Half-Day Wine Country Getaway to the Napa Valley

This is our second suggested trip for a quick getaway to the wine country. Last post we suggested a trip to the Carneros wine region; this week we suggest the Silverado Trail on the south end of the Valley. This trip is about an hour away from the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. We like going through the back side of Napa; it saves a little time when headed to the Silverado Trail. Print out these driving directions. Continue reading

The post Half-Day Wine Country Getaway to the Napa Valley appeared first on Napa Valley Wine Blog.

Source: http://www.winecountrygetaways.com/napablog/half-day-wine-country-getaway-to-the-napa-valley/

what is wine wines about wines champagne red wine

Inauguration wines: plonk and circumstance

Which corks will pop at the lunch immediately after President Obama’s second inauguration on January 21? With Charles Schumer as the chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee planning the inauguration festivities, wine enthusiasts could anticipate that New York wines would make a showing. Indeed, two appear on the menu: the 2009 dry riesling from Tierce [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/GuSC/~3/IEl8O2cZf50/

wine tasting white wine wine white wine cellar cabernet

Best California Pinot Noir QPR Ever?

Quietly included in a Wine Spectator article highlighting 14 Outstanding Wines from Santa Barbara was an epic value in California Pinot Noir. They rated the 2011 Belle Glos Meiomi Pinot Noir a whopping 92 points. With a release price of $22 and massive 92,000 case production this wine is widely available and often nicely discounted. It's not hard at all to find this wine for $16.

Past ratings from Wine Spectator for this wine:

  • 2011: 92
  • 2010: 88
  • 2009: 87
  • 2008: 87
CellarTracker community averages for these wines:
  • 2011: 87.7
  • 2010: 88.8
  • 2009: 88.3
  • 2008: 88.5
My ratings:
  • 2011: 91
  • 2010: 91
  • 2009: 89
  • 2008: 92
Putting the metrics on the 2011 through the wwpQPR Calculator (what's that?) and using $30 as the baseline price where it becomes not-too-hard to find an outstanding bottle of California Pinot Noir, and a $16 purchase price, I get: 

2.98: Very Good Value

This is certainly one of the best California Pinot Noir values on the market right now.

My note on the 2011:

Dark in color. Aromatically present with grape hard candy notes. Slightly sweet in the palate. In keeping with prior reliably delicious vintages. These guys have found a house style and keep cranking it out. How many weeks does this wine age in barrel?

91/100 WWP: Oustanding

Guidance:

If you've had and enjoyed prior vintages of this wine, buy more of this one to qualify for mixed case discounts/reduce per bottle shipping costs. If you haven't tried it before, and you like luscious, fruit forward, California reds definitely give it a try. It's consistently delivered and then some across a number of bottles.

iconPrice check/find it on Wine-Searcher.com

Or buy this wine now on Wine.com with 1 cent shipping through 12/11/2012 (click/tap the label image):
icon
Like hearing about values like this one? I'd love it if you subscribed to The Wellesley Wine Press for future updates.

Question of the Day: Have you had the 2011 Meiomi yet? If so, what did you think?

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/WellesleyWinePress/~3/k7Xb5uqHC-c/best-california-pinot-noir-qpr-ever.html

best wine wine bottles wine coolers wines and spirits wine store

Wine Gifts

If you’re starting to think of holiday gifts, which many people are already here in September, why not consider giving wine gifts this holiday season? Wine gifts give you two big advantages. To start, they are among the most luxurious gifts which can be given. Secondly, even if you don’t know wine well yourself, you [...]

Source: http://winewithmark.info/archives/658

wine cellar cabernet riesling zinfandel rose