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47 results across all types
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2021 Cuda Ridge Wines Mélange d’ Amis – Blended with Friends and Enjoyed by All
Background Photo ©Michael Kelly The Mélange d’ Amis, which means blended by friends, is a Saint-Émilion style Cabernet Franc/Merlot blend. It is described as delightfully complex and elegant with various layers of fruit depending on the vintage. Each year the mix varies but the taste remains opulent. Their 2023 vintage won Best of Class and […]
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2012 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon, From St Helena in Napa Valley
Photo ©Michael Kelly The Winery Photo from Spottswoode Website The Winery was established in 1882 by founder Mrs. Albert Spotts. The property was later acquired in 1972 by Mary and Jack Novak. Mary released their first Cabernet Sauvignon in 1982, one hundred years after its founding. They have consistently received high praise and scores for […]
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Sam & Luca Italian Bistro – Stopping For a Quick Bite and Italian Wine
Photo from Sam & Lucca Italian Bistro/Blaise Vitale Background On the way back from picking up Susan (wife) from the airport, stopped at Sam & Luca Italian Bistro at 1959 S. Power Road in Mesa, AZ. Heard from two different couples that this was one of the better Italian restaurants in the Mesa/Gilbert area. This […]
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2020 Ancient Peaks Winery, Pearl Cabernet Sauvignon – Smooth, Silky and Stunning
Photo ©Michael Kelly The Winery Ancient Peaks Winery is LARGE, consisting of 14,000 acres with 1,000 acres under vine. As it turns out Santa Margarita is the only vineyard in the Santa Margarita Ranch AVA in the most southern portion of the AVA. Some of the more interesting factoids of the vineyard are: Today they […]
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2016 Laura Michael Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon
The Winery Photo ©Michael Kelly My wife and I met Laura at over twenty years ago at her winery. She acquired the property in 1999. Laura has always been a one-woman show until her husband Michael who is now helping in the vineyard management and Laura continues as the winemaker. Laura has focused on small […]
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2014 Araldica ‘Corsini’ is a Barbaresco DOCG
Background Photo ©Michael Kelly If you notice the labeling states Barbaresco yet is made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes. There are areas in Piedmont, Italy where a small portion of “other grapes” can be added but that is not within the scope of this story. Nebbiolo has been around since the 1200’s, with some controversy as […]
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2010 O’Shaughnessy Estate Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson Photo ©Michael Kelly 2010 O’Shaughnessy 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is from the west side of the Napa Valley, Mount Veeder. On the eyes, a dark ruby coloring with medium heavy viscosity. On the nose, a woody but sweet briar, with blackberry and black cherry fruits wafting […]
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2020 Viña Alberdi Rioja Reserva by La Rioja Alta
Photo from La Rioja Alta Background Having just moved to Arizona and all our wines in several storage lockers in Scottsdale, ventured to the local Total Wines to browse and pick up a few bottles of wine until the wine refrigerators were delivered to the house. Picked up several different and unusual wines. This wine, […]
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Los Dos Molinos in Mesa – A Story About Intense Heat and Flavors!
Background As we are exploring our new surroundings, we continually ask people, which restaurants would you recommend for Mexican, Steak houses, Chinese and Sashimi. A bit eclectic but those are foods that we enjoy. At a recent wine gathering met a great couple and Will mentioned for Mexican food, Los Dos Molinos was the ticket. […]
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2023 Cellar 13 Winery Albariño with Blackened Swordfish
Background Albariño or Alvarinho is a variety of white wine grape grown in Galicia (northwest Spain) and in Northwest Portugal (Monção and Melgaço). Albariño is the name for the grape in Galician. In Portugal it is known as Alvarinho, and sometimes as Cainho Branco. Around 93% of the world’s Albariño vines are planted in Spain and Portugal. In California for the 2024 […]
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First Guests at Our New Home – A Great Pair of People and Wine!
First dinner guests on our folding table and folding chairs!! Dining room table and chairs are on backorder however with these two wines to start the dinner off it was not an issue!! My sister Kathy and step father Ben were the guests this evening. Both wines were filtered, double decanted and opened for 4 […]
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2020 Moody Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon – As Rare As Gold!
