Category: Wine Reviews
The Best Pinot Noir in California?: Tasting at Pinot Days 2008
The Pinot Days event, which took place on the last weekend in June this year, brings together one of the
2005 Hughes-Wellman Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, Napa Valley
Good wine is rarely made by accident. So much can go wrong in the winemaking process that to get something
Just When You Thought France Was Making Progress
No matter how bad you think you have it, there are other folks who have it worse than you. We
La Brancaia, Chianti, Italy: Current Releases
Tuscany will always hold a special place in my heart. If not for the dreamlike quality of the rolling Chianti
Vérité Wines, Sonoma: Current Releases
Formulaic is an adjective that is often leveled at some of California’s top boutique wines and their winemaking. As if
2006 Baker Lane “Hurst Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
Some people seem to get into the wine business through sheer determination. After years of saving, scraping, dreaming and planning,
Hungarian Wine on My Doorstep
After nearly five years of writing about wine on the Internet, you wouldn’t believe all the things that I’ve been
Domaine Marc Kreydenweiss, Alsace: Current Releases
The wines of Alsace are some of the most unique and distinctive in the world. They are also some of
Sake Rice Matters: the Experts are Wrong.
By W. Blake Gray How much does the type of rice matter in sake? “Not much,” most experts say. But
Ohyama Tokubetsu Junmai Nigori, Yamagata Prefecture
We all understand the power of brands. There was likely a time for most Americans alive to day when we
Italian Wine Tasting Notes From The Golden Glass 2008
These days, with a newborn, I don’t get out to many large tasting events, but one I decided I shouldn’t
2005 Veramonte “Primus” Red Wine, Casablanca Valley, Chile
It’s hard to believe that in the early 1990’s less than 100 acres of vineyards were planted in Chile’s Casablanca
Kamotsuru “Sokaku” Daiginjo, Hiroshima Prefecture
One of the fascinating and attractive things about sake breweries are their (usually) much longer and storied histories than the
2005 Star Lane Vineyards “Astral” Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Ynez Valley
There are those in the wine world who seek out (and often pay for) the best possible advice they can
Takasago Ginga Shizuku “Divine Droplets” Junmai Daiginjo, Hokkaido Prefecture
It is deep winter. The snows lay heavy on the mountains of northern Japan. Cedar trees hang sparkling, dusted with
Asahi Shuzo Dassai Niwari Sanbu “Otterfest 23” Junmai Daiginjo, Yamaguchi Prefecture
There is no real reason to attempt a comparison between sake and wine. Each are their own universe and deserve
Kamoizumi “Shusen – Three Dots” Junmai, Hiroshima Prefecture
In the world of sake, perhaps even more so than the world of wine, just when you think you’ve figured
2005 Blackbird Vineyards Proprietary Red Wine, Napa
I make it my business to keep my eye on new California wineries, especially in Napa and Sonoma, as much
