Spanish Wine Regions
It is no secret that Spain has a lush terroir, bringing us the world’s most exciting cultivars and high-quality wine. As a result, Spain is now known for being one of …
Mark Herold 2014 “Collide” Red, California
Mark Herold Mark’s new tasting room just opened in Napa –just down from the Oxbow Public Market– a scant three months before I reviewed his wines. I loved the room –super …
What is a Sommelier?
Whether you want to become a sommelier or you are just curious as to what a sommelier actually does, you have come to the right place. In this article, we cover …
Mount Veeder Winery 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Constellation BrandsIn the late ’90s, Constellation Brands started buying up Napa wineries. At the time, they were an unknown wine company that produced low-end brands like Cribari. A lot of people …
Portuguese Wine Regions
Introduction to Portuguese WineOnly in the last few years has the wine-drinking public realized there is more to Portuguese wines than Port and Madeira. This was primarily due to the ubiquitousness …
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 …