started with a white blend of 50% Semillon & 50% chardonnay that I really enjoyed. Oily" is used to describe the texture or body of a wine and is commonly associated with Semillon - which may be why I used that descriptor (another benefit to blind tasting). tried to get down a "bug juice" of sorts that was simply awful. Ahhhh. MORE >>

Moving to the Rhone valley in France I tried some wines from Eric Texier. Next to Texier was Domaine Franck Peillot from the Bugey region of France (a place I had never previously heard of). wine I really loved and found quite unique was the 2005 Domaine de Roally Vire'-Clesse' from the Macconnais, France. don't know. MORE >>

The 2003 Chateau Lamourette Sauternes made from 90% semillon, 6% Muscadelle & 4% Sauvignon Blanc was quite pleasant. The 2005 Heritage De Le Bosco from Saint Estephe made with 60% Merlot, 26% Cab Sauv, 10% Petit Verdot & 4% Cab Franc has a surprisingly lite & clear red color. or blog post as the case may be. On to the reds. MORE >>

They grow and make good Cabernet Franc. have found Long Island Cab Francs to be very good in general, in their own dark, thick, fruity way. If I had to compare Long Island Cab Franc to Loire Wine, I would say that the more extracted wines of Saumur-Champigny are the most similar in style. 2005 Corey Creek Cabernet Franc , $30. MORE >>

In case you're not familiar with Jenny & Francois , they import natural wines from all over France, from heavy hitters like Burgundy to unsung heroes like the Côtes de Duras (just northeast of Bordeaux, and considered Southwest France). 2007 Haut la Vigne Côtes de Duras - 50-50 chardonnay and semillon. Maybe a bit of both. MORE >>