Weekly Wine Show

Incredibly fun discussion to kick off the first Court of Wine with amazing panelists: Liz Barrett - https://whatsinthatbottle.com/ Sarita Cheaves - https://www.vinemeupdc.com/ and https://soundcloud.com/swirl-suite Sandra Everingham - https://www.risingwinescollective.com/   Recorded 24 August, 2022   We discuss news and topics from the following articles:   Author: W. Blake Gray Publication: Wine-Searcher Date: July 18, 2022 Title: Direct Wine Shipping Comes Under Fire URL: https://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2022/07/direct-wine-shipping-comes-under-fire   Author: Paul Vigna Publication: Pennlive.com Date: July 15, 2022 Title: Wine Enthusiast decision has more than a few states feeling left out URL: https://www.pennlive.com/food/2022/07/wine-enthusiast-decision-has-more-than-a-few-states-feeling-left-out.html   Author: Press Release Publication: Wine Industry Advisor Date: July 26, 2022 Title: Woodbridge® Debuts First-to-Market Wine Sodas  URL: https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2022/07/26/woodbridge-debuts-first-to-market-wine-sodas   Author: Harpers Editorial team Publication: Harpers Date: July 15, 2022 Title: Friday read: Why bulk is the hot ticket in the face of climate change URL: https://harpers.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/30467/Friday_read:_Why_bulk_is_the_hot_ticket_in_the_face_of_climate_change.html

After more than two years away, I (Tony) am coming back to podcasting with my Wine in the News style show. I had intended it to be a spin-out from this podcast (which would also change), but with Betty not wanting to host a podcast currently, I will be renaming Weekly Wine Show to Court of Wine and will host the show here so back episodes can remain available. I hope you enjoy the new format! Cheers!

This week we hit our 200th episode which is a huge milestone for us. We've made the decision to end Weekly Wine Show. It's a big decision and in this episode we reflect on our past four years and talk about what is next for us. In this episode we discuss: Why did we start Weekly Wine Show? One of the main reasons was we wanted to expand our knowledge of wine and thought a podcast was an interesting format for that learning. Did we accomplish what we wanted? Yes, we've learned so much and made so many connections through the podcast. This helped us lay the foundation we needed for what is next. Why are we stopping now? We've been putting out content non-stop for almost four years and it's time for a little break Also, we originally started out this podcast to help beginners like us but we can no longer call ourselves beginners. So since it has fulfilled its purpose, we feel its time to move on. What's next for us? Although we are ending this podcast, we will be releasing multiple new podcasts and new content in 2020.  By the end of Quarter 1: Court of Wine podcast! If you are looking to be a guest on the show make sure you fill out the guest form on the website. Spring of 2020: An mostly interview style podcast gathering stories of people's wine journey's who have been bitten by the wine bug. Late 2020: A wine history podcast focused on interesting stories told in a storytelling format. Although we will next be releasing new content for a little while, we will be active on social media (mostly Instagram and Twitter) so follow us if you haven't already. We will be providing news and updates so you are in the loop when new content is launched. Also, if you are still subscribed to Weekly Wine Show in you podcast player you will get promos for the new podcasts before they launch. Thank you all for you love and support. There is no way we would have keep releasing episodes for almost four years without you. We are excited with what 2020 has in store for us and our wine journey. So thank you for listening and it;s not goodbye, it's see you later. Cheers!   

