A Bagatelle
Acacia Vineyard A2007Current price: about $12 A sweet little wine, juicy and vibrant. Bright pink-purple, with a nose like the wild roses that grow in…
Wine Reviews
An Italian and Two Frenchmen Walk Into a Bar…
Bonny DoonSuper Tuscan2008Price: about $15 This wine is a blend of 52% Sangiovese, 33% Syrah, and 15% Cinsault. So that means it's: bright, fruity,…
Ringing It In
Louis RoedererCristal Champagne Brut1996Current price: about $350 Last night, to ring in the New Year, we pulled the cork on this elegant bottle of…
Two Elegant French Dinner Companions
Guy LarmandierCramant Grand Cru Blanc de BlancsNVCurrent price: about $55 Château de BeaucastelChâteauneuf-du-Pape1993Current price: about $60 Last night we hosted an intimate dinner party…
A Dark Spaniard
Buil and GinéToro DO2004Price: $24 The Toro Denominación de Origen is located along Spain's Duero river valley, where the stony soils and relatively high…
Simple Gifts
A remarkable thing happens to me when I let myself stretch a little, when I take a little risk: the gifts come pouring in….
Cooling it on the Rocks
Las Rocas de San AlejandroViñas Viejas Garnacha2003 We bought quite a bit of this wine a while ago for twelve or thirteen dollars a…
Giving Thanks for Wine
Tomorrow we’ll celebrate Thanksgiving with friends, and—no surprise, really—they asked us to provide the wine. Our goal was to offer variety to suit many…
The Moon in a Glass
Ca' del Solo Estate VineyardMuscat2008Price: $18 This wine is a pale, translucent gold, a warm moonbeam in a glass. It offers a nose of…
The Rhône Rabbit
Bonny Doon VineyardCigare Alternative C2004 Brilliant red-purple, like the queen's velvet. The nose is floral; I get violets, the breath of spring. I get…
A Little Trip to the South of France
Château de FlaugerguesLa Mejanelle "Cuveé Sommelière"2006 Ruby red, this Coteaux du Languedoc opens with a nose of washed linen, cherry, and fresh Provençal herbs…
Parla Italiano? Mi dispiace, no.
Il PoggioSangiovese Rubicone IGT2008 The color is ruby purple, and it has a jammy nose, with smoke and earth and tobacco. On the palate…