d’Arenberg 2004 “The Laughing Magpie” Shiraz/Viognier, McLaren Vale
Why does Arenberg sell this wine for so little? Why sell a bottle of wine for under $20 when so many people are happy to spend over $30? Even the critics …
Selvapiana 2003 “Vigna Bucerchiale” Chianti Rufina Riserva
Of the seven sub-zones of the Chianti DOCG outside the Classico area, Rufina is the most highly regarded. Tucked into the foothills approaching the regional border with Emilia-Romagna, its production is …
Tomas and Giesen “Munir Bianco” 2006, IGT, Sicilia
Cataratto is one of the most widely planted grapes in Italy. It accounts for over half of Sicily’s vineyard acres and is known primarily for use as a bulk wine grape …
Castillo Labastida 2001 Rioja Reserva
International Wine Cellar, notoriously the most difficult of the major wine-review publications, called this bottling “fully mature and delicious.” To that, we would also add “guilt-inducingly affordable” and “dangerously drinkable.”
Sylvan Springs 2006 “Hard Yards” Shiraz
Aussie to the core, this bottle is from McLaren Vale and offers up dark chocolate and licorice. Aromatics of white pepper and kirsch round it out this bruiser.
Jakoby-Mathy 2006 Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Auslese “Eulenlay,” Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Quite a mouth-full both in name and in flavor. This is a super-friendly, surprisingly light-on-its-feet Auslese with pronounced notes of lychee and an almost citric zing to it. Jakoby-Mathy may not …
Barbera from the Piemonte
I was always one of those guys unaffected by jetlag, no matter where I was traveling to or returning from. But this most recent trip–my wife and I spent the 10 …
Good Cheap Wine
There are plenty of well-made wines that are also cheap. Here are 10 of our favorite cheap wines, but these are a sampling of the best of the best. Even better, …
Cesari 2004 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
We’ve had excellent luck with the 2004 Amarones, and this one is no exception. Its deep, rich fruit and unexpected spiciness scream out for sauce-slathered baby-backs.
Las Rocas de San Alejandro 2005 Garnacha, Catalyud
The Wine School is pouring a Garnacha these days that is flat-out charming me: The Las Rocas de San Alejandro 2005 from Catalyud, Spain. Not only is it fabulously fresh with …
Forget Vintage, Take the “Bomb Pulse”
When it comes to wine, scientists are, in fact, using radioactive carbon traces to determine a bottle’s age. Specifically, new research has shown that the amount of radioactive carbon captured in …
Casata Monfort 2006 “Blanc de Sers” Vigneti Dolomiti
Only in a region as culturally bisected as Trentino would you find a funky blend of the obscure – Wanderbara, Vernaza, Nosiola, Veltliner Rosato – and the familiar – Chardonnay, Moscato. …
Tenute Dettori 2005 Bianco, Romangia
A little over a year ago, I was raving about this winery’s Tudori, an atypical old school Sardinian Cannonau that exemplifies their uncompromising commitment to making wines that express a unique …
Rochioli 2005 Rose of Pinot Noir
This wine would be a beauty, whatever color it was. There are interesting aromas of meat and possibly something even a bit smokey. There’s a great acid balance on the palate …
Renwood 2003 “Old Vine” Zinfandel
Blood-colored with a brick-like rim, this wine shows a nose of rich, ripe blue and blackberries, the expected zinfandel spice, and something almost nutty. The palate is chewy and delicious, with …
Wine Taint in California Pinot Noir
There’s no denying one of Pinot’s wine tasting hallmarks — and the reason many of us love it so — is its discernible funk on the nose. Barnyard stank, dung, smokey …