Category: What we’re drinking

  • 2009 Stark Viognier, Damiano Vineyard, Sierra Foothills

    2009 Stark Viognier, Damiano Vineyard, Sierra Foothills

    We, like many people we know ‘cellar’ our red wines. I say “cellar” because Houston homes do not have basements so any wine aging room is often custom designed to mimic the temperature and humidity found in a European cellar or a California cave. We do not have that luxury, so our wines aged for […]

  • Steele Stymie Founder’s Reserve 2016 Syrah

    Steele Stymie Founder’s Reserve 2016 Syrah

    Last night we joined a group of other wine folks for a virtual tasting of Steele Wines with winemaker and owner Jed Steele.  With over 50 years’  in the wine industry, Jed started with a cellar position after playing basketball on scholarship for Gonzaga University, then went back to school at University of California – […]

  • Brys Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2016

    Brys Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2016

    The 2016 Brys Estate Vineyard and Winery Pinot Noir from Old Mission Peninsula AVA is 100 percent Pinot Noir estate grapes from Traverse City, Michigan. A lighter ruby Burgundian style, it features smoked cherry and cola flavors.  We paired it with red lentils and sliced pork belly. 13.5% ABV $32 For more information about Brys Estate […]

  • Cocktails: Lost in Thyme

    Cocktails: Lost in Thyme

    We met friends Anton and Celia out for dinner at Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar to toast the new year. We started with cocktails, and I chose this gem. Lost in Thyme is a concoction of Old Overholt Rye, aperol, cinnamon thyme syrup, lemon and aquafaba (the foamy stuff on top – it’s vegan). Garnished […]

  • 2008 Jemrose “Gloria’s Gem” Proprietary Blend

    Often when we put together wine and food pairings the food comes first, and then the wine. Not this time. Knowing the intensity and flavor of this 2008 deep red vixen from Bennett Valley in Sonoma County, we needed something with gusto to stand up to it. Enter pork belly. Pork belly is so very […]

  • Amazing!

    Amazing!
  • Tasting in the Loire

    Tasting in the Loire
  • Cooking to Pair with Multiple Wines: Green Valley of Russian River Valley

    For many a home chef, it is relatively simple to pair a dish with a wine. You can consult Mr. Google, or visit a variety of wine sites, like Another Wine Blog, for suggestions. But suppose you have a recipe that pairs well with one red wine, but want to serve two different varieties – […]

  • Always Seasonal: Gallica Albariño Calaveras 2015

    Always Seasonal: Gallica Albariño Calaveras 2015

    Oh. My. Goodness. Look at her shoes. And after Labor Day no less. Shudder. She’s wearing… white! The prevailing opinion, be it for marketing or merely historical convenience, is that for every wine there is a season: Red for Autumn and Winter and Rose for Spring. White belongs to Summer. Nonsense! In the words of […]

  • Wine Review: Spicewood Vineyards Mourvèdre Rosé 2014

    The secret is out! Spicewood Vineyards makes incredible wine and has joined the Texas Fine Wine group as its newest member. I suppose it was not that much of a secret, because they seem to be so popular with their Wine Club, that they sell wines nearly as soon as they are released. But it […]