I’ve been a rabid fan of the refreshing Spanish white, albariño, since I visited the region a few years ago. Since it rains all the time in this grape’s homeland of Rias Baixas, situated in the northwestern corner of Spain (just above Portugal), vineyard managers must grow their grapes ... Read More »
Impressive/Gift
Reviews of impressive wines for gifts.
Wine review: Laurenz V Gruner Veltliner “Singing” (Austria)
There simply isn’t a better warm weather pool wine than the under-rated, under-appreciated grüner veltliner grape. Yes, the name is a mouthful and annoying to say, but the industry has handily shortened it to “grooner”, after the way it’s pronounced. And the eager Austrians ... Read More »
Wine review: Willakenzie 2006 Pinot Noir Pierre Leon
This pinot house has been cranking out incredible wine since 1995, when high-tech biz man Bernard Lacroute saw an ad for Oregon land in the Wine Spectator. 420-acres of cattle land to be precise. Back then, the price for Yamhill dirt wasn’t as offensive as it might be today.
... Read More »Tir na N’Og 2006 Old Vines Grenache McLaren Vale
You might think this hails from a Gaelic land, but no red grape as good as this grows there. McLaren Vale, a region in Southeast Australia, is producing some outstanding grenache wines, including this hedonistic and decadent example.
... Read More »Wine review: Antinori 2005 Rosso Toscana IGT
This food-friendly, Chianti stand-in has enough oomph to impress even the most stalwart Chianti-haters. Basically, because it’s not a Chianti, but comes from that same region. The IGT and Toscana label indicates the winery went outside the old-school blending rules set by the Italian government ... Read More »
Interview with Pierre Rovani
Occasionally in this business, I get surprised. Like when I meet someone I’m sure is going to be a complete, arrogant a-hole and they turn out to be stupendously cool. It’s rare, but it happens. And it happened to me recently when I met Pierre Rovani, ex-wine critic for the legendary ... Read More »
Napa Cellars 2006 Merlot Napa
This monster merlot takes the movie Sideways and kicks it in the balls. The damage that movie inflicted to the California merlot biz took its toll on this beleagured grape, but it did one good thing: Pulled the plug on all the crappy stuff that trolled the sea of wine. Now, we can buy and drink great ... Read More »
Wine review: Merieau 2007 Gamay de Touraine Le Bois Jacou
Right now, the unknown wine regions are THE deals in France. Forget trying to find a cheap Red Burgundy or Bordeaux and dive into the obscure frontier. Got $20? You’ve can slurp a fruity gamay from Loire Valley’s Touraine region, thank you very much.
... Read More »Wine review: La Crema 2007 Pinot Noir Carneros
I tried this same wine a year ago and didn’t like it. But it aged into submission. Soft, plush tannins and feminine fruitiness with cherry, tart cranberry and salavacious acidity. Vivid flavors with a nice finesse and very little rustic-ness.
... Read More »Hugel et Fils 2007 Gewürztraminer Alsace
This mouthful of a grape (pronounced geh-VERTS-trah-mee-ner) doesn’t get much play in the U.S. Wine geeks gravitate towards it for myriad reasons –soft n’ fruity, pairs with food, pretty affordable — but the average consumer reads that multi-syllabic name on a wine list or ... Read More »
Smart transition: J Vineyards and Winery story
Sometimes people can see the writing on the wall. Call them sages, clairvoyants or simply smart, but wineries — who typically wallow stagnantly in tradition — occasionally do the right thing for their business. And some do it before everyone else does. Three years ago, Judy Jordan, Founder ... Read More »
Gordon Brothers 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
About five years, I toured the Washington State wine country in Eastern Washington (over the mountains from Seattle lies a whole different climate, perfect for grapes), and fell in love. The place was so under-appreciated and soooo high quality, I wanted to give it hug. So I did… I’ve ... Read More »