A New Designation for New Zealand

Wine consumers soon may be confronted with a new designation on labels from New Zealand’s Marlborough region. Already one of the world’s most recognizable and reliable wine regions, it had been in peril of losing that identity as many Sauvignon Bl… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may login … Continue reading “A New Designation for New Zealand”

Visiting Wine Country 1949

Another episode from Robert Lawrence Balzer’s unpublished memoir, (closing date: January 2018) Birthday No. 37 on June 25, 1949, initiated another trip to the California wine country, with dinner on that Saturday night with Lilian Fontaine at our … Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may login here. If you … Continue reading “Visiting Wine Country 1949”

Tasting Notes

Exceptional 2016 Smith Story Riesling, Rheingau(!) ($20): Eric Story of Santa Rosa (Smith Story Wines; https://smithstorywinecellars.vinespring.com) makes some of the most stylish wines in California as well as this wine he makes in Germany. On hi… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may login here. If you aren’t a subscriber, … Continue reading “Tasting Notes”

Wine of the Week

2014 Ramey Syrah, Sonoma Coast (Petaluma Gap), Rodgers Creek Vineyard ($65): Start with the price. This is a bargain – especially if you are a likely candidate to try a bottle of a great Côte-Rôtie. Guigal’s La Mouline costs about $400 a bottle; the … Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back … Continue reading “Wine of the Week”