(Originally published October 2002) There seems to be a good deal of confusion about Meritage wines. Just what are they, anyway? Let’s begin with the word “Meritage.” It’s pronounced like “heritage.” I swear. No matter what the know-it-all bartender, wine snob, or even winery tasting room employee says – it rhymes with “heritage.” I know [...]
Read more →(Originally published December 2001) Just as all Champagne is sparkling wine, but not all sparkling wine is Champagne – Cognac is a specific region, and only brandy from this region can be called Cognac. And again like Champagne, each producer (or “house”) has its own blend or house-style that is very much like non-vintage Champagne. [...]
Read more →(Originally published December 1999) What started as an intense fondness for a particular Zinfandel (Frogs Leap 1996) has officially blossomed into Zin obsession. I love the peppery zip. The intense purple. The unique combination of flavors that could never be mistaken for a Cab or Merlot. Yes, Zinfandels are a world unto themselves. Welcome to [...]
Read more →(Originally published August 2008) If summer is time to stock up on charcoal and clean up the grill, it’s also a great time to brace yourself for the bold, vivacious flavors of California’s signature grape – Zinfandel. These ripe red wines can pack a wallop – in terms of flavor, body and alcohol. Zin’s ripe [...]
Read more →(Originally published April 2008) We object to that whole ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) movement. Yes, it’s true, there are lots of Chardonnays out there that suffer from being overly rich and heavy, without enough balancing fruit character. But Chardonnay is still one of all-time classic grape varieties. It takes its name from a village in [...]
Read more →(Originally published October 2005) Petite Sirah is still a bit of a mystery to most people, and it’s no wonder. After years of experts claiming that the Petite Sirah grape had no relationship to the Syrah grape, scientists have now issued an about-face and connected the grape DNA dots. Beyond this, there just isn’t much [...]
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