tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55968217168363749062024-03-18T20:53:17.707-07:00South Carolina Wine JoeWelcome to my Blog. This blog is for the average Joe who buys wine costing $20 or less at the local grocery or big box store.Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.comBlogger491125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-54198237938071216152022-06-07T12:04:00.001-07:002022-06-07T12:04:59.498-07:00Dragon Vine, a novel by Steven Laine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oaTUUNn8-yYV2syY971R16P32BP2Ea8b-4JXDYYBJpOUByVGbt_cbaeJnT624OqqtZGfJigzyazZJhxAd-2wj2yDoIKIrRaeY2arGwAoUHr8824a2e97At1gkoh3iK10rA5qsoR0vp4Wh-HP28SHq8IcJ1kZMB-gMC_0v6NqXiKdY-NzzXBLsjUWTQ/s2523/Scan_20220607%20(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2523" data-original-width="1643" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7oaTUUNn8-yYV2syY971R16P32BP2Ea8b-4JXDYYBJpOUByVGbt_cbaeJnT624OqqtZGfJigzyazZJhxAd-2wj2yDoIKIrRaeY2arGwAoUHr8824a2e97At1gkoh3iK10rA5qsoR0vp4Wh-HP28SHq8IcJ1kZMB-gMC_0v6NqXiKdY-NzzXBLsjUWTQ/s320/Scan_20220607%20(2).png" width="208" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It has been a year since I have posted to the South Carolina Wine Blog. However, I was provided with an advance copy of the latest novel by Steven Laine entitled <i>Dragon Vine</i></span><i> </i><span style="font-size: large;">for my review. Mr. Laine writes novels with a wine focused theme and I reviewed Mr. Laine's previous novel <i>Root Cause</i> in 2019, which I greatly enjoyed.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The synopsis of Dragon Vine is as follows:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">When his father dies in a wildfire, Carmine Cooper takes over the family winery in the middle of harvest, putting his dreams of becoming an architect on hold. He soon finds himself fighting with a vengeful neighbor, blackmailed by a local gang, harassed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities, and the target of an ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives) investigation. Carmine’s only hope to solve his problems and finish his first solo vintage successfully rests in identifying an unknown grape variety his father grew and made into wine for a quarter century with links to an ancient Chinese grape variety and the First Emperor of China. Can Carmine save his father’s legacy, his family, the winery, and his first harvest before it’s too late?</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;">The most interesting aspects of this novel are the insights into the world of collectable, high end wine and the high stakes counterfeiting of those wines. If you have more than a passing interest in wine, you will find this to be an interesting summertime read.</span></span></p>Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-40582380550745967092021-05-21T11:18:00.001-07:002021-05-21T11:23:36.858-07:00Dessert Wines<p> </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">We
enjoy finishing a nice dinner with a small amount of sweet desert
wine. Dessert wines can be made from grapes that are naturally high
in sugar or grapes that are late harvested to achieve maximum sugar.
Then, the fermentation process is cut short, so all of the sugar is
not turned into alcohol. Dessert wine can be made from many
different grapes, both white and red. We want to highlight three
types of dessert wines that we enjoy. They are Moscato, Sauternes
and Port.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Moscato
is a white grape that is naturally high in sugar. The wine made from
these grapes is aged in stainless steel. The semi sweet wine has
aromas and flavors of pears, peaches and tropical fruit. The
alcohol content is low and this is a pleasant finish to a meal of
seafood or poultry. Terrific Moscato comes from Italy as well as
California. Bartenura Moscato from Italy is a top seller and we
bought this bottle for $11.99 at Total Wine.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_xLRpHEpGuJqJw9ynS92Qtz-M5HbiEwVFl49Ax1X7NBp4tpluTLLdaiwkcL155TqcFW5O5QX9LeCpVX5ovzdbB_pMVoT_LqUaivn2Xs9_3sbTxp382pgNyEjok09OEM7tTyyJ6dbhmFm/s2551/20210520_150918.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2551" data-original-width="2138" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_xLRpHEpGuJqJw9ynS92Qtz-M5HbiEwVFl49Ax1X7NBp4tpluTLLdaiwkcL155TqcFW5O5QX9LeCpVX5ovzdbB_pMVoT_LqUaivn2Xs9_3sbTxp382pgNyEjok09OEM7tTyyJ6dbhmFm/s320/20210520_150918.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sauternes
is an exceptional dessert wine from Bordeaux France. Unusual climate
conditions cause the Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes to shrivel
like raisins, which concentrates the sugars. The fermented wine is
then aged in French oak. The sweet wine has flavors of honeysuckle
and tropical fruit. Sauternes can be expensive but you only drink a
small amount at a time. Any good wine shop will have a selection of
Sauternes and we bought 375 ml. Chateau St Vincent 2015 Sauternes
for $23 at Wine Xpress in Simpsonville.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziCx8f8B7DDIXeeaX7vVcy9KHvYaa4eW6b3wnvsvCIH4QZVy3sFsDOI86HCNzlDaZqo1l55lweTHWZamuYnPnH5SiWTurum5eAvgQuVSGz8stfpWt04xLmSwjE5Pl209bz_UYZGmgc3it/s2377/20210520_151021.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2377" data-original-width="2087" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziCx8f8B7DDIXeeaX7vVcy9KHvYaa4eW6b3wnvsvCIH4QZVy3sFsDOI86HCNzlDaZqo1l55lweTHWZamuYnPnH5SiWTurum5eAvgQuVSGz8stfpWt04xLmSwjE5Pl209bz_UYZGmgc3it/s320/20210520_151021.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;">Port
is a red wine from Portugal that has been fortified with Brandy. The
wine is sweet because the fermentation process is cut short but the
alcohol content is very high from the Brandy. Typical flavors
include raspberry, blackberry and chocolate. American wineries from
New York to California produce port style wines which are also
enjoyable. The wine is typically consumed in small amounts but it
can be kept for a few weeks in a refrigerator if the air has been
pumped out of the bottle. We are currently enjoying Dow's LBV Port
