Dan Berger

Almost all of us are looking for reasonably priced wines to consume on Tuesday nights, on a patio, or while watching a football game To that end, we normally resort to simplistic, ordinary products. I’ve done this so often that I have become bored wi… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back … Continue reading “Follow the Regions”

By Dan Berger The visual appearance of an object can be all some people need to justify spending lavishly on it, pampering themselves to get what they perceive to be a luxury item. Even when it comes to wine.  I have never bought into this little d… Want to read more? If you’re already a … Continue reading “Dark Obsession”

 2018 Marichal Tannat, Uruguay ($15): This wine designated “Collection,” is remarkably well put together, with plum and cherry aromatics, and a slight hint of rustic-ness that gives the wine even more personality after it has been decanted. Tannat is… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may login here. If you … Continue reading “Bargain of the Week”

2021 Nissan Verdejo, Rueda “Old Vines” ($17): Verdejo may well be Spain’s most important white wine grape variety. Here, the exemplary handling allows the wine to display not only citrus and subtle spices but a slightly iron ore kind of minerality in… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may … Continue reading “Wine of the Week”

​​Exceptional 2014 Cazadero Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Coast, “Bei Vineyard” ($49): The beautiful, distinctly varietal aroma starts with traces of dried herbs mingled with black cherry and graphite. In the mid-palate, it’s supple with sufficient tan… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may login here. If you aren’t a subscriber, sign … Continue reading “Tasting Notes”

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Average Brix at Harvest, by vintage (approximate) 1988    22.5 1989    23.2 1990    22.6 1991    23.6 1992    22.7 1993    22.6 1994    23.1 1995    22.6 1996    23.1 1997    23.0 199… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may login here. If you aren’t a subscriber, sign up here to get … Continue reading “Random Statistic without comment”

Jack Daniels recently announced that it was releasing its highest-alcohol whisky, at  77.5% alcohol. In today’s very strange world of commercial alcoholic beverages, I question whether this product is needed. But since Jack Daniels is one of the mo… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may login here. If you … Continue reading “News of interest?”

One of the greatest wine writers of all time, in my opinion, was Clive Coats,  an Englishman who became perhaps history’s greatest chronicler of the wines of Burgundy (as we’ll as Bordeaux and much of the rest of Europe). He was 81 when he passed awa… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome … Continue reading “Clive Coats RIP”

(Rob Geddes is a Master of Wine who lives in Australia, one of 20 Aussie MWs, and he tastes a massive number of wines for his newsletter as well as his annual books. He’s been in the game for more than 30 years. A recent column he penned for his news… Want to read more? … Continue reading “A Wine Essay from Rob Geddes”

One of the tactics that have been used throughout the wine industry by wineries over the last 25 years or so is to allow some grape varieties, particularly those that make red wines, to stay on the vine longer than is absolutely necessary – well past… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome … Continue reading “Ripening Grapes”