State of the Vine

State of the Vine

Spring Wines

Spring is here!

And here are some excellent selections to start off the season just right.



Dona Paula Black Label, Red Blend (Estate Edition) 2012
Varietal, Region: 60% Malbec, 37% Cab Sauv and 3% Petit Verdot, Lujan de Cuyo, Argentina
Where to buy: *
My Tasting Notes: Plum, black cherry and mocha, with hints of spice. Medium to full-bodied and smooth with an excellent finish. Balanced acidity.
My Verdict: I've always been a bigger fan of 100% Malbec wines as opposed to the blends but I think I've found my exception. You taste the undertones of the Malbec but it isn't overly dominating. It hails from the Lujan de Cuyo region, known for their excellent Malbec grapes.


*Dona Paula wines are distributed in the US by one of my favorite vineyards Trinchero Family Estate. I happened to have this wine at the Washington Club but it's been difficult to find elsewhere but I'm working on it and will post an update ASAP.






Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé, Cuvée de la Pompadour
Varietal, Region: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, Carneros, Napa Valley, California
Price: $37
Where to buy: Domaine Carneros
My Tasting Notes: Juicy hints of strawberry and peach on the nose.Very refreshing and well balanced. Medium to fine sized bubbles. 
My Verdict: This wine comes from a vineyard owned by Taittinger. This sparkling rose is a cut above the rest. Maybe its refreshing aspect, and maybe its the fact that after a few glasses I didn't even have a headache the next day. A perfect way to welcome Spring.*

*Noteworthy: 95% of their fruit comes from estate vineyards "all certified organic by the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF)."





Happy Canyon, Goodland

Varietal, Region: Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Barbara, California
Price: $25
My Tasting Notes: A light white wine, no oakiness, neutral barrels. Hints of pear, melon and granny smith apples. Slightly tart but just the right amount.
My Verdict: Normally I'm not a big fan of whites but this one is great. This white tastes like Spring in a bottle.










Cheers!