Drew Bledsoe’s 2012 Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon (94 points, Wine Enthusiast) keeps scoring points — and dollars — for the WCAP Salvation Army Radiothon. The 2012 vintage is Doubleback’s best to date, and a signed bottle I donated to the Warren Shaw-led Radiothon brought in $1,500. Kudos to Ernest Linuk, a Billerica attorney, who made the […]
General Wine
Four wines to jump-start the new year
OK, let’s all take a sip of Prosecco, refresh the palate and get ready for a great 2016 wine adventure. Seven days into the new year, I’ve already sampled two reds and two whites for my personal Wine Log. But first … looking back on the pages from 2015, I had the good fortune, along […]
'Racy' Rieslings for the holidays and beyond
Why Riesling for Christmas and the holidays? “It’s such a versatile, satisfying wine. It goes well with all foods. It’s refreshing on the palate,” says Lazarus Guisso, a self-described “amateur de vin” (wine lover) with a sommelier’s knowledge of all things vino fino. A week ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Guisso, who is […]
Christmas gift special: Tickets to 2016 Boston Wine Expo
If you’re looking for a nice Christmas gift for the wine lover in the family, how about a trip to the Boston Wine Expo? This year’s event will be held February 13 and 14 at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center and represents the 25th year anniversary of this wonderful gathering. Doors open each […]
Four 'cool' and inviting California Pinot Noirs
Pinot Noir no longer gets shortchanged in America — and the world — for good reason: Winemakers in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and California’s Central Coast have put their stylistic stamp on this persnickety grape to popular effect. As can be expected among the two western states, the difference in terroir and climate yield varied and […]
House of Speri hits high mark with voluptuous Valpolicella
“We don’t make wine to shock the mouth. We make wine to fill the mouth with intense flavors that are smooth, elegant and lasting. We make wine that is beautiful with food. A great vintage is one in which we make less.” The words from Luca Speri were music to my ears, like the great […]
No drought in quality at Michael David Winery
California’s drought — labeled “severe” — is now in its fourth year and the San Joaquin Valley, rich in cherry farming and vineyards, is one of the hardest hit. Smack in the valley’s middle is the city of Lodi, home of the Michael David Winery, a fifth-generation family-owned operation producing some of America’s most highly […]
Blockbuster wines at bargain prices
It’s never too early to start thinking about purchasing wines for the upcoming holidays, or to cozy up to during the winter months. October is a big sales month for wine retailers, especially with new stock arriving on shelves for Thanksgiving and Christmas. For several weeks I’ve been sampling new wines with the Wine Butler […]
Gratallops' Black Slate red unleases Priorat's power
On the evening when I’m planning to drink a new wine from Priorat, the October issue of Wine Spectator arrives with a cover story titled “Great Spanish Reds: Alvaro Palacious Leads Priorat to New Heights.” The Wine Goddess smiles, thinking I’m an “expert” able to spot wine industry trends, especially after I glowingly tell her […]
Wine clubs: What's the value in joining?
Dunham Cellars wine-tasting room in Walla Walla. What’s the advantage of joining a wine club? Several people have asked me that question and I’ve never had a good answer — until now. You should join a wine club if you like the wine, it is unique and only available through the club, and it fits […]
