Wine began to become one of the loves of my life 40+ years ago. At that time, Bordeaux and Burgundy were the primary...
Starting with Bordeaux
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Ed McCarthy
Vintage 2002: A Great Champagne Year
The Champagne region in northeast France sits on the northernmost latitude that grapes can ripen--and even then, grapes...
Ed McCarthy’s Producer and Wine of the Year for 2011
[We will run our contributor' picks for Producer and Wine of the Year in this space almost every day as 2011 winds down, so...
Lusty, High-Value Red Wines from Southwest France
The common stereotype that French wines are expensive is totally wrong. Of course, the top-name Bordeaux and Burgundy...
Ed McCarthy’s Wine Picks for Thanksgiving
I have to admit that I’m strictly a traditionalist when it comes to celebrating Thanksgiving, our most festive...
The New Germany: Dry Rieslings, Good Pinot Noirs
My recent trip to Germany, specifically two regions, Baden and the Pfalz, was a revelation for me. Admittedly, I had not...
Santorini: Greece’s Great White Wine
It is ironic that one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world--with evidence of winemaking going back 6500 years--is...
Blanc de Blancs: The Best Champagne Style?
I happen to love all types of Champagne, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would probably be Blanc de Blancs. Among...
France’s Jura Wine Region
Over time, I find myself drinking more and more white wines. Although I was a confirmed red wine drinker in my younger...
Ch. Montelena: Napa’s Classic Cabernet
Napa Valley’s greatest wine, in my mind, has always been Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, make that California’s--if not...
Toro: Spain’s Tiny Dynamo
About twenty-five years ago, a second Renaissance took place in Italy, this one of the vinous variety. Italy for the first...
Marvelous Madeira
Recently, I attended a phenomenal tasting of Blandy’s Vintage Madeiras, dating back to the early 19th century. The...