Category: Perfect 10s
Ridge Vineyards: An American Wine Icon at 60
In 1968, a young Paul Draper was just beginning his career as a winemaker. After a brief stint making some
The Elegance of Age: Tasting South Africa’s Oldest Vines
Old vines make better wines. Like so many broad generalizations in the wine industry, that’s a verifiably false statement. Plenty
Striving for Perfection and Finding Truth: Tasting 20 Years of Vérité
The year was 1995. Jess Jackson and his wife Barbara Banke were riding high on the wave of success that
The Wines That Helped Me Survive 2020
I am not a fan of journalism-by-list. We can thank Buzzfeed, SEO fanaticism, and the shortening attention span of America
Krug: A Quintessence of Champagne
When, in 1989, Olivier Krug became the sixth generation of his family to work at the Champagne house that bears
Tasting Integrity: 25 Years of Corison Napa Cabernet
“This is how integrity tastes,” I found myself concluding as I tasted through 25 years of Cathy Corison’s efforts to
The Glory of 2013 Napa Cabernet: Tasting Premiere Napa Valley
Each year, the Napa Valley Vintners Association pulls out all the stops to host its annual fundraising event known as
MORIC: The Apogee of Blaufränkisch
“I am hardcore,” says Roland Velich, describing his winemaking while lounging in the mid-century modern comfort of his living room,
The Beauty of 2011 Burgundy: Highlights from La Paulee de San Francisco
I don’t drink nearly enough Burgundy. But that’s not saying much. Most wine lovers without trust funds or best-friend-sommeliers might
The Legendary Wines of Napa: Tasting Notes
Last weekend I had the singular pleasure of co-leading a tasting with the title Legends of Napa Valley. I wrote
1988 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti La Tache Grand Cru, Burgundy
You don’t get very far in a journey towards being a wine lover without hearing the words “Romanée-Conti” spoken with
1983 Schloss Schonborn Rudesheimer Bichofsberg Riesling Spatlese, Rheingau, Germany
Wine is the closest we come to alchemy. And ironically, the most magical transmutation that takes place within wine is
1957 R. Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Blanco, Rioja, Spain
There are few wineries in Spain whose names conjure the heritage and prestige evoked by R. Lopez de Heredia. Don
J.L. Chave, Mauve en Ardeche, France: Current Releases
Some places in this world are simply hallowed ground when it comes to winemaking. Of course every deep-rooted and honest
1980 Soldera Case Basse Brunello Riserva, Montalcino, Italy
When I was a kid, I read a lot of science fiction. On long plane flights I still occasionally pick
Bond Estates, Napa: A Retrospective Tasting
Like the saying goes, if I had a nickel for every time I’d heard or read about a winery “sparing
Masuizumi Junmai Daiginjo, Toyama Prefecture
Many of us drink wine as a portal to a sense of place and time — to be transported through
1988 Chateau Climens Sauternes-Barsac, Bordeaux, France
There are an endless number of formative wine experiences to provide enthusiastic wine lovers with memorable introductions to new levels
1961 Hospices de Beaune Emile Chandesais “Cuvée Rousseau Deslandes,” Côte de Beaune, Burgundy
I will never be able to taste all the wines out there, no matter how hard I try, just as
