A bottling from AVV’s new Reserve line, this Cabernet is a good step forward for this family-owned winery. The aromatics begin with a whiff of buttered popcorn flowing into fresh tobacco …
I recently had the pleasure of teaching two wine classes featuring the Napa Valley wines and was absolutely stunned by the range of flavors, aromas, and, yes, styles that the students …
One of the fascinating aspects of Italian wine is the number of varietals under the radar, especially in renowned areas such as Tuscany and Piedmont. It’s hard to acquire cachet when …
From the super-ripe 2003 vintage comes this amazingly affordable St.-Estephe red. Rich currant fruit and judicious oak combine to make this second-label wine a standout.
Again with the 2005’s! So many of them are priced out of reach of all but those with the deepest pockets. But here’s an example of a cherry-rich, age-worthy bottling from …
Anyone who has ever taken one of Frank Cipparone’s classes on Italian wines knows his love of obscure, less-familiar bottlings. And long ago, it became clear that, in matters of all …
It would be enough if this were simply an elegant, fully mature Spanish red. But the fact that it’s an elegant, fully mature Spanish red for one-third its usual price makes it truly special.
Domaine du Coulet Cornas Terrasses du SerreA classic style, with minimal oak and blended from several slopes within Cornas. The traditional approach is quite evident on the palate. More delicate than …
Steely acidity and popping apple notes give way to cool chalk and ripe apricot and just a hint of a forest fire: a complex and beautiful wine that will develop over …
In the Rhone Valley, the reds get all the attention and the lion’s share of love. But fans of the region’s whites know that they are every bit as wonderful as …
I love this wine–let’s just put it out there and avoid all that wine-writing propriety and distance. And the funny thing is that it’s not in the style I typically gravitate …
The southwest corner of Sardinia has provided a welcome home for the Carignano varietal, the most notable versions being in the Carignano de Sulcis DOC. The use of up to 40% …
Lost in the ValleyEric really should have told me to take a right in front of the Amish lass picking flowers. She was there every time I sped past. Eric Miller’s …
From Radio to WineIf you jumped back in time to 1996, you would find me pounding back espressos in a glass-enclosed office at a National Public Radio station. If it were …
Blueberries and spice and everything boozy and nice, right? I mean, that’s Zinfandel, isn’t it? Well, not always. Last weekend during a wine class, we tasted a most unusual Zinfandel–the Glaymond …
This is definitely a wine that needs some rebranding. ‘Piodilei’ literally translates to ‘Pio for the ladies.’ It is so named because the family’s women found this wine particularly appealing–though there’s …