Broc Cellars Love Red is composed predominantly of the lesser-known native Spanish grape, carignan, supported by a soupçon of valdiguié and syrah. The clear glass bottle allows the candy-cherry red color to shine through, beautifully juxtaposed against the appealing black label art. Floral aromatics and a hint of spiciness are first to greet the nose, imbued with the subtle savor of dried clay.
Read MoreHere at Wine School, however, we believe in revisiting questions that might be considered settled. I have nothing against zinfandel. So let’s try it again, but with different wines, perhaps made in different styles. Instead of selecting the high-octane zinfandels, I tried to find a few bottles not so high in alcohol. Not all were as low as I’d imagined. Nonetheless, here are the bottles I’m suggesting, along with their stated alcohol levels.
Read MoreCrisp white wines, versatile with a variety of foods, are a smart choice for the hostess who opts to open her vinous gifts sur le champ (right away). Kivelstadt Cellars was founded by Jordan Kivelstadt, whose initiation into the wine industry came when he left a corporate consulting job to pursue harvesting opportunities in several New World regions. Kivelstadt incorporates concepts from both New and Old World regions to create sustainable, and somewhat unconventional, products.
Read MoreThe name, The Wine Trust, will probably not resonate much with most wine drinkers, who rarely pay any attention to who imports or distributes the wines they love. That’s not a grave error, though the information can be useful. Among other reasons, it’s worth knowing about an importer’s other wines, since different importers’ portfolios reflect different interests and preferences and styles of wine. If a particular importer brings in a wine you really like, you might very well find other gems in its lineup. Obviously, this is particularly true of smaller, more specialized importers.
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