I’ve been on some kind of lucky streak lately with inexpensive wines that have pleasantly surprised me, and the Estancia 2005 Shiraz Central Coast ($13) is a perfect example. With its concentrated black currant and blackberry fruit that offers hints of smoky cedar and earth on the complex finish, this is not only good for the [...]

I recently featured the Sterling Vintner’s Collection Sauvignon Blanc here, now it’s time for the Pinot Noir. Offering surprising balance at this price point, the Sterling 2006 Pinot Noir Central Coast Vintner’s Collection ($13) is silky smooth, with pretty black cherry and currant flavors laced with herbal notes and a hint of spice on the moderate [...]

I still cannot figure out the name of this winery — is it Frei Brothers, or Frei Brothers Reserve? Didn’t it start as just Frei Brothers, and then they tacked on the Reserve some years later? And then “Frei Brothers” started showing up on Redwood Creek bottles at some point. Or maybe it’s always been [...]

Around here, Sauvignon Blanc has become a regular go-to wine for a pre-dinner drink, not to mention the perfect patio wine. So I’m always looking for bottles that don’t break the bank. Here are a few under $20 that I’ve particularly enjoyed lately: Franciscan 2007 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley ($17). Nice, with pretty, lime, lemon and melon [...]

“If feelings fail you, vain will be your course, and idle what you plan unless your art springs from the soul with elemental force.” - Faust (Goethe) That this happens to be part of one of my favorite Faust references certainly didn’t hurt matters around here as I was checking out the Faust 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley [...]

I was in need of a quick dessert cheese course for two recently. Fortunately, I had just purchased a slab of Point Reyes Farmstead Original Blue — and I always have a handful of dessert wines about. But it needed a little something to pull the dish together… I made a quick dried fruit chutney [...]

Everyone in the Houston restaurant community has been terribly saddened by the fire that destroyed Brennan’s of Houston restaurant the night that Hurricane Ike hit Houston. Tragically, Brennan’s “wine guy” James Koonce and his four-year-old daughter were badly burned in the fire and remain in critical condition. A number of restaurants have already held fundraisers [...]