It’s clear early on that this is going to be one of those days: no time to shop, no time to cook. My husband and I...
Byron, Santa Barbara County (California) Pinot Noir 2010
Byron makes of couple of pricier, more complex Pinots, but for a California Pinot Noir priced under $20 this one can be...
Campo Viejo, Rioja (Spain) Tempranillo 2010
Light on the palate and the wallet, this easy-drinking wine has uncomplicated red fruit flavors, a hint of vanilla and a...
Gidddyap!
I received an email recently from winemaker Mark Lyon, bringing me up to date on his investigation into using horse-power...
Salmon and… Rosé!
A couple of nights ago it was too cold and rainy to go outside and grill the salmon, so I decided to rely instead on a technique...
Sebastiani, Sonoma Valley (Sonoma County, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Cherryblock has long been Sebastiani’s flagship wine. A lovable, roly-poly red with great concentration of...
Sebastiani, Sonoma County (California) Pinot Noir 2010
Like Sebastiani’s 2010 Chardonnay, the Pinot is lighter and more delicate than the ‘09 vintage. It has a...
A South Africa Primer
To celebrate a significant birthday this year, my friend Georgia is going on a trip to South Africa. “For the...
Surprises from the Cellar
There is a quote attributed to Henry James claiming that the appreciation of literature involves two different kinds of...
Oyster Bay, Hawkes Bay (New Zealand) Merlot 2010
New Zealand’s cool viticultural climate gives this Merlot a distinctive edge. It is both forthright yet elegant, and...
Kendall-Jackson, California (United States) Syrah 2008
This is a classy Syrah for the price, with plenty of bright red and black fruit flavors enhanced by a touch of earthiness...
Dry Creek Vineyard, Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Dry Creek Vineyard’s Cabernet is always dependable, always satisfying. Stylistically it’s refined rather than...