I stumbled upon Hart's Desire at the Waterfront Tasting Room (53 Front Street, Healdsburg, CA) during Taste Alexander Valley, 2012. John Hart and his daughter, Shea, were working the room. They were both marvelous, their knowledge and enthusiasm for the wines filling the room with excitement. A small but adventurous winery,
In every wine region there is at least one wine that manages capture one’s personal impressions of that region—its colors, smells, and the energy of the place. Sometimes, as I touched on a couple months ago on this website, the most visceral wines can be the most unlikely. In Friuli-Venezia-Giulia,
The nose hints of Rhone, rather than Oz, with aromas of grilled meat and olives complementing blackberries dusted with graphite. On the palate, blackberries, the smoky charred end of prime rib, olives, pepper, and the tiniest hint of vanilla all show on a multi-layered palate that adds high-toned tart red
The nose is very floral, with near gardenia-power white flowers, with underlying aromas of ripe peaches. The palate shows wax and citrus fruits, lemon juice and lemon pith. The lemon lingers on the finish, transitioning to hints of roasted almonds as it fades. Drink with crab cakes. DH. WHO: Gauchezco
Blackberries, vanilla and alcohol heat waft up from the glass. Blackberries, roasted, meat, soy, and loads of graphite, along with leafy herbs, are all on the palate. Vanilla comes through strong on the mid-palate. There are lots of flavors there, but they are not in pleasing blends and smoothly transitioning
“How about a drink?” “Yes please, a Spritz!” is the response of 100% of the students in the ancient university city of Padua, in northern Italy. The Spritz is in fact the favorite drink not only of the young people from here in the Veneto region, but also of many
This spring saw a new American Viticultural Area (AVA) burst onto the scene. Steve DeBaker, owner of Trout Springs Winery, spent years working on getting the Wisconsin Ledge designation passed. Palate Press asked him to tell the story of how the process took place and what it means for wineries
In a half-bottle, this wine is a no-brainer for a two-person barbecue. It has notes of strawberry and a very light touch of pepper in the aroma, both of which continue on the palate. The body is somewhat light for a zinfandel, but there are some tannins to balance the