Michael Apstein, Author at Wine Review Online

Site Trumps Everything

by Michael Apstein | September 2, 2020

Tasting a line-up of the 2016 Gary Farrell Pinot Noirs shows why Theresa Heredia, the winemaker, is adamant about the...

No Rosé, Please…Just Chill the Red

by Michael Apstein | August 16, 2020

The spray from the tsunami of rosé hitting our shores just soaked me. I know rosé is popular, but the...

Case for Quarantine 2.0

by Michael Apstein | August 16, 2020

Times like this remind us of the things that are really important in life. In the big picture, wine, though...

Focusing on Terroir, Following Burgundy’s Lead

by Michael Apstein | August 16, 2020

If terroir—that French concept that where the grapes grow determines the character of the wine—is so important, why haven’t American...

A Winery in…L.A.?

by Michael Apstein | August 16, 2020

California red wine selling for $150+ a bottle is not a rarity anymore. But who’s heard of a Los Angeles...

Bichot is Back

by Michael Apstein | June 18, 2020

If I needed any convincing—and I did not—that Bichot, the venerable Beaune-based Burgundy négoçiant, is back, it was after tasting...

Dr. Apstein’s Case for Quarantine

by Michael Apstein | March 18, 2020

I’ll leave the medical advice concerning the need to quarantine to your personal physician and public health experts. My advice...

Brunello 2015: Less is More

by Michael Apstein | March 4, 2020

The 2015 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino is being heralded as a 5-star vintage (the top rating) by the notoriously...

Move Over, White Burgundy

by Michael Apstein | January 30, 2020

Ask wine critics what is the best white wine category in the world…and their usual response is white Burgundy. Yes,...

Burgundy’s 2018 Vintage: The Importance of Harvest Date

by Michael Apstein | January 2, 2020

During the annual press conference in November, 2018 at which various Burgundy luminaries discussed the recent vintage, FranÃ§oise Labet, President...

Holiday Gifts for Wine Lovers

by Michael Apstein | December 4, 2019

The obvious choice for gifts for your wine loving friends this holiday season is a bottle—or two—of wine. Sadly, too...

Mixed Vintage News from Burgundy

by Michael Apstein | November 20, 2019

BEAUNE, Burgundy, November 19, 2019: First the good news. The 2018 vintage produced large quantities of high-quality wines, both red...