Shatter 2012 Grenache, Côtes Catalanes
Côtes Catalanes is an obscure wine region tucked into the mountains that separate France from Spain. Eight years ago, when I was on the editorial review team for the second edition …
Terlato 2009 Syrah “Block 9” Dry Creek Valley
Is this Syrah from Cornas or California? In most ways, this wine drinks like it hail from that awesome Northern Rhone cru. Yet, here we are in Sonoma Valley, Dry Creek …
Chateau L’Ermitage 2012 Costieres de Nimes Reserve du Selection Vieilles Vignes
Talk about a winery with history; Château l’Ermitage has been kicking around since the 12th century. Most of that was terrible plonk made by hermits. Its modern history (and when the …
Chamisal Estate 2011 Pinot Noir, Edna Valley
Way back in 1973, Chamisal was the pioneering winery in Edna Valley. Owners and varietals have come and gone, but one thing has remained constant: Pinot Noir from Edna Valley is …
Luigi Bosca 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Mendoza
A remarkable value for Cabernet Sauvignon. When buying wines from Mendoza, it’s best to know where in the region the wine is from. After all, Mendoza is HUGE. This bottle comes …
Landmark Vineyards 2012 “Overlook” Chardonnay
This bottle sports the generic appellation of “California,” but it’s mostly sourced from two vineyards in Sonoma’s Russian River Valley (the rest of central California).It is fermented in older oak barrels …
2011 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 was a crazy year for Napa Cabs.California is in the grip of a massive drought, but that wasn’t the case in 2011. At least in Napa Valley, where rain pummelled vineyards from …
Four Great Barrel Aged Spirits from Philly
This article was originally published in 2015Whiskey & RumI love my brown spirits, in particular the whiskies and rums. Pour white spirits into a charred oak barrel, roll it into a warehouse …
Top Rosé Wines
Villa Des Anges “Old Vines” Rosé, Pays d’Oc Here’s a pretty little folly from winemaker Jeff Carrel of the Languedoc-Roussillon. Bright and wild strawberries on the nose, with a plume of …
Growing Grapes without Irrigation
In 2015, California’s Governor Jerry Brown issued an executive order that included a mandatory 25% water reduction. Not surprisingly, the news went national; this was a first in America. Future of …
French & Spanish Wine Reviews
Spanish Wine ReviewsAnecoop Casa L’Angel Old Vines, Valencia (SP)This bottle smells like a pirate ship: aromas of ocean air, old wood, and gun smoke. It’s another story for the palate, which …
Wine Ratings
Clos du Val Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley (Cali)For 40 years, this vineyard in the valley has been bottling top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon and their mature craftsmanship shows. The same winemaking finesse shows in …
Philadelphia Inquirer: Try a slug of this with your pizza
The story was originally published by the Philadelphia Inquirer on May 4, 2008.Inqlings: Try a slug of this with your pizzaAuthor: Michael KleinMike Schmidt hit 548 home runs in his 18 seasons …
California Wines Reviews
Terlato “Devil’s Peak” Cabernet Franc, Pope ValleyThe wine is bright, ruby, and shows no bricking with medium color concentration, no sediment, and medium-minus viscosity. Aromas of blueberry, smoke, and hints of …
Bootlegger’s Bible (Cocktail Recipes)
French 751 ounce Gin1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice1/3 ounce whiskey sugar syrupice cubes1 1/2 ounces sparkling wineThe drink was created in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris. Felt like …
Wine Reviews
Victor Vineyards Roadside RedFun little Zinfandel-based bottle from the town of Victor in California’s Central Valley. Red fruit, port-y raisins, licorice, and milk chocolate notes. My current “house red” for everyday drinking.Callabriga DaoA serious …