(Originally published April 2006) We recently had the opportunity to sit down again with Susan Sokol Blosser — a truly admirable person in the wine world, for her pioneering spirit, her commitment to sustainable farming, and for her delicious wines! These are the kinds of wines that are so good, they overcome a long day, [...]
Read more →(Originally published October 2005) I’ve been tasting scores of interesting red wines from Portugal. I use the word “interesting” in the literal sense – not in the backhanded compliment way. Even the wines I didn’t particular care for, or include here, were unappealing in an unusual way! Too often with “bad” New World (California, Australia, [...]
Read more →(Originally published August 2005) Every now and then I get the opportunity to taste something out of the ordinary… Let me complete that thought – every now and then I get the opportunity to taste something out of the ordinary that actually turns out really well! Recently, I had just such an opportunity. It was [...]
Read more →(Originally published April 2005) If Port is your thing (and you know who you are!), you could hardly do better than to devote yourself to Symington Ports. The Symington Family Port Companies have been making some of the finest Port wines in the world for over 300 years. The Symingtons are the only British Port [...]
Read more →(Originally published February 2005) Well, the subject of this article was supposed to be California Syrah and Shiraz under $15. Unfortunately, after a rather dreadful tasting which included lots of notes like “simple,” “flabby,” and “candied,” a change in direction was required! (Sorry, just had to vent – how completely disappointing!) So now, instead, I’m [...]
Read more →(Originally published December 2004) I recently had the opportunity to taste through the current release lineup from Chumeia Vineyards. New to me, Chumeia Vineyards was founded in 2000 in Paso Robles by winemaker Lee Nesbitt who got hooked on viticulture while on a football scholarship at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in the late 1980s. [...]
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