Volume XXIV – Issue 8

By Dan Berger If you’re willing to alter your wine buying habits (for some this will not entail any change at all!), this article could change your life and make wine purchasing not only more enjoyable but more adventuresome. And it is aimed a… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – … Continue reading “Premeditated Wine Buying”

(Note: I buy almost all my wine at Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa. No one at the store knew I was going to write the following. I did not receive any compensation from Bottle Barn for writing this.) One way to buy wine is in a grocery store or even a … Want to read … Continue reading “An Unsolicited Appreciation of Bottle Barn in Santa Rosa”

When we think of the white wines of the south of France, one basic type emerges in our mind: White Côtes du Rhône. These wines tend to be more interesting, especially in the last decade as better (cold-fermentation) techniques have been developed to… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you … Continue reading “Southern French Whites”

Over the decades, we have pointed out the absurdity of trying to score wine with a numerical rating, as if a 95 is actually “better than” a 94. Just look the ridiculousness of it all, especially if the 95 is a score awarded to a Merlot and the 94 is… Want to read more? If … Continue reading “A Third Level of Wine Quality”

Exceptional 2016 Marchesi di Barolo Barbera d’Alba, Piemonte “Ruvei” ($18): Ripe plum and cherry amid hints of wet earth, a faint trace of tar, and perfectly balanced acidity – a great example of Italian personality with a modern touch. I’ve had … Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may … Continue reading “Tasting Notes”

2018 Domaine Les Gryphées Beaujolais, Cuvée Les Balmes, Vieilles Vignes ($15): This is not your average Beaujolais! It doesn’t have the tutti-frutti jammy aroma of that district. It is slightly darker, more complex, and has the weight, nearly, of a … Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may login … Continue reading “Wine of the Week”