The April issue of Wine Spectator magazine touts the 2010 Barolo produced in Italy’s dynamic Piedmont region as a “classic, elegant” vintage. Also, I recently received in the mail a newspaper article written by British wine expert Jancis Robinson titled “Barolo Steps Up.” (Thank you George B. for sending it to me.) Robinson writes how […]
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Run for the Rosés on Kentucky Derby Day
Saturday is Kentucky Derby Day and while many horse-racing fans will be sipping mint juleps, wine lovers shouldn’t feel left out. It’s a great day to break out the pink- and salmon-colored rosés, tune into the race and hold a spring party. I have a new appreciation for rosé, especially the dry and semi-dry versions […]
Little known grapes, elegant wines
If you’re looking for low-cost elegant wines produced from unfamiliar red grapes, here are a few selections I’ve tasted recently. • Tascante “Ghiaia Nera” Nerello Macalese 2010, Sicily, $19.95 — Andrea DiFiore at Andover Liquors recommended this beautiful garnet-colored and accented red wine grown in the volcanic rich soils of northeastern Mount Etna-area vineyards. I […]
Muscadet and 'I': Two wines worth exploring
The best part of exploring wines are the simple surprises you find along the way. My most recent discovery is “Muscadet” — a French white grape that originated in Bourgogne, was destroyed by harsh winters in the early 18th century, and revived in later years in the lower Loire Valley as “Melon de Bourgogne.” Interestingly, […]
The secret of Capezzana — sangiovese blends
The rich history and superb wines of Carmignano — and the family-owned and operated Tenuta di Capezzana winery — are no secret to Italians. So why is it that Americans know very little about this small, hidden Tuscan gem located 14 miles east of Florence? “We don’t want to be too famous,” says Emanuele Gastel, […]
Lenten wines that are worth the sacrifice
Lent is always a reflective time for Roman Catholics. Most look at the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter as a time to feel guilty about something — like eating candy or drinking soda — and they give it up for the duration. Some manage to keep the pledge for a day or two […]
Don't miss out: Super 90+ tasting at Wine Connextion
The Wine Connextion in North Andover will be hosting an exciting 90+ tasting of more than a dozen wines from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, March 29. This complimentary tasting features all wines that have been rated 90 points or better by various experts. Plus, Sam and Tina Messina, the store’s co-owners, are discounting prices even […]
Lessons of French wines are invigorating
Four weeks ago I went back to school in Boston. I haven’t been in a classroom since the mid-1980s when I attended a weeklong program at the University of Missouri’s National Institute of Investigative Reporting. So there was a bit of trepidation about buying books, studying, attending night school, watching online class components, taking two […]
Six French Burgundies that live off the land
The mysteries of wine are truly fascinating and a reason I enjoy learning about what’s in the bottle as well as where the wine was made. French winemakers place a great deal of emphasis on terroir — the environment in which the planted vine does its work. Something magical occurs below the soil and above […]
Wine storage woes? Here's a 24-bottle end table
A big concern for casual wine drinkers — and collectors — is how to store their bottles. Collectors usually can afford to invest in a wine cellar or a customized storage area in their home. But to the casual buyer, who may have anywhere from 20 to 60 bottles, and limited space, there’s now a […]
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