Category: Wine Reviews
2002 Esk Valley Reserve Bordeaux Blend, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Like the rest of the world, at least those who venture beyond the section of the wine shelves marked “California”
L’Aventure Winery, Paso Robles, CA: Current Releases
Down a side road, at the end of another side road, off the pavement and down a gravel road, the
1986 Fiorano (Boncompagni Ludovisi) Malvasia Bianca VdT Botte 25, Latium, Italy
I’ve insisted many times that the story behind a wine is an important part of my enjoyment of a wine
2005 La Yunta Torrontés Riojana, La Rioja, Argentina
I’m always looking for good wines to go with Chinese food. Especially around the holidays, when we eat with my
2003 Ferenc Takler “Proprietors Reserve” Cabernet Franc, Szekszárd, Hungary
It’s not often that I come across Hungarian wines at all, especially given my very low tolerance for dessert wines.
2002 Jim Barry “The Cover Drive” Cabernet, Clare Valley, Australia
I’m not convinced entirely that Australia is a great place for Cabernet. I’ve had some pretty solid Cabernet/Shiraz blends from
2003 Marilyn Merlot and Velvet Collection, Napa
There are some people that are popular. Then there are some people that are celebrities. And then there are people
Sonoma’s Best Pinot Noir: Highlights From Pinot on The River 2005
Better late than never, isn’t that what they say? I attended the Pinot on The River event over a month
2004 Magnet (Sin é) Pinot Noir, Sonoma
We all occasionally buy wine by the label. While I imagine that there are a few complete wine snobs out
2003 Vinum Cellars ‘VIO” Viognier, San Benito County, CA
I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard of winemakers striking out on their own or forming partnership brokered
2004 Uriondo Txakolina, Bizkaiko (Basque), Spain
If I could find a wine like this once a month, for the rest of my life, I think I
Cameron Hughes Wines, San Francisco: Current Releases
The continued evolution of the global wine marketplace has made many things possible for many people. Small regional wineries that
How I Rate and Review Wine
It’s been some time since I talked about the way I review and write about wine, and there are new
2002 Achaval-Ferrer “Finca Altamira” Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina
I’ve been of the opinion for a while that Malbec, while a noble grape, and a valuable contributor (albeit in
2002 Match Vineyards “Butterdragon Hill” Cabernet, St. Helena, Napa
The more young winery owners I meet, the more I keep hearing the line “If you had asked me six
NV Il Colle “Cuvée 46° Parallelo” Prosecco, Conegliano, Italy
I’m not a huge connoisseur of Champagne. I like a good aged Champagne every now and again, but I don’t
1999 Calera Wine Company “Jensen” Pinot Noir, Mt. Harlan, CA
Something special, in my opinion is going on in the hills to the east of Salinas. Calera Wine Company sits
Halleck Vineyards, Sonoma: Current Releases
One of the things that I love about Sonoma County and its wines are the little nooks and crannies that
2003 Baldassari Family Winery Syrah, Bennett Valley, Sonoma
I’ve said more than once how energized I am by the new wineries that seem to be popping up every