Photo ©Michael Kelly Background While having just moved from California to Arizona with 191 boxes to unpack and some additional 50+ items, we finally found our dishes, pots, pans and wine glasses. We still had not moved any wine from the temperature-controlled wine lockers in Scottsdale to the home. However, the day before we drove […]
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No Pots, No Pans, No Food and No Wine Glasses! Part 4
Background As some of you know we recently moved from California to Arizona to be closer to some of our family members. As a result of the move, we had a week eating out and experiencing new restaurants in the area. Staying at a hotel near our new home, while waiting for the moving truck […]
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2023 L’Autre Côte Cabernet Franc, a Winning Wine Fit for a King
Photo ©Michael Kelly Background on L’Autre Côte, Steven Kent Mirassou and 7th Annual International Cabernet Franc Competition Photo ©Michael Kelly At the 7th Annual International Cabernet Franc Competition, the 2023 L’Autre Côte Cabernet Franc won Best of Show and Best of Category by the Professional Judges in the very competitive California Division of wines $111 and up. […]
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Gourmet Cabernet Franc Dinner With Exquisite Dishes & Wines
Photo ©Michael Kelly Last evening was our annual dinner featuring winning wines from the Annual International Cabernet Franc Competition and gourmet dishes prepared by Executive Chef Jaime Alderete at Verona18. The dinner was held at the Copper Valley Golf Course in Copperopolis. We met with Jaime and Edwarda, Director of Food & Beverage, in January […]
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2023 Wood Family Vineyards GSM and Mediterranean Chicken for an Enhanced Meal
Background on GSM Photo ©Michael Kelly GSM in the wine world stands for Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre – three important grapes grown in the Côtes du Rhône region of France. Today, it is universally produced around the world. Why blend these three wines? The blend produces great complex red fruit flavors and is age worthy. Typically, […]
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2017 Secret Door Wines From Hirondelle Vineyard in Stag’s Leap District
Photo ©Michael Kelly Background Our Friday Night Wine & Dine Group met last Friday at Verona18. I wanted to share a special wine with the group and chose this wine. Unfortunately many of the group were unavailable to attend the dinner as only six of us were in town. The Winery Secret Door Winery is […]
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2023 Wood Family Vineyards “One Oak Vineyard” Merlot – A Fun Instagram Reel
Sláinte, Michael https://californiawinesandwineries.com https://woodfamilyvineyards.com/ https://www.flatironpepper.com
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2023 Wood Family Vineyards “One Oak Vineyard” Merlot – Comfort Wine for Comfort Food
Photo ©Michael Kelly Background When it is stormy and raining nothing is better than comfort food and selecting the perfect wine to go with the meal. Photo ©Michael Kelly Paul Giamatti, the actor in the iconic movie “Sideways” playing the role as Miles and his disdain of Merlot almost killed this wondrous grape varietal in […]
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2018 Roghani Vineyards – Stop the Presses!!
Photo ©Michael Kelly Background Roghani Vineyards entered the 7th Annual International Cabernet Franc Competition this year for the first time. Roghani Vineyards is in Caldwell, Idaho. In speaking with Denise Kulm, she mentioned that they make an exquisite Cabernet Sauvignon, if I would be interested in reviewing it. Agreeing to do so, I was more […]
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2022 CULMINATION Proprietary Red Wine Blend
Photo ©Michael Kelly Background The word culmination is defined by the “end point or final stage of something you’ve been working toward or something that’s been building up”. Synonyms are apex, climax, peak, pinnacle, summit or zenith. Wood Family Vineyards, having made dozens upon dozens of award-winning wines, decided to launch a second label. The second […]
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Sonoma-Cutrer Chardonnay – A Solid Wine With Sashimi
Last week in the Phoenix area we had a great dinner with family (minus Ben and Susan) on Thursday evening. We ate at Kona Grill in Gilbert, a small establishment featuring steak, seafood and sushi with 23 locations throughout the United States. All the food was fresh and cooked/prepared excellently. The wine list was limited […]
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TOASTS, FRIENDSHIPS AND NOT ALLOWING THE THIRD DEATH
A 45-year-old tradition continues despite the quarantines, travel, miles between family members, one having a baseball game, two grandchildren already in bed and work obligations. I have had three half shots of Jameson Whiskey on St Patrick’s Day every year, usually at a restaurant or drinking establishment. The first toast is to my grandfather Lewis […]