Tomorrow night we may be popping Champagne corks or drowning ourselves in Tequila, depending on the success of the Biden/Harris ticket. But last night, it was Chianti all around, paired with Rao pasta and Gary's homemade Bolognese sauce. He's been tinkering with this classic meat sauce ever since we returned from Puglia, where a Tuna… Continue reading Volpaia’s 2015 Chianti Classico Lives Up to Star Ratings
Another Stellar Italian Rosato
Altopiano Terre di Chieti Rosato, Feudo Antico 2017 $8/bottle In previous posts I've raved about Italian rosés crafted from Nebbiolo, Negroamaro, and Sangiovese red wine grapes. These Italian rosato wines aren't light summer sippers with adorable labels and soda pop flavors. The wines I favor have structure and substance while also feeling a little like… Continue reading Another Stellar Italian Rosato
Aglianico You Need to Know
Aglianico. Huh? Yeah it's a grape from Southern Italy used in making serious red wines. Serious, like Napa Cabenet serious? Yep. If you don't believe me, read on. Per Wikipedia, "Aglianico is a black grape grown in the southern regions of Italy. It is considered with Sangiovese and Nebbiolo to be one of the three… Continue reading Aglianico You Need to Know
First Post of 2020 – How’s the Year going for You?
We wrote our last blog post on the cusp of 2020, praising the whites and rosés from the Basque region and considering a visit to this Northern Spain region. What a difference six months makes. We're not traveling to any wine paradise, at least for the foreseeable future. Between Covid-19, the economy and the nightmare… Continue reading First Post of 2020 – How’s the Year going for You?
Uncovering the Basque Wine Region
We know Spanish wines...a little bit. Rioja, of course. Priorat for sure. And we've dabbled a bit in Sherry from Jerez. But the Basque region? Nowhere on our radar until last summer, when I savored fresh and fizzy glasses of Txakolina (cha’-kō-lee-nah) rosé at two of Boston's hipster restaurants, Chickadee and Pagu. Txakolina is a… Continue reading Uncovering the Basque Wine Region
VinoDuo’s Favorite Wines of 2019
In our line of work/play, you taste a lot of wine. Some you sip and instantly spit. Some you sip, swirl, and then spit. Then there are those you savor, drink fully, and remember. These are the wines we've compiled into our favorite wines of the year list. Most are reasonably priced. Some are cheap.… Continue reading VinoDuo’s Favorite Wines of 2019
A Tale of Four Cabs: Napa 2014 Blind Tasting
Gary loves Napa Cabs. Our dear friends also love Napa Cabs. Lisa? Not so much. But she was game for organizing a blind tasting of 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. This was a proper horizontal tasting with three bottles of 2014 Napa Cab Sauv and one 2014 Sonoma ringer. The tasters were six knowledgeable… Continue reading A Tale of Four Cabs: Napa 2014 Blind Tasting
When Two VinoUnos Became VinoDuo
24 years ago today two lonely VinoUnos became VinoDuo when they met for a disastrous blind date. Don't ask. Lisa was a wine novice, enjoying an occasional Pinot Grigio. Don't ask. Gary was far more sophisticated and drank...reds. Any red. More than two decades later, our tastes have changed. Our palates are more refined. And… Continue reading When Two VinoUnos Became VinoDuo
New $25 and Under Finds at Gala Tasting
In autumn, wine shops typically hold a “grand tasting” showcasing wines promoted by their various distributors. In advance of the holidays, wine-lovers flock to these events for free tastings and a few cubes of cheese. VinoDuo is always up for a free gala tasting, particularly if it’s held at a shop we’ve never been to.… Continue reading New $25 and Under Finds at Gala Tasting
$5,000 Chardonnay? Skinner Wine Auction Preview and How the Other Half Lives
Vino Duo recently attended a Skinner pre-auction tasting of some of the wine industry’s most storied quaffs. These are big-money wines that are treasured by collectors, including Montrachet’s rare Grand Cru, a Rothschild 1982 Bordeaux, vintage Barolos, and few Chateau Neufs thrown in for good measure. Pricing was irrelevant as we had no intent of… Continue reading $5,000 Chardonnay? Skinner Wine Auction Preview and How the Other Half Lives
