Every once in a while we open a bottle for which we had high hopes that ends up disappointing – fortunately, it’s rare, but it happens.  Last night, the poor performer was intended to be the subject of today’s Weekend Wine posting: a Viognier from California’s Lodi (the link is to Wikipedia) region.  The wine in question lacked structure because it was too short on acidity, and it […]

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Here are some activities that we recommend for this weekend and beyond:

California (Calistoga)

Vincent Arroyo Barrel Tasting Event: February 23, 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. at Vincent Arroyo Winery; no tasting fee.  This is the annual barrel tasting event at Vincent Arroyo Winery, which we reviewed in our February 4th posting, and it occurs on the last Saturday of each February.  […]

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Recently, I was looking for a reasonably priced Merlot in the ten to fifteen dollar range, when I came upon the Château la Colline Côté Ouest 2004.  Aside from being a superb value at $13.50 and another perfect companion on a chilly winter’s day, the Côté Ouest’s blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon is made all the more […]

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In recognition of Presidents’ Day, we thought it timely to talk about Iron Horse Vineyards, whose wines have been served by every presidential administration in the White House since 1985, the year when then-President Ronald Reagan brought its sparkling wines to his historic summit meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev in Reykjavik, Iceland.  But while this winery’s connections to Washington, D.C. distinguish it […]

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