Abbazia di Novacella 2007 Kerner, Alto Adige
The Alto Adige may be politically and geographically part of Italy, but its wines exhibit an attitude born of altitude that is decidedly continental. Nestled in the visually stunning Valle Isarco …
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In Praise of Cheap White Wine
And now the time has come to praise cheap white wine. Or, to be accurate, green wine. I recently returned from a trip to Portugal, and much to my wife’s chagrin, …
Susana Balbo Rose of Malbec
Earlier this week, while we were enjoying that brief, sudden, sodden stint of surprisingly spring weather, I found myself craving a nice cool glass of white. So I started poking around …
Sella & Mosca 2004 Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva
Located in the northwestern part of the island, Sella & Mosca has become Sardinia’s signature winery. Its vast acres of vineyards have made it, and Argiolas is synonymous with wine from …
Italian Wine Reviews
While the member of the Wine School team laying waste to Spain’s porcine population, yours truly was engaged in exhaustive research concerning patterns of wine consumption among Italians. Specifically, what will …
Naia 2006 Naia Des Verdejo
What makes this wine unusual isn’t where it’s from but the grape variety itself. Verdejo, after all, is still sadly underappreciated by too many wine-lovers. But this one, hopefully, will start …
Grgich Hills 2004 Zinfandel
The aroma of spicy, peppery raisins soaked in Dr. Pepper, but in a good way. This is classic, peppery California zinfandel, yet the blue fruits of the 7% Petit Sirah add …
Bertani “Le Lave” 2002 Veneto
…Old and New World styles synthesize in this full-bodied, creamy blend born of volcanic soil that is the antithesis of vapid, watery white wines from the Veneto. Garganega, the basis of …
Langlois NV Cremant de Loire
We’ve mentioned this sparkler before, but it seems especially relevant when too many people spend too much money on name-brand bubblies that deliver a fraction of what their price tag implies. …
Rolf Binder 2006 “Hovah ” Viognier
A Viognier of this caliber in this price range is very rare. I strongly suggest picking up a bottle, especially if you have never experienced a viognier. Classic notes of peaches …
Review: Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley.
For those of you in a wine course, a great novel to dive into while blind tasting is Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley. Highsmith’s protagonist is the very sordid yet …
Pondering Barolo
There are wines. And there are Wines. Barolo is of the latter, not for its renown, prestige, or even its price. No, Barolo is a Wine that presents more questions than …
Studert Prum Riesling 2008 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabbinett Riesling, Mosel
A fire-etched riesling from one of the great Mosel vineyards. Lovely, but it could use a year or so more in the bottle to even out.
Quinta do Castelinho 1999 Vintage Port
Beautiful ruby color with hints of blue and purple at the edges. Aromas of raisins, toffee, herbs, and earth leads to a gorgeous palate of raisins, red berries, and something almost …
Buehler 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
This hearkens back to the halcyon days when my friend Jonathan Newman was the Chairman of the PLCB. I still remember all those great deals on top-shelf Napa Cabernet. Although the …
Studert-Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr 2005 Riesling Kabinett, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Anyone who’s been to a Wine School class knows that we’re big on that whole petrol-y thing that good riesling has. And this bottle possesses it in spades, and then some: …