Love Those Baby Blues
November 14, 2011 by Derek Swanson
I first met winemaker Kenny Kahn in 2008 at Bassin’s annual charity California Barrel Tasting event in Washington DC. In a room full of Cabernets toting triple-digit price tags, Kenny’s $20 Baby Blue blend from Sonoma was the highlight of my evening, and I have been a fan of Blue Rock Winery ever since. Kenny’s [...]
Zinfandel with Late Summer Grilling
September 26, 2011 by Dick Rosano
We’ve had earthquakes, we’ve had hurricanes, we’ve had floods – – and yet some diehard grill meisters haven’t given up on their backyard “kitchen.” Hamburgers, steaks, even blackened fish keep rolling off the grill bars and onto plates lavished with roasted vegetables, grilled onions, and baked potatoes. It’s hard to give up on summer, even [...]
Post Card from Napa – Antica
August 29, 2011 by Dick Rosano
We arrived by car, but it seemed at times that even mountain goats would have trouble ascending these slopes. The narrow paved road curved from left to right and, at the top, revealed a stunning hilltop winery that seemed to emerge from our imagination. We had reached Atlas Peak, the mountain but also the [...]
Cabernet with — Cooler Air!
July 26, 2011 by Dick Rosano
With temperatures breaking thermometers – let alone records – and the Weather Channel refusing to report the next forecast, the thought of anything sizzling on the grill sounds like a scene from a Stephen King horror story. So most of us have huddled inside our homes where the air conditioner groans under loads that [...]
Crazy Crianza!
July 20, 2011 by Derek Swanson
Crazy? Crazy good is what I meant. I picked up this impressive red from FirstVine.com. It is a slight departure from the shop’s Rhone-focused selection, but not from their focus on quality. This Tempranillo, named LARA O, from Ribera del Duero is supple and juicy. It reminded me more of a high-end California Pinot than [...]
