The thing that I think people often miss about huge wine companies is that they have the resources to make outstanding wines. Yes, they make loads of inexpensive, “entry level” stuff, but they also have the twin advantages of outstanding fruit along with economies of scale that allow them to keep prices down on their best bottles. Kendall-Jackson’s [...]

This pairing offers intense flavors — both in the wine and in the chops. So those of you that love that kind of thing should give this a try! Barbera is probably the second most famous grape in the Piemonte region of Italy. With good acidity levels, Barbera wines are super food-friendly, and its two [...]

Some weeks, it hardly needs mentioning, are simply more hectic than others. What should have been a rather usual day at the office suddenly turns into a frantic juggling exercise as you realize that there is more stuff to do than there is day in which to do it. It’s precisely at the end of one [...]

Check out this refreshing, unoaked Chardonnay to see you through the end of this long, hot summer. It’s a great patio wine all on its own, but also matches nicely with seasonal fare like cold seafood salads, grilled prawns and picnic-style deviled chicken. Ad Lib 2008 Chardonnay Margaret River Tree Hugger ($17). Fresh and easy [...]

I’ve been tasting Gordon Brothers Family Vineyards wines for about a decade now, albeit on a somewhat sporadic, “here and there” level. But I have to say that I don’t remember a single time thinking that a Gordon Brothers wine was anything less than really good. Perhaps my timing was good and I simply missed [...]

Dinner the other evening started out to be a Jamie Oliver baked cod dish, but ended up being this roasted salmon version — mostly because cod steaks were not available, but also because I absolutely adore this combination of flavors. This is a one dish meal, if ever there was one — making clean-up a [...]

Premium-priced wine from Italy has had a rough time of it lately. Between the Brunello controversy, the questions currently circulating about the quality of the 2006 Barolo vintage, and the overall economic downturn and its effects on global wine prices, I would imagine that Italy may be in the unenviable position of being the exception to [...]