Merryvale 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
2011 in Napa Valley was a difficult vintage. It was the year when using too much oak in the aging process turned the wine anemic and unpleasant. Many big-name Napa wineries turned …
Castelli del Grevepesa 2010 “Clemente VII” Rosso
Castelli del Grevepesa offers two wines named ” Clemente VII ” this bottling and the Chianti Classico. This wine is a Super Tuscan, a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Syrah. It …
Masi 2011 “Campofiorin” Rosso del Veronese
This 2011 bottling is a fantastic example of a Ripasso style wine from Northeast Italy. Lavender and fresh fennel on the nose with a whiff of burnt vanilla. Dense tannins prop …
Guigal Cotes du Rhone
Vertical VintagesAt least once a quarter, I pop open this wine to introduce our students to the Cotes du Rhone region of France. Vintage after vintage, this has been a go-to bottle. …
Pennsylvania Wine Law Primer
Over the past few years, how alcohol is bought and sold in Pennsylvania has changed dramatically. It is not just about semi-privatization and consumer choice—that is not half of it. The …
Copain Winery Sold!
This article was originally published in 2016. There have been some dramatic acquisitions in the wine business over the past several months. Jackson Family Wines purchased Copain winery, a highly regarded …
Wine Phrases for Beginners
Essential Wine TermsFor most wine enthusiasts, getting to know wine only gets daunting at tastings. When people more experienced throw out a jumble of words and phrases, not to mention the …
An Italian Sommelier Guide to Wine Pairings
Centuries of winemaking traditions support every grandmother and executive chef in Italy. From the Alpine peaks in the north to the sun-soaked beaches in the South, every Italian town offers a …
Crios 2013 “Limited Edition” Tannat, Mendoza
Tannat originally hails from France, grown mostly in Madiran. The wine it produces is always tannic and often primitive. The grape is also widely planted in South America, with Uruguay at the epicenter. …
Marchiori and Barraud 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza
Paul Hobbs Paul Hobbs without Paul Hobbs? Let’s talk a bit about Paul. He is one of the most celebrated Napa winemakers alive today: he worked for Mondavi and was on …
Jermann 2012 “Red Angel on the Moonlight” Pinot Nero, Friuli
Pinot Nero is Italian for Pinot Noir, but the Nero is much more Italian than Pinot. Winemakers in northeastern Italy don’t typically make Pinot in the French style, as most everyone …
Domaine Courtois 2012 “La Grange” Vinsobres
This is a fresh and zesty style of red with lavender and fresh cranberry on the nose. Stone and crushed wildflowers are playfully entwined on the palate. The blend here is about equal …
Les Grands Crus Blancs 2014 Pouilly Vinzelles
A beautiful white wine from southern Burgundy. Cave Le Grands Crus is a small cooperative winery working with about 100 growers in and around the towns of Vinzelles and Pouilly. This particular bottling …
Dinastia Vivanco 2010 Rioja Reserva
After all these years (and all those wines!), the high level of winemaking and the low cost of Spanish wines still amazes me. For instance, this bottle of reserva should cost …
Pierre Amadieu 2013 “Domaine Grand Romane” Gigondas
Gigondas is one of the top crus in the southern Rhone, often dominating its famous neighbor Chateauneuf du Pape, and Pierre Amadieu is a benchmark winery for the region. A few years back, I …