As the American outpost of the famed French Champagne house Taittinger, vintage after vintage, Domaine Carneros the best way to drink Champagne-ish on a craft beer budget. Great value for the money.
... Read More »Sustainable/Organic
Reviews of wines that are grown sustainably, using green grape growing practices.
Wine review: Paul Dolan 2008 Sauvignon Blanc Mendocino
I’m not ashamed to admit that I respect and admire Paul Dolan, his biodynamic and organic farming philosophies and his vision for the future. The hard work shows up in the glass bottle after bottle, including this one.
... Read More »Wine review: Heron 2009 Pinot Noir California
Heron Winery out of San Francisco might be what you’d call an “alternative” winery. They don’t own vineyards, don’t have a tasting room and make wines from grapes sourced from all over the world. Really tasty wines like this $15 Pinot Noir.
... Read More »Is biodynamic and organic grapegrowing flim flam or fab?
Jay McInerney, a wine writer for The Wall Street Journal, wrote an interesting piece last week on the validity of biodynamic grapegrowing. The story — as well as the comments — bring up solid questions. Every winemaker I interview gets the “what do you think about organic and biodynamic ... Read More »
Wine reviews: Villa Maria 2009 Cellar Selection Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc
A few months ago, Villa Maria Estate got a Vitamin B-12 shot in their marketing. Ste. Michelle Wine Estates — the sales and marketing powerhouse behind Ste. Michelle Winery, Columbia Crest and Erath — began importing and marketing New Zealand’s “biggest boutique winery.” ... Read More »
Wine review: Sea Smoke 2007 “Ten” Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills
It’s rare that I review expensive wines. But occasionally one runs across my tongue that sends tingles through my nervous system that channel through my fingers. Happened recently when I popped open a Sea Smoke, a cult winery from the Santa Rita Hills in Santa Barbara County in southern California. ... Read More »
Sam’s Club releases its own wine label: Infinite 2008 Spanish Red
I suppose it was bound to happen. That partytrain known as wine sales had to arrive in Generica, stopping at the Sam’s Club station. Like the last guy at a party to realize his fly is open, Sam Walton’s masterminding crew has released its own private wine retail label. I should’ve ... Read More »
Wine review: Errazuriz 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Aconcagua Valley
Chile is just now getting to the point where they produce good cabernets. I’ve enjoyed their white wines for as long as I can remember but their reds always wallowed in green pepper and asparagus… and not in a good way with dollop of hollandaise. Errazuriz, a winery founded in 1870 by ... Read More »
Spring has sprung: Wines reviews to get you drinking
Spring has sprung. The newly back-from-vacation birds are chirping… the honeybees are busy, and all the animals are horny. Makes me want a drink… or a cigarette, but I don’t smoke. Then, naturally, my mind turns to wine, my favorite beverage. This time of year, as warmth slowly creeps back ... Read More »
Brazin 2007 Old Vine Zinfandel Lodi
Not everyone can craft really tasty zinfandel. Sometimes, this varietal wine can be overly alcoholic, with fumes wafting up your nose. Other times, it’s too intense and brash like a pushy whore wearing too much makeup. Not this one.
... 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 »Wine review: Domaine Le Garrigon 2008 Côtes du Rhône
Are you ready for something a little different… daring… even shocking? Bring out this wine at your next gathering. It’s wine in a box, ‘cept it it’s not in a thin, cheap cardboard box labeled Franzia– it’s literally in a wooden box. And it has GOOD wine in ... Read More »