THE BEST OF NAPA I NEVER DRANK
Back in the day, when Merlot was super-popular, Duckhorn, a Napa Valley winery was renown for making the best wine from this varietal. In [...]
AN ORPHAN BOTTLE
I have a small collection of magnums, mostly Bordeaux, lofty labels. I never know when to open them. Years ago I bought this Cotes [...]
A UNIQUE DINNER IN PARIS, AT THE EIFFEL TOWER
A unique Paris meal to be remembered for a lifetime at Jules Verne, the exclusive restaurant atop the Eiffel Tower.
UPDATE, ZANY LAS VEGAS WINE LISTS
I am not a big fan of Las Vegas. I don’t gamble, enjoy over-the-top entertainment or frequent strip joints. Still, I do go to Vegas [...]
MODERN MERLOT; TIME TO LEAVE MILES BEHIND
At the time California Merlot had fallen into a most dismal state of hateful mediocrity equivalent to today’s Kardashian sisters.
REMOTE AND READY FOR SPOILAGE; A FORAY INTO ANDERSON VALLEY
Napa has planted itself into this unspoiled valley. It will not be long before Goldeneye clones metastasize and swallow up the locals.
THE SMALL WINE SHOP, STILL RELEVANT
Fine Wines of Stockton, a venerable wine shop, just closed down. Its owners George and Gail Heron decided to retire. This left us with only [...]
DECANTING DILEMMAS, A PLEASANT SURPRISE
Have you ever been to a fancy restaurant and observed wine stewards ceremoniously decant every red wine ordered by every table? It can be quite [...]
WINERY IN A HOSPITAL; ONLY IN FRANCE
In the historic French city of Strasbourg, a most unusual wine shop resides within a giant public hospital complex. Hospice Strasbourg, a 2000 bed hospital [...]
ROSÉ RESURGENCE; NO LONGER BELLY-BUTTON FLUFF
“I have red and I have white,” she said. “What do I need pink for?” My wife was responding to my insistent call [...]