Category: Red Wine
2001 Skewis Pinot Noir, Floodgate Vineyard, Anderson Valley
There’s something to be said for focus — doing one thing and doing it well. But why is it that
2003 Palama Salento Rosato Metiusco, Puglia, Italy
The winery at Azienda Vinicola Palama has been around since 1936, and is still in the Palama family. While proprietor
2000 Morgan “Gary’s Vineyard” Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, California
It’s not a huge leap from veterinary medicine to winemaking, and that leap is made even shorter when you’re enrolled
2001 Joseph Swan “Cuvee de Trois” Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma
Vineyards are often the stuff of dreams, the long sought after goals of some, or simply an inevitable plan for
2000 Ceja Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
Many of the small production wineries and their wines that I feature here are built with the help of migrant
2001 Gargiulo Vineyards “Money Road Ranch” Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
I think there’s an interesting phenomenon happening in Napa right now. It seems every day there’s a new small Napa
2001 Stephen Ross Pinot Noir, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley, California
Continuing with my tastings in recent weeks of wines from the California Central Coast here is a great Pinot from
2001 Detert Cabernet Franc, Oakville
It seems like many of Napa’s best small producers have the same story: earlier in the century someone buys a
2001 Chase Zinfandel, Hayne Vineyard, Napa
Sixty acres of old-vine Zinfandel, Petite Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon have been handed down through the Chase family since before
2001 Gulfi Estate Vineyards Rosso “Nerojbleo” Nero D’ Avola, Sicily
As some readers know, I’m a pretty big fan of Italian wines, especially those of Tuscany and Piedmont. I’ve recently
1999 Ballantine Reserve Zinfandel, Napa
Wine is naturally a vehicle for history, so tied as it is to a place and a soil and a
2000 Domaine Alfred Pinot Noir, Chamisal Vineyard, Edna Valley
Edna Valley has been quietly establishing itself over the last decade as a place that can turn out fantastic wines,
2001 Londer Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley
Londer Vineyards is another new label that is blossoming under the steady winemaking hand of Greg LaFolette of Flowers fame,
2001 Borie de Maurel “Esprit d’ Automne” red blend, Minervois, France
I first encountered this wine in the “values” section of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. It happened to be stocked by
2001 Tandem Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia Highlands, California
Tandem is a relatively new label started by Greg Bjornstad and Greg La Follette, formerly of Flowers. They are committed
1995 Ovello Barbaresco Riserva, Piemonte, Italy
This is the secret forgotten wine. The frozen man of wine, stuck in a glacier and thawed out in someones
2000 Stuhlmuller Cabernet, Alexander Valley
There is a growing trend in California wine country that is resulting in lots of new small producers entering the
2000 Ladera Cabernet, Howell Mountain, Napa
Inaugural vintages are so exciting. At least for me. Even if the people and the grapes involved have been making
1999 Cosentino Cabernet Franc, Napa
I know Cosentino wines mostly because of their blockbuster Zinfandels, Cigar Zin, and The Zin. They make a lot more