What Is Medoc Wine?
Shopping for French wines can be a little cryptic. The wine labels often have regions instead of grapes on them, making it hard to figure out what wine style you’re buying. If you have a label with ‘Medoc’ on it, here’s what that means. Medoc wine is a red wine from the Bordeaux region of […]
Buttery Red Wines: What It Means, How It Tastes, Finding Buttery Red Wines
Red wines can be tricky for the average wine drinker because they include not just the qualities of the grape, but also present the unique touch of the winemaker. And if you’ve ever smelled or tasted a buttery red wine, then you’ve definitely detected the hand of your winemaker! Buttery red wines can refer to […]
Malbec Wine: A Comprehensive Guide
Everyone loves the story of an underdog. An endurance trial to come back against all odds, winning favor and acclaim. Malbec (pronounced Mal-beck) is the underdog of wine. Once a widely-planted grape throughout France, this grape suffered catastrophic losses in the mid-20th century due to frost damage and was left by the wayside. But across […]
Bookshelf: The Emperor of Wine
Elin McCoy pours through the life of the legendary Rober Parker. If you drink wine, you’ve heard of Parker or at the very least been influenced by his life’s work – the 100 Point Wine Scale.
What Makes a Wine a Bordeaux?
When someone says ‘Bordeaux’, what exactly do they mean? Bordeaux (Bore-doh) can be a place, a wine, or even a wine style. Bordeaux wines, mostly red blends, originate from France’s Bordeaux region on the Atlantic coast. Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Carménère, and Malbec in varying proportions, these wines […]
Entre-Deux-Mers Wine: Quick Guide
The Entre-deux-Mers AOC is the second largest appellation in Bordeaux in terms of hectares. The wines can only be white if made under the official appellation designation (AOC). Despite this, most grapes grown in the region are red and destined for red wine. The region makes entry-level Bordeux wines good for budget-conscious wine lovers and those getting started with wine.
What Wines Are Made in Languedoc France?
Southern France offers a dizzying number of wines to sort through, so it’s logical to ask: What wines are made in Languedoc? A warm climate and generous soils make it a go-to destination for tourists and wine producers alike. Here are the basics of what you need to know about Languedoc wines. The Languedoc region […]
Which Is Better: Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Noir?
Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, two sweethearts of the wine world, are at opposite ends of the red wine spectrum. Cabernet brings heft and weight, while Pinot offers finesse and grace. Which wine will you enjoy most? Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful, structured wine with rich black fruit – blackberry, black cherry – and chewy […]
Why Is New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc So Good?
New Zealand wine growers and winemakers have spent the last 20 years perfecting their knowledge of vineyard selection, clonal selection, and winemaking techniques to create consistent Sauvignon Blanc at all price points. Today, they dominate the market.
How to Actually Use the Bordeaux Classifications to Pick Great Wine Every Time
If you’ve ever looked at a bottle of wine from Bordeaux wine and seen something along the lines of Grand Vin, Bordeaux supérieur, Cru classe, or Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, then you’re looking at some sort of classification. Use any of these classification label terms to help you pick winning Bordeaux wines: Classified, 1855, Grand Cru […]