Everyone buying and selling wine--wineries, wholesalers, retailers and consumers--does it. We wine writers also fall into...
Wine Review Online | Columns
Fontanafredda: Awakening of a Sleeping Giant?
Fontanafredda is a marvelously-situated property in the Barolo commune of Serralunga, initially purchased in 1858 by the King of...
A Napa Icon, or Merely a Flash of Fashion?
Saying that California wines taste rich and ripe belabors the obvious. Everyone knows it already. What I like to...
Port: It’s Not Just for Winter any More
Many years ago, Carmine Martignetti, a friend of mine and head of Carolina Wines, one of New England’s best distributors,...
Does the World Need Another Super Tuscan?
Caiarossa is the new Super Tuscan on the block and the other “aias” should take note. It’s not yet in...
Why You Like the Wines You Like
Tim Hanni, MW has been a wine guru to me for many years, so I was interested in reading his newly released book, Why You Like...
Insignia from Joseph Phelps Vineyards
The early 1970s was an exciting time for wineries emerging in Napa Valley, such as Chateau Montelena, Stag’s Leap Wine...
California Whites: Viva Variety!
A British wine journalist once asked me why Californians felt so compelled to grow and vinify every wine grape known to...
Should Sauvignon Blanc Always be Drunk When Young?
As usual, H.L. Mencken said it best: For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple--and wrong....
Chianti Classico’s Gran Selezione: Grand Idea or Grand Mistake?
Chianti Classico producers have been hitting home runs with recent vintages. But they are on the verge of striking out with...
The Rise–and Spread–of American Wine
The United States is the world’s largest consumer of wine, having recently surpassed France and Italy to gain the top...
Vintage Matters…and So Does Ownership
Bruno Eynard, the man in charge at Château Lagrange, the St. Julien estate in Bordeaux classified as a 3rd growth in the...