from Portugal which we bought at the Total Wine liquor store for $25.49.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0A8AoIReYP5UANEVkcE78ncRU76p4FdkxHr4mzTdiLoo5ZcIShnDilo_sz1EFj-eTicuvycQAAnEjRcPfuazPiaGBUsDgev5mCSStr1quO2sJPkeeY_IxJwpTdQ5s1ZyK0HvLH2-krmt/s2471/20210520_150945.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2471" data-original-width="1806" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0A8AoIReYP5UANEVkcE78ncRU76p4FdkxHr4mzTdiLoo5ZcIShnDilo_sz1EFj-eTicuvycQAAnEjRcPfuazPiaGBUsDgev5mCSStr1quO2sJPkeeY_IxJwpTdQ5s1ZyK0HvLH2-krmt/s320/20210520_150945.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p>I
think it is time for dessert!</span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Note: This blog was presented by Wine Joe and Wine Jane as part of the Furman University Osher Lifelong Learning Institute "OlliLive" summer broadcast. You can view this on youtube at </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCQtiFCBrvI</span></p>Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-47159110467857769022021-03-18T08:07:00.004-07:002021-03-18T14:22:23.893-07:00Furman University OlliLife March 2021<p>Today, March 18, 2021, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Furman University will interact with its members by Zoom in a live version of the OlliLife newsletter. For the past few years, we have posted a short wine blog in the newsletter and during the past year we have participated in the live zoom versions. Today, Wine Jane and I will discuss some world regions with excellent values in wine. Todays presentation will also be available for viewing next week on the Olli @Furman YouTube channel.</p><p>The three recommended wines mentioned on todays "OlliLife Live" are:</p><p><b>Parcelica Grande 2018 </b>Yecla Spain</p><p>70% Monastrell, 15% Granacha, 15% Merlot</p><p>$11.99 Total Wine</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGhbdTgcps8mHW8iMBho6fwIYb3xeC834ZfxE0irmHjB70lIENBvisB4wDedU07rR62QTu311WMYz3AMvP-GxxCGA7uEDQK8IQNDMTGzX5rUrDOVrk7GcZttFyYmrlaPMV9TnE2wjoCW_/s2783/20210202_151010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2783" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGhbdTgcps8mHW8iMBho6fwIYb3xeC834ZfxE0irmHjB70lIENBvisB4wDedU07rR62QTu311WMYz3AMvP-GxxCGA7uEDQK8IQNDMTGzX5rUrDOVrk7GcZttFyYmrlaPMV9TnE2wjoCW_/s320/20210202_151010.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Phebus Torrontes 2020</b></p><p>Mendozza Argentina </p><p>$10.99 Total Wine</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjmopJuQHVTs4-RxUmuC3ueqLKdxUrErQfG2tdJqJW9ygJlKnWSrqvI4K5pxpjCy3dml047DdpgmgzjUQOyfowhem4oIv_44KFwLVwAXXtRqX2YFRb6CNJhdgKuQUb-p91PLPnTW7aEXO/s3264/20210202_151238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjmopJuQHVTs4-RxUmuC3ueqLKdxUrErQfG2tdJqJW9ygJlKnWSrqvI4K5pxpjCy3dml047DdpgmgzjUQOyfowhem4oIv_44KFwLVwAXXtRqX2YFRb6CNJhdgKuQUb-p91PLPnTW7aEXO/s320/20210202_151238.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><b>Famiglia Castellani Chianti Classico Reserva 2015</b></p><p>Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy</p><p>Red Blend</p><p>$13.99 Costco</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0qoFFWvczd-gEefKEsaQe1qr792mXp4QRVG-dE2LTpKyDY-mXEN29c_YykyZ_jho14R98W2qHvm2GA-TzgX9dxMK6gVwBXYJHoS3oCpdgg-U-1CTESR9m_2y6LX2yZANZ_OWJl6wz-Ic/s1873/20200929_172719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1637" data-original-width="1873" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0qoFFWvczd-gEefKEsaQe1qr792mXp4QRVG-dE2LTpKyDY-mXEN29c_YykyZ_jho14R98W2qHvm2GA-TzgX9dxMK6gVwBXYJHoS3oCpdgg-U-1CTESR9m_2y6LX2yZANZ_OWJl6wz-Ic/s320/20200929_172719.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-84310934235918172982021-03-11T13:04:00.000-08:002021-03-11T13:04:05.032-08:00Cardwell Hill Cellars Estate Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2016<p> After a recent shopping trip to Total Wine, they enticed me to come back with a 20% off coupon for their winery direct wines. I wanted to try a new Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, but I think I have previously tried every winery direct Oregon Pinot Noir under $20 in the store and never found one that I would buy again. So, I decided to search out the winery direct pinots up to $30 since my coupon would get me under $24. After some online review, I selected Cardwell Hill Cellars Estate Bottled Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2016 ($27.99 reduced to $22.40) and I really made an excellent choice.</p><p>Caldwell Hill Cellars is owned by a retired Fleur Corp engineer and his wife who love both Oregon and wine. All of their wines are made with estate grown grapes and they use biodynamic farming practices.</p><p>Dark cherry aromas greet you from the glass. A complex taste of cherry, dark cherry, raspberry and spice arrive first, followed by some oak and tannins. The finish is long. If you have drunk quality Oregon Pinot, you will recognize this as Willamette Valley wine. This is really good! </p><p>Total Wine has given me another 20% off six bottles coupon to entice me back to the store. This will absolutely be part of that purchase.</p><p>SC Wine Joe rating = 91 points</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1ulqs9qMtnBUilzt9LRHTNhAduO8oka8WyyY6EM013_23tI_ncqDYgWUeNsUF_1x5JCJ_yJZbQiGEPZCKtg7lx6zNSuHUv6vplQaYkFrq-F6yb0fLoDLDZsiQgwnVhVpqe2HZxHWBd9v/s2227/20210311_125606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1963" data-original-width="2227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1ulqs9qMtnBUilzt9LRHTNhAduO8oka8WyyY6EM013_23tI_ncqDYgWUeNsUF_1x5JCJ_yJZbQiGEPZCKtg7lx6zNSuHUv6vplQaYkFrq-F6yb0fLoDLDZsiQgwnVhVpqe2HZxHWBd9v/s320/20210311_125606.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-2646881003156341412021-02-18T12:07:00.001-08:002021-02-18T12:09:12.747-08:00d' Autrefois Prestige Pinot Noir France 2017<p>We are continuing our search for world wine regions with quality wines at value prices. One such region is Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France. This is a large wine producing region stretching along the Mediterranean Sea north of the border with Spain. One third of all wine from France originates from this area but it is not as well known in the US as other regions. Languedoc has a past history of producing low cost bulk wines, but that is changing. Because of this history, the region is less prestigious than other regions and wines can be good quality for less money. Rhone varieties as well as international varieties of grapes are grown in Languedoc.</p><p>I love Pinot Noir, especially from the Willamette Valley, Oregon. The problem is that good quality Pinot Noir is expensive and I do not judge it to be a good use of my resources to spend $30 or more on an ordinary weeknight for a bottle of wine. So, I am constantly searching for quality Pinot for less than $20. This led me to try some bottles of Pinot Noir from Languedoc.