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Posted by Dennis Sodomka on Aug 16, 2019

The Hilt Produces Great Pinot From Extreme Vineyard Sites

The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2016, Sta. Rita Hills Cost: $44-46 With grapevines, as with humans, struggle often produces amazing positive results. I know you’ve heard the phrase “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” With the grapevines for The Hilt that is literally true. Some of the grapes are grown on windswept, steep hillsides, just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean. The vines have to struggle...

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Posted by Dennis Sodomka on Aug 16, 2019

Cline Works Magic With Old Vine Mourvedre

Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre 2017, Contra Costa County Cline Ancient Vines Mourvedre Rosé 2018, Contra Costa County Cost: $21-23 $17-19 Over the years many people have asked me why some winemakers make such a big deal about old vines. You see that designation often with California zinfandel and with French varietals grown in California, such as mourvedre and carignane. Old vines really can make a big...

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Posted by Dennis Sodomka on Jul 30, 2019

Don’t Overlook Chehalem Pinot Gris, Chardonnay

Chehalem Inox Chardonnay 2018, Willamette Valley Chehalem Pinot Gris, 2018, Willamette Valley Cost: $19-21 It seems like everyone knows about Oregon as a great pinot noir producer. Some of their wines even rival the great Burgundies. While the pinot noirs are memorable, many people forget about the great white wine produced there. I am particularly fond of their chardonnay and pinot gris, but you should...

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Posted by Dennis Sodomka on Jul 23, 2019

Casteller Cava From Spain A Perfect Summer Sipper

Casteller Cava Brut NV, Spain Cost: $12-15 Summer seems like the perfect time for sparkling wine, especially those less expensive sparkling wines not made in a place called Champagne. The Casteller Cava from Spain fits the bill perfectly. It has a bright, zesty flavor, with plenty of tiny bubbles. It is made the same way as Champagne, with a second fermentation in the bottle. While Champagne usually has...

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Posted by Dennis Sodomka on Jul 23, 2019

Ornellaia Offers Tasty, Affordable Super Tuscan

Le Volte dell’Ornellaia IGT 2016, Tuscany Cost: $30-32 If you don’t know what Super Tuscans are, you need to check them out. No, they’re not big, handsome Italians in tights flying through the sky, but they do have extraordinary powers. Super Tuscan is a clever marketing name that some Italian wine rebels coined to market their extraordinary wines that broke all the rules. If you are producing a wine in...

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Posted by Dennis Sodomka on Jul 16, 2019

Martini & Rossi Asti On Ice: It’s Nice

Martini & Rossi Asti, Italy Cost: $12-15 During these dog days of summer we’re all looking for something to drink that is refreshing and cooling. I have been searching and have found another perfect summer drink. Martini & Rossi Asti served on the rocks is perfect for those days you just want to sit on the porch and sip something cooling. I know purists will turn up their noses at pouring wine...

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Posted by Dennis Sodomka on Jul 15, 2019

Unusual Upshot Blends Are Refreshing Summer Sippers

Rodney Strong Vineyards Upshot White Blend 2018, Upshot Red Blend 2017, Sonoma County Cost: $27-29 Most wineries today offer at least one premium blend, and often several. That’s great for us wine drinkers. I love wines that are 100 percent of one varietal, but to make that work, the grapes have to be really good. Now when a winemaker sees a deficiency in a particular grape, or wants to achieve something...

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Posted by Dennis Sodomka on Jul 12, 2019

Canned Oregon Offers Great Wine In Convenient Cans

Canned Oregon NV, Oregon Cost: $7-9 You can buy many things in a can, including cocktails and beer. So why not wine? Turns out you can buy wine in a can, including really good wine. And its popularity and availability are growing. I first tried wine in a can about four years ago when I had a Coppola Sofia blanc de blanc, a sparkling wine in a can, at a wine dinner. The restaurant even served it with a...

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Recent Tasting Events

Chile Weekend Tasting-Cork & Flame-July 19-20

Posted by Bottle Report on 7-20-19

Alsace Weekend Tasting-Cork & Flame-July 12-13

Posted by Bottle Report on 7-13-19

New Zealand Weekend Tasting-Cork & Flame-June 21-22

Posted by Bottle Report on 6-22-19

Korbin Kameron, Airfield Estates Featured In Fabulous Calvert’s Dinner

Posted by Dennis Sodomka on 6-15-19

Spanish Weekend Tasting-Cork & Flame-June 14-15

Posted by Bottle Report on 6-15-19

Upcoming Events

Orin Swift/Dave Phinney Dinner-Cork & Flame-August 28

Posted by Bottle Report on 7-19-19

The Hilt Produces Great Pinot From Extreme Vineyard Sites

Posted by Dennis Sodomka on 8-16-19

Cline Works Magic With Old Vine Mourvedre

Posted by Dennis Sodomka on 8-16-19

Don’t Overlook Chehalem Pinot Gris, Chardonnay

Posted by Dennis Sodomka on 7-30-19

Casteller Cava From Spain A Perfect Summer Sipper

Posted by Dennis Sodomka on 7-23-19

Ornellaia Offers Tasty, Affordable Super Tuscan

Posted by Dennis Sodomka on 7-23-19

Most Recent Articles

Don’t Overlook Chehalem Pinot Gris, Chardonnay

Posted on Jul 30, 2019 in Dennis Sodomka, Featured, Wines | 0 comments

Chehalem Inox Chardonnay 2018, Willamette Valley Chehalem Pinot Gris, 2018, Willamette Valley Cost: $19-21 It seems like everyone knows about Oregon as a great pinot noir producer. Some of their wines even rival...

The Hilt Produces Great Pinot From Extreme Vineyard Sites

Posted on Aug 16, 2019 in Dennis Sodomka, Featured, Wines | 0 comments

The Hilt Estate Pinot Noir 2016, Sta. Rita Hills Cost: $44-46 With grapevines, as with humans, struggle often produces amazing positive results. I know you’ve heard the phrase “what doesn’t kill you makes you...