Category: Wine Reviews
2006 Hughes-Wellman Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena
While wines, and great wines in particular, are made with incredible forethought and planning, sometimes wine labels can spring up
2007 J Vineyards “Barrel 16” Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
There was a time (think: late Seventies, early Eighties) when a lot of people would have put money on California
1980 Soldera Case Basse Brunello Riserva, Montalcino, Italy
When I was a kid, I read a lot of science fiction. On long plane flights I still occasionally pick
Noon Winery, McLaren Vale, Australia: Current Releases
The term garagiste, originally coined as a pejorative referring to the small wineries in Bordeaux’s Right Bank who were making
2006 Marc Kreydenweiss “Clos Rebberg” Pinot Gris, Alsace, France
The wines of Alsace are some of the most unique and distinctive in the world. They are also some of
2007 Monastero Suore Cistercensi “Coenobium Rusticum” Bianco, Lazio, Italy
We owe much of modern viticulture and winemaking traditions to the church in some form or another. Even before the
Jasper Hill Winery, Heathcote, Australia: Current Releases
The best wines in the world all share at least one thing in common, and that is a winemaker who
2004 St. Hallett Semillon, Barossa Valley, Australia
I’ll tell you right off the bat that if you live in the United States, you can’t buy this wine.
Torbreck Wines, Barossa Valley, Australia: Current Releases
Whenever I hear the term Chartered Accountant, I can’t help but think of Monty Python: Counselor: Well I now have
Palmina Winery, Santa Barbara County: Current Releases
You know how some entrepreneurs seem to start businesses in their sleep? They create a company, make it profitable or
D’Arenberg Winery, McLaren Vale, Australia: Current Releases
I can’t remember when, exactly, I had my first Australian wine, but there’s a good chance that it was made
Giaconda Winery, Beechworth, Australia: Current Releases
I’m an armchair student of geology. There was a time when I thought I was going to be a mineralogist.
Tasting some of Australia’s “First Families of Wine”
For all of its decidedly New World status when it comes to wine, Australia has some extraordinary winemaking heritage. Some
Tasting the Artisans of Barossa Wines
I’ve just spent a couple of days in Australia’s Barossa Valley, with its rolling hills of ancient rock worn down
Yarra Yering Winery, Yarra Valley, Australia: Current Releases
The greatest wines of the world are undeniably a product of place, embodying the particular constellation of elements that can
Castagna Winery, Beechworth, Australia: Current Releases
The little house with a peaked roof pokes up over the crest of the hill, and the vineyards in the
Some Initial Tastes from Australia
As many of you know, I’m currently tasting my way around Australia. I spent my first three days visiting the
Brittan Vineyards, Willamette Valley, OR: Inaugural Releases
Expressed briefly, making a great wine is rather quite simple. You find the right piece of ground; you put the
Where Malbec Comes From: Tasting the Wines of Cahors
One of my greatest pleasures as a wine lover (OK wine geek) is learning about a wine region by tasting
