Cambria 2014 “Benchbreak” Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley
Cambria Winery Cambria has always been that tiny corner of the Kendall-Jackson empire that didn’t have that smell of overstuffed marketing. It was the family home of Jess Jackson and Barbara …
Mazzei Belguardo 2013 “Serrata” Toscana
Mazzei I’ve written about Tenuta Belguardo over the years. It’s a property owned by the Mazzei family of Chianti, which also owns Castello di Fonterutoli. They consistently put out wines that perform well …
Bodegas Montecillo 2011 Reserva Rioja
A 19th Century winery still manages to put out some serious juice, year in and year out. If you need an everyday bottle of Rioja, this will fit the bill. Aromas …
Adair Vineyards – New Paltz, NY
Located in a charming barn over 200 years old, Adair Vineyards offers an enjoyable and educational winery experience infused with a passion for charity. Mark, who owns Adair with his wife, …
Commanderie de la Bargemone 2017 Rosé , Coteaux d’Aix en Provence
Rosé It’s about time America fell in love with rosé wines. We’ve been extolling the virtues of rosé since the 2006 vintage. Historically, one of the great spots for wine has been the Coteaux …
Jean Cavaille 2016 “Cep Noir Vielles Vignes” Apremont, Savoie
Sometimes you find a great bottle using a wine heuristic. Sometimes is simply picking up a bottle from a beloved-but-obscure wine region. The Apremont region in the Savoie department in France …
Domaine Kuentz-Bas 2014 Alsace Blanc
The Wine Critic’s Dilemma Sometimes a wine review doesn’t start with the wine but how the writer discovered it. Finding great wines at any price point would be impossible if I …
Rowan Asher Winery (RAW) – Stroudsburg, PA
I didn’t know Stroudsburg, PA, had an up-and-coming urban winery scene, but to my surprise, it does. In this Pocono town, the charming Main Street are two winery tasting rooms with …
Brotte 2015 “Esprit Barville” Cotes du Rhone Blanc
Maison Brotte If you happen to be in the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, you’ll probably end up at the Musée du Vin. It’s attached to Maison Brotte, one of the oldest wineries …
Hillersden 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
Located in Upper Wairau Valley, a remote corner in one of the most remote wine regions in the world, Hillersden is an interesting winery that is as much about Kiwi ingenuity …
Wine Reviews
Mazzei Belguardo Serrata ToscanaBelguardo’s vineyards are on the Tuscan coast, much warmer than the more traditional vineyards in the central hills. This makes for some very modern, ultra-ripe versions of Sangiovese, along …
Grange of Prince Edward
Prince Edward CountyIt had been about seven years since my significant other and I had been to the up-and-coming wine area of Prince Edward County (referred to as “The County” locally), …
History of Wine
From as early as Biblical times, the idea of wine was mentioned numerous times – and for thousands of years, wine has been used for ritual, religious, and even health reasons. …
Texas Hill Country AVA
The Texas Hill Country AVA is located north of San Antonio and West of Austin. The key areas in the AVA are Austin, Fredricksburg, Lampasas, New Braunfels, and Johnson City. The …
William Heritage Winery
I hadn’t been to William Heritage Winery in a few years but noticed the winery garnering increased attention – touted as a “winery to know” in NJ and earning high marks …
Moniker 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendocino County
This is the last vintage of this wine, so I’d recommend picking up a few bottles. A rock-solid cabernet that has the big oak and extraction one would expect for a …