One of my favourite quotes involving wine is displayed at one of our usual locations for wine-tasting dinners: Wine is the pleasantest subject in the world to discuss. All its associations are with occasions when people are at their best; with relaxation, contentment, leisurely meals and the free flow of ideas. Hugh Johnson I’ve recently […]
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The Christmas season is often a preferred time to indulge in fine food and fine wine – our home included. Three considerations shaped my wine choices during the holidays. An old wine friend of mine once presented me with a home-crafted sign which currently hangs over my fine wine cellar. It reads “Avant Partir” which […]
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November 29, 2018
Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, USA
I spent a lot more time at this year’s wine show chatting with fellow tasters about the wines and old times than usual! As a result, I ended up tasting a smaller selection than normal for this year’s report. No doubt I have missed out on some great wines and you will therefore not see […]
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May 2, 2018
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Opimian Society, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, USA
I recently celebrated entering a new age group for races and surveys by tasting some special wines with some of my wine-loving friends. The selections were designed to highlight many things in my wine “career” – places I have visited, tours I have taken, special tastings, and special occasions – and of course, my 60th […]
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Spanish wines have become quite common on our table over the past decade. This is a reflection of both their overall quality, and the improved access to a variety of quality wines from the country from both Opimian and the NLC. Portuguese wines have enjoyed a similar growth, but to a lesser extent. At a […]
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France seems to have been a regular feature during the last interval, but a red wine from Puglia in Italy is first up. Gran Maestro Rosso 2015, IGT Puglia (NLC $19.98) is a blend of Italy’s main grape Sangiovese, and Puglia’s best known grape Primitivo. What makes this wine a little unusual is that the […]
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January 21, 2018
Australia, Chile, France, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain
Wine tasting doesn’t get much better than this wonderful week, which included two dinners with special wines. Most of the globe was covered, some of the special places in particular, as well as many styles and grape varieties! Let’s get started. Some Pacific salmon for Sunday dinner was accompanied by Domaine Canet Syrah Rosé 2010, […]
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This week featured some bargain wines from the recent Wine Fest, as well as some lovelies at a wine/dinner pot luck with friends. I picked the Sheep Thrills Pecorino 2016, Terre di Chieti IGP, Abruzzo, Italy as a good value wine during the wine show and I am sticking to my conclusion after sampling this […]
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November 17, 2017
Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Other Countries, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, USA
The annual NLC Wine Show kicked off yesterday with Special Selections night (the special selections will be covered in my next blog entry). There was a full house in attendance, but the numbers worked well in the Delta ballroom and it was easy to approach a table and get the sips you wanted. There were […]
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Steve Delaney
January 3, 2021
Portugal
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