Two rather good white wines tonight. Quinta de Covela Branco 2004 Minho, Portugal A blend of white varieties including Avesso and Chardonnay, from the Douro region of Portugal, except that this bit of the Douro doesn’t have the more usual schist-based soils, but instead the granite that’s more common to ...

... wine from Southwest France. I like everything about these Southwestern whites so far. I like ... a Southwest recommendation too, but I haven't seen that wine either so far. I did, however, notice a stack of $8 white wine at Chambers Street recently, and much to my delight, it was Southwest white...

The French have seen better days, and its wine industry is in a bit of a pickle too. There’s plenty of industrial alcohol being made out of vins de table that previously found a market for human consumption. Taken by surprise by the quality of New World wines and overly ...

Forum: Wine Talk Posted By: Scott Sutherland Post Time: 01-04-2008 at 09:11 PM

Wines tasted in this episode: Clos Coutale Cahors 2002 Croix Du Mayne Cahors 2003 Chat Lamartine Cahors Cuvee Particuliere 2003 Clos Triguedina Cahors Today Gary Vaynerchuk tries the wines from the South West of France that he has loved for years. Cahors backed by the great Malbec grape is one of the finest values in the wine world, sit back and lets see what Gary has to say...

It’s a shame that France has become known for only a small percentage of its wealth of grape varieties. Certainly France does not possess Italy’s or even Portugal’s vinous diversity, but there is far ... ), the grape is quite widely planted, but only throughout the southwest. In addition to Marcillac ... southwest rarity called Duras. In Madiran, Fer can be a minorty blending component with the larger players...

This cheap red -- which I am guessing has a lot of Grenache in it -- is a GREAT buy. Medium dark crystal ruby color. Lively, fruity nose: cleam plummy and boysenberry fruit, sweet cream, smoky, stony minerals. Fresh, lively, and fruity in the mouth, with bright cherry/berry fruit, and ...

This was a nicely balanced red that would serve as a welcome accompaniment to a wide range of meat or fowl dishes. A quintessential "food wine" (which I mean in a good way). It's a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Carignane.Eye: Bright, deep ruby with violet highlights at the rim.Nose: ...

As in almost every vintage, this consistent, flavorful rosé was an excellent value.Eye: Disconcerting color -- not pink or salmon like most rosés, but a diluted but almost fluorescent ruby/garnet color. Not to worry, though. It gets better.Nose: Beautifully fruity noise, with ripe, crisp scents of strawberries, grapes, and watermelon. ...