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Writing about wine is the means of communication which lets the producers speak to the consumers, it is like a process where a bottle of wine becomes a story. It tells the facts, it is a source of new ideas, and it conditions the understanding, and thus, it is a great help to the wine lovers in the maze of regions, types, and vintages. Wine writing tells the stories of time that are important to people and critiques while also being the means of disseminating new ideas. It is a tool to shift commerce, it elevates the regions that are less known, and it promotes a more profound comprehension. Whether in the form of articles, reviews, or tales, wine writing is the means that inform the readers about the artisanal aspect of each glass. In a time when the taste is changing and the media is more digital, good writing on wine is still very important, not only for guiding the buying choices of people but also for imparting the real character of wine.
From the other J.J. in the Mosel (Prum may have more caché, but this one’s prices are better!), this screw-topped stunner has all the guts to go another couple of decades. …
The price tag (over $30) may seem like a lot to pay for a Southern Rhone bottling that’s not Chateauneuf-du-Pape (although those tend to be far more these days…), but this …
A definite must-buy for Zin drinkers. Dense and full-bodied, the wine uncorks with an explosion of deep black fruit and freshly roasted coffee beans. Rich but soft tannins carve out a …
I don’t like to parrot other reviewers but in this one, it can’t be helped: this is a blackberry overdrive machine. Toss in some licorice for fuel, and this velvet monkey …
A beautiful Burgundy which is just starting to develop and will continue to do so for another decade. Lush and tannic for a Volnay, a filigree of freshly cut roses and …
The wines of the Emilia-Romagna have always been pushed to the background by the gastronomic delights of Bologna, Parma, and Modena. Understandable when you factor in that for decades, the region’s …
You have to be a certain age to remember when cloyingly sweet Riesling with a “Blue Nun” label was all the rage, or, more to the point, what was available to …
One of our favorite bottlings year after year, and 2007 is no exception. Ripe berry fruit and typical Garnacha spice dominate, all of it wrapped up in a mouth-coating texture with …
The modern Corbières style marries the freshness of Beaujolais with the fierceness of a Languedoc red. This is a strong example of the technique of using whole-berry fermentation in a Mediterranean …
Well-crafted Pinot Noir that doesn’t break the bank? That doesn’t just taste like a cherry tart with some desultory mushrooms thrown in for faux-authenticity? That spans the seasons and is a …
I was surprised when I saw this on the wine shelves. Ialways have a bottle of two in my cellar, and I always pay around$30 a bottle… gladly. A Sangiovese that …
I could use a few years of age, as this is drinking extremely backward right now. However, within an hour, this wine opens up to reveal a balloon of rich fruit …
What is a Supertaster?What is a supertaster? Though not exclusively about wine, being a supertaster changes how a person perceives bitterness, a significant component of red wine. The story starts with …
The 2004 had the great misfortune of being sandwiched between the exotically ripe 2003 and the already-legendary 2005. But for serious terroir-lovers, for those who want to taste exactly where a …
This winery is quickly becoming near and dear to my heart (I fell in love with their Marsanne /Viognier blend a few weeks ago). This oddball blend may end up in …
A nose of super ripe, concentrated blackberry and plum, cigar smoke, cedar, grilled meat, and a touch of alcohol heat lead the way to a red-berry-fruit palate buttressed by fine-grained tannins, …