Fritz Allendorf 2016 Spätburgunder, Assmannshäuser
Some names don’t translate well into English, and this quaint town on the Rhine river in Germany is one of them: Assmannshäuser. Of course, your inner fourteen-year-old will giggle, and that’s …
Summer Wine School
Spending your summer in the Italian Riviera, then this isn’t for you. Vacationing in Rioja? Stay put. Touring Sonoma with a winemaker friend? Don’t change your plans. Everyone else, pay attention! …
Luis Gurpegui 2014 “Primi” Rioja Reserva
Luis Gurpegui Muga is an old winery with extensive vineyards throughout Rioja. While common to see in Spain and Europe, this isn’t widely distributed in the United States. That is likely …
Santa Ema 2018 “Reserva” Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley
Balanced and varietally correct, this is a great value. Cassis and blackberries integrated with a whisper of spice and wildflower. Medium-bodied with a beautiful freshness. I really love the classic Cabernet …
Clos du Val 2016 Estate Merlot, Napa
A storied winery that helped cement the Napa legend. Since its founding in 1972, it has been required drinking for any sommelier. This bottling of Merlot was sourced from estate vineyards …
Carlos Serres 2012 Rioja Gran Reserva
This is not the first time we have reviewed the wines of Carlos Serres, and for a good reason. Their wines offer classic Rioja flavors balanced with modern winemaking finesse. Tucked …
Cave des Onze Communes 2017 Cornalin, Aosta Valley
$14.39 (FWGS) 88 Points (WSoP) Sometimes life calls for a crazy wine from Italy’s smallest wine region, right smack on the Swiss border. Aosta is a mountain region, and this is …
Tercero 2014 “Verbiage” Santa Barbara County
$19.99 (FWGS) 92 Points (WSoP) A classic Rhone-style blend from the Central Coast. This bottling is mostly Roussanne with a small amount of Viognier and Grenache Blanc. Aged in older French …
Bodega Garzon 2019 “Reserva” Tannat, Uruguay
$11.99 (FWGS) 89 Points (WSoP) Uruguay has a vibrant wine-producing culture focused on family farms. Garzon is one of the larger producers but still small by American standards. The French and …
Crocus 2015 “Le Calcifere” Malbec de Cahors
$19.99 (FWGS) 95 Points (WSoP) This is what you get when you take two great winemakers and toss them into the most underrated wine region in France. Paul Hobbs is a …
Il Poggione 2019 “Brancato” Rosato di Toscana
90 Points (WSoP) $9.99 (FWGS) A Sangiovese Rosé from the famed Brunello producer Tenuta Il Poggione. Bright and crunchy watermelon and river rocks. There is a richness here that is atypical …
Getting Started in Wine
Wine is a great hobby; it’s an even better career. The wine trade offers a surprisingly vast tapestry of work opportunities. Unlike other passions, it’s the one vice that pays well …
Bad Cheese Pairings
Pulling off the right wine pairing can turn an otherwise mediocre dinner into a killer experience. The real test is when you find yourself laughing the night away; only later do …
What is Terroir?
the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate. Terroir, Oxford Dictionary The concept of “Terroir” has been embedded within …
Cabernet Sauvignon, Explained
Cab Sauv, World Champion Take a look at a list of the best-scored wines globally; browse the web for the most expensive reds in the market, or browse the top-shelf section …
What is Wine?
Why do I do this to myself? Why do I ask sommeliers this question? Invariably, I get one of the following three answers. Each time, a little part of my soul …