French Wine Regions
History of French WineFrance’s history with wine dates back to the 6th century BC, when the city-state of Massalia (modern-day Marseille) began trading wines with other Mediterranean cultures. However, viticulturally speaking, …
syrah
Columbia Valley Wine
Why does California get all the love when Columbia Valley wine is fantastic? The pat answer is that California has been growing grapes longer, and it’s a core feature in America’s …
Santa Julia 2017 “Magna” Red, Uco Valley
José Zuccardi’s is the director of Argentina’s Familia Zuccardi winery. We’ve reviewed their wines in the past. In the 1990s, he developed a new brand, Santa Julia, which was named after his only …
Rotie Cellars 2013 “Northern Blend” Red, Walla Walla
Eventually, Walla Walla is going to crush Napa Valley. It’s not just climate change; it’s the culture of the place. Rotie Cellars is a case in point. I’ve never seen winemaker/owner Sean …
Matetic 2014 Corralillo Syrah, San Antonio Valley, Chile
Art vs ArtistsI’ve never really cared much about an artist’s life. If their work inspires me, I don’t need to be weighted down with their ideas on religion or politics. I …
Spanish Wine Regions
It is no secret that Spain has a lush terroir, bringing us the world’s most exciting cultivars and high-quality wine. As a result, Spain is now known for being one of …
El Molet 2013 Jumilla
There’s something to be said for a bit of age on a bottle. When this wine was released a few years ago, it didn’t make any friends in the wine critic …
Kieran Robinson 2012 “R Five” Syrah
Personally, I’m more of a fan of the R8: in any case, it’s a rare pleasure to argue with a Cali winemaker over his choice of SEPTA commutes.Kieran is a Philly …
Glenelly 2011 “The Glass Collection” Syrah, Stellenbosch
An elegant bottle that shows why South Africa is an essential wine region for Syrah. Restrained red fruit is kept in balance with liquid mineral, smoked game, and wildflowers. On the …
Shirvington 2010 Shiraz, McLaren Vale
A Winery Divorce First, there was Sparky Marquis. He was the “hit winemaker” for years in South Australia. His wines were highly coveted, especially in the states. His wines were bigger …
Guigal Cotes du Rhone
Vertical VintagesAt least once a quarter, I pop open this wine to introduce our students to the Cotes du Rhone region of France. Vintage after vintage, this has been a go-to bottle. …
Terlato 2009 Syrah “Block 9” Dry Creek Valley
Is this Syrah from Cornas or California? In most ways, this wine drinks like it hail from that awesome Northern Rhone cru. Yet, here we are in Sonoma Valley, Dry Creek …
Curtis Winery 2010 Heritage Cuvée
I am not a fan of corporate wines. That is something most people in the wine trade know all too well. I am not a fan of large-scale wineries, even if …
Domaine Forca Real 2011 “Mas de la Garrigue” Côtes du Roussillon-Villages
For a hot moment in the late 90’s, France’s Mediterranean vineyards were trendy, in particular the Languedoc-Roussillon. The good folks at Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate couldn’t rate the wines high …
Treana Winery 2010 Red, Paso Robles
An enduring mystery in the American wine market is why Paso Robles is still an undiscovered wine country. After all, it’s one of the best spots in Cali for both good …
Domaine Durand 2011 Premices Cornas
Domaine Durand is an old family estate taken over by the dynamic duo of two brothers, Eric and Joel Durand, in 1991. It’s a small, 13-hectare property that straddles the wine …