Francois Lurton 2009 El Albar Barricas
Spanish Wine Review One of the finest values in fine wines I have seen in a few years. This is a remarkable bottle for both its impressive weight and finesse from …
Domaine Cordier 2011 St Veran “en Faux”
White Burgundy Wine Review Cordier is known as a modern winemaker in a region -Burgundy-that often than not, values tradition. One of his signatures is a lavish use of new oak, …
Etude 2010 Chardonnay Estate Carneros
A Chardonnay Review A high styled wine that is intended as a luxury bottling. It upholds its mission, just not at the high price the winery intended (we can thank Pennsylvania’s …
Mastroberardino 2011 Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio Rosso
Italian Wine Review Piedrosso is one of my secret weapons. It’s an unknown wine from an obscure wine region in a largely ignored province in Italy. It’s also a delightful wine …
Smuttynose Baltic Porter
Baltic Porter ReviewDark as an empty movie theater, this porter sports a nose of Raisinets and buttered popcorn. On the palate, it turns into fresh figs with walnuts and dried blueberries. …
Gordon Brothers 2008 Merlot, Columbia Valley
Columbia Valley Merlot ReviewBack in the day, when I sold wines for a living, I was a huge fan of the Gordon Brothers. They released their first wines in the early eighties …
Dominio Mano a Mano 2009 Venta La Ossa
Portuguese Wine ReviewOne of the best-kept secrets in the wine industry is the new crop of modern Portuguese red wines. This is a great example and should be sought out by …
Philadelphia Daily News: Get a taste, and degree, for wine
If you don’t know a pinot gris from a pinot noir, resolve this year to become a wine pro.
With the popularity of movies like “Sideways,” a film about love and marriage set in southern California’s Santa Barbara County wine district, as well as increased interest among young professionals who are starting wine clubs and going to tastings, there’s no better time to sip and learn.
Philly Uncorked: Champange
Philly Uncorked was filmed at the Wine School of Philadelphia by Banyon Productions. Keith Wallace developed, wrote and co-starred in the show. He also co-produced the show with Banyon.
Philadelphia Inquirer: The newlywed cellar
Making those choices would be a challenge for even a well-seasoned wine drinker. So I turned to several Philadelphia wine experts for advice – plus specifics on how they would spend that $500 – and discovered a wide range of strategies, styles, and considerations for tackling such a happy conundrum.
The first question each one asked, though, was probably the least sexy: What is the storage situation?
“If wines are not stored in a reasonably cool, dark environment, they’re not going to hold very well,” says Keith Wallace, founder of the Wine School of Philadelphia. “Even two years out, bottles can be compromised.”
Dealing with wine fridges or a genuine basement wine cellar is a project of its own that can easily devour hundreds of dollars. But it’s a necessary evil if you plan to lay an expensive bottle down for a decade or two.
Shea Wine Cellars 2008 Estate Chardonnay
Oregon Wine Review Anyone who doesn’t like chardonnay on principle should feel compelled to drink this wine. A study in elegance and sex appeal, this Shea is an excellent example of …
Coopers Best Extra Stout
Export Stout Review Just as dark and scented as a freshly pulled espresso. A full-bodied stout with rich milk chocolate on the palate. Strands of smoky molasses and saltwater taffy develop …