One of the great things about New World winemakers is their willingness to experiment because they are not constrained by...
Muscadet is Morphing
The cru system--as in Grand or Premier Cru Burgundy or the cru of Beaujolais--has reached Muscadet. The growers there are...
Jordan, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Chardonnay 2016
As with their splendid Cabernet Sauvignon, Jordan produces refined Chardonnay. Crisp and creamy with a display of...
Henri Badoux, Chablais (Vaud, Switzerland) 2016
Swiss wines are not widely available outside of Switzerland because the Swiss drink most of it themselves. This one,...
Steele, Lake County (California) Cabernet Franc 2015
Many people in the wine trade tell me that they avoid Cabernet Franc because it can deliver vegetal flavors if not...
Writer’s Block, Lake County (California) Roussanne 2016
Roussanne is a grape grown in the Rhône Valley and often, along with Marsanne and Viognier, is used with to make...
Writer’s Block, Lake County (California) Syrah 2015
I was predisposed to dislike the wine because of its cutesy name. But, just as you can’t judge a book by its...
Bodega Catena Zapata, Uco Valley (Mendoza, Argentina) Malbec 2015
The Malbec from La Consulta could redefine the image of wine made from that grape. Not just big and ripe, this...
Bodega Catena Zapata, Maipu (Mendoza, Argentina) Malbec 2015
Catena, as the producer is usually known, is one of Argentina’s top producers. They have always championed...
Villa Vignamaggio, Toscana IGT (Tuscany, Italy) 2015
Vignamaggio makes excellent Chianti Classico, so it comes as no surprise that this simple IGT Toscana delivers more than...
Couly-Dutheil, Chinon (Loire Valley, France) 2016
The vast amount (95%) of wine made in Chinon, one of many picturesque villages in the Loire Valley, is red. Although...
2015 White Burgundies: Marvelous for Current Drinking
Having tasted the 2015 Burgundies now that they have been bottled and are on retailers’ shelves, I can confirm my initial...