*Note: If you’re just here looking for that offer link Tony mentioned, feel free to skip to the last paragraph.  Have you tried any wine clubs? We've tried a couple wine clubs or club-like retailers and were not thrilled but over the last year we've been testing out Naked Wines. If you've wondered whether a wine club could be valuable and worthwhile, Naked Wines might be your answer. SPOILER ALERT: At the end of this episode, we're going to share an offer from Naked Wines that they give its members to share the service. You'll get a big discount on wine and we get a little bit too if you sign up, so feel free to consider this episode like advertising. That being said, if you've listened to Weekly Wine Show for any length of time, you know we have only accepted advertisements for a couple of episodes. We're extremely picky about what brands we represent and we need to be willing to spend our own money on that item or service if there's a chance our words would influence others to do the same. And in fact, over the last year or so, we've sent over $500 of our own money the way of Naked Wines, and now we're ready to tell you about our experience.    So what is Naked Wines and how does it work? Naked Wines is a "customer-funded wine business". Club members, who they call "angels" pay a deposit of $40 per month in their naked wines account. This money sits in the Angels' account as a balance until they use it to purchase wines. But while it's there, Naked Wines uses it to fund winemakers up-front to be able to make wines, many wines which otherwise might never be. The interesting part of this funding model is many winemakers work for other people and don't get to put their name on the label. They may not have the funds to invest in their own grapes, barrels, storage, and all the other costs involved in making wine, much less their cost of living while those wines are being made. The situation might be even a bit dire, like the story of winemaker Katie Jones. If you want to hear more about her story check out the video from Naked Wines.  So far, according to their website, they have funded 159 independent winemakers in 14 countries. These direct relationships with winemakers results in lower costs for us because they benefit from economics of scale for buying wine bottling supplies. Also, since they're the considered the winery, there isn't the markup from a distributor and a retailer. They call it "wholesale prices". So what do we like about Naked Wines? First of all, you pick the wine you get, how much, and when (Not like other clubs that send to you on schedule). You order this wine from your house (you don't even have to put pants on) making it super convenient. Second, these are real, top-quality winemakers, some we've actually met or been to their "day job" winery. Also, there are a wide range of wines from all across the globe and pretty affordable prices like a Premier Cru Chablis ($24) and a vintage Champagne ($35). The wines overall have been top quality and of all the wines we've try there has only been a couple of wines we didn't love. They'll also let you know what wines to age so we have several bottles sitting in the cellar waiting for the right time to drink. Another feature that makes Naked Wines unique is the money-back happiness guarantee.  They will refund you for any wine you didn't love.  We actually haven't taken the initiative to use this for the couple of bottles that weren't to our taste, but even so they proactively gave us an $11 refund to highlight the guarantee and encourage us to use it. They want happy customers.  Lastly, you're positively impacting winemakers, giving them a chance to make wines with their own name on the bottle or maybe to make something lesser known that wouldn't fit with their day employer's winery. Also, there website allow us to interact with winemakers and read their stories. What don't we like about Naked Wines? To start, when we signed up in late 2018, we were required to buy a case of wine in order to join. That first case we bought with the promotional offer was priced at their non-member price. This felt a bit deceptive and we almost didn't join. After a few weeks, they gave us the option to buy a smaller 9-bottle pack so we didn't have to invest as much money just to give them a try. Once we bought that first case, they put us on a "waiting list" to get into the club. We don't remember a believable explanation for why there was a waiting list, it seemed like an attempt to fake exclusivity. Also, they send emails about promotional packs that feel a bit spammy and over time you learn to give them a glance and archive or delete them. We imagine some people like the promotional packs, they just haven't been appealing to us. Before deciding to do this episode we also looked up naked wines on the Better Business Bureau. They have an A+ rating from the BBB, but only get 2 out of 5 stars from customer reviews. There were several pages of reviews and the vast majority seem to be people who somehow don't realize they will be charged $40 per month and were unhappy with it despite the fact you can get your money back or people who are unhappy with their wines and didn't take advantage of the happiness guarantee. What are some tips for getting the most value? First, if you are struggling to find wine they have wine advisors you can call. Once you start receiving wine make sure you are rating the wines you try because this feeds into their recommendations. It also helps to follow winemakers you like in the app or the website so you can get updates on when they release new wines. Also, every month they offer a free promotional bottle (one they choose) to compete a case if you order any 11 bottles of your choice. So make sure to buy 11 bottles at a time do you get the free bottle. If the promotional bottle doesn't appeal to you, check the other options in their bottle picker. If all else fails, use that happiness guarantee. Get you money back and pick out something different. Like I said, they want to make you happy. If you're in the same boat we were in and want to try out Naked Wines, you can get $100 off $160 purchase for new members using our link. Remember, if you become a member they will be investing $40 a month into Angel account to use to purchase wine. If you sign up we receive $40 in credits to buy more wine and support our hobby. So this is a win - win - win situation. Cheers!  

