Wine Life - Houston

Chateau Talbot 2005  - This dry, velvety smooth, medium- body red was still youthful with fruity aromas and flavors of cherry and black currant along with tobacco and licorice notes in the rich, slightly spicy, lingering finish. Delicious right now though you can certainly continue to hold it. I bought this bottle a few years ago but it is still available in limited quantities at Spec's in Houston as well as on-line.  This Grand Cru Classe wine comes from the prestigious Saint-Julien commune of Bordeaux from an outstanding vintage. Consumed at a family dinner on 12/24/16 and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

As originally seen in the December issue of  Galveston Monthly magazine* *Incorrect photo for the Prosecco

Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve   is a dry, fuller bodied sparkling wine with sweet aromas of tropical fruit, cherries and brioche with a creamy texture and a light toasted almond note in the lingering finish. A recommended wine for $65. Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve i s 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier. This wine has been blended with 40% reserve wines with an average of ten years of age from the Charles Heidsieck cellar. Media sample for review purposes.

Ca' Del Bosco Cuvée Prestige Franciacorta Brut  is a dry sparkling wine with  sweet citrus aromas with baked pear and apricot and a lingering mineral note in the slightly savory finish. A recommended wine for approximately $35.  Ca' Del Bosco Cuvée Prestige Franciacorta Brut  is  made from 75% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Nero and 10% Pinot Blanc in Lombardy, a  small wine-producing area in northern Italy. The region is famous for its high-quality sparkling wines made in the same way as Champagne. 

As originally seen in the December issue of  Galveston Monthly  magazine

Master Sommelier Geoff Kruth hosted a GuildSomm Beaujolais Masterclass in Houston last month where he  discussed the wine region of Beaujolais, the crus and presented tastes of what he considers to be some of the best wines from the region. Beaujolais is located north of Lyon in eastern France. It is known for its granitic-based soils and fruity red wines made from the Gamay grape. It has ten crus that run from north to south. The Wines: Beaujolais-Villages Blanc, Dufaitre 2015 - The only white wine of the day, this dry Chardonnay-based wine had an interesting oxidized nuance with a slightly savory finish. Beaujolais Dupeuble 2015 - Kruth called this red "a good, straight basic Beaujolais" made in the classic style with some structure and typical fruity and floral aromas with a banana leaf nuance. Chiroubles Daniel Bouland 2015 - This red wine showed strawberry aromas and flavors and was a bit more tannic than is typical which Kruth said was vintage driven. ...

Wine production is believed to have begun in this region over 7,000 years ago. There are over 500 indigenous grape varieties in the country grown across ten major viticultural areas. The industry is dominated by small, artisanal winemakers. The wines: NIKI ANTADZE, Rkatsiteli 2014 - This dry, white wine is made from organic Rkatsiteli grapes fermented in qvevri with no skin contact. It is yeasty with a Belgian beer nuance; it has a creamy texture from lees contact and good acidity. NIKI ANTADZE, Rkatsiteli 2014 - This dry, white wine is made from organic Rkatsiteli grapes with some left in whole bunch clusters which were then fermented in qvevri with six months skin contact. This wine has a richer texture, it is more mouth-filling with aromas and flavors of dried fruits and walnuts with a light black tea note. OUR WINE, Tsarapi Rkatsiteli 2013 - This dry, white wine was made from biodynamically- farmed Rkatsiteli grapes fermented in qvevri for six month. This wine has a very ...