Category: Wine Reviews
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
Giacomo Conterno Barolo and Barbera: Italy’s Greatest Wines?
Because of our deep history with wine, the standards by which we judge today’s efforts must be placed within the
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
2005 Lieff “Auberge Road Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Napa
There are people who start wineries and work for a long time to get to the point that their names
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
Fontanella Family Wines, Napa: Inaugural Releases
When it comes to family-run wineries, I always enjoy seeing how the many different roles and responsibilities involved in a
2004 Erba Mountainside Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
In Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series of science fiction books, the main character has invented a science called Psychohistory for predicting
Flowers Winery, Sonoma Coast: Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs
I love the places where wine grows in spite of the adversity heaped upon it by the place, the climate,
2006 Jack Larkin Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
The allure of Napa is legendary, even clichéd. The wine country lifestyle, or whatever you want to call it, combined
The Best Wine in Washington State: Notes from Taste Washington 2009
The first week of April I got the opportunity to do an “immersion” course in Washington State wine. No, this
Peay Vineyards, Sonoma Coast: Current Releases
As a wine reviewer who gets paid next to nothing for his work, I have the luxury of only reviewing
2005 Peacock Family Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain District, Napa
I have a hard spot in my heart for peacocks. Spending summers with my father in Sonoma County as a
2003 Adagio “Premium” Malbec, Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
Every time Spring rolls around, I find myself thinking wistfully of Argentina. I spent a wonderful three weeks there a
Outpost Wines, Napa: Current Releases
To the casual visitor or inexperienced wine lover, Napa may just be a name on a bottle, or a vision
2007 Morgan “Metallico” Chardonnay, Monterey
It’s not a huge leap from veterinary medicine to winemaking, and that leap is made even shorter when you’re enrolled
2005 François Blanchard “Violoncelite” Cabernet Franc, Touraine, France
Perhaps some of the most interesting wines in the world are made by cranks, crackpots, and wackos — iconoclasts that
Chikurin Karoyaka “Lightness” Junmai Ginjo, Okayama Prefecture
In many ways, sake production and winemaking couldn’t be more different — from the chemistry to the differences in how