</p><p>Pinot Noir is not the most produced wine from Languedoc, but I found several bottles at Total Wine. d'Autrefois produces three winery direct Pinots for Total Wine. The Prestige Pinot Noir is the highest priced at $19.99 but this week it is on sale for $14.99. We found the wine to be a complex blend of raspberry and darker fruit. This is an excellent wine that tastes like 100% Pinot Noir without additives or other grapes blended in to achieve a flavor profile that someone thinks you will like. In my opinion this is great quality for a reasonable price (especially if you buy it on sale).</p><p>SC Wine Joe rating = 91 points</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBXvQcYgSc9gjWTaLyWwgUaFSJVm5KAc8tGlD7ALYaxD28GHyAqnVy5zgFu-7EHR7PKKfFOiP-3PWpoPn49E-v9bo_59h-RN2v_UgPYOhahk7hquRegvNIpKWWoJxdRsATkEsEByee9Yy/s2972/20210217_163050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2972" data-original-width="2149" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfBXvQcYgSc9gjWTaLyWwgUaFSJVm5KAc8tGlD7ALYaxD28GHyAqnVy5zgFu-7EHR7PKKfFOiP-3PWpoPn49E-v9bo_59h-RN2v_UgPYOhahk7hquRegvNIpKWWoJxdRsATkEsEByee9Yy/s320/20210217_163050.jpg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-87824047622371573722021-02-06T11:25:00.000-08:002021-02-06T11:25:00.002-08:00Parcelica Grande 2018<p> It has been a little over 3 months since I last posted on this blog. I have taken that time to enjoy old favorites as well as wines bought directly from wineries. I needed a break from trying a lot of unfamiliar wines so that I might have something new to write about. However, now I am planning a live video post for the OlliLife newsletter at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Furman University about value wines from lesser known wine regions and this will require Wine Jane and I to do a lot of research. Well, someone has to do it!</p><p>There are few places that have as much affordable quality wine as Spain. The best known wines from Spain come from areas like Rioja in the northern part of Spain. However, even greater values can be found further south in the areas bordering the Mediterranean Sea. One such area is Yecla, about 50 miles inland from the sea. In the past seven years, I have posted about four wines from Yeccla. All have been blends of the traditional Spanish grapes Monastrell and Granacha with international grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Syrah. They all were excellent wines costing less than $12.</p><p>A new favorite Yeccla wine is Parcelica Grande 2018 from Total Wine. The wine costs $11.99 and it is one of their winery direct wines eligible for coupon discounts (currently 10%). This is a blend of 70% Monastrell, 15% Granacha and 15% merlot. This is a rich, fruit forward blend of raspberry, black cherry and toasted oak. There are more complex flavors than you would expect from a wine costing under $12. James Suckling has rated the wine at 91 points. We really enjoyed this wine and plan to purchase more.</p><p>SC Wine Joe rating = 90 points</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyNhjwiXZ34TGBVeP41YBJc0iO8EvEE1TQZ2WvYQRudbeuNarM8J6fyDFVaptkVtuZNhyphenhyphenItKUCHjXUecZa1DCq17W4EOAHZpjb2nWEFwVXtTPUyrXRoFw2wNM6XFLZ7OhHRWEiNKQg7vJ/s2783/20210202_151010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2783" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyNhjwiXZ34TGBVeP41YBJc0iO8EvEE1TQZ2WvYQRudbeuNarM8J6fyDFVaptkVtuZNhyphenhyphenItKUCHjXUecZa1DCq17W4EOAHZpjb2nWEFwVXtTPUyrXRoFw2wNM6XFLZ7OhHRWEiNKQg7vJ/s320/20210202_151010.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-6094476844293493542020-10-28T07:52:00.000-07:002020-10-28T07:52:57.085-07:00Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2018<p> I was aware of the reputation of Ken Wright Cellars for Willamette Valley Pinot Noir but had never tried one of their wines. The winery is most known for single vineyard Pinot Noirs but their entry level wine is a blend from several vineyards. When I have looked for wine from Ken Wright, I have either found the single vineyard wines costing more than $60 or I have found the entry level Willamette Valley blend priced significantly higher than the $22 price on the winery website. One well known wine shop in downtown Greenville actually sells it for $34. I guess that the wine must be really good to command higher than retail prices.</p><p>Two things have recently happened. Costco has a Ken Wright premium Pinot Noir for around $40 and Whole Foods Market has the entry level Willamette Valley Pinot Noir on sale for $22 rather than their usual price of $27. I chose the entry level Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and I am sure glad that I did.</p><p>Ken Wright Willamette Valley Pinot Noir has a deep red purple color and the wine glistens in the glass. There are flavors of raspberry, black cherry and cola. The wine has more dark fruit flavor than some Willamette Valley Pinots and I really like it. I had to switch to a lesser Pinot so that I did not drink all of the Ken Wright Pinot before even beginning dinner. Ken Wright Willamette Valley Pinot is absolutely delicious. If you enjoy Oregon Pinot Noir as much as I do, you have to try this.</p><p>Note: WFM had both the 2017 and 2018 vintage of this wine in the racks. I chose the 2018.</p><p>SC Wine Joe rating = 92 points</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBjHG8dwxxOYw1UWBGQIjAjtpqpwGQr2DPaeND4sLACeqn7OV7uCPh4sZbs-LM0iTkO2_Gy9vQp6lyWbYXSTxRJtP9MaEe6iMwlNrLWWIqmIEKox1O62za5YhQPDmReCYx3iRTOSKUyh2/s2760/20201026_163926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2760" data-original-width="2269" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBjHG8dwxxOYw1UWBGQIjAjtpqpwGQr2DPaeND4sLACeqn7OV7uCPh4sZbs-LM0iTkO2_Gy9vQp6lyWbYXSTxRJtP9MaEe6iMwlNrLWWIqmIEKox1O62za5YhQPDmReCYx3iRTOSKUyh2/s320/20201026_163926.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-34311335225212566782020-10-21T12:40:00.002-07:002020-12-08T14:39:04.040-08:00Recent Wines from Costco<div style="text-align: left;">Here are some wines we recently purchased at Costco:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Kirkland Signature Barolo 2015</h3><p style="text-align: left;">Wines from Barolo are considered to be the finest from Italy. Made from the Nebbiolo grape, they usually sell for $40 and more making the Costco price of $19.99 very special. The wine has flavors of cherry, black cherry and blackberry. SC Wine Joe rating = 92 points</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OFehUveCptSEXJu3ilMAjgSaLBZ_HLY8B6ZaCkjtRHkD7MuFmufmbK6vt8t3A-vhyphenhyphenoXYTsy_53FTL8dAACPwX6YetllImKHnVZgMEqNunbXI5V0xqCcHXyOD9CAZnwpFH08hyphenhyphenTvgCo5P/s2793/20200811_155556.