Baumard 2005 Savennieres
Steely acidity and popping apple notes give way to cool chalk and ripe apricot and just a hint of a forest fire: a complex and beautiful wine that will develop over …
Fine Wine and Good Spirits
M. Sorrel 2005 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc
In the Rhone Valley, the reds get all the attention and the lion’s share of love. But fans of the region’s whites know that they are every bit as wonderful as …
Herman Story 2005 Grenache, Larner Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley
I love this wine–let’s just put it out there and avoid all that wine-writing propriety and distance. And the funny thing is that it’s not in the style I typically gravitate …
Agricola Punica 2005 “Montessu” Isola dei Nuraghi IGT
The southwest corner of Sardinia has provided a welcome home for the Carignano varietal, the most notable versions being in the Carignano de Sulcis DOC. The use of up to 40% …
Pio Cesare 2006 Piodilei
This is definitely a wine that needs some rebranding. ‘Piodilei’ literally translates to ‘Pio for the ladies.’ It is so named because the family’s women found this wine particularly appealing–though there’s …
Sicilian Wine Reviews
A recent trip to Persephone’s island allowed tasting dozens of wines made from indigenous varietals, all of which captured Sicily’s sun-drenched, arid landscape and gave evidence of the cultural and ecological …
Cascabel 2006 Tempranillo Graciano, McLaren Vale
It’s tempting to think of Australia in fairly monolithic terms. But this bbq-ready red proves how wrong that is and how food-friendly and gulp-able unexpected varieties can be when grown and …
Italian Wine for Sommeliers
What is Italian Wine? Recently, our Advanced Sommelier students finished a seven-week Viaggio through the often bewildering but fascinating demimonde of Italian wine. Along the way, they tasted, analyzed, and discussed …
Mesa 2006 “Buio”, Carignano di Sulcis, Sardinia
Those Sardinian wines that don’t compromise cultural fidelity have a feral, not-for-everyone quality that evokes their rocky and wind-swept terroir—a sense of mystery, intrigue, the unknown – which is a translation …
Sella & Mosca 2004 Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva
Located in the northwestern part of the island, Sella & Mosca has become Sardinia’s signature winery. Its vast acres of vineyards have made it, and Argiolas is synonymous with wine from …
Italian Wine Reviews
While the member of the Wine School team laying waste to Spain’s porcine population, yours truly was engaged in exhaustive research concerning patterns of wine consumption among Italians. Specifically, what will …
Naia 2006 Naia Des Verdejo
What makes this wine unusual isn’t where it’s from but the grape variety itself. Verdejo, after all, is still sadly underappreciated by too many wine-lovers. But this one, hopefully, will start …
Rolf Binder 2006 “Hovah ” Viognier
A Viognier of this caliber in this price range is very rare. I strongly suggest picking up a bottle, especially if you have never experienced a viognier. Classic notes of peaches …
Pondering Barolo
There are wines. And there are Wines. Barolo is of the latter, not for its renown, prestige, or even its price. No, Barolo is a Wine that presents more questions than …
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 …