Stephen McConnellDefinitely a blend that catches your eye, and while Syrah and Viognier are common, I’m guessing…I’m going to use a phrase here I despise. “This is world-class wine.” Often thrown around by some dude who thinks Caymus is world class…2 min read·Dec 8, 2021----
Stephen McConnellThe reigning region of GSM in California is a myriad of choices, with nearly every producer in the…Rich staining ruby, the bluish glow tempered with Grenache’s amber hint. Thick and delicious in the nose, dark-cherry ripeness chubby and…2 min read·Dec 7, 2021----
Stephen McConnellDigging into some new Sicilian bottles today, and my love for these textured, often rustic and…Deep clear ruby in the glass, a beautiful crimson glow right out to a razor rim tinted in purple. Ripe plum and peach, a ridiculous candied…2 min read·Dec 2, 2021----
Stephen McConnellEnlightening and educational ZOOM today with Asolo Prosecco DOCG and of course had to pop another…Pale–almost clear–yellow in the glass, a ready foam dissipates quickly to a solitary ring of bubbles at the rim being slowly fed from…2 min read·Dec 1, 2021----
Stephen McConnellBig spicy bramble coming out of the glass–a quite staining deep ruby with hints of amber garnet…Tasting it lightens the mood a bit, a jolting bit of acidic dryness gripping the entry, preparing receptors for an infusion of cheery…2 min read·Nov 30, 2021----
Stephen McConnellExcited to try these wines, as these Italians–at least on paper–fit my formal expectations of…Fairly vivid straw in the glass, a heady white foam clears to never-ending strands of tiny bubbles from its depths. Rather creamy and…2 min read·Nov 25, 2021----
Stephen McConnellI love a good, clean Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux-country, and when you see “Santa Ynez Valley” on…Almost flourescent golden-canary in the glass. SOOOO much fruit in the initial nose: pear and peach and blueberry (I’ve always wondered why…2 min read·Nov 24, 2021----
Stephen McConnellSuch fun wines.Tasting it gets the mind wandering as to ‘place’. On one hand it feels like Paso, but dialed back a hair. There are aspects of Lodi–or even…2 min read·Nov 23, 2021----
Stephen McConnellA pair of bottles tonight at the OPPOSITE end of the spectrum, a 2YO big-house Bojo-Villages–which…I have a good stash of the Marlstone–vultured from clearance shelves as the brand died–including several from the 2011 vintage, one which…2 min read·Nov 22, 2021----
Stephen McConnellWhy can’t California make Nebbiolo?I’ve wondered this for years. There doesn’t seem to be any huge obvious reason why we can’t lurking in the room, but yet….. Oh yes and I’ve…2 min read·Nov 21, 2021----