Category: Wine Reviews
2004 Swanson Merlot, Oakville, Napa
People travel all sorts of roads to get to Napa Valley. Napa is a refuge for those who can afford
Spring Mountain Vineyard, Napa: Current Releases
Friends and acquaintances often ask for recommendations on where to go in Napa, and I always tailor my response to
The Best Zinfandel in California: Tasting at ZAP 2008
I never cease to be amazed at the power of Zinfandel. At the last major Pinot Tasting in San Francisco,
2006 Orin Swift Cellars “The Prisoner” Red Wine, Napa
I wish I knew how many wineries in Napa started as “just a guy who decided he wanted to make
Tablas Creek Vineyard, Paso Robles: Current Releases
It always comes as a surprise to some American wine lovers when they hear about French wineries deciding to open
WBW#41 Roundup Has Been Posted: Friuli White Wines
The white wines of northeastern Italy have never been on the radar for most Americans. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate only
Kikusui Funaguchi Ichiban Shibori Honzojo, Niigata Prefecture
I’ll admit it right off the bat: I’m a serious sake snob. I don’t mean that in the sense that
2002 Vodopivec Vitovska, Friuli-Venezia Giulia IGT, Italy
In the far Northeastern corner of Italy there lies a countryside that is better defined by wine than by any
2002 Pietratorcia “Scheria” Rosso, Isola d’Ischia, Italy
The phrase “wine country” generally evokes a wide variety of mental images, largely derived from each person’s individual experience in
Renaissance Vineyards, Sierra Foothills, CA: Current Releases
I don’t think anything excites me quite as much as finding a small producer of wine that is off most
Tamanohikari Shuzo “Yuki Hiryo Shiyo Bizen Omachi 100%” Junmai Daiginjo, Kyoto Prefecture
I go to Japan to do three primary things. See beautiful crafts and architecture, eat amazing food, and drink sake.
J Vineyards, Russian River Valley: Current Releases
There was a time (think: late Seventies, early Eighties) when a lot of people would have put money on California
WBW#40 Roundup Has Been Posted: P.S. We Love You
Doesn’t it seem to you like folks with the name “Junior” and “Little Joe” always end up having bad attitudes?
2005 Storrs Winery Petite Sirah, Santa Cruz Mountains
I don’t know who said it, but in the last few years I’ve heard it uttered that the Santa Cruz
Jack Tastes Old…Wines
The generosity and collegiality of wine lovers remains one of the tiny miracles of wine for me. I am constantly
2006 HdV “De la Guerra” Chardonnay, Carneros
California’s Carneros AVA (American Viticultural Area) is unusual in many respects. It’s most well known eccentricity is that it exists
2004 Caymus “Special Selection” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
To say some wines need no introduction is both a truism and also a disservice. There are indeed some wines,
Iron Horse Vineyards, Green Valley, Sonoma: Current Releases
Spending my summers in Sonoma County starting at about the age of five, I have soft-focus memories of wine tasting
2003 Meyer Family Cellars Syrah, Mendocino
There are some California appellations that need no introduction, others that will ring a bell for experienced wine lovers, and
