It’s that time of year when many are reaching for a bottle of bubbly. While Champagne is the first bubbly to come to mind for most consumers, there are many better bargains to be found in sparklers from other regions. If you want a French sparkler but don’t want to pony up the cash it […]
One trend I’ve noticed over the past few years is the growing popularity of zinfandel-based blends. It seems to be a style of wine that appeals to the collective taste of American wine drinkers. We like them too. As a result of the growing popularity of this style, more and more producers are coming 0ut […]
In the past I’ve accused Banfi of being generally overpriced with their wines. But recently this $9.00 Banfi wine showed up for me to sample. I think they’re trying to prove me wrong. Well played, Banfi… well played. Some might classify this wine as a “Super Tuscan” although that classification is technically an unofficial designation […]
Let’s be honest, Chianti is a mess. By that I don’t mean that Chianti wines are bad. In fact, I love a good Chianti. I say that Chianti is a mess because there are so many variations of “Chianti” that most consumers don’t really know one from another, or even know what Chianti means. The […]
I’ve admitted it before, and I’ll do so again… I have a prejudice against Californian sauvignon blanc. Why? I’ve just had too much of it that is weak, flavorless and disappointing. But when I find one that’s good, I have to give them credit. Tin Barn Vineyards is the most recent producer to impress me […]
I keep waiting for the world to suddenly realize how awesome rosé can be, but it just hasn’t happened yet. I know… it’s often not as interesting as a complex white wine or as rich as a deep red wine. But rosé has its place and too many wine connoisseurs overlook it. It’s not like I […]
Some wine names come with a bit of cachet, and Barons de Rothschild Lafite is one of those names. This is thanks to the fact that they have consistently been the producer of one of the world’s most expensive red wines. A bottle of 1787 Chateau Lafite that was thought to have been owned by Thomas Jefferson […]
I’ve highlighted a couple tasty Chilean, cool-climate chardonnays lately. So, today let’s round it out with a third. This one, from Concha y Toro, is another from the Limarí Valley. Concha y Toro is the largest wine producer in Chile, and the largest in Latin America. Its roots go all the way back to 1883, […]
Last week, in my review of Santa Ema chardonnay, I had mentioned how cool climate regions tend to produce better chardonnay than other locations. And tonight I want to highlight another awesome chardonnay from another cool climate region. De Martino Legado Reserva chardonnay is also from Chile, but this wine is from the Limarí Valley—a […]
The Biltmore in North Carolina has been on my list of places to visit for a number of years, but I just haven’t made it there yet—that list is a long one. But I do want to visit some day to see the architecture, the landscape and taste the wine. And so, I was glad […]
