Here are two fruity reds from South Africa’s Guardian Peak — created by Jean Engelbrecht, owner of famed Stellenbosch winery Rust en Vrede, and golf legend Ernie Els. Both wines offer excellent bang for the buck and are widely available. Guardian Peak 2006 Shiraz Western Cape ($15). Supple cherry and ripe plum aromas and flavors pick [...]

Looking for a special bottle of wine to go with your next date night steak dinner? Here are three really lovely, splurge-worthy California Cabernet Sauvignons that will not disappoint: Brandlin 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Mount Veeder ($85). Intense, concentrated, aromatic black currant, blackberry, roasted coffee, dusty bittersweet chocolate, black olive, toasty oak and baking [...]

I’ll keep it short and sweet today — primarily since I’m mostly dealing with my tree that fell on my neighbor’s house earlier this morning. (And a happy Memorial Day holiday to me…) (And yes, I am making it sound all about me — if you knew this neighbor…) You don’t see the words “bargain” [...]

People tend to think of Port as a cold-weather drink — best enjoyed next to a warming fireplace after a hearty meal. But trips to Portugal have convinced me of the joys of year-round Port drinking — from white Port “spritzers” to glasses of Tawny and Vintage Port after any (and all!) meals. This time [...]

Okay, so as promised, I got busy tasting the rest of the Sterling samples and have more positives to report: Sterling Vineyards 2005 Merlot Napa Valley Three Palms ($55). A structured, serious wine. Offering concentrated black cherry and currant fruit layered with mineral notes, dusty cocoa and brown spices. Shows some grip on the long [...]

Earlier this year, I read with sadness that Peter Newton had died. Although I never met Mr. Newton personally, the Sterling name is one that resonates with me — as it does with so many — because of it’s long history. Newton founded Sterling Vineyards in 1964, when there were only about twenty bonded wineries in all [...]

For me, summer is the best time for Zinfandel. Of course, that’s mostly because summer is also when I want to fire up the barbecue grill and get that smoky sear on all manner of beast, fowl and fish. Whereas Zin can be, in my opinion, not nuanced enough for my cold-weather braising and roasting, [...]