Brunello di Montalcino 2.0
In preparation for my attendance at Benvenuto Brunello, the annual tasting of the newly released 2005 Brunello di Montalcino, held...
Read More Michael Apstein
Manchuela, or Mushrooms After A Rain
One of the great things about wine is how new areas appear or spring up seemingly overnight–almost like mushrooms after...
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California Chardonnay: A Paradigm Shift
It may be odd that I, a confirmed Francophile with a special affection for Burgundy, should be extolling the virtues...
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Please, No More Killer Cabernets
My hope for the New Year is that winemakers turn down the "volume" so we wine drinkers can savor the...
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Burgundy on the Rise
Burgundians were heralding the quality of the 2009 vintage–perhaps another "vintage of the century"–even before the grapes were harvested, let...
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The Wines of . . . Madrid?
When you think of Madrid, what pops into your mind? Vino or Prado? Prado, of course, one of the world’s...
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Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc: All the Same?
"All Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc tastes the same," is the major misconception that the industry must combat, according to Darryl Woolley,...
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An Unlikely Area Producing Very Likeable Wines
The Niagara Peninsula is as unlikely a place as you can imagine for producing fine wines. Let’s start with the...
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Age Matters
Everyone refers to “old vines” reverentially. The precise definition of ‘old’ varies enormously–legitimately depending on the varietal (Zinfandel and Pinot...
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