Renato Ratti 2014 “Battaglione” Barbera D’Alba
I was going to include this in my recent Barolo & Beyond class, but at the last minute, I swapped it out for the Oreste Buzio 2016 Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese. …
I was going to include this in my recent Barolo & Beyond class, but at the last minute, I swapped it out for the Oreste Buzio 2016 Grignolino del Monferrato Casalese. …
Tormaresca “Trentangeli” Castel del Monte I am a big fan of Aglianico, but it isn’t a crowd-pleaser. It’s more like the Metallica of the wine world. Even some of our sommelier …
Nicolis is a benchmark producer of Amarone who has been crafting top-notch wines since 1951. This particular bottling is a bit more modern than its usual releases. Instead of aging exclusively …
Misunderstood BeaujolaisBeaujolais is an often misunderstood region just south of Burgundy. For the past two decades, the area has turned from easy-drinking wines to a style that balances delight and complexity. …
Corsica Corsica is a beautiful puzzle. It’s a French Territory and the birthplace of Napolean. It’s also an island off the Italian coast with a millennia-long cultural relationship with the Italian …
Buying good wine in Philly can be a challenge. The prices are too damn high. Most of the folks working in most of the wine shops in Philadelphia know more about …
The Algeria Connection Algeria was once a part of the French Empire, and a lot of wine was grown there. When the country declared its independence, most of the winemakers headed …
Sokol Blosser Sokol Blosser is one of those wineries everyone should know about. It’s a historic family-owned Oregon winery that keeps on producing quality wines. It’s great to see the current …
If you think of wine like art or architecture, this is one of those wines on the “Must Taste” list. It’s historically relevant to the origin of modern winemaking in Australia; it …
Robert Young Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, Scion Estate in Alexander Valley This is a classic. Aromas of Earl Grey tea and hibiscus are balanced with fresh mint and tobacco. The wine is …
SonomaWhen students ask me where they should visit when traveling to Napa Valley, I’ll rattle off a few wineries. If someone asks me if they should go to Sonoma or Napa, …
One of the great strengths of the Oregon wine scene is that its founders came from all points of the globe from all types of backgrounds. Background A case in point is …
The winery is a project of Jackson Family Wines, and this 2013 Estate Pinot Noir is its debut vintage. A very new winery, but it’s built on some seriously historical dirt. …
John Zelko John Zelko is an interesting guy. He earned his MD from the University of Colorado Denver in 1983. He’s now a practicing surgeon at The Oregon Clinic’s Portland facility, where …
Growing grapes has always been a challenge. In the past three years, the changing conditions in vineyards have made it even more difficult. Winemakers and vineyard managers the world over are …
Françoise Lannoye Françoise Lannoye is one of my favorite unknown Bordeaux winemakers. She makes great wine in unconventional areas and does it without fanfare. Along with her husband Philippe, she purchased …