Three amigos: Single varietal vs blends
by Robin Garr | Oct. 20, 2023 Which is better: A single varietal wine like a great Pinot Noir from Burgundy or a top Napa Cabernet, or a blend of grapes like a Bordeaux, Chianti, or...
View Article“Serve well chilled”? Not!
by Robin Garr | Oct. 27, 2023 Wine lovers know that the warning "serve well chilled" on the label of a cheap wine is really saying "Numb your taste buds so you can't taste me." So imagine my surprise...
View ArticleFelem: Hic et Nunc resurrects an almost-extinct grape
Neil Duarte has written about the Hic et Nunc winery in Piedmont before, and likes its wines. When he learned the winery had introduced a new wine made from an old grape that had fallen into almost...
View ArticleKuentz-Bas Alsace Blanc
Appealing floral and citric scents of orange blossom, honeysuckle, and subtle fresh peppermint rise from the glass of Kuentz-Bas Alsace Blanc. A blend of Auxerrois, Silvaner, Riesling, Gewurztraminer,...
View ArticleDon’t overlook Alsace
by Robin Garr | Nov. 3, 2023 Every time I enjoy a really good wine from Alsace, I wonder why I don't choose these region's excellent wines more often. Maybe it's because the wines of Alsace are...
View ArticleLooking for greatness in Chenin Blanc
by Robin Garr | Nov. 20, 2023 Chenin Blanc from France's Loire Valley: This is a connection of location and grape variety that yields some of the world's best white wines. Yet, as I've often complained...
View ArticleRio Madre Graciano Rioja
Rio Madre Graciano Rioja is made with 100% Graciano. Its appealing blackberry and plum aromas add a distinct back note of pomegranate. The flavor is luscious with black fruit framed by a firm acidic...
View ArticleHoliday feasts: What wine to choose?
by Robin Garr | Nov. 17, 2023 It's that time again! The annual round of holiday festivity is arriving, and many of us are eager to share good food and drink with friends and family. This means it's...
View ArticleBichot Bourgogne Vieilles Vignes Pinot Noir
Typical of Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Albert Bichot Bourgogne Veilles Vignes de Pinot Noir is an attractive ruby color, not too dark. Raspberry and strawberry aromas at first, with elusive hints of...
View ArticleIn the news: Red wine and headaches
by Robin Garr | Nov. 27, 2023 I hope all our U.S. readers enjoyed an excellent Thanksgiving Day with family, friends, good food, and exceptional wine. But wait! Now you've got a headache? • This week's...
View ArticlePerrin “Nature” Côtes du Rhône
Dubbed "Nature" because it's made with certified organic grapes, Famille Perrin 2020 "Nature" Côtes du Rhône shows an attractive dark-ruby color all the way to a thin clear edge, with bright crimson...
View ArticleThe color of wine
by Robin Garr | Dec. 1, 2023 Burgundy! It's a wine. It's a color! But here's a question to ponder: Which came first, the color or the wine? All right, that's not a serious question, and we all know it....
View ArticleA toast to December holidays
by Robin Garr | Dec. 8, 2023 It's December, a month for celebration! Hanukkah has begun, Winter Solstice is near, then Christmas, New Year's, and so much more. Let's raise a toast! (This week's column...
View ArticleFrescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Reserva
Dark reddish-purple with a clear ruby edge, Frescobaldi 2020 Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Reserva breathes appetizing scents of ripe black cherries and blackberries, with subtler earthy back notes of...
View ArticleIs it still a wine’s duty to be red?
by Robin Garr | Dec. 15, 2023 Red, white, rosé? They all suit me! But I can't help nodding approvingly at the British enophile Harry Waugh's famous joke: "It's a wine's duty to be red." Archives |...
View ArticleSome White Wines from Torre Rosazza
Neil Duarte recently had the opportunity to taste some Torre Rosazza white wines from Friuli, in northeastern Italy. The winery’s terraced Colli Orientali vineyards, protected on the north by the...
View ArticleNoval Black Reserve Porto
Noval Black Reserve Porto isn't quite black in the glass, but it's definitely a dark blackish-purple. Appealing blueberry scents lead to a rich, sweet flavor that shows fascinating complex nuances of...
View ArticleNot another stodgy Port: Noval Black
by Robin Garr | Nov. 22, 2023 As I write this holiday-season column about Port, a troubling thought comes to mind: Doesn't most everyone think Port is, well, stodgy? Even the august New York Times is...
View ArticleJean-Paul Brun “Le Ronsay” Beaujolais
Ripe cherries and fresh red berries mingle in the aroma of Jean-Paul Brun 2022 "Le Ronsay" Beaujolais. Made with organically grown Gamay grapes from young vines, it's a fruit cocktail but not a fruit...
View ArticleOutstanding Beaujolais, naturally
by Robin Garr | Dec. 29, 2023 Are natural and organic wines necessarily better than other wines just because they are, well, natural and organic? I'm going to say no. But ... Archives | Subscribe |...
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