A few observations from the 2007 Critics Challenge, while they're still fresh in my mind. Champagne Charles Heidsieck has become...
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Give This Baby a Medal for Real!
I love tasting 'blind' not because I worry about showing coarse bias for or against wines, but because I worry about the subtle...
Scary Days in South Australia
George Taylor, vineyard manager for Foster's Wine Estates' Barossa properties insisted I put on protective paper booties before...
You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
Despite the attention focused on Carménère, a grape originally from Bordeaux but now found rarely outside of Chile, Cabernet...
A Bordeaux Lover’s Lament
I've got email! Reader Stephanie Madsen writes: I strongly disagree with yourcomment on pricey Bordeaux wines. For everyday use...
Concours Mondial Day Two: Blockbusters in the Languedoc
MAASTRICHT, Netherlands -- On Day Two at the 2007 Concours Mondial my jury started out with light-bodied aromatic whites. Though...
Concours Mondial, Day One
MAASTRICHT, Netherlands -- I've had my nose buried in a wine glass for most of the past week, so blogging has been light. The...
Wakefield Rieslings Confuse Issue of ‘Clare’ Style
The first time I tasted an Australian Riesling, years ago, I was amazed. It was from the Clare Valley, located in the...
Medal-Winning Wines from Unusual Places
OK, maybe I wasn't surprised by the sweepstakes winners at the San Diego International Wine Competition, but there were some...
Best of Show at the 2007 SDIWC: Proven Performers Reign
The highlight of just about every wine competition I've been involved with (more than 50 as either judge, chief judge or...
McCarthy Takes Issue with ‘Parker Effect’ Comment
I do agree with Robert Whitley's statement that Robert Parker has influenced quite a few Bordeaux Chateaux, such as...
2006 Lafite Benefits from the ‘Parker Effect’
BORDEAUX, France -- The gap in performace between Chateau Lafite Rothschild and lesser growths of the Pauillac district in...