Turkey Flat Rosé 2008, Barossa Valley
Not your usual rosé blend, but the proof, year after year, is difficult to argue with. In fact, we recently opened up a bottle of 06 that still had life in …
Thelema 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Stellenbosch
Though Chenin Blanc–or Steen in local parlance–gets all the glamour, Sauvignon Blanc has really been shining lately in South Africa. This effort from the wildly delicious “Mint” Cabernet Sauvignon producers is …
Cantina Cardeto 2005 “Rupestro” Umbria
Sangiovese is the most Italian of grapes, planted in almost every region and showing up in scores of classified wines, either on its own or in highly coveted (and high priced!) …
Chateau de Lancyre 2006 Roussanne
The classic white varieties of the Rhone are perfect this time of year, no matter where they’re grown and vinified. This Roussanne, from the south of the country, offers all the …
Netflix & Rosé
The other night, from the comfort of my couch and in the presence of Michael Scott, the magnificently offensive boss on “The Office,” I found myself knocked out by a cabernet …
Wirra Wirra 2006 “Catapult” Shiraz Viognier, Mclaren Vale
This wine goes for the smooth and rich style that is expected of an Aussie Shiraz. However, this one goes much deeper, with a smoky aroma tinged with floral and white …
Italian Wine Reviews
File this in the”old dog, new tricks” category. I’ve never been a fan of Italian Merlot. The ones I’d had the misfortune to experience were thin, too vegetal, and in some …
Brancott Estate 2005 Gewurztraminer “Patutahi”
Easy to drink, tough to pronounce. But it’s worth learning how-to for this exotically fruity, eminently enjoyable, pad thai-ready Gewurz.
Pesticides in Wine
While it’s unlikely to see an industrial-strength crop duster hovering over a vineyard anytime soon, news from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) indicates there’s a valid reason …
Hilberg-Pasquero 2007 Vareij
If you’ve read any of the wine reviews I’ve posted over the last couple of years, you are well aware of my fondness for the unusual, the eccentric, and the downright …
Bottle Shock: the Movie
On May 24, 1976, a blind tasting took place in Paris. France’s historic wines were being tasted and judged alongside ones from a handful of upstart California wineries. Spoiler alert: The …
Guy Larmandier Brut Vertus 1er Cru
How can you call it a celebration without Champagne? And this one, a gorgeous, minerally, exuberant premier cru, is not only addictive to drink, but under $50. Which itself is cause …
Bruno Giacosa 2001 Dolcetto d’Alba, Piemonte
Sometimes it’s good to start the new year with a bit of auld lang syne, going back to an old friend whom you’ve neglected for one reason or another. Such is …
What is your favorite wine?
A few years back, while channel surfing, I settled on a television rarity – a program about wine that was informative without being insufferably boring or contrived. From Wine Glass to …
Future of Australia Wines
What with their over-reliance on mass-marketing lower-end products (damned critter wines!); and, of course, they are relying heavily on those high ratings that Robert Parker so lovingly gave to those big …