The passion and energy of wine
Robert Mondavi’s 2018 Fume` Blanc from Napa Valley is better than ever, showcasing the iconic winery’s innovative spirit in producing richer tasting Sauvignon Blanc with a touch of Semilion. The entry level Fume` Blanc, which I recently sampled, offers ripe fruit from Napa’s top vineyard sites at Wappo Hill, To Kalon, and Oakville District. Its […]
So what canned wine is in your beach cooler? It’s a timely question now that states are relaxing COVID-19 beach bans and allowing residents to head back to the sandy shores – albeit with social distancing protocols in place. In recent years, sales of canned wines have increased dramatically, and the coronavirus crisis has done […]
(This article was updated on May 28, 2020 to correct an inaccuracy and add information supplied by Ehlers Estate. Changes are bolded. The author regrets the error.) Bernard Ehlers’ stone mill barn that he built in 1886 for a winery is still in use today on the Ehlers Estate in the St. Helena […]
The creators of Eternally Silenced Pinot Noir crow that the California wine will leave drinkers “speechless” but I say the 2017 vintage has found its voice. Indeed, Eternally Silenced builds on its 2016 inaugural with brighter character traits, including intense aromatics and flavors. Maybe it was the excellent growing season in Napa Valley and surrounding […]
Sales of dry rose` wines continue to climb across the globe, especially in the U.S., where consumers are enamored by the allure of bright, refreshing fruit flavors, dryness, and elegance for summer sipping. Here is my first of two columns on one of my favorite tasting subjects. Today, the focus is on eight international rose` […]
It’s damp and gloomy outside mid-way through one of the coolest, dislodged April in U.S. history. Naturally, COVID-19 and government shelter-at-home orders have a lot to do with it. But people still have eat, drink and live, right? So what’s one to do? Put on my black Federoa, old Chicago-style Elliot Ness raincoat and soft […]
Rich Frank had the money and Hollywood connections to launch his own winery in 1992, but it was no guarantee of success in the big-time Napa Valley market. Fortunately, Frank’s knowledge of and passion for wine, expert business sense, and close-knit family talent were the most valuable assets in the overall equation. The former president […]
When I think of the word “cigar” two things immediately come to mind. First, the world champion American thoroughbred racehorse who dominated the mid-1990s handicap circuit; and second, the sweet, woodsy tobacco smell that comes from smoking a Rocky Patel Vintage Maduro. Now there is a third – the wine Cigar Old Vine Zinfandel. It […]
Chateau Malescasse 2016 (SRP $24) is an exceptional Left Bank value from Haut-Medoc, the result of a classic growing season that yielded Bordeaux’s biggest production output since 2006. While the highly acclaimed vintage pushed up Bordeaux prices an average of 13 percent – some Grand Crus jumped 60% – Chateau Malescasse bucks the trend and […]
Chateau Destieux 2005 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux – Usually, when I acquire a wine I make a note of it in my CellarTracker account, even if it is a gift. For some unknown reason, a bottle of Chateau Destieux 2005 Saint-Emilion Grand Cru slipped through my meticulous system. I have no idea where this Right […]
