Category: Wine Reviews

1994 Zind-Humbrecht “Brand” Riesling, Alsace, France
For anyone who drinks Alsatian wines on a regular basis, let alone someone who considers themselves a fan or an
Piña Napa Valley: Current Releases
If one were to speculate on the wine market as a savvy investor might in the small-cap stock market, the
The Last Drops: Miscellaneous Tasting Notes from IPNC 2009
I like to tell people that when it comes to reviewing wines, my tasting notes are the least important part

Patton Valley Vineyard, Willamette Valley: Current Releases
When it comes to wineries I generally know I’m in for something good when I drive down a long dirt
Tasting Oregon Riesling…At the International Pinot Noir Celebration?
Adulterous. Maybe a little sneaky, and a tiny bit rebellious. There I was at the International Pinot Noir Celebration in

Notes from the Al Fresco Tasting at IPNC 2009
I go to a lot of wine tastings, and have come to really appreciate those that are done right. It
Oregon’s International Pinot Noir Celebration: Day One
Under the towering trees and across the sprawling green lawns of Linfield College in the little town of McMinnville, Oregon,

Arista Winery, Russian River Valley: Current Releases
Given the chance, I highly recommend anyone to make the investment of time and money to watch a winery evolve

2007 Point Concepcion “Celestina” Pinot Grigio, Santa Barbara County
I make it my habit to seek out and try a particular kind of wine that flies well under the

Domaine Tempier, Bandol, France: Current Releases
There are two types of people in the world, the joke goes: those who believe the world can be divided
Lang & Reed Wine Company, Napa: Current Releases
All of us wine lovers inevitably discover, in the course of our explorations, our own secret wineries. These are the

2007 J. Rochioli “River Block” Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
It took me a long time in my evolution as a wine lover to truly understand the amount of money

The Joy of Spätlese: Tasting the 2008 German and Austrian Vintage from Terry Theise
The wine world needs more people like Terry Theise, the man I call the Shakespeare of Terroir. It’s so easy

The Best Pinot Noir in California?: Tasting Pinot Days 2009
The Pinot Days grand tasting event, which took place yesterday at Fort Mason in San Francisco, brings together one of

Denshu Hyakuyonju “140” Junmai Daiginjo, Aomori Prefecture
By W. Blake Gray One of the main characteristics of Japanese is its vagueness. Language is culture, and Japanese helps

2006 Hourglass “Blueline Estate” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
There is no single recipe for greatness when it comes to Napa wine, but starting with a great plot of

2006 Hall “Exzellenz” Sacrashe Vineyard Proprietary Red Wine, Rutherford, Napa
The pleasures of childhood call to us as adults. The tug of nostalgia is so great that we so often