Asides

Months ago, we rated as Exceptional here the 2014 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir from the Hallberg Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. Just for fun, and because we were in the mood, we opened another bottle of that incredible wine a few nights ago, decant… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – … Continue reading “Final Tip”

Dick Russ was a wine educator who also happened to sell wine for a living. I’m sure he knew that he was positively impacting the lives of many people when he made various presentations to merchants and restaurant personnel—and not incidentally jou… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may … Continue reading “A Great Educator”

Pink wine seems to be everywhere. Over the last three weeks or so, as Spring has prompted numerous rosé wines to be released, consumers have been offered virtually unlimited options. The majority are from the 2016 vintage, more of them from the… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may … Continue reading “Rosé Ascendant”

More and more drink-soon wines are being sent to market with screwcaps. This is a logical development since even a trace amount of corkiness in a bottle of wine can destroy a consumer’s confidence in the brand, particularly when he or she believes th… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – … Continue reading “Screwcaps”

2014 Sacred Hill Pinot Noir, Marlborough: Closeouts exist for many different reasons, a few of which are not possible to explain. This one is simply inexplicable. Not long ago, we wrote about this wine and suggested that it was an absolute bargain at… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you … Continue reading “Tip of the Week”

In the early 1870s, it can be argued, Paris had a long-established art scene that seemed to discard the efforts of the so-called radicals — impressionists such as Renoir, Manet, Sisley, Monet, and Gaugin. Such artists were rarely picked to displa… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may login … Continue reading “Impressionists: The Salon vs. a Risky Alternative Show”

We all have wines in our caches that got away from us. Even if you have just a few cases of wine, a bottle here and there gets a bit past its prime and is tired to the point of near un-drinkability. It is then that we have to make a decision on wh… Want … Continue reading “Tired Wine”

The U.S. government office that overseas the wine industry is looking at a number of new grape varieties and whether to certify their names as official new grapes that can be made into wine. In an article in Wines & Vines magazine, writer Lind… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – … Continue reading “New Grapes”

The U.S. government office that oversees the wine industry is looking at a number of new grape varieties and whether to certify their names as official new grapes that can be made into wine. In an excellent article in a recent issue of Wines &… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – … Continue reading “New Grapes”

A winery executive arrived early afternoon in Chicago, took a cab to her hotel, and by 4 p.m. was seated in the bar, staring at a glass of Chardonnay. Staring, not sipping, since she was appalled by the fact that the very small glass had been fill… Want to read more? If you’re already a … Continue reading “Ice Cold”