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2793" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8OFehUveCptSEXJu3ilMAjgSaLBZ_HLY8B6ZaCkjtRHkD7MuFmufmbK6vt8t3A-vhyphenhyphenoXYTsy_53FTL8dAACPwX6YetllImKHnVZgMEqNunbXI5V0xqCcHXyOD9CAZnwpFH08hyphenhyphenTvgCo5P/s320/20200811_155556.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Ottosoldi Gavi 2018</h3><p style="text-align: left;">This is a refreshing wine which is an enjoyable break from Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio. It is $11.89 at Costco and has flavors of citrus, lemon and melon. SC Wine Joe does not assign numerical ratings for white wine but we really enjoy this and have purchased additional bottles.</p><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhQYqzEP9ZAVHjvhfzGiyO7RwgqhvMjXv7X0l4ScVHHXtmQj1ifCCCkuBEkyvzm3KqnK4dL0CoZO2ItpESHigu-WkDSrQovuo-fAM5Q6bemKknpLEnxheb7uIlOrhK_WYm5iEr1npQQev/s3264/20200917_154823.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvhQYqzEP9ZAVHjvhfzGiyO7RwgqhvMjXv7X0l4ScVHHXtmQj1ifCCCkuBEkyvzm3KqnK4dL0CoZO2ItpESHigu-WkDSrQovuo-fAM5Q6bemKknpLEnxheb7uIlOrhK_WYm5iEr1npQQev/s320/20200917_154823.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Famiglia Castellani Chianti Classico Reserva 2015</h3><p style="text-align: left;">This is one of the best Chianti wines we have tasted in recent years. It is 100% Sangiovese with flavors of cherry and black cherry. Costco is selling this for $13.59. SC Wine Joe rating = 91 points</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7zsXFBizBgU9ltgm9Ace969GNrBTJHg8t8rVebLGCRBs6__xqfuC8LeyzXSmFwYaBgpqA8aW7cg-SI64N5igtnrQTu-ClOyPIc7-krnId32vqsiyiyfOV7WRSVglBmfJrsytJahCwNxr/s1873/20200929_172719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1637" data-original-width="1873" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7zsXFBizBgU9ltgm9Ace969GNrBTJHg8t8rVebLGCRBs6__xqfuC8LeyzXSmFwYaBgpqA8aW7cg-SI64N5igtnrQTu-ClOyPIc7-krnId32vqsiyiyfOV7WRSVglBmfJrsytJahCwNxr/s320/20200929_172719.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Kirland Signature Ribera del Duero Gran Reserva 2014</h3><p style="text-align: left;">This is, at least, the third version of this wine we have tried. The first version was outstanding but each vintage seems less outstanding. This is 100% Tempranillo and sells for $13.99. It is a good buy at the price but less so than previous vintages. SC Wine Joe rating = 89 points.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3SsorzS0BbHnXXDvURXFgbcFz7ek0swxnH1K_iF3pwDI0SW6_IxCtKv4UyfxHI9FpzuOTyTfaIgl2f8SC4sSlYBRI2n5FydvSXFXu-ADqYB33dYe-6ji77ixct0cSc_Qvm3eFrvkLu73/s2542/20201006_171430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2542" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp3SsorzS0BbHnXXDvURXFgbcFz7ek0swxnH1K_iF3pwDI0SW6_IxCtKv4UyfxHI9FpzuOTyTfaIgl2f8SC4sSlYBRI2n5FydvSXFXu-ADqYB33dYe-6ji77ixct0cSc_Qvm3eFrvkLu73/s320/20201006_171430.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">Ben Marco Malbec</h3><p style="text-align: left;">I disposed of the bottle so I am not sure of the vintage. This wine is an "in your face" strong Malbec. There is nothing subtle in this bottle. Some critics have rated this higher, but I think there are better choices for me. $13.99 at Costco. SC Wine Joe rating = 88 points.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyajEZKeemogOXaaPuIU_GEF46ipvAW4thp4nMmIhJBBwLTcfaUBy-xXDaWMe5QN7a4U1NRcThBNWCs5GQ7cTW23GBYQAmIHsnZke3agBDrFOrQdncCTqYKtTH9i6Chur4HeLVsNi-H4F/s2637/20201012_171547.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2637" data-original-width="2428" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyyajEZKeemogOXaaPuIU_GEF46ipvAW4thp4nMmIhJBBwLTcfaUBy-xXDaWMe5QN7a4U1NRcThBNWCs5GQ7cTW23GBYQAmIHsnZke3agBDrFOrQdncCTqYKtTH9i6Chur4HeLVsNi-H4F/s320/20201012_171547.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-5781845616311475402020-08-31T11:52:00.000-07:002020-08-31T17:46:36.095-07:00Shelton Vineyards Cabernet Franc North Carolina 2017<h3>
Last March, I wrote about the enjoyable 2016 Shelton Vineyards North Carolina Cabernet Franc. Well, last week I ordered a case of wine from Shelton Vineyards which included the 2017 vintage North Carolina Cabernet Franc and it was even better than the 2016. In fact, it was fantastic.</h3>
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The 2017 North Carolina Cabernet Franc is a much richer, darker wine than the 2016. The previous vintage leaned toward cherry flavors but the 2017 is a darker color and leans more to black cherry and cola flavors. The alcohol content has increased to 13.1%.</h3>
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This is a new release and the winery has not updated their website. Previous vintages have blended small amounts of tannat and petit verdot with the cabernet franc. Since this wine is labeled as North Carolina rather than Yadkin Valley, there is still some mystery about the source of the grapes. Never the less, this is a terrific, delicious North Carolina Cabernet Franc. The winery sells this for $14.99 and I recommend it.</h3>
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SC Wine Joe rating = 91 points</h3>
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<br />Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-44389093365462990512020-07-28T11:31:00.001-07:002020-08-02T10:30:54.419-07:00Marked Tree Vineyard<div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Yesterday, we had our first opportunity to visit Marked Tree Vineyard. Market Tree Vineyard opened this past Memorial Day weekend and it is located east of Flat Rock, North Carolina, in the Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County just received American Viticulture Area designation and currently has five Vineyard tasting rooms open to the public:</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Burntshirt Vineyards</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Point Lookout Vineyards</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Marked Tree Vineyard (opened May 2020)</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Stone Ashe Vineyard (opened July 2020)</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Marked Tree Vineyard sits on the Eastern US Continental