Bordeaux - Les Carmes Haut Brion

I think that we can forgive Alice Paillard, of Bruno Paillard Champagne, for being opinionated. As the daughter of the eponymously named BPC’s founder, she’s basically had a lifetime of working with someone who himself is, well, opinionated about Champagne. According to Alice (with whom I tasted through a few BPC samples as part of... Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press! Copyright � 2020. Originally at Wine in the Time of Coronovirus, Part...

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NV Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs (Champagne): Like yellow apples and freshly baked goods; only, they’re being served in heaven. $95 A 2017 Fattoria di Calappiano Collegonzi Sangiovese (Toscana): Earthy, spicy, feisty, and almost too big… emphasis on the “almost.” $NA A- 2015 Dow’s Late Bottled Vintage Port (Portugal): The poor man’s VP Maybe, but... Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press! Copyright � 2020. Originall...

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Just a quick-hit update today to let you know that my latest piece for Napa Valley Wine Academy is live. This one, titled Chile’s Carignan Renaissance, was particularly fun for me to put together, reuniting me with some long-time contacts in Chile’s burgeoning smaller-producer scene, and allowing me to taste samples of (and wax pseudo-philosophically... Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press! Copyright � 2020. Originally at Carignan, My Waywa...

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Well, this one was… different! Last year, I was invited to (virtually) taste a brand new wine release, during its world premier unveiling event. The star of what turned out to be the slightly bizarre show was the 2016 – and inaugural – vintage of Untouched by Light by Slovenian producer Radgonske Gorice (who have... Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press! Copyright � 2020. Originally at Wine in the Time of Coronovirus, Part 21: Touchabl...

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2017 Herdade de Servas ‘Sem Barrica’ Tinto (Alentejo): No barrels, but whole lot of other very good stuff – like pepper, black cherry, licorice, & leather. $NA B+ 2018 Herdade das Servas Monte das Servas Escolha Rose (Alentejo): The strawberries are wild, kicking up earth and rose petals in all their energetic mirth. $NA B... Upscale your palate! My new books are now available from Rockridge Press! Copyright � 2020. Originally at Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up F...

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