Tag: Pinot Noir
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Spellbound by the West Sonoma Coast
Extreme winds, sea salt air, blanketing fog, rocky cliffs, orange sunsets, and clear view stars. Vast, remote, singular. These are the words that come to mind when I think about the winemakers I met at the West of West Sonoma Coast WSC tasting in Washington, DC. Each one carried the vineyard with them; they were…
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Carneros spotlight: Sonoma’s Etude Winery
Straddling both Napa and Sonoma counties, Carneros AVA grows some of the most concentrated Pinot Noirs in California. Often more voluminous in flavor than their Coastal counterparts, Carneros Pinot Noir typically has a deep berry (red cherry) flavor, hint of herb, and are made in a style that utilizes oak treatment to balance the intensity…
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On the Edge: Pinot Noir from the West Sonoma Coast
The wines from the West Sonoma Coast are very special. They possess an elegance that is found in only the most serious Pinot Noirs from California. Their flavor profile leads with floral fruit – not overly sweet or ripe, but aromatic, delicate, and smoothly balanced with confident acid. If you explore where these wines are…
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California’s Best Pinot Noir: Explore Anderson Valley
One of the aspects of California wine I enjoy the most is the variety of wine produced in the state. You can go from hot and flat AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) that produce fruit-forward deep reds to high-elevation spots with a cooler climate for growing austere white wines. For every wine lover out there, there…
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I’m Certified: The Top 3 Things I Learned From WSET 3
Having spent the better part of my weekends and evenings over the course of three months reading a British textbook devoted to wine, I wonder, what did I gain? Sure, I have a new fancy pin, and am one step closer to being a “Master of Wine,” but I’m not looking to change careers through…
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Wine and Baseball: Two of the Finest Found at AT&T Park
On our last trip to Napa (August 2015), we decided to spend one night in San Francisco to see our beloved Nationals get revenge on the Giants for the 2014 NLDS. I was excited to visit AT&T Park, located right on San Francisco Bay in the heart of downtown. And I was thrilled to watch…
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Vegas Vino: Drinking Wine in Sin City
People travel to Vegas to gamble, see a show, eat amazing food, and indulge. They don’t go to Vegas to drink wine. I didn’t see one cool, modern, well-stocked wine bar, yet Vegas has twice as many Master Sommeliers as New York City. Vegas is a mix of high-rollers willing to spend $2,000 on a…
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Shop DC: Where to Buy Your Favorite Small Producers
After learning more about wine (and by learning I mean drinking), I wanted to know the story behind each glass. What was the winemaker’s philosophy, the history of the estate, or source of their grapes? As I learned more about winemaking techniques and styles (thanks Jon Bonné), I wanted to try wines from labels that…