Langlois NV Cremant de Loire
We’ve mentioned this sparkler before, but it seems especially relevant when too many people spend too much money on name-brand bubblies that deliver a fraction of what their price tag implies. …
Rolf Binder 2006 “Hovah ” Viognier
A Viognier of this caliber in this price range is very rare. I strongly suggest picking up a bottle, especially if you have never experienced a viognier. Classic notes of peaches …
Georges Duboeuf 2005 Regnie
Violets, minerals, and fresh purple fruit mark the nose here, and the palate is a fascinating (and consistent) combination of fruit, minerals, and wet stones. There’s great acid here and a …
Review: Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley.
For those of you in a wine course, a great novel to dive into while blind tasting is Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley. Highsmith’s protagonist is the very sordid yet …
Pondering Barolo
There are wines. And there are Wines. Barolo is of the latter, not for its renown, prestige, or even its price. No, Barolo is a Wine that presents more questions than …
Studert Prum Riesling 2008 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabbinett Riesling, Mosel
A fire-etched riesling from one of the great Mosel vineyards. Lovely, but it could use a year or so more in the bottle to even out.
Quinta do Castelinho 1999 Vintage Port
Beautiful ruby color with hints of blue and purple at the edges. Aromas of raisins, toffee, herbs, and earth leads to a gorgeous palate of raisins, red berries, and something almost …
Buehler 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa
This hearkens back to the halcyon days when my friend Jonathan Newman was the Chairman of the PLCB. I still remember all those great deals on top-shelf Napa Cabernet. Although the …
Studert-Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr 2005 Riesling Kabinett, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Anyone who’s been to a Wine School class knows that we’re big on that whole petrol-y thing that good riesling has. And this bottle possesses it in spades, and then some: …
Bleasdale 2005 “Franks Potts” Red
This 89% Cab blend from the Land Down Under is rich and big and lush but still hangs together far better than you’d expect of a mid-price Aussie Cabernet blend.
Blind Tasting Wine
Blind tasting wine can be more challenging than a 1950s quiz show but also more fun. For many wine enthusiasts, it’s a humbling and educational experience. The Challenge of Blind Tasting …
Verget 2006 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru
One of our favorite Chablis producers. One of our favorite 1er crus. One of our favorite vintages in recent memory. Yeah, we’ll take a bottle of that.
Domaine de la Janasse 2006 Cotes du Rhone Blanc
The nose is rich with mushrooms and spice, though there’s a certain dried apricot perfume there from the viognier, too. You can definitely smell the oak here, lavished on this wine, …
Allan Scott 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
Bright, unobtrusive fruit, a light-framed body, and supremely easy drinkability.
Marnie Old, an embattled sommelier?
In the Daily News (many years ago) a much-talked-about gossip column pointed out that longtime Philly sommelier Marnie Old was battling a budding restaurateur. The owners of the Union Trust steakhouse …
Private Wine Events
In 2009, the Wine School started offering private wine events. This was the press release we sent announcing this new venture. This was a very successful program, which we still run …