With the holidays just around the corner, we have some sparkling wine recommendations to take the guess work out of selecting wines. Big thanks to our friends at Palm Bay International and Taub Family Selections for providing us with samples for this episode. Although these wines were provided to us, the opinions and tasting notes in this episode are our own.   Budget Friendly Wines Villa Marcello Millesimato Prosecco DOC Brut NV - priced around $17. Villa Marcello Prosecco DOC hails from the province of Treviso, one of the finest growing regions of Prosecco. Grapes: 85% Glera, 15% Pinot Bianco Light aromas and flavors of apple blossom, lemon, and dried hay This wine doesn’t have bread or yeasty notes - it’s fruity and floral, very delicate and elegant wine Pere Ventura Tresor Brut Cava - priced around $16.  This Cava is a Reserva which means it’s aged 15 months on the lees the same as non-vintage Champagne  Light aromas of nectarines, fresh sage, minerality and yeasty notes Flavors of nectarines, fresh sage, white flowers and minerality Although we get a hint of breadiness in the nose, this wine is still very crisp and fruity We enjoyed this wine with a nice aged Gouda cheese but also would go with appetizers, hard cheeses, fried foods, and Asian cuisine Something different Ackerman Crémant de Loire Sparkling Cuvée 1811 Blanc Brut - priced around $22.  The name of this wine comes from its beginnings. Ackerman was established in 1811 in the small town of Saumur in the heart of France's Loire Valley by Jean-Baptiste Ackerman. Blend of 70% Chenin Blanc, 20 % Chardonnay, 10% Cabernet Franc and each variety is made into wine separately in view of maintaining its typical features up until blending at the end of winter. This wine has light aromas of golden apples, white flowers and a hint of breadiness We got flavors of golden apples, peaches, lemon oil and white flowers Very fruit wine that we thought it paired really well with blue cheese We think that this is a unique blend of grapes that people might not be as familiar with. Altemasi Brut, Trento DOC - priced around $24. The Trento DOC appellation is renowned for producing some of the finest sparkling wines in Italy and is known as the Italian alternative to Champagne  100% Chardonnay wine made in the traditional method that is aged on the lees for at least 15 months Light aromas of apples and bread almost like apple pie This wine has flavors of lemon, green apples with a hint of breadiness So when people think of sparkling wine from Italy they mostly think of Prosecco and Prosecco is super popular right now. So if you are looking for something different from Italy this would be a great option.  Splurge Wines Boizel Brut Réserve Champagne NV - priced around $50. 55% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier The still wines from the year are blended with 30% of reserve wines kept from the previous two harvests, for consistency Post second fermentation, the wine is aged for three years on its lees, in bottle Intense aromas of bread dough, golden apples and honeycomb This wine has flavors of honeysuckle, green apples, lemon and a hint of bread We love the smell of this wine and the complex flavor profile Enjoyed this wine with Camembert and aged Gouda cheeses Champagne André Jacquardt Brut Nature Expérience 1er Cru Blanc De Blancs - priced around $100. 100% Chardonnay wine 60% Vinified in stainless steel, 40% vinified in older Burgundy oak barrels. No malolactic fermentation. Five years aging on the lees before disgorgement. Aromas of red apple skins, bread, rose and minerality It’s the driest of the wines in this episode and has high acidity with flavors of pink lady apples, rose, lemon, and a funky yeasty flavor This wine is crisp, fruity, floral and complex  A special treat for a special occasion

