Are you getting tired of this year’s U.S. presidential campaign? It appears that the hard-core statisticians at FiveThirtyEight might be ready for a break from politics, too. … FiveThirtyEight’s numbers guys have veered into a completely different lane to take a deep dive into a statistical analysis of numbers and trends in the strange world of high-end wine auctions.
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This transparent light straw color wine shows glints of gold against the light. Pleasant green-apple aromas add aromatic hints of peach and a gentle touch of nutmeg as the wine opens in the glass. It’s beautifully ripe and full on the palate, with peach, apple and lemon zest in a flavor that’s rich but dry, and nicely restrained by bright acidity. Subtle hints of “stony” minerality show up as the wine crosses the palate, with zippy lemon ice in a long, clean finish. At 13.5 percent alcohol, it’s well balanced and fine with food.
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Look for vendors and compare prices for Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara County Chardonnay on Wine-Searcher.com. Read article.
An odd but not unpleasant earthy-chalky note pops up first in the aroma of this pale, slightly brassy straw-color wine on the first sniff, perhaps a signal of time spent on the “lees” of yeast after fermentation. It soon gives way to delicate floral notes and a whiff of stone fruit. Overall the aroma is complex and interesting, but more delicate than powerful. Peach and apricot become a bit more evident along with palate-cleansing acidity in the fresh, tart and dry flavor, but it’s subtle minerality that hangs on in a very long, clean finish. Just 12.5 percent alcohol in a well-balanced Rhône blend of 40% Clairette, 30% Bourboulenc, 20% Grenache Blanc and 10% Ugni Blanc.
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Compare prices and find vendors for Château Pégau Cuvée Lône Côtes-du-Rhône on Wine-Searcher.com.
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Remember back in the day, not so very long ago, when many wine lovers would yell, “Anything but Chardonnay”? Come to think of it, one of those wine lovers was me.
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Tasted in a restaurant setting with a variety of dishes (see below), this simple but appealing Chardonnay served well. The surprise is that while it does offer a touch of oak, a decided whiff of aromatic tropical fruit, a creamy mouthfeel and doesn’t go strong on acidity, it relies on balance and reasonable restraint to sail safely through these rocky waters and avoid the shoals that used to make so many of us say “Anything but Chardonnay.”
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Compare prices and find vendors for Sonoma-Cutrer Sonoma Coast Chardonnay on Wine-Searcher.com. Read article.
Transparent pale gold color. Attractive if a bit simple, typical Chardonnay scent of green apples. Fresh and tart in flavor, green apple and bright, steely acidity. It continues clean, brisk and dry, adding a bit of nuance, subtle notes of “stony” minerality appearing as it crosses the palate. Not a highly complex wine, but it’s appealing and a good match with food.
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Unfortunately, there’s only a limited selection of vendors for Domaine de Mauperthuis 2014 Bourgogne Chardonnay Les Truffières on Wine-Searcher.com. However, you can browse a wide selection of Bourgogne Chardonnay sorted by value or price by using this Wine-Searcher.com link. Click the “best value.” “cheapest,” and other tabs to sort the results to your liking.
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We’re back into the 90s around here today, so let’s taste another light red wine that can be gently chilled, and check out the new edition of a favorite wine book.
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Here’s a tasty introduction to Zweigelt (“Tsvy-gelt”), a modern Austrian grape developed in 1922 as a red grape that would produce well in Austria’s climate. It’s a clear cherry red color, not overly dark. Pleasant aromas of cherries and red berries lead into a mouth-watering flavor, fresh and tart, cranberries with hints of fresh cherry and raspberry. Mouth-filling and ripe, 12.5% alcohol, it has a distinct edge of tannic astringency that lingers with tart berry fruit in a very long finish.
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Check prices and find vendors for Berger Zweigelt on Wine-Searcher.com Read article.
July was Earth’s hottest month ever, and August hasn’t been much better around here. How can we drink red wine in weather like this? Hey! How about a Beaujolais?
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The subtle and earthy flavors of this clear, dark reddish-violet wine are a step above everyday Beaujolais in refinement and balance, too, although it’s still typical of the region in its fresh scents of cranberry and wild strawberry with a hint of spice. On the palate it’s ripe and fresh, tart red fruit shaped by mouth-watering acidity and distinct, gently astringent tannins. Good acidic balance and comfortable 12.5% alcohol makes it a winning table wine with versatile capability for pairing with food.
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Compare prices and look for vendors for Château des Reyssiers Regnié at Wine-Searcher.com Read article.
