Domaine de Saumarez 2004 “Aalenien,” Coteaux du Languedoc
When the weather turns cold, rich reds from warmer climes are often best. And this one, a Syrah-Grenache blend, fits the bill perfectly. It shows exactly why the reds of Languedoc …
WSoP Support
Moletto 2004 “La Pisara” Salento
By now, most oenophiles know about the Primitivo-Zinfandel connection. And most would be able to sniff and sip the differences in North American zin and a dark, spicy, mildly tannic Salento …
Wine Shopping for the Holidays
This was our original article on wine buying. For our most up-to-date recommendations on where to buy wine in the Philly region, check out our updated Wine Shop Guide. Maybe it’s …
Jean Laurent NV Blanc de Blancs Brut
The name may not be quite as familiar as some of its more famous cousins, but it deserves to be. This 100% Chardonnay bubbly is not only delicious on its own …
Cristalino NV Brut Cava
Will it change your life? Will it plumb the depths of profundity that a great Tete de Cuvee Champagne will? Probably not. But at under $15, it’s a heck of a …
Fattoria di Magliano 2007 “Heba” Morellino di Scansano
I was lamenting the scarcity of good and inexpensive Italian Sangiovese, and this one shows up a day later to prove me wrong. Nice balance of modern and classical Italian winemaking, …
Jean-Claude Thevenet et Fils 2006 St.-Veran Clos de l’Ermitage Cuvee Vieilles Vignes
A distinctive nose of wet riverbank stones with just the slightest citrus lift leads to a surprisingly generous mid-palate rich with lemon oil. That stoniness and minerality come back on the …
Drinking Nicolas Feuillatte’s Palmes d’Or with some Philly Racists
The Four Seasons In 2010, the Wine School ran a Champagne event at the old Four Seasons that featured a vertical tasting of Nicolas Feuillatte’s Palmes d’Or. Alas, I fear that …
Summers 2005 Charbono, Napa Valley
Yes, the mercury has risen, the muggies are threatening, and the food most of us crave has likely become lighter. So why extol the virtues of a wine of only moderate …
d’Arenberg 2004 “The Laughing Magpie” Shiraz/Viognier, McLaren Vale
Why does Arenberg sell this wine for so little? Why sell a bottle of wine for under $20 when so many people are happy to spend over $30? Even the critics …
Selvapiana 2003 “Vigna Bucerchiale” Chianti Rufina Riserva
Of the seven sub-zones of the Chianti DOCG outside the Classico area, Rufina is the most highly regarded. Tucked into the foothills approaching the regional border with Emilia-Romagna, its production is …
Tomas and Giesen “Munir Bianco” 2006, IGT, Sicilia
Cataratto is one of the most widely planted grapes in Italy. It accounts for over half of Sicily’s vineyard acres and is known primarily for use as a bulk wine grape …
Castillo Labastida 2001 Rioja Reserva
International Wine Cellar, notoriously the most difficult of the major wine-review publications, called this bottling “fully mature and delicious.” To that, we would also add “guilt-inducingly affordable” and “dangerously drinkable.”
Sylvan Springs 2006 “Hard Yards” Shiraz
Aussie to the core, this bottle is from McLaren Vale and offers up dark chocolate and licorice. Aromatics of white pepper and kirsch round it out this bruiser.
Jakoby-Mathy 2006 Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Auslese “Eulenlay,” Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Quite a mouth-full both in name and in flavor. This is a super-friendly, surprisingly light-on-its-feet Auslese with pronounced notes of lychee and an almost citric zing to it. Jakoby-Mathy may not …
Barbera from the Piemonte
I was always one of those guys unaffected by jetlag, no matter where I was traveling to or returning from. But this most recent trip–my wife and I spent the 10 …