Bertani 2009 “Villa Arvedi” Amarone della Valpolicella
Amarone Wine Review Aromas of licorice and Cherry Coke on the nose with a shaving of bitter chocolate. This is a very flirtatious aroma, with a hint of cardamom and white …
Rocca delle Macie 2008 Ser Gioveto
Super Tuscan Wine Review I often describe Italian wines like this as a conversation between Italian winemakers and wine drinkers in America. We ask for a taste of the old country, …
The Wine Guide
I have divided this wine guide into several mildly amusing chapters. As always, I selected each wine for its high quality and good pricing. I’ve included over 20 wines in this list, …
Food & Wine Pairing
Food & Wine PairingThe following recipes were created by myself and the pairings by sommelier Alana Zerbe. If you like our food and wine pairings, you can grab a copy of …
Cooking Class and Wine Pairing
This month, we featured wine pairings and recipes perfect for fall and the coming holidays. I’ve posted the menu and wine pairings from the class . I also posted the recipes …
Erasmo 2009 Red, Maule Valley
Wine Review: Erasmo 2009 Red Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and a percentage of Syrah. The Cabernet is clearly dominant here, with graphite and cedar aroma rising above the wildflower …
Feudi di San Gregorio 2010 Rubrato
Wine Review: Feudi di San Gregorio 2010 RubratoAglianico. Aglianico. Aglianico! I have a hard time keeping bottles of this wine on hand. Largely because I open it up as soon as I …
Milbrandt Vineyards 2010 Grenache, Clifton Vineyards
BackgroundSome of the best wine grapes in America are grown in the Columbia Valley of Washington State. Butch and Jerry Milbrand are two of the farmers that made it happen. They were a …
Landmark 2011 “Overlook” Chardonnay
Background At the Wine School, we don’t review wines that are produced by big corporations. We only care about unique wines made by small producers. Because of that, this is very …
Di Majo Norante 2011 Ramitello
The Background Di Majo Norante is an Italian winery located in Molise, just off the Adriatic coast. The property dated back to 1859 and was the farm and vineyard of a …
Maquis 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, Colchagua Valley
What do Chateau d’Yquem, Joseph Phelps, Leoville Las Cases, Champagne Roederer, and Dominus Estate have in common? First, they all share the same winemaking consultant, Xavier Chone. Originally hailing from Bordeaux, …
Mas Doix 2006 “Costers de Vinyes Velles” Priorat
Valentí Llagostera of Mas Doix understands the concept of terroir. I was fortunate to spend a day with him during a recent visit to Priorat with the Wine School. Valentí’s family has …
Vall Llach 2009 “Idus” Priorat
Wine Review: Vall Llach 2009 “Idus” Priorat On the nose, a giant whiff of wild fennel and fig confit. The palate is bursting with black fruit with sweet vanilla and balsamic. …
Bouchaine 2009 Pinot Noir Carneros
Who are the Bouchaines? It doesn’t really matter at this point. It was the maiden name of one of the original partners in this winery. The important question is, who are …
Ottimino 2009 Zinfandel, Rancho Bello Vineyard
Ottimino was established in 1999 by Brad Alper and William Knuttel. Their first bottling was from the Ranch Bello vineyard. This is Alper’s winery in many ways, but Knuttel is the name that makes …
Pierre Legras Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne
One of the great developments in sparkling wines in the last few years has been the emergence of small grower-producer Champagne houses. They offer a level of quality and individuality that …