Paul Lehrner 2006 “Cuvée Claus,” Mittelburgenland, Austria
This blend of Zweigelt and Blaufrankisch exhibits all the berry and spice character you’d expect, as well as a lighter frame that makes it all go down with dangerous ease. Cuvée …
Articles
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.
Thomas Fogarty 2006 Gewurztraminer, Monterey
Yes, you read it right: Gewurztraminer from Monterey. Sounds odd, but this wine’s combination of perfume, fruit, and structure will make you a believer in no time.
Nepenthe 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Adelaide
Bright grapefruit and apples on a bright, fresh framework and just a touch of freshly mown grass on the nose. It’s a great example of a cool weather Australian white.
Enzo Mecella 1998 “Rubelliano” Rosso Conero DOC, Le Marche
Their use of the Montepulciano grape more or less characterizes the reds wines of the region. Even though other red varietals are grown, it has become Marche’s signature and is best …
Dominio del Plata 2006 “Crios de Susana Balbo,” Mendoza
There’s nothing terribly new about Argentina, but the blend here might be unfamiliar: Syrah (which you know) and Bonarda (which you might not). But for $12.99 in PA right now, it’s …
The Top Ten Truths of Tuscan Tourism
The Wine School of Philadelphia took our show on the road the first week of June, converting the Villa Giusterna in Chianti into our Tuscan campus. Instead of boring everyone with …
Montesole 2003 Fiano di Avellino, Campania
.This varietal stands out from the unassuming crowd of white wines from the region, all of them interesting in their own right but whose nuances are not easily discerned. Fiano has …
R Wines 2007 Shiraz “Luchador,” Barossa
Maybe it’s our love of Distrito’s wrestling-mask motif. Or of everything Jack Black ever commits to celluloid. Whatever it is, this well-priced Shiraz offers everything you’d want in an affordable bottling …
Wishing Tree 2004 Shiraz
When I want to show how good a ten-dollar bottle of Shiraz can be, I often pull out this one. This is the Anti-Yellow Tail. There are actual wine flavors in …
Castello di Verduno Pelaverga 2004 “Basadone”Piemonte
In a region famous for its Nebbiolo-based wines, several varietals don’t get the attention they deserve, and this is one. Pelaverga is an ancient cultivar native to the Langhe, once planted …
Olivares Altos De La Hoya 2005 Monastrell
For the past three vintages, The Altos has been a unique & consistent great value. I am glad to see the trend continues. On the nose, a distinct minerality is coupled …
Chateau Bouscaut 2005 Pessac Léognan
Extraordinary value for a Grand Cru Classé des Graves. Exceptionally full-bodied, this wine has the tannic structure and acidity to cellar for at least a decade. After being decanted for six …
Foreau NV Vouvray Brut
Too often, even the most ardent wine lovers forget about Vouvray. This is unfortunate because bottlings like this offered plenty to love: Good fruit, a real sense of structure, and unexpected …
Cantine Cardeto 2002 “Rupestro” IGT, Umbria
Even though Sangiovese is Italy’s most prolific and widely planted grape, it is popularly associated with Tuscany- Chianti, to be specific. In the hills near Orvieto, blended with Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo, and …
La Spinetta 2003 “Bionzo” Barbera d’Asti Superiore, Piemonte
This is one of Piedmont’s larger and more successful producers, whose wines are unfiltered, unfined, and in most cases created using biodynamic methods. The “Bionzo” Barbera debuted in 1998, and only …
Mollydooker 2007 “Two Left Feet”
Yes, it delivers all the oaky, succulent drama you’d expect. And yes, it’s downright gluggable. But there’s more to it than that in ’06: A sense of structure, an underlying freshness. …