This week we are talking about Brachetto d’Acqui.  Brachetto d’Acqui is a DOCG in the Piedmont wine region of Northwest Italy. Wine Recommendations Risata Brachetto d’Acqui 2016 - priced around $16. Risata is a larger producer in the area - in fact they produce the #1 seller of Moscato d’Asti in America Aromas of candied red berries and orange It’s sweet with medium plus body, medium acidity with flavors of red berries and apricot preserves This wine has enough acidity to stand up to the sweetness but not syrupy It’s very lively, bright and a real treat It paired well with dark chocolate so this wine can handle more intensely flavored desserts   Rinaldi Brachetto d’Acqui 2016 - priced around $30 This sweet wine has aromas of black cherries and strawberries It’s medium body, medium acidity and flavors of dried apricot and red berries This wine was lighter in flavor, more delicate than the previous wine We would recommend pairing with milk chocolate, fruit tarts and creme brulee.  Sources: WIne Folly  Wikipedia  Wine-Searcher  Book: The Oxford Guide to Wine  

This week we are talking about Lebanon and its wine. Check out our wine recommendations for some amazing wines.   Wine Recommendations Massaya Terrasses Baalbeck 2012 - priced around $28. Blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre Aromas of blackberries, pepper, cedar and bitter coco It’s dry with medium acidity and tannins with flavors of similar to aromas with the addition of mushroom or earthy notes The tannins provides a wonderful texture to the wine We thought this wine was at its best paired with food like a hard or semi hard cheese   Château Belle-Vue La Renaissance 2007 - priced around $45. This wine is a blend of 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon Very deep inky colored wine with aromas of blackberries and black cherries, dusty earth, and eucalyptus notes It’s dry with medium plus acidity and tannins with flavors of dark berries, coco and spice Great textured wine with a lot of structure with a nice long finish   Sources Wines from Lebanon Tim Atkin  Wine-Searcher  209 Lebanese Wine 

Every couple of months we take a pause on our normal format and talk about four wine we’ve enjoyed recently and want to share with all of you.    Wine Recommendations Seaglass Unoaked Chardonnay 2017 - priced around $12. Fermented in stainless steel tanks, this Chardonnay did not undergo malolactic fermentation Light golden color wine with aromas of pineapple, apple, white flowers and tangerines It’s dry with medium plus acidity, light body and flavors similar to aromas Crisp, light and refreshing wine great with light pastas, grilled fish or salads.   Perticaia Umbria Rosso IGT 2016 - priced around $15. This wine is a blend of Sangiovese, Colorino, and Merlot with aromas of sour cherries with a hint of earthiness It’s dry with medium plus acidity and tannins with flavors of sour cherries, earth and black tea The tannins give a lovely smooth texture to the wine with a pleasant finish Great food wine to pair with salami, cold cuts and pasta   Las Nietas Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 - priced around $25. This wine has aromas of cherries, baking spices a hint of earth It’s dry, light bodied with light tannins, medium plus acidity and flavors of cherries, red berries and rose This wine is delicate but needs a little time to open up with some oxygen for the flavors to really shine The new oak was perfectly done with just enough to give it some complexity but not overwhelm the wine and keep all those lovely red fruit flavors.   Les Lunes Wine Zinfandel 2016 - priced around $30. From Venturi Vineyard in Mendocino County California These vines were planted in 1948. This wine has aromas of red fruits and baking spices It’s dry with medium plus acidity and tannins and flavors of red fruits like cherries and cranberries as well as a little earth This is a leaner style Zin than what you would get from other places in California like Lodi. Really fresh tasting, fruit forward wine with bright acidity

This week we are talking about Wiener Gemischter Satz!   Wine Recommendations Mayer am Pfarrplatz Wiener Gemischter Satz DAC 2016 - priced around $26. Blend of Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Rotgipfler and Zierfandler Pale Lemon color wine with aromas of lemon, tangerine, white flowers and a chalky minerality It’s dry with medium plus acidity and flavors of lemons, apricot, white flowers and minerality Great crisp white wine with a lovely aromatic nose   Sources Austrian Wine  Book: Oxford Guide to Wine Wine's Latest Runaway Hit? You've Probably Never Heard Of It. 