Divide. The small but pleasant tasting room is situated on the top of a mountain and there are outstanding views in every direction from the outdoor seating areas. Mount Pisgah could actually be seen in the distance. Since we visited on a Monday, there were few customers and it was no problem to maintain social distancing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">The grape vines were just planted in 2016. Already the Vidal Blanc and the Chardonnel have won medals in the North Carolina wine competition. We chose the Cabernet Franc 2017 and were amazed that the wine came from such young vines. This wine will be tremendous when the vines get more age. NOTE: The winery has since confirmed to me that the 2017 Cabernet Franc was not estate grown. An estate grown 2018 cabernet franc will be released soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">This Vineyard is a short distance from I-26 and it is very worth a visit. We are looking for great things in the future of Marked Tree Vineyard and the Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County AVA.</span></div>
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Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-41608702272722403162020-07-11T14:13:00.000-07:002020-07-11T14:13:43.099-07:00King Estate Pinot Gris Willamette Valley 2018<div>
Since I have reduced the frequency of my posts, we have not been experimenting as much with new wines. This has enabled us to go back and enjoy many of our old favorites. One of our all time favorites is King Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Gris. We drank this regularly a few years ago when it was stocked by Costco, but in recent years we enjoyed a variety of Oregon Pinot Gris searching for a new wine to blog about.</div>
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We are regularly asked about the difference between Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio. Both are made from the same grape. In France, the grape is called Pinot Gris and in Italy it is called Pinot Grigio. The style of the wine is a little different in the two countries with Pinot Gris generally more full bodied and complex. In Oregon, the wine is usually made in the style made famous in the Alsace region of France and thus is called Pinot Gris.</div>
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King Estate Pinot Gris has been the best selling Oregon Pinot Gris for many years. The grapes are sourced primarily from the King Estate biodynamic and organic vineyard southwest of Eugene Oregon but a smaller portion comes from other sustainably farmed Willamette Valley vineyards. The wine is aged totally in stainless steel tanks and the alcohol is stated as 13.5%.</div>
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In the glass, the wine has the tempting aroma of a flower garden. In the mouth, the wine has a little more body than some Pinot Gris and flavors of various citrus. We detected some ripe pear flavor in the finish. This is a bright and lively wine that can be enjoyed with or without food. We thoroughly enjoyed this wine and were glad we could return to one of our favorites. I bought the wine for $13.97 at Total Wine.</div>
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SC Wine Joe does not assign numerical ratings to white wine. Wine Enthusiast rated the wine at 91 points and designated it as an Editor's Choice.</div>
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Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-55487136980018728392020-06-04T07:00:00.000-07:002020-06-04T07:00:56.226-07:00South Carolina Wine Joe Blog Going ForwardSC Wine Joe blog began in November 2013. In that period, I have written 480 posts. These have included descriptions of wineries we visited and OLLI events that we led, but most blogs were our opinions of new wines that we tried. Wine Jane and I enjoy trying new wines and comparing our impressions, but lately we are finding those new wines to be less enjoyable. In recent years, we have averaged around 6 posts per month. It takes a lot of new wines to find 6 that might be interesting enough to write about and you would be surprised how many have been poured down the drain. We are now wanting to enjoy some old favorites that we have found. We are not ending this blog, but going forward we will post once or twice per month on average. Some months may have no posts. Thank you for your continued readership.<br />
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Bernie and CindyBernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-62296388334647524762020-05-19T13:17:00.002-07:002020-05-19T13:17:42.703-07:00La Gitana Gold Rioja Reserva 2015<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Costco has had La Gitana Gold Rioja Reserva 2015 in some stores as early as September 2019, but I just found it locally last week. Costco's price of $11.99 seems to be about half of the original price and the bottle sports a sticker proclaiming that Wine Enthusiast thinks this warrants 94 points. While I do not find many 94 point wines for under $12, I do often find Spanish wines that over-deliver for their price.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">La Gitana gold is made from Tempranillo grown on 60 year old vines in the Rioja region of northern Spain. It is aged for 28 months in American oak and an additional 12 months in the bottle. The alcohol content is stated as 14.5%.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">This wine improved significantly after 45 minutes, so I recommend aerating it accordingly. I get aromas of cherry, blackcherry and vanilla in the glass. I taste cherry, black cherry, spice, oak and minor blackberry. This is a great wine for a small price and it is one of the best Spanish wines I have tasted in the past year. I will buy more if it is available tomorrow when I go to Costco.</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">SC Wine Joe rating = 91 points</span></div>
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<br />Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-9307293587047802872020-05-16T12:13:00.000-07:002020-05-16T12:13:49.587-07:00Jolo Vineyards Golden Hallows Yadkin Valley 2019My recent delivery of wines from Jolo Vineyards included a bottle of Golden Hallows White Wine Blend. Last year, I wrote about the 2016 vintage of this wine that I found at a wine shop. I really enjoyed the 2016 but I think this 2019 is even better. This wine was bottled and released 3 months after harvest, so it does not experience much aging. With a wine like this, the current vintage is always better than one that is a couple of years old. <br />
