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A. It comes from the village of Crémant in France

B. It is a fizzy but not fully sparkling wine

C. It is made by the traditional method of second fermentation in each bottle

D. All three (A, B, and C) are true

MINUS TIDE

“Vine View Ranch” Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Yorkville Highlands, Mendocino

Spiciness, black pepperiness, and wild sage are all delicious characteristics in Cabernet Sauvignon, and this Cab from Minus Tide is loaded with them. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

94 points Karen MacNeil / WineSpeed

Available at Minus Tide Wines

In wine analysis, aromas and flavors are divided into three broad categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary aromas are those that you perceive first; secondary aromas second; and tertiary third. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

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About Karen MacNeil

Wine Words

Punching Down

A process during red wine fermentation where the grape skins are The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Are You a Supertaster?

Renowned Author & Dynamic Speaker

With a reputation for captivating audiences and inspiring wine lovers around the world, Karen is available for keynote speeches, seminars, and custom events.  Reach out to book Karen for your next event.

Your Brain on Bubbles

According to French neuroscientist Gabriel Lepousez of the Institut Pasteur in Paris, and as reported recently in Falstaff magazine, a glass of sparkling wine (or Champagne) is stimulating emotionally, physically, and neurologically—all at once. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

By the Numbers

1

Number of wineries that are currently allowed to pour and sell their wines at any given California farmers’ market, and only estate wineries are allowed. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

51

Percentage of Americans in 2025 who reported trying to lose weight, according to a survey by the International Food Information Council. That’s a smaller percentage than the last time the survey was conductedThe following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

5k

The most cases a winery can produce and still be considered “Very Small,” according to the WineBusiness Analytics Winery Database. The following content is accessible for members only, please sign in.

Each week, my team and I will bring you a fascinating and fun dose of wine intel. You’ll find my top wine recommendations (for every one wine we recommend to you, we taste 50 to 100 wines), plus great wine and food quizzes, my takes on happenings in the wine world, and my (hopefully thought-provoking and helpful) blogs. Plus, as always, lots more!

 

~ Karen MacNeil

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