This week we are talking about Tokaji wine region in northeast Hungary. Wine Recommendations  Kiralyudvar Pezsg? Henye Sparkling 2015 - priced around $29. Medium golden colored wine  Aromas of golden apples, pears and fresh baked bread It’s dry with medium plus to high acidity with flavors of lime pith, toast and apple Great with a double cream brie cheese Crisp, fruity and bready and even with some age still have quite a bit of acidity   Megyer Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2013 - priced around $50. Winery Direct selection from Total Wine Deep gold hue with aromas of golden raisins, honey, dried apricots and dry hay This is a very sweet wine with flavors similar to aromas  This is a real treat and great with buttermilk blue cheese or a great dessert on it’s own Sources Wine Folly  Wine-Searcher  Book: The Oxford Companion to Wine Book: The World Atlas of Wine

This week we are talking about the Wagram wine region which is a viticultural region on the banks of the Danube River in northeastern Austria.   Wine Recommendations Wimmer Czerny Familien Wagram Roter Veltliner 2017 - priced around $22.  This wine has a Pale lemon color white wine with aromas of golden apple, lemon, honeysuckle and minerality It’s dry with medium light body, medium plus acidity and flavors similar to aromas - lemon peel, honeysuckle and minerality This wine is fruity and crisp with some beautiful floral notes and a nice long finish Josef Ehmoser “Wagram Terrassen” Gruner Veltliner 2018 - priced around $18.  Aromas of lemon, lime, peach, orange blossom and minerality It’s dry with medium acidity and flavors of peach, minerality, white flowers and lemon rind on the finish Fruit, crisp and a really lovely long finish  Food pairings: Appetizers, spring salads, delicate fish and other similarly light dishes   Sources: Austrian Wine  Wine-Searcher 

Time for another Wine in the News! Check out the articles below that inspired the topics for this episode.   Wine producers and US importers delay price increases - by Leslie Gevirtz, October 25th, 2019 Dan Berger, On Wine: The imminent glut: The state industry is facing a major wine surplus - by Dan Berger, Sep 26, 2019 California Wineries Plan Price Hikes - By W. Blake Gray. October 7th, 2019 Carbonic Maceration Breaks Out of Beaujolais - By Vicki Denig, October 28th, 2019 Sustainable Packaging Likely to Become Battleground for Premium Alcohol Producers, Says GlobalData - By Press Release - October 21, 2019 The sommelier cheating scandal just won’t go away - by Wine Curmudgeon, September 12th, 2019  

This week we are talking about Getariako Txakolina or also known as Txakoli de Getaria.   Wine Recommendations Gaintza Txakolina 2014 - priced around $20.  This is the traditional wine of the region Slightly fizzy wine with aromas of green apple, lime and crushed granite It’s dry with medium plus acidity, medium light body and flavors similar to aromas Crisp, tart, fruity and refreshing wine We loved this wine and it would pair great with seafood, salads, sushi  and light vegetable dishes Ameztoi Rubentis 2018 - priced around $22. Very light salmon color Rose with aromas of strawberries and pink lady apples It’s dry with a medium light body with medium plus acidity with flavors similar to aromas plus lemon This rose is its own style of rose - more tart, less floral, very crisp It’s like a Rose influenced white wine Sources: Getariakot Txakolina Wine-Searcher Jorge Ordonez Selections Wikipedia

