Category Archives: California

Mother’s Day, Wine, Joy, Life and Death

Posted on May 12, 2013 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Happy Mother’s Day. Random thoughts: Why do I always weep when my college-age children leave to go back to college? I’m turning into my mother! My Mom died on 3/3/07. In a strange synchronicity, 3307 was the house number of … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Family | Leave a comment

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Matthew Iaconis 2011 Moscato, Lodi. 11.6% ABV. $11.99.

Posted on November 24, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

MAN. This will have to be one of my Wines of the Year. Absolutely fantastic. Roses, roses, and linden — perhaps the most aromatic wine I’ve enjoyed all year, with a taste that lives up to the aroma. A touch … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Moscato/Muscat, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

RECOMMENDED: 2010 Cryptic, California red blend. 14.5% ABV, $18 SRT; available for less.

Posted on October 31, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

If you haven’t decided on your Halloween wine yet, here’s a quick recommendation: the 2010 Cryptic red blend. It is delicious, inexpensive, and fun, with backwards lettering and scramble puzzles on the label that you must decipher in order to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Petite Sirah, Red Blend, Zinfandel | 1 Comment

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: Klinker Brick 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel, Lodi. 15.8%, $13.95 and up.

Posted on September 20, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

My favorite way to try new wines is to go to a wine bar. Generally these are boutique yet friendly establishments that have wines on pour-it-yourself systems (you buy a card and dispense your own samples), as well as a … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Restaurants, Tastings, Tips, Zinfandel | 7 Comments

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: 2009 Kendall Jackson Vintner’s Reserve “Summation” red blend (43% Zinfandel, 24% Syrah, 21% Merlot, 5% Grenache, 4% Petite Sirah, 3% Other varietals), California. 13.5% ABV. $17 SRP, usually $13, available for as little as $8.99.

Posted on August 4, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Late last year, I reviewed the 2009 K-J “Summation” white blend and highly recommended it (see http://www.thefrugalwinesnob.com/?p=670). We’ve also enjoyed several bottles of the 2008 “Summation” red blend, which was a “special occasion” everyday house wine for us, if that … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Grenache/Garnacha, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Red Blend, Syrah/Shiraz, Zinfandel | 1 Comment

UPDATE: 2010 Plungerhead Zinfandel.

Posted on July 16, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Late last year I enjoyed (understatement) the 2009 Plungerhead Zin (review here). The 2010 is a little different, of course: 94% Zinfandel, 4% Merlot, and 2% Petite Sirah. It started out jammy but settled down very quickly as it opened. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel | Leave a comment

RECOMMENDED: Two from Murrieta’s Well. The Whip, 2011 white blend; The Spur, 2009 red blend. Around $15.

Posted on July 7, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

The Murrieta’s Well winery name is based on Old West history: Joaquin Murrieta, a.k.a. “Zorro,” would steal horses from northern California and run them down into Sonoma or Mexico, watering them from the artesian well on the property en route. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Chardonnay, Food, Gewurztraminer, Malbec, Merlot, Orange Muscat, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Red Blend, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Tastings, Viognier, White Blend | Leave a comment

RECOMMENDED: Two off-dry summer white wines: The White Knight 2010 Moscato (50% Muscat of Alexandria, 27% Muscat Canelli, 20% Pinot Grigio, 3% Orange Muscat), California, 11.5% ABV, $9.89 ($12.99 SRP). AND The White Knight 2010 Riesling, Lake County, 13.3% ABV, $12.99 SRP

Posted on June 13, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

Life is cyclical. Back in 1977 the talk of the day was the coming Ice Age. Today, it’s global warming. Here’s another cycle: dry and sweet wines in America. Prohibition ended in 1933, after a 14-year dry spell that extinguished … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Moscato/Muscat, News, Riesling | Leave a comment

A flight of Chamisal wines: “A Taste of Summer” new releases. Online with the winemakers, TasteLive.com, May 24, 2012.

Posted on June 8, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

The soft, lovely name Chamisal, pronounced “Shah-mih-sahl,” comes from the ubiquitous shrub, chamise chapparal (chamisal), that grows prolifically and up to 12-feet tall in their area. The first vineyard planted in the Edna Valley appellation (between San Francisco and Los … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Chardonnay, Grenache/Garnacha, Pinot Noir, Tastings | Leave a comment

A bounty of 2011 rosé: The San Francisco Chronicle recommends

Posted on June 5, 2012 by The Frugal Wine Snob

This is an interesting shopping list/summer project!Out of 100 roses tried, 30 made their “Recommended” list. Most cost less than $20. The San Francisco Chronicle’s list of 2011 rosés. Written by Jon Bonné. Panelists: Jon Bonné, Chronicle wine editor; Wayne … Continue reading →

Posted in Austria, California, France, Italy, News, Rosé, South Africa, South Australia, Spain | Leave a comment