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Jolo Golden Hallows 2019 is a blend of 75% Vidal Blanc and 25% Traminette, both French-American hybrid grapes. The alcohol content is listed as 12.5%.<br />
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We enjoyed flavors of pineapple, peach, tangerine and a little honey. As I said in my previous review, this is summer in a glass. Obviously, this is a great wine to enjoy on the patio but I wondered how it would be with food. Well, we paired it with baked Mahi and it was terrific. I highly recommend this summer treat.<br />
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Jolo sells Golden Hallows for $26. In North Carolina, Jolo wines are in grocery stores and Total Wine. Outside of North Carolina, you will need to order online from the winery. <br />
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South Carolina Wine Joe does not assign numerical ratings to white wines.<br />
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<br />Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-38362450118695051442020-05-10T13:23:00.000-07:002020-05-10T13:23:00.373-07:00Canoe Ridge The Expedition Merlot Horse Heaven Hills 2017I have been drinking wine purchased directly from my favorite wineries for several weeks, but now feel that I can mix in some wines from big box retailers. Therefore, I was quite happy to find this Canoe Ridge The Expedition Merlot at Costco. Canoe Ridge has long been one of my favorite wine brands from the Columbia Valley and I always grab a few bottles anytime Costco has a Canoe Ridge wine.<br />
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I have noticed that Canoe Ridge will vary the blends on their wines significantly from year to year. Whereas the 2016 Merlot had 19% Syrah, the 2017 has no Syrah but blends 4% Cabernet Franc with 96% Merlot. The 2017 Merlot spends one year in French Oak and the alcohol is stated as 13.5%.<br />
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With this wine, I taste dark berry fruit with some cherry cola. The tannins are medium intensity and the finish is long and slightly spicy. I keep finding great values in red wine from Washington and this is no exception. Wine Spectator rates this as 91 points and I will rate it at 90 points. Costco is selling this for $13.89 and this wine is terrific quality for that price.<br />
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SC Wine Joe rating = 90 points<br />
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Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-17383116241079741232020-04-29T12:10:00.002-07:002020-04-29T12:55:06.288-07:00Shadow Springs Vineyard Brandy Barrel Select Red Wine Yadkin ValleyShadow Springs Vineyard has a sister named Windsor Run Cellars located a couple of miles away. All of the wine making takes place at Windsor Run, which is both a winery and a distillery. One of the Windsor Run products is a distilled spirit named Shadow Hawk, made from Seyval Blanc grapes grown onsite.<br />
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In recent years, a number of wineries have introduced wines aged in bourbon or whiskey barrels. Sometimes, the barrel flavors mask mediocre wine. Shadow Springs Brandy Barrel Select Red wine is a blend of Chambourcin and Cabernet Franc from more than one vintage year. The wine was aged one year in oak barrels and 8 months in used Shadow Hawk brandy barrels. The result is quite different.<br />
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On the nose, you detect black cherry and chocolate but the brandy aroma dominates. This is a delicious rich blend of black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, cola and brandy flavors. It is a bold mouthful of flavor with a very long finish. This wine is evidence that great wine is being made in North Carolina. Shadow Springs sells this for $30 and if you are supporting independent wineries in this pandemic time, this is a special wine to try. I believe there is great aging potential for the wine if you have proper storage.<br />
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SC Wine Joe rating = 92 points<br />
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<br />Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-1765091835961779822020-04-27T13:48:00.002-07:002020-04-27T13:48:38.180-07:00Pere Ami Umpqua Valley 2017Pere Ami is a label produced by Willamette Valley Vineyards in honor of founder Jim Bernau's father, Fred Bernau. Pere Ami translates as "Father, Friend". Fred Bernau was a lawyer in the Umpqua Valley of southern Oregon in the 1960's who helped a vineyard pioneer secure one of the first winery licenses in the state after prohibition. The sketch of Fred Bernau on the label was drawn by his granddaughter.<br />
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Pere Ami 2017 is a blend of 45% Tempranillo, 36% Syrah and 19% Grenache with a stated alcohol content of 13.9%. I detected aromas of cherry and raspberry and the color is red/purple. This is a smooth medium to full body wine that begins with flavors of cherry and black cherry followed by blackberry. There is nice acidity and a long spicy finish. This is a well made wine with complex flavors.<br />
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This wine will need to be purchased directly from Willamette Valley Vineyards and it is priced at $35. If you are supporting the winery by purchasing directly, this is a nice bottle to include in your package.<br />
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SC Wine Joe rating = 90 points<br />
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Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-71812328387356140672020-04-26T12:46:00.000-07:002020-04-26T12:46:26.683-07:00Jolo Vineyards Crimson Creek Chambourcin 2019 Yadkin ValleyIn a very short time, Jolo Vineyards has become one of the most successful wineries in the Yadkin Valley. Jolo, located in Pilot Mountain, N.C., features one of the most beautiful tasting rooms in the region with a fine restaurant and breathtaking views of Pilot Mountain. The wines are made from French-American Hybrid grapes but vinifera vines have been planted for future harvests.<br />
