I never dreamed when I set out to round up judges for the first Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition that I...
Myers, Beaulac Aboard for Winemaker Challenge
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Robert Whitley
Gascon, Mendoza (Argentina) Malbec 2008
Another good example of why financially strapped Americans are now infatuated with Argentine malbec. The Gascon is a...
Elsa Bianchi, San Rafael (Mendoza, Argentina) Syrah 2008
Another solid value red from Bianchi, the '08 'Elsa' Syrah offers fresh, ripe berry aromas, hints of spice, good backbone...
Guidelines for Wine Competition Judges
As Director of several major wine competitions, I'm frequently asked what makes a wine a gold-medal winner. Judges...
Burgundy No, Grand Cru Yes
I always cringe a bit when anyone attempts to draw parallels between New World Pinot Noir and red Burgundy. There are but a...
The Quest for Greatness
One of the attributes I admired most about the winemaker Craig Williams during his long reign at Joseph Phelps Vineyards...
Blood in the Water
I was very curious about the wine industry’s take on the crash of the high-end wine market, which was the highlight...
Winemakers Lining Up for Winemaker Challenge
Speaking of wine competitions, which were the subject of my column last week, I have an exciting new event on the horizon -- the...
Eponymous, A Cabernet for Now . . . and Later
If you know the name Bob Pepi, you're probably really thinking of his father, the late Robert Pepi, who founded the Pepi winery...
Ramblings from the Wine Trail
A wine journalist's work is never done. There are tastings and travel, travel and tastings, tastings and more tastings, until...
Chardonnay Done Right
This week’s wine reviews (to be posted Wednesday) are chock full of recommendations for modestly priced white...
Craggy Range’s Stunning Pinot Lineup
There are a number of theories about the meteoric rise of pinot noir as the beverage of choice among many wine enthusiasts. That...