard Le Saint André
Who doesn’t love a sale? Through the end of March, you can pick up a terrific, versatile red wine from Provence, France for a mere $11.99 (regularly priced at $14.99). The wine is Figuière Famille Combard Le Saint André. One of the things I love about the wines of Provence is that they tend to be uncomplicated, yet refined, with great minerality. I also like that they … [Read more...]
Affordable Italian Sangiovese from CAPARZO, Perfect Pairing for Pasta with Red Sauce
CAPARZO Toscana Sangiovese 2018 In my opinion, there’s no better wine pairing for pasta with rich red sauce - like the “Sunday Gravy” featured in this week’s Scheff’s Table - than Italian Sangiovese. I recently came across a really good, very affordable Italian Sangiovese from CAPARZO that was a perfect pairing for pappardelle with Sunday gravy. Priced at a mere $11.99, … [Read more...]
All Occasions Zinfandel: Artezin Old Vine Zinfandel Mendocino
As we grow near the end of barbecue and grilling season, I’m recommending an affordable, wonderful wine that’s great with grilled food but would also be a welcome guest at this year’s Thanksgiving holiday table. The wine is Artezin Old Vine Zinfandel Mendocino County ($15.95). It’s a very fruity and robust Zin that - unlike a lot of blockbuster Zinfandel these days - has a … [Read more...]