John McDermott, Author at Wine Review Online

Distilling Excellence: Demystifying the Great Brandies of Cognac, Armagnac, and Brandy de Jerez

by John McDermott | Oct 12, 2024

The most famous of brandies is likely Cognac–a drink whose very name conjures up images of wealthy, well-dressed, cigar-smoking...

by John McDermott | Jul 3, 2024

Sangiovese, the quintessential Tuscan grape, is enjoying a resurgence after spending a decade flying under the radar. In...

by John McDermott | May 21, 2024

Domaine de Montbourgeau's 2021 Les 5 Etoiles from L'Etoile, in the Jura, is a fantastic transition wine, as summer creeps...

by John McDermott | May 21, 2024

From the first whiff, Envínate's 2021 Palo Blanco is an exceedingly intriguing wine. A medley of funky,...

by John McDermott | May 14, 2024

Another stellar offering from Kumeu River, both in terms of objective quality and quality-to-price ratio. Their Rays...

by John McDermott | Apr 23, 2024

As I wrote in my last piece, “Uncorking Value: Where to Find Outstanding Wines Without Breaking the Bank,”...

by John McDermott | Apr 23, 2024

Planeta’s 2021 Cometa Fiano is a fantastic example of what this grape is capable of. Rich, refreshing, and...

by John McDermott | Apr 23, 2024

Domain Vincent Careme’s 2021 Le Clos Vouvray is classic and pretty. At first whiff, the wine shows the wooly,...

by John McDermott | Apr 10, 2024

Gamling & McDuck's 2018 Mangels Chenin Blanc from Suisun Valley in northern California is a fun fresh example of what...

by John McDermott | Apr 10, 2024

Gamling & McDuck's 2017 Pickberry Cabernet Franc from Sonoma Mountain is strikingly Loire Valley-esque in...

by John McDermott | Apr 10, 2024

Gamling & McDuck's 2016 Stagecoach Cabernet Franc from Napa Valley is sourced from the lauded Stagecoach vineyard and...

by John McDermott | Apr 2, 2024

Frog's Leap's Shale And Stone Chardonnay is somewhat unique in its winemaking. The wine spends roughly five days in...