From one of the best spots in Santa Barbara County pinot noir, the Byron Julia's shows a note of woodsmoke and spice on...
Hawk and Horse, Red Hills (Lake County, California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
The hand of Dr. Richard Peterson is evident in this vintage from Hawk and Horse, a Lake County winery that flies a bit under the...
Duckhorn Vineyards, Atlas Peak (Napa Valley) Merlot 2011
The Atlas Peak appellation hasn't been in the Duckhorn stable for very long, but it is very quickly proving itself as...
Kendall-Jackson, Santa Barbara County (California) Syrah 2014
K-J has always had fairly good success with syrah and the 2014 bottling from Santa Barbara County is an excellent example....
Nielson, Santa Maria Valley (Santa Barbara County) Pinot Noir 2014
Once upon a time, cheap pinot noir tasted like cheap pinot noir. That would be thin and uninteresting, or flawed with...
Canary in the Coal Mine
Michel Rolland is perhaps the world's most famous winemaker. From his home base in Bordeaux, the winemaking guru's...
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte a Lifestyle Juggernaut
BORDEAUX, France — When Daniel and Florence Cathiard first laid eyes on Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte more than a...
Clos Pegase, Napa Valley (California) 2012
Homage from Close Pegase is a proprietary red that is cabernet sauvignon (99 percent) in everything but name. This vintage...
Lassegue: Hidden Gem Among Bordeaux Elites
SAINT-EMILION – Pierre and Monique Seillan run Chateau Lassegue, a small estate of modest stature amidst many of the...
Postcard from Paris
PARIS – It was a Wednesday night following a long flight in from California. The taxi pulled up to the front door of...
True Myth, Paso Robles (California) Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
The 2013 Cabernet from True Myth is textbook Paso Robles Cabernet, exhibiting ripe, fleshy fruit on the palate and a floral,...
En Garde, Diamond Mountain (Napa Valley) Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Diamond Mountain has long been one of the most distinctive sub-regions of the Napa Valley for cabernet sauvignon, making...