This week we are talking about the Mosel wine region in Germany.   Wine Recommendations Hild Elbling Sekt NV - priced around $20. This wine comes from the Upper Mosel area This wine has a pale lemon color with light aromas of lemon, apple, minerality and a hint of bread It’s dry with medium plus acidity and flavors of lemon rind, apple peel and minerality This wine is crisp, intensely fruity and what I want in a sparkling wine Great with cheese and cured meats   Julian Haart Riesling “1000L” 2017 - priced around $22.  This wine has a little more sugar than would allow them to be legally called “Trocken,” or dry. It’s made from Fuder(s) or the traditional 1,000 liter barrel of the Mosel  This wine has light aromas of lime, beeswax and wet rock It’s dry with medium acidity and flavors of lemon, grapefruit and minerality This has a nice round, soft texture thanks to that barrel aging Also, it’s fruity and not super complex but tasty wine  

This week we are talking about Chilean wine. Check out our wine recommendations below!   Wine Recommendations Vina Aquitania Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 - priced around $20. Aromas of red fruits - cherries and strawberries, earth and some spice It’s dry with medium acidity, medium tannins, full body and flavors similar to aromas - red fruit, earth and spice fruit -forward wine, very approachable cab that still taste very fresh even after a few years of age Really well made, good quality Cabernet Sauvignon Errazuriz Max Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2014 - priced around $ 16. Pale lemon color with aromas of peaches, minerality and a hint of white flowers It’s dry with medium plus acidity and flavors of nectarine, minerality, white grapefruit, some salinity and a white flowers on the finish A really clean, crisp and refreshing wine and a fantastic Sauvignon Blanc  To be honest we think they should be charging more for this wine, it’s one of the best Sauvignon Blanc  I’ve had Errazuriz Max Reserva Chardonnay 2013 - priced around $16. Aged for 10 months in French oak Medium gold color with aromas of lemon meringue pie It’s dry with medium acidity and flavors of lemon curd, grilled pineapple and white flowers with a long creamy finish The oak is very restrained We haven’t had an oaked chardonnay we’ve like this much in a long time Also priced around $16 which is seriously under priced for the quality of wine you are getting.   Sources Wine Folly: The Best Wines from Chile  Vinepair  Wine Folly: Chilean Wine  Book: The World Atlas of Wine Book: The Oxford Companion to Wine Wikipedia Vine Connections

It's time for another four wines episode! Every couple of months we talk about four different wines that we've been enjoying and want to share with all of our wonderful listeners.   Wine Recommendations Domaine Bourgogne-Devaux Hautes Côtes de Beaune 2015 - priced around $25. These Pinot Noir grapes come from 50+ year old vines on average and is aged in barrel (10% new) Light garnet hue with aromas of cherries, earth a d a hint of baking spice It's dry with a light body, medium acidity and light tannins with flavors of cherries with a strong damp earthiness and rose notes What I would expect from a red burgundy - complex, not as fruity as New World Pinot   Broc Cellars Amore Rosso 2017 - priced around $28.  100% Sangiovese wine Light garnet hue with aromas of red fruits of cherries and cranberries It's dry with medium acidity, light tannins and flavors similar to aromas. We would describe this wine as light, fresh and fruity There are pizzas on the label so their taken the guesswork out of food pairing.   Browne Family Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2015 - priced around $32. This wine comes from the Columbia Valley in Washington state 100% Cab Franc, Aged: 22 Months in 35% New French Oak This wine has aromas of dried black fruits, dried sage and star anise It's dry, full body, medium plus acid and medium tannins with flavors of blackberry fruit leather, cedar and forest floor This wine is deep, intense, and bold. Not very fruity but lots of complex, interesting flavors Pair with food off the grill, beef stews or chili   Camins del Priorat 2016 - priced around $20. From producer Alvaro Palacios  The wine is a blend of Garnacha, Carignan, Cabernet and Syrah. Aromas of blackberry, black plum and vanilla This wine is dry, full body, medium acidity, medium tannins and flavors of black cherry, black plum and vanilla Deep, intense wine that would be great for cool weather    

