If Sisyphus pushed “Alsace Rocks” uphill, he’d have made it to the summit and ended an eternity of futility. So the Greek myth survives to this day while “Alsace Rocks” is cresting – a nod to the unique red and white wines from one of France’s most unique terroir-driven regions. “People in Europe don’t want […]
French wines
Mouton Cadet’s Bordeaux Blanc and Rose`: A two-pack of exciting tastes for under $25
Mouton Cadet Bordeaux Blanc and Mouton Cadet Rose`, from the house of Baron Phillippe de Rothschild, represent one of the best couplets since Cher and Sonny Bono. Ok, I might be exaggerating just a bit. But here are two inexpensive and quality wines from a famous estate that will surely extend good summer times into […]
Gerard Bertrand’s Art De Vivre wines bring the ancient Languedoc – and lavender -to life
Gerard Bertrand wines from the Languedoc and Roussillon regions in southern France are always interesting, well crafted and satisfying. They are also unpretentious. What I mean is that you don’t have to know France’s complex and convoluted wine classification system to enjoy Bertrand’s easy-drinking reds and whites. Two of my GB favorites fall under the […]
Hunker Down Series No. 3: Chateau Malescasse 2016, a Bordeaux bargain beauty
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 […]
Making a ‘V’-line for vibrant, vivacious – and even vegan – Viognier
“V” is for Viognier, a “noble” white grape of France’s Rhone Valley that depends on warm, sunny climates to bring out its best features. Condreiu, located on the right bank of the Rhone River, is famous for its exclusive production of Viognier wines that tend to be medium- to full-bodied, perfumey, fruity, and dry. The […]
What’s the cost of love? Four Valentine’s Day sparklers that fit the bill for elegance
Wine consumption in the United States declined slightly in 2019 for the first time in 25 years. Two categories, however, showed increased sales: sparkling wine and rose`. Americans love their bubblies and for good reason. We party. We celebrate. We romance. And we spend money on premium sparkling wines. Valentine’s Day (Feb. 14) offers the […]
Six Cotes-du-Rhone wines that replenish the vines, refresh the palate
Vintners Jean Orens Ferraton and his son Michel have known winemaker extraordinaire Michel Chapoutier for more than two decades. In the mid-1990s, they brought organic farming to Rhone Valley vineyards when the term was still obscure. The Ferratons, whose winery was launched in 1946 by Jean, have relied on Chapoutier’s guidance to allow the land […]
No one wins in a wine war between U.S. and EU
When wine and cheese become part of a U.S.-European Union trade war, you know world leaders on both sides of the dispute have a corkscrew loose. This is not a political opinion column so I will refrain from positing blame. However, there are facts you should know as a wine consumer. If the Office of […]
‘Tis the season for tiny bubbles and elegant French Champagne
Is it Champagne or sparkling wine? It’s a common question I get from wine drinkers this time of year. Karen MacNeil provides the simplest answer in her classic book, The Wine Bible: “Champagne is aromatically, texturally, and in terms of flavor, one of the most distinct wines in the world. It comes from only one […]
Ten questions – and 5 famous quotes – to test your wine and vine ‘IQ’
It’s Thanksgiving week and despite all the hustle and bustle around the house, it’s time to take a break. So sit down in a favorite chair, pour a glass of bubbly, and take this wine “IQ” quiz whose sole purpose is to educate and amuse. (Each correct answer is worth 10 points. Award yourself a […]
