Cave de Rasteau 2007 Ortas Prestige
Rasteau is one of the fine winemaking villages in France’s southern Rhone Valley, along with such notable nearby towns as Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas. This particular bottle is a field …
Grenache
Cooking Classes in Philadelphia
Cooking ClassesI am pretty sure no one knows how to cook in Philly for a town that loves to eat. At least, that is my impression after discovering how many cooking …
Sicilian Wine Reviews
A few of our favorite wines from our trips to Sicily.Gambino ViniThe Gambino winery sits in the shadows of Mount Etna near Linguaglossa, its terraced vineyards sloping toward the ring of …
Domaine de Saumarez 2004 “Aalenien,” Coteaux du Languedoc
When the weather turns cold, rich reds from warmer climes are often best. And this one, a Syrah-Grenache blend, fits the bill perfectly. It shows exactly why the reds of Languedoc …
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 …
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 …
Turkey Flat 2005 “Butcher’s Block Red,” Barossa
This classic Rhone-style blend of Shiraz, Grenache, and Mourvedre is custom-made for dry-herb-rubbed lamb chops. Or, frankly, just for sipping on its own. There’s a reason Turkey Flat has long been …
Tablas Creek 2007 Cotes de Tablas Blanc
And speaking of great white Rhones, check out this one from what many consider to be the first family of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, the Perrins of famous Chateau de Beaucastel. This Paso Robles …
Manga del Brujo 2007 Red, Cataluyd
Mostly old vine Grenache, this is loaded with rich fruit, cream, and a hint of iron and soy. Aromas of smoke and lavender seal the deal on this rich but complicated …
Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone
Between the wines we’ve been pouring for the Core Sommelier Course and the ones I’ve been tasting both at home and at professional events, I’ve recently found myself drinking a lot …