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The 2014 vintage of this wine was exactly as expected – signature New Zealand citrus and grassiness with loads of acidity at a good price ($8.99, consistent with last year).  My review of the 2013 vintage of this wine sums up my feelings this year too. These are nice wines, perfect for summer weather, but …

Read More about 2014 Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Merlot varietals have not fared well in the U.S. wine drinking circles over the past few decades, so more American winemakers are moving towards merlot-based blends…..just like the French have been doing for hundreds of years.   (As with French Fries/frites and Napoleon pastries,  sometimes the French come up with darn good gastronomical ideas.)   Merlot is …

Read More about 2011 Chateau Ste Michelle Indian Wells Red Blend

I had a really cool experience when I was at Costco and purchased this wine.  I encountered a guy scrolling through his iPhone and I just happened to glance at his screen in the hopes I might see him looking at this site, and alas…that’s exactly what happened.  We had a great conversation that followed …

Read More about 2009 Bodega Los Aljibes Vina Aljibes Red Blend

I had mixed feelings going into this wine.  I had heard good things, but was a little doubtful that it wouldn’t deliver much for its $8.50 price tag at Costco.  But long behold, this isn’t a bad wine at all, and it turns out to be a pretty good value buy, particularly if you prefer …

Read More about 2013 Columbia Crest H3 Horse Heaven Hills Chardonnay

10 Italian Wines We Love Looking for some Italian wines to try this Valentine’s Day (and beyond)? Well, it just so happens that we drank a whole lot of vino while researching our recently published book, Decoding Italian Wine. Here are 10 of our favorites, ordered from least expensive to priciest. We hope you enjoy them …

Read More about 10 Italian Wines We Enjoyed While Researching Our Italian Wine Book

The Frescobaldi Nipozzano is one of my go-to bottles, versatile for almost any occasion, and a real treat for only $18.99 at Costco.  I’ve enjoyed many of Frescobaldi’s wines over the years.  They make some excellent wines at the high and low ends, and they are generally a good name to remember when perusing any …

Read More about 2010 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva

It’s nice to see more 2012 Napa Cabs starting to roll in as the rather unimpressive 2011s are hopefully beginning to cycle through.  2012 was a banner year, and when you see the Mondavi Cab available for only $19.99 at Costco, it’s certainly worth exploring. This wine is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon obviously, but also contains …

Read More about 2012 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

I’ve wanted to outline some of my thoughts on wine reviews and wine ratings ever since I launched this site.  I’m a huge fan of wine, but my “expertise” doesn’t extend much beyond that.  I don’t have a degree related to vinology, I don’t follow the weather in Bordeaux daily like serious wine nuts do, and …

Read More about A Perspective on Wine Reviews and Point Scale Ratings