Tudernum 2008 Montefalco Sagrantino
A classic Sagrantino with an intimidating style. Tobacco and cedar are the building material of this colossus. It is austere and muscular with the barest hint of fruit, some leafy plum …
A classic Sagrantino with an intimidating style. Tobacco and cedar are the building material of this colossus. It is austere and muscular with the barest hint of fruit, some leafy plum …
2011  in Napa Valley was a difficult vintage. It was the year when using too much oak in the aging process turned the wine anemic and unpleasant. Many big-name Napa wineries turned …
Castelli del Grevepesa offers two wines named ” Clemente VII ” this bottling and the Chianti Classico.This wine is a Super Tuscan, a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot, and Syrah. It is …
This 2011 bottling is a fantastic example of a Ripasso style wine from Northeast Italy. Lavender and fresh fennel on the nose with a whiff of burnt vanilla. Dense tannins prop …
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.  …
Tannat originally hails from France, grown mostly in Madiran. The wine it produces is always tannic and often primitive. The grape is also widely planted in South America, with Uruguay at the epicenter. …
Paul HobbsPaul Hobbs without Paul Hobbs? Let’s talk a bit about Paul. He is one of the most celebrated Napa winemakers alive today: he worked for Mondavi and was on the …
Pinot Nero is Italian for Pinot Noir, but the Nero is much more Italian than Pinot. Winemakers in northeastern Italy don’t typically make Pinot in the French style, as most everyone …
This is a fresh and zesty style of red with lavender and fresh cranberry on the nose. Stone and crushed wildflowers are playfully entwined on the palate. The blend here is about equal …
A beautiful white wine from southern Burgundy. Cave Le Grands Crus is a small cooperative winery working with about 100 growers in and around the towns of Vinzelles and Pouilly. This particular bottling …
After all these years (and all those wines!), the high level of winemaking and the low cost of Spanish wines still amazes me. For instance, this bottle of reserva should cost …
Gigondas is one of the top crus in the southern Rhone, often dominating its famous neighbor Chateauneuf du Pape, and Pierre Amadieu is a benchmark winery for the region.   A few years back, I …
The Beaujolais wine region is located at the bottom of Burgundy, and Morgon is smack in the middle of the best winemaking villages in Beaujolais. It should come as no surprise …
Super Tuscans were born on the Italian coast, and warm Maremma is the cradle of many modern wines. The region is known for massive Cabernet Sauvignon, with the depth and breadth …
Zuccardi is a rock-solid winery in Argentina. This wine has been evolving vintage by vintage. Â I love how Zuccardi is pulling away from the “Melted Chocolate and Licorice” profile that has …
Koyle is one of those wineries that pops into the marketplace once or twice a year, only to disappear as quickly as it came. Â The wines are fantastic, but inventory is …