Cool Climate Whites Eradus 2007 Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ Cederberg 2007 Chenin Blanc, WO Cederberg, SAF Pinot or Not Pinot? Allan Scott 2006 Pinot Noir, Marlborough, NZ Spice Route 2006 Pinotage, WO Swartland, SAF Syrah-Shiraz Black Pearl 2003 “Oro”, WO Parrl, SAF Graham...

Back To The Future: Campania Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina, 2005 Aminea Fiano di Avellino, 2005 East Of Reisling: Austria Weingut Hofer Gruner Veltliner, 2005, Neiderosterreich J. Pockl Zweigelt “Monchof”, 2004, Burgenland Northwest Iberia ...

From the moment I opened the bottle, this wine was one surprise after another. The color didn’t imply that the juice was 16 years old, and the nose, though redolent of the subtle aromas of leather and tobacco, developed a cinnamon-rolled blackberry character after a few minutes of air....

Alexander Valley Vineyards 2004 “Top of the Crop” Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley  A bottling from AVV’s new Reserve line, this Cabernet is a good step forward for this family-owned winery. The aromatics begin with a whiff of buttered popcorn flowing into fresh tobacco...

It would be enough if this were simply an elegant, fully mature Spanish red. But the fact that it’s an elegant, fully mature Spanish red for one-third its usual price makes it truly special.

Eric really should have told me to take the right infront of the Amish lass picking flowers. She was there everytime I sped past. Eric Miller’s voice, recorded and replayed several times over the feeble speaker on my cellphone, is calmly giving directions to turn right at Mansion...

I. High Altitude Whites Bodegas Lurton 2007 Torrontes, Argentina Kingston Family 2006 “Cariblanco” Sauvignon Blanc, Chile II. “Native ” Sons Altos Las Hormigos 2006 “Colonia Las Libres” Bonarda, Argentina Concho y Toro 2005 “Terrunyo” Carmenere,...

We’ve written about this one before, but it bears repeating here again: For $29.99, there is simply no reason to pass this one up. Classic Cali Cab–with bottle age!–is rarely this affordable.

Cheese Asiago Parmigiano Reggiano Vermont Cheddar Manchego Wine 1. Castelroig NV Brut Cava (SP) 2. Xarmant 2007 Txakolina, Txakoli de Alava (SP) 3. Ad Hoc 2007 Chardonnay, Western Australia (AS) 4. Bodegas LAN 2005 Rioja Crianza, Rioja (SP) 5. Castello di Farnetella 2006 Chianti...

This hearkens back to the halcyon days of when my friend Jonathan Newman was the Chairman of the PLCB. I still remember all those great deals on top-shelf Napa Cabernet. This deal reminds me of those days, almost. This is a fantastic wine, although the cheap cork tells me this was possibly a...

Taking a Chance Orballo 2006 Albarino, Rias Baixas (SP) Area Codes: Australia Rosemount 2005 Shiraz, South Eastern Clonakilla 2004 Hilltops Shiraz, New South Wales Grape Expectations: Marlborough Nobilio...

I. The Other Side of White Topanga Vineyards 2005 “Celedon”, Napa Copain 2006 “Saisons des Vins, L’ete”, Viognier, Mendocino II. Northwest Valleys Cottonwood 2003 “Marina Piper” Pinot Noir, Willamette Russell Creek 2002 Merlot, Walla Walla III. The...