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Review: Ciavolich Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo (2023)
Montepulciano was a grape that I thought I’d left in the distant past: The carafes of soft, plodding table wine ordered alongside spaghetti and mozzarella sticks. To a college-age Wine Fairy, “Montepulciano” sounded sophisticated and worldly. It seemed like a step up from the house Chianti in the wicker basket, if only because it was…
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Merlot Thursday: Salentein “Portillo No. 06” Uco Valley Merlot (2020)
Among wine drinkers, Argentina’s Uco Valley is almost synonymous with Malbec. Malbec’s growth, largely driven by international demand, has been heroic–more than 800% since 2004. The mountainous terrain allows this dark-skinned, intensely fruity variety to produce wines that also show elegant floral aromas and firm acidity. The emergence of Malbec as Argentina’s principal grape has…
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I tried all the wines on the drink package! Here’s the lowdown on 23 of Princess Cruises’ house wines.
Gangway crossed, drink package purchased, Princess Medallion® in hand. It was time to attempt a feat of exploration and endurance: Tasting all of the available wines before disembarkation day on a 7-day Caribbean cruise. Buying the drink package presented an irresistible opportunity. Normally, I have to pay for the glasses and bottles I review for…
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Napa Zin for the win: A visit to Robert Biale Vineyards
Trying to choose just one winery to visit in Napa Valley is a torturous exercise, like buying a single scoop from an ice cream shop with dozens of bins. Whatever you pick, it’s sure to be good. But choosing Pistachio means passing up Boysenberry and Black Walnut and Lavender Honey–there’s only so much flavor you…
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Merlot Thursday: Reclos de la Couronne Montagne-Saint-Émilion (2022)
Every week, following the example of a loose community of online wine nerds, I stop whatever I’m doing and drink a Merlot. There are two main reasons for the exercise: One, I’m trying to train my palate to recognize subtle differences in terroir and winemaking by becoming overly familiar with one variety, and two, Merlot…
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Six takeaways from Wine Paris 2026
We’re back from three days of tasting, learning, and exploring at the colossal Wine Paris trade show! Each day, I wandered the exhibition halls from open until close to try and soak up clues about what’s happening in the international wine biz. On Friday, I shared seven personal moments that defined my Wine Paris experience.…
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Wine Paris 2026: A trip to remember
“Mind-blowing.” “Insane.” That’s how Wine Paris was described to me before I went–and now that I’m back home, I’ve got to say that I agree. As a new-to-the-industry person, I’ve wasted no time jumping straight into the deep end. (If not now, then when?) The opportunity came to go to Paris. So I cashed in…
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Champagne Road Trip (Part One): Cathedral and cellars of Reims
Just over an hour from Paris is a city of wonders both sacred and profane. Above ground: The extraordinary Reims Cathedral, its Gothic spires piercing the sky. Below ground: Over 150 miles of chalk tunnels lined with an estimated 200 million bottles of Champagne. To walk among the dusty bottles is a wine lover’s dream.…
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Merlot Thursday: Martin Ray “Courtney’s Cuvée” Merlot (2021)–and the trouble with wine on tap
The quest to bring back Merlot got a boost this week from a delightful “Sideways Effect” piece by Willa Paskin for Slate: “For years, many believed that one tiny movie brainwashed American wine drinkers forever. The truth is weirder.” All the biggest questions and juiciest details are in that article: Is it true that one…
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Merlot Thursday: Dubourdieu “Liaison” Graves Red Bordeaux Merlot (2022)
As Winter Storm Fern wraps up her national tour, I’m stuck inside for a couple more days. (I love you, Dallas–but your roads don’t function with snow and sleet.) On the plus side, there is plenty of wine at home. In fact, it’s about time I got around to tasting some of these bottles from…
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Review: Malbado Luján de Cuyo Malbec (2019)
“Malbado” means “the bad one,” but this Mendoza Malbec actually wasn’t so bad. I pulled it from my strategic wine reserve (that is, the rack full of old Total Wine bottles) to uncork in the middle of a winter storm. Yes, this is a Total Wine private label wine with all the tell-tale signs: Big…
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Review: “Ex Post Facto” Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir (2024)
Five bottles were on the table at the Brewer-Clifton tasting on Tuesday. Winemaker Greg Brewer was pouring. On the way to his next event, he graciously stopped by my table, accused me of hiding in the corner, and chatted for a few moments about these acclaimed craft wines from Santa Barbara County. I do hide…