HEITZ MARTHA’S VINEYARD CABERNET; REVISITING THE 1980S
A priceless collection of thirty year old Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernets provokes stories about Joe Heitz, a Napa Valley pioneer.
HOW CAN HUMDRUM CALIFORNIA SPARKLERS CALL THEMSELVES CHAMPAGNE? A BRIEF HISTORY
Cheap American sparklers have the word Champagne on their labels. Isn't that forbidden? "Champagne" is supposed to be reserved for only a specific region of France. How did the Americans get away with it?
2016 BORDEAUX VINTAGE; PERSONAL OVERVIEW
Impressions about the 2016 vintage, another great one, from a massive tasting of around 90 labels across the region.
CHRISTMAS IN JORDAN
A chic, sumptuous Christmas affair at Jordan Winery in Sonoma, the most elegant we've ever experienced.
STORE LABEL WINE; IS THERE A PROBLEM?
Store brands may work out for peanuts or soap, but do they work out for wine?
RESTAURANT SCREW UPS, HANDLED DIFFERENTLY
A celebrated high-end restaurant displays arrogance with its screw up while a local unknown deals with it properly. A little humility goes a long way in building good will.
NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON’T; A WINERY THAT DISAPPEARED FROM THE MAP
A winery disappears from a freebie Sonoma map. Why? And is that really free?
BY THE GLASS? NO, THANKS!
Think about your wine habits next time you hit a restaurant or wine bar. If you think you can handle it, a full bottle is always a better choice.
WINE AS ORNAMENT ???
As my wine experience has matured, I have come to the realization that in addition to its many attributes, wine serves a precious ornamental function. It’s not there to just drink, but to look at and admire.
TWO WHITES; FIFTY PLUS YEARS & STILL ALIVE
Can a white wine be drinkable after more than half a century? The general answer is no. Sauternes is an exception, as two bottles from 1962 and 1953 prove.