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We are continuing our support of independent wineries during the pandemic period. We took advantage of a Jolo offer of 4 selected wines for a reduced price with free shipping. The package included Crimson Creek Chambourcin, which we have enjoyed in past visits to the tasting room.<br />
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The wine pours a deep dark red color with raspberry and spice aromas. The wine was released only a few months after harvest. The wine is more vibrant and light fruit forward than most Chambourcin I have tasted. I note cherry, raspberry and blueberry flavors with a lingering spicy finish. This wine reminds me of a lighter Barbera from Italy. We find this a very tasty medium bodied wine which we paired with grilled salmon.<br />
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Crimson Creek is one of Jolo's most popular wines and it sells for $36 per bottle.<br />
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SC Wine Joe rating = 90 points<br />
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<br />Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-88412640040799533882020-04-11T13:59:00.002-07:002020-04-11T13:59:46.230-07:00Shadow Springs Vineyards Meritage Yadkin Valley 2014As part of my effort to support my favorite independent wineries during the "shelter in place" period, I ordered a delivery from Shadow Springs Vineyard. Shadow Springs and it's sister winery Windsor Run Cellars are located in the southwest corner of the Yadkin Valley, within the Swan Creek sub-AVA. There are 7 wineries located within this small area with more to come. The other wineries/vineyards in Swan Creek are Dobbins Creek, Laurel Gray, Midnight Magdalena, Piccione and Raffaldini. <br />
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Shadow Springs Vineyards Meritage is a 2014 vintage wine made from Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot, aged for almost 24 months in oak. The wine is labeled as "Yadkin Valley" so not all of the grapes are from Swan Creek AVA.<br />
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There is a inviting aroma of blueberry and blackberry in the glass. The flavors are a complex combination of dark cherry, blackberry, cola, spice and tannins. This is one of the best red blends I have encountered from a North Carolina winery.<br />
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Shadow Springs, during the pandemic, is offering free shipping and a 5% discount on a purchase of 6 wines. If you live close enough to pick the wine up, you can get a 10% discount.<br />
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SC Wine Joe rating = 90 points<br />
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<br />Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-82199537241854478302020-04-06T13:50:00.001-07:002020-04-06T13:50:57.311-07:00Shelton Vineyards Two-Five-Nine Tannat Yadkin Valley 2017<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">We continue enjoying wines ordered directly from wineries. In a previous post, I noted that Shelton Vineyards in North Carolina was offering a 20% discount on six bottles with free shipping. That offer is still available and it is one of the best sales around.</span></h4>
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The Two-Five-Nine wines are Shelton's premium reserve offerings. We have found that there is a sharp increase in quality in the Two-Five-Nine wines over the lesser priced Estate wines and we especially recommend the Petit Verdot and Tannat wines.</div>
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The Tannat wine grape originated in southwest France. Today, it is the national grape of Uruguay and it is grown in small amounts in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. It was often grown in those eastern states to blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to give the wine darker color and more body but in recent years, a few wineries are experimenting with producing Tannat wine. I recently tasted a Tannat from Uruguay and it was delicious and moderately priced.</div>
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Two-Five-Nine Tannat is made from 100% Estate grown Tannat grapes. A few months ago, this 2017 Tannat was awarded "Best Red Vinifera Wine" at the North Carolina wine competition. This is a prestigious honor.</div>
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This wine is a very dark colored wine in the glass. I noted aromas of black fruit and spice. It is a full bodied wine with blackberry and spice flavors. After an hour, I detected a little black cherry and cola. There are enough tannins to pair this with a juicy steak and the finish is long. </div>
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Shelton regularly sells this for $25 but the 20% discount reduces it to $20. I recommend it!</div>
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SC Wine Joe rating = 91 points</div>
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<br />Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-1426291825107452412020-04-02T12:25:00.001-07:002020-04-02T12:25:09.267-07:00Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate Rose of Pinot Noir 2018<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">It is spring in South Carolina and time to enjoy some lighter wine. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fortunately</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">, I included a couple of bottles of 2018 Estate Rose' of Pinot Noir in my shipment from Willamette Valley Vineyards. 2018 is expected to be one of the best vintages ever for Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and Rose' is the first release from that vintage. This Rose' is sourced from two of the oldest and best known vineyards in the Willamette Valley- Elton Vineyard and Tualatin Estate Vineyard.</span></h4>
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The wine is a beautiful salmon color. The aromas are a mild citrus and flower garden. The flavors are strawberry, tangerine and a little grapefruit. I sense a little sweetness on the finish. This is a bright and refreshing wine and it is a predictor of great pinot noir to come from the 2018 vintage.</div>
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Note: A few weeks ago, I reviewed the Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir from the 2018 vintage and it was also terrific. Today, April 2, 2020, Willamette Valley Vineyards released their 2018 Estate Pinot Noir and I am looking forward to trying it also.</div>
