La Crema has always represented tremendous value in Russian River Valley Pinot and the 2010 is no exception. It's well balanced,...
La Crema, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County) Pinot Noir 2010
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Robert Whitley
Ferrari-Carano, Alexander Valley (Sonoma County) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
I keep looking for a misfire in this latest round of new releases from Ferrari-Carano, but I'm beginning to believe...
A Labor of Love
Creators Syndicate Once a year, I gather with four colleagues in Paso Robles, the heart of California's vast Central Coast, to...
Ferrari Carano, Sonoma County (California) 2008
This exquisitely balanced Bordeaux-style blend from Ferrari Carano is a bit of a masterpiece. Supple, smooth and harmonious,...
Hess, Napa Valley (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Hess' Allomi Cab is reliably good if never quite as good as its sister Cab from Hess' Mount Veeder Estate. This vintage of...
Bridlewood, Monterey County (California) Pinot Noir 2010
Regrettably, we've become conditioned to the $40-and-up Pinot Noir. In recent years the $40 threshold has been the gateway to...
Ferrari Carano, Alexander Valley (Sonoma County) Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
When Ferrari Carano came into this world (and I am old enough to remember) its Chardonnay was all the rage. Then it was the Fume...
Sonoma-Loeb, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County) Pinot Noir 2010
Sonoma-Loeb, long made at the Chappellet winery in the Napa Valley, was recently purchased by the Chappellet family. Other than...
The Sin of Zin
Once upon a time — a lifetime ago, really — I adored Zinfandel, the spicy, brambly red wine that was unique to...
The New York Times Book of Wine
True confession: Most wine books bore me. There are exceptions, of course. For me, those tend to be the authoritative reference...
Sojourn, Sonoma Coast (California) Pinot Noir 2010
The lightest but most elegant of the 2010 releases I've tasted from Sojourn, this delightful Pinot from the Rodgers Vineyard in...
White Wines of Southern Italy
As the summer heat builds and meals trend toward light, fresh ingredients, I am always drawn to the intriguing white wines of...