From Chile's Rapel Valley, comes this blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Syrah, 5% Carmenere, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 68% of which was aged for 7 months in French oak barrels, while 32% was aged in stainless steel tanks, before bottle aging. 2008 Winner of Wine Enthusiast's New World Winery MORE >>

The winery was started in 2000 by Paula Pivel, who worked for Citibank, and Alvaro Lorenzo. As the winery is located near the trendy resort town of Punta del Este, they have a study source of visitors. You will find Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Vigonier here along with Tannat. MORE >>

And there happens to be only one winery on that lake. So, it was a very short tour, but a very enjoyable day and I got to taste some very nice wines from one of the youngest wineries in the Finger Lakes. Along with the Cab Franc, I tasted a couple of blends that I thought were remarkable. Entrance sign off W. Lake Rd. MORE >>

Today was the first day of the Languedoc Roussillon Study & Certificate Program offered by the French Wine Society with support from Sud de France. This is a Syrah/Grenach blend  with lots of garrigue, black and white pepper, and an intense minerality. Syrah Grenache once again, a deep intensity of stones, lots of concentration. MORE >>

This point was made very clear on my first wine tour of 2009 and the first winery visited on what was a Finger Lakes red wine only day. My first stop was at the winery that raised my curiosity about their reds, Damiani Wine Cellars. One of the highlights of this year was barrel tasting, at Amy Cheatles persistence, the Damiani Syrah. MORE >>