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SC Wine Joe rating = 90 points</div>
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<br />Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-90808606438831935282020-03-30T11:53:00.001-07:002020-03-30T11:53:49.314-07:00Griffen Creek Viognier Rogue Valley 2017<h4>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">We are supporting our favorite wineries by purchasing directly from them. One purchase we made was from Willamette Valley Vineyards in Oregon. This purchase included a bottle of Viognier from Willamette Valley Vineyards' Griffen Creek brand of Rogue Valley wines.</span></h4>
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Rogue Valley AVA is located in southern Oregon and it is the warmest and driest wine grape region in Oregon. Although the acreage of wine grapes is small, a wide variety of grapes are grown due to the differences of terrior throughout the region.</div>
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Griffen Creek Viognier is a very aromatic wine from the time you pull the cork following into the glass. Floral and peach aromas burst into the room. Sparkling peach, pineapple and lemon flavors continue into the finish and beyond. There is an additional flavor at the back of the mouth that I could not name, but it could be honey. This is not a one dimensional wine and we thoroughly enjoyed each glass.</div>
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Willamette Valley Vineyards sells this for $30, but is currently offering discounts on 6 or 12 bottle purchases along with free shipping on orders of $150. </div>
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SC Wine Joe does not assign numerical ratings to white wines.</div>
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<br />Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-18128548655537763792020-03-26T13:31:00.001-07:002020-03-26T13:31:26.226-07:00Shelton Vineyards Cabernet Franc North Carolina 2016<h4>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">My shipment arrived from Shelton Vineyards yesterday, and the first bottle that we opened was the 2016 Cabernet Franc. In working on this post, I noticed that the label on my bottle identifies this as being from the North Carolina AVA whereas the bottle shown on the website shows it as from the Yadkin Valley AVA and "Estate Bottled". If we had not enjoyed the wine so much, we would have been quite upset.</span></h4>
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The back label says the wine was aged 18 months in a combination of French and American oak. The alcohol content is 11.6% which is not that low for a North Carolina wine.</div>
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The wine is a medium red color which you can see through, so you know this will not be a heavy wine. As expected, this Cabernet Franc is a medium bodied wine with cherry and black cherry flavors. There is a little black pepper and oak on the finish. I really like this lighter style of Cabernet Franc. The regular price for the wine is $14.99 and I received a 20% discount and free shipping with their current promotion.</div>
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I will buy this again, but will first clarify the Yadkin Valley vs North Carolina AVA issue.</div>
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SC Wine Joe rating = 89 points</div>
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<br />Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-25540120403031487742020-03-24T10:52:00.000-07:002020-03-24T10:52:17.604-07:00Support Your Favorite WineriesThis is a difficult time for those wineries that are dependent on tasting room sales. If you are able, this is the time to support your favorite producers by ordering wine directly from the source. If you are close enough, drive to the winery and take home a few bottles. Some of the wineries have drive thru pickup and you do not have to leave your car. If you cannot drive to the winery, you can have wine shipped to you. Some wineries are offering free shipping, others are offering discounts and a few are offering both free shipping and a discount.<br />
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In the past week, we found these offers that we took advantage of:<br />
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<b>Willamette Valley Vineyards</b> is offering free shipment on orders of $150 and a discount on orders of 6 or 12 bottles.<br />
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<b>Shelton Vineyards</b> (Yadkin Valley NC) is offering free shipment and a 20% discount on any 6 bottles.<br />
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This is an opportunity to purchase some interesting wine and do a good thing in the process. Costco, Trader Joe's and Total Wine will survive without your wine business for a few weeks.<br />
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<br />Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5596821716836374906.post-54855283423872922752020-03-22T12:33:00.000-07:002020-03-22T12:33:28.300-07:00Catena San Carlos Cabernet Franc 2017A reader of this blog came back from Argentina and relayed how impressed he was with the Cabernet Franc from high elevations of Mendoza. Since that time, I have found only a few bottles of Cabernet Franc from Argentina and they were not special. However, I recently found Catena San Carlos Cabernet Franc 2017 at a local wine shop.<br />
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Catena is a major wine producer in Argentina with a long family history. This wine is 100% Cabernet Franc grown at the San Carlos Vineyard, elevation 3576 feet.<br />
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We tasted this wine along with a favorite Virginia Cabernet Franc and a Chinon Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley of France. On this night, we enjoyed the Catena Cabernet Franc more than the other two. This is a medium bodied wine with flavors of Raspberry and Black cherry with fine tannins. Robert Parker rated this wine at 90 points and I think he got it right. I paid $21.99 for the wine and that seems to be about an average price.<br />
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SC Wine Joe rating = 90 points<br />
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<br />Bernie Showmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589773077999611638noreply@blogger.com0