This week we are talking about the Cahors AOC wine region located in south-west France about 100 miles east of Bordeaux.   Wine recommendations Matayac Cahors 2016 - priced around $13. Aromas of blueberries, black cherries and black pepper It’s dry with medium plus acidity and medium plus tannins with flavors of black and blue berries, and a touch of flowers Juicy, ripe wine with some floral notes with nice structure perfect for pairing with food Chateau Les Croisille Cahors Le Croizillon 2015 - priced around $19. Aromas of red berries like strawberries and raspberries, dusty earth and black pepper It’s dry with medium acidity and tannins with flavors of red plum, allspice and roses This wine is a little mellower in terms of acid and tannins than the previous wine Other otherwise very similar that the previous wine - very food friendly approachable red wine.   Sources Wine-Searcher Wine Guy Crocus Wines

This week we are talking about Cannonau di Sardegna which is a DOC covering the entire island of Sardina.   Wine Recommendations Cantina Santa Maria La Palma Le Bombarde 2016 - priced $14. Blend of Cannonau and Monica di Sardegna This wine has aromas of cran-cherry, dusty earth and black plum It’s dry with medium acidity and tannins and medium body with flavors of red fruits and earth This is a juicy, fruity wine with the right balance of acid, tannins and body Food pairings: ideal with red meats, game and mature cheeses.   Costera Argiolas 2016 - priced around $17. Aromas of red fruit, dusty earth and a touch of flowers It’s dry with medium acid and tannins with flavors of cherries, raspberries and earth Lighter in flavors and aromas than the previous wine but still very fruity     Sources Wine Folly  Wine-Searcher  Decanter  Italian Wine Central  Grape Collective  Book: Wine Grapes: A Complete Guide to 1,368 Vine Varieties, Including Their Origins and Flavors   

This week we are talking about the Fitou AOC. Fitou is a small wine appellation in southern France that is a part of the larger Languedoc-Roussillon wine region area.   Wine Recommendations Maison Carrel Sous la Montagne Fitou 2016 - priced around $25. Deep purple color wine with aromas of candied strawberries like red Australian Licorice It’s dry with medium plus acidity and tannins and flavors of red fruits, rock, violets and kalamata olives Very fruit forward wine that smells sweet It’s young, wild and rustic - like a horse that hasn’t been tamed - we would recommend pairing with food or let it age for a few years to mellow it out.   Gérard Bertrand Fitou 2009 - priced around $20. Thanks to age this wine has the color of coca-cola like a brown-amber color This wine is also very sweet smelling of dried strawberries and raspberries as well as balsamic and walnut It’s dry with medium acidity and tannins with flavors of dried figs, molasses, balsamic reduction We could smell this wine all day long so intoxicating Wines like this makes us want to buy a bunch of wine to age and is definitely worth more than the $20 we paid for this wine Sources Wine Searcher https://www.wine-searcher.com/regions-fitou Wine Folly: Languedoc Roussillon Wine Region  Languedoc Wines  Fitou AOC  The Guardian: Fitou Wine 

This week features our interview with viticulturist and winemaker Philippe Langner of Hesperian Wines our of Napa Valley.    Wines from Hesperian Wines - note that these wines were provided as samples to us but the opinions below are our own. Anatomy No. 1 Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 - priced around $33 Bordeaux-style blend of mostly Cab with a little Merlot and Syrah Aromas of black currents, red plum, blackberries, earth and leather it's dry with medium plus acidity and tannins with flavors similar to aromas - dark fruits, leather, with a little vegetal note on the finish This is a big, bold wine with structure bout a lot of juicy, ripe fruit 2015 Hesperian Cabernet Sauvignon - priced around $100. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon Deep purple color with strong aromas of fennel and dark fruits it's dry with medium acid and tannins with flavors of fennel, dark fruits and a herbal quality it's a less fruity cab and more herbal and mellow drink now through 2035 2015 Hesperian Cabernet Sauvignon Kitoko Vineyard - priced around $150 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aromas of dark fruits, violets and dusty earth it's dry with medium acid and tannins and flavors of dark fruits, leather and a hint of baking spices Bold but refined Cab that is good to drink now or if you're willing to wait will continue to evolve until 2035