Category: Undiscovered Wines
The Reincarnation of Pinot Noir: Adam Lee’s Clarice Project
If you went looking for a poster child, rags-to-riches wine success story in California, you’d be hard-pressed to find a
Putting Terroir Where Your Mouth Is: The Extraordinary Wines of Pedro Parra
The van bumps down the dirt road and comes to a halt at the top of a steep unmarked lane
The Narrow Road to Quality in Chile’s Far North
Pisco vineyards in the Elqui valley. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. One of the perennial regrets of any traveling journalist must be
Lost Treasures in the Sierra Foothills: The Wines of Renaissance Vineyards
Soon after gold was discovered in California in 1848, and word spread east, more than 80,000 prospectors descended upon the
A Life Indomitable: The Wines of Casal Santa Maria, Portugal
“I have been condemned to death four times,” says the man that everyone calls Senhor Baron with a smile that
Bay Area Bordeaux: Tasting Santa Cruz Mountain Cabernets
It sounds like the beginnings of a joke: how do you hook a wine writer? The answer, it turns out,
From the Quiet Garden: The Wines of Pichler-Krutzler, Wachau, Austria
Winemaker Erich Krutzler has carried a lot of baggage in his life. At 46 he is still a relatively young
The Taste of Something New: Introducing Solminer Wines
Many things motivate the ambitious wine lover, but the curious joy of discovery often ranks highest among the forces that
Coastal Diamonds: The Rieslings of Oregon
About every two years, I get an invite to attend the International Pinot Noir Celebration in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The
The Abbot’s Dinner: A Tale of New Beginnings in Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Few things excite me more than getting a peek into the birth of a promising new winery. Especially when such
Drinking The Past: The Wines of Zorah, Armenia
Wines are always a link to our past. At the very least they tell a story of a previous season,
Kocabag Winery, Cappadocia, Turkey: Current Releases
From the small airport of Nevsehir you must cross the Kizilirmak or “the red river,” the longest river in Turkey
Vivier Wines, Napa: Current Releases
Most winemakers have some story of how they discovered wine. It’s quite commonplace in Europe to simply grow up in
Garagiste Winemakers Tasting: November 10, Paso Robles
One of my favorite pastimes involves tasting wines made by small winemakers who either are just beginning their journeys to
Heimann Family Estate, Szekszard, Hungary: Current Releases
The Transdanubian hills in Szekszárd (pronounced sex-sahrd), rise up sharply off the Hungarian Plain, bounding up several hundred meters in
Forgotten Jewels: Reviving Chile’s Old Vine Carignane
As a child, the lure of archeology cannot be denied. Fantasies of discovering ancient treasures fuel the dreams of many
Love is All You Need: The Magical Wines of Imre Kaló
The road from Tokaj to Eger, Hungary, tells something of the country’s story. An early spring afternoon shows lush, gently
Weingut Veyder-Malberg, Wachau, Austria: Current Releases
In Austria’s Wachau valley, it’s hard to pay attention to what winemakers tell you, especially when they’re talking with you
2008 Pheasant’s Tears Rkatsiteli, Republic of Georgia
We don’t know exactly where and when mankind first made wine in any significant quantity, but we believe that it
Presqu’ile Winery, Santa Maria Valley: Current Releases
I’m wandering around the grand tasting tent at the World of Pinot Noir conference, focusing, as I often do, on
Turkish Wine: Some Initial Tasting Notes
Exploring new wine regions continues to be one of my greatest thrills as a wine lover and wine writer. And
Pinot Noir Everywhere: From the Expected to the Fringes
Yes, I’m on a Pinot Noir kick this week, thanks to my recent attendance at the World of Pinot Noir
Domaine Seguin-Manuel, Beaune, France: Current Releases
My recent trip to Burgundy was an exploration of the Burgundy of tradition and heritage, as well as the Burgundy
Domaine Buisson-Battault, Meursault, France: Current Releases and Library Wines
Part of the charm of Burgundy has to do with the context of many of the wineries and their cellars.
Domaine des Vignes du Maynes, Cruzille, France: Current Releases
I went to Burgundy to dig my feet into the dirt a bit. To get down on my hands and
2007 Monastero Suore Cistercensi “Coenobium Rusticum” Bianco, Lazio, Italy
We owe much of modern viticulture and winemaking traditions to the church in some form or another. Even before the
Brittan Vineyards, Willamette Valley, OR: Inaugural Releases
Expressed briefly, making a great wine is rather quite simple. You find the right piece of ground; you put the
Garagiste Winemakers of Chile: Introducing MOVI
If I were Hugh Johnson or Jancis Robinson, I could clear my throat and begin my story with a distinguished
Tasting Oregon Riesling…At the International Pinot Noir Celebration?
Adulterous. Maybe a little sneaky, and a tiny bit rebellious. There I was at the International Pinot Noir Celebration in
Fontanella Family Wines, Napa: Inaugural Releases
When it comes to family-run wineries, I always enjoy seeing how the many different roles and responsibilities involved in a
2004 Erba Mountainside Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
In Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series of science fiction books, the main character has invented a science called Psychohistory for predicting
New Cabernets from Napa
When I was a kid, I wanted to be an archaeologist or an exploratory marine biologist. I had dreams of
Croatian Wine: Some Tasting Notes
There are a lot of wine regions I have yet to visit in the world, and with a young child
2004 La Stoppa “Ageno” White Blend, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Most people faced a with the choice of merely a specific color of wine to drink will consider their stated
Cadaretta Winery, Walla Walla, WA: Current Releases
I make it my habit to pay attention to new, small wineries. Generally that means seeking them out at public
2003 Meyer Family Cellars “Bonny’s Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville
Heritage plays out in many ways in the Napa Valley. There are only a few remaining families that have been
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
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
Meteor Vineyard, Napa: Debut Releases
Barry Schuler may know a thing or two about running multi-billion dollar technology companies, but what he really wants to
Cooper-Garrod Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains: Current Releases
One of the greatest joys in my life remains the feeling I get when stumbling upon a small winery whose
