The Wines of Stéphane Tissot
The Jura Mountains, in east-central France, between Burgundy and Switzerland, remain an exotic and remote region for most winelovers, even those who may know a considerable amount about French wine. Landscape, grape varieties and methods in the Jura and Arbois appellations are unique, and so are the wines, which tend toward delicacy and elegance. While...
2009 Jordan Chardonnay
*Disclaimer: I received this wine as a sample from the winery. As a prelude to our recent CA trip, I pulled this bottle of 2009 Jordan Chardonnay from the basement, since we had plans to visit Jordan while in the area. The wine has a real cork closure, clocks in at 13.5% alcohol by volume,...
Wine Tasting Video: Chardonnay & Chardonnay/Viognier blends – England, Chile, Australia
Chapel Down Chardonnay 2010, England (~£14 – ’09 is current vintage, but ’10 should be available from chapeldown.com, slurp.co.uk, Majestic) (from vineyards in Kent, Sussex & Essex) Pale and very interesting style, quite bracin...
Damn, This Was Good! (#14)
I wanted a deftly handled chardonnay to drink with LL’s roasted sea bass and pancetta with braised leeks, sweet potatoes and black garlic, so I plucked a bottle of Trefethen Estate Chardonnay 2010, Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley, from the fridge, and it delivered all the purity and intensity that I was looking for....
Wine Tasting Video: Supermarket Chablis
Taste the Difference Chablis 2010 (£9.99 Sainsbury’s) Young perky style, sprightly and lively with tangy rhubarb, apple and lemon fruit and a richer, mealy streak. S Waitrose ‘In Partnership’ Chablis 2010 (£10.49 Waitrose) Feels younger and dum...
Friday Wine Sips: Spring Has Sprung
Today we look at seven wines chosen to satisfy the sense of freshness and renewal that comes — or should come — with Spring. In fact, it’s gently raining in my neck o’ the woods at this moment, and all the shades of green in the backyard are pulsing with color. These are mainly delicate...
MyJoogTV Visits Sugarloaf Mountain Winery
When our jam band friends Dangermuffin agreed to participate on MyJoogTV, they stated they wanted to tour a winery. So we selected Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard. The winery is the closest winery to Washington D.C. and specializes in Bordeaux varieties as...
Wine Tasting Video: Australian Sparkling Wine
The Spee’Wah Cuvée Chardonnay NV, Murray Darling (£9.50 The Drinkmonger, Bibendum) Simple, sherbetty style, has a honeyed edge to the cooked apple fruit, quite broad and biscuity, but lacks freshness. C Jansz Tasmania Premium Non Vintage Cuvée (
Damn, This Was Good (#13)
Witness today that the “Damn, This Was Good!” series is not always about expensive wines. Last night I prepared Jamie Oliver’s Risotto with Fennel, Ricotta and Dried Red Chili (pictured here) from his book Jamie’s Italy (Hyperion, $34.95). A little prepping is involved, mainly slicing the fennel and some garlic thinly and crushing fennel seeds;...
Auvigue Macon Villages 2010: Your Best Everyday Chardonnay
Subscribe to Cynthia’s free newsletter The Macon Villages by Auvigue Frankly, this is a wine that I drink with relish – by the vat-load – so pure, so subtle, so charming and flavorful. You need two cases at the very least. It will evaporate in your cellar and you’ll say, “What?! I could have sworn...
