Ana Laguna & Pilar Garcia-Granero
"Before there was wine, there was a thing called happiness …" says an attractive, charming man standing in a circle of similarly well dressed, attractive Spaniards off the lobby of the Union Square W Hotel. Not quite sure the context of the quote, yet it appears to be a typical example [...]
White Burgundy Tasting
Imagine yourself at a very elegant restaurant, hosting an important client, or trying to impress a date. You both decide on white fish as an entrée, so you are leaning toward a white wine. And since Chardonnay is such a popular grape, and Burgundy, France, such a respected region, you decide to go [...]
Blackstone Merlot
Sometimes I get so caught up in my studies of the Old World I discover it has been months since I’ve sipped wine from the new world, especially California. Winemaker Gary Sitton of Blackstone Winery in Sonoma sent me some of his new releases …
The Pinot Noir 2007 ($20) is rich and expressive [...]
Laurent Drouhin
Ever wondered how to define the difference between Drouhin Vaudon Chablis Grand Cru Vaudesir 2008 and Drouhin Vaudon Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2008?
Laurent Drouhin with Honora Horan (center) and Harriet Lembeck at a walk around tasting of the 2008 vintage from the Drouhin family.
At the tasting, I chatted with Mr. Drouhin and suggested [...]
Quick! Imagine you are presented with a "blind flight" of Sauvignon Blanc wine (or Chardonnay for that matter). Do you think you can pick out a wine from New York’s Long Island against wines from Sancerre or New Zealand? Assume that all wines have the same color, and for the most part, a similar aroma [...]
Today marks my first day in the Jura, a remote and very historical area of France known for its famed Vin Jaune wines. Like Burgundy, Jura offers the international Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, yet it also offers the white Savagnin and two delicious red grapes, Trousseau and Poulsard.
As the region is just two hours’ drive [...]
Curious how to impress friends with your wine knowledge without breaking the bank? If you are reading this column, you already realize that high-priced wine does not necessarily mean “better” wine. Instead, you will earn respect by choosing a delicious,…
“Gorgeous mansion!” a woman says, accepting a tall flute of Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir from a server in a starched white jacket. We are standing in the hallway of the Honorable John Olsen, Australian Consul General, New York,…
“Gorgeous mansion!” a woman says, accepting a tall flute of Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir from a server in a starched white jacket. We are standing in the hallway of the Honorable John Olsen, Australian Consul General, New York,…
One of the trendiest wine regions these days is Australia, known for it’s wallet-friendly prices, appeal to popular taste, and buzz-building marketing campaigns. (Yellowtail Shiraz, anyone?) While most Americans know Australia for its under-$10 wines and think of “Australian Wine”…
… the good news is that the harvest this year looks great. Wine Spectator wrote an amazing report, but it’s by subscription so I’ll try to cite as much as legally possible … – Unusually mild weather this year has…
