The chalkboard listing the wines at the Sparkman tasting room.
“Family. Good Livin’. Damn Fine Wine.” So reads the tagline at Sparkman Cellars in Woodinville, Washington. A bold statement by any winery let alone one that makes 29 different wines! But with a serious background in wine combined with a skillful winemaker situated in one of the up-and-coming wine regions in the world, they certainly seem to have all the ingredients to live up to that statement.
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The tasting room at Remirez de Ganuza
We had the privilege of touring and tasting at Remirez De Ganuza in the Spanish Denominacion de Origen (the Spanish term for viticultural region) of Rioja while we were a part of the Fine Vintage Tour of Northern Spain. Over the last 3 decades Remirez de Ganuza has experimented and come up with new techniques both in the vineyard and in the winery which have elevated their wines to the top echelons of Rioja and even earned a 100 point score.
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2007 Pegau Cuvée Reserve
Medium to dark red in colour. The nose was a bit muted at first but when it opened up it offered dark cherry and herbs. The body was medium and carried the wine with a sense of restrained power. The tannins were fully resolved and there was moderate acidity on the back end. The flavours of Kirsch and macerated cherries were joined with herbal notes, mushrooms and forest and a good dose of cracked black pepper on the finish. Fully mature, this top level Chateauneuf-du-Pape was drinking on point. The intensity of the fruit and the balance suggest at least another 5 years of good drinking.
Excellent
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2004 Hanzell Pinot Noir
Medium red in colour showing some age on the rim. Cherry, plum and earth on the nose with a hint of pepper. Secondary notes revealed more dark fruit and leather. A very complex and elegant wine with a smooth mouthfeel that was definitely more Burgundian in style. We weren’t sure if it would be anywhere near its peak after 13 years and were wonderfully surprised. While it was showing no signs of breaking down, it’s drinking beautifully now so wouldn’t wait if we had another in the cellar. Excellent
Read MoreIn Sonoma County’s Alexander Valley, just outside the town of Healdsburg, sits a 1200-acre winery featuring a yellow Chateau, covered in vines, perched at the top of the estate. If you didn’t know better, you’d be forgiven for thinking you had stumbled upon a winery in Bordeaux, France rather than one in California wine country. Jordan Vineyard and Winery not only conjures up this feeling when gazing upon its stunning property, it also evokes Old World tradition with each sip of their wine.
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