Volume XXVII – Issue 5

As the COVID-19 pandemic began to subside in an American society that desperately wanted to remove masks and dine out again, the fine dining scene in America began to resurrect itself, and initially, we began to see some of our better restaurants reo… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you … Continue reading “The Death of Fine Dining”

A recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out that corkage charges in San Francisco restaurants are rising significantly. It seemed to be an alarming trend — or so I thought before I read the article. But what ended up happening was af… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – … Continue reading “Corkage and Diversity in Restaurants”

Almost unnoticed within the last two years is the fact that the federal government had approved some new bottle sizes that are now legal in which to sell wine. The quarter bottle, or 187 mL, otherwise called “a split,” was a popular size in convenien… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back … Continue reading “New Bottle Sizes”

Chianti Classico is a larger region in Tuscany that makes one of the world’s most recognizable and broadly appealing red wines, Chianti — a staple in Italian restaurants around the world. Although Chianti has been produced for well over a century… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may login … Continue reading “An Answer to Gran Selezione”

Orange wine is not exactly a category I adore, but it is intriguing enough for me to at least try several dozen of them over the last three or so years. The bottom line is, the best one I ever tasted is a new wine that just was released by one of … Want to … Continue reading “Orange!”

2020 Carol Shelton Zinfandel, Mendocino County “Wild Thing” ($20): This simply superb example of a bright, fruit-driven Zinfandel is still pretty young, but it has all the complexity that you would expect from a Carol Shelton wine. It is overwhelming… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you may login here. If … Continue reading “Tasting Notes”

2020 Domaine de la Grenaudiere Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine, Sur Lie ($15): I am always looking for crisp wines to recommend, so among the wines that I purchased within the last few weeks was a $40 bottle of a theoretically excellent Muscadet with an exal… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you … Continue reading “Bargain of the Week”

If a fine wine’s aroma is its heart, and taste is its substance then acidity is its soul. Lots of wines smell and taste good to lots of people, like most sweet wines that appeal to a broad range of folks. But with fine wine, different things are a… Want to read more? If you’re … Continue reading “Riesling’s Crispness”

By Dan Berger It’s hard to know what this country’s buyers of icon wines really know about wine, but the continuing interest I see in some expensive but ill-conceived red wines that sell for way more money than they should indicates to me that a l… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome … Continue reading “Buying Icons”

This essay appeared recently in the Napa Register By Dan Berger Nearly a year ago, I opined here that “the best white wine in America today is Sauvignon Blanc.” Nothing in the intervening 11 months has changed that notion except that consumer d… Want to read more? If you’re already a subscriber, welcome back – you … Continue reading “Sauvignon Blanc’s Greatness”