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Buckle Your Seatbelts: 2019 Brunello and 2021 Rosso di Montalcino
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Dec 2023
We’ve been waiting two years for the next big vintage from Montalcino. I’m happy to say that 2019 delivers the goods. Moreover, the 2021 Rossos show that producers continue to hone their skills in warm and dry years.
Sardinia: Winemaking in the Extreme
Italy: Center & South, Italy, featured
, Nov 2023
Wild, rich, exotic, warming and seductive, the wines of Sardinia are unlike any others in Italy. While sometimes over-the-top, it's impossible to deny the sheer pleasure of exploring wines that showcase the unique personalities of the island's indigenous and not-so-indigenous varieties.
Cellar Favorite: 2010 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir The Beaux Frères Vineyard
United States: Oregon, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Oct 2023
The 2010 Pinot Noir The Beaux Frères Vineyard is a perfect example of how maturity can propel a wine of humble beginnings beyond expectations. The 2010s are the product of a cool and classic vintage that made producers question when the wines would peak. Today, the wines are in the sweet spot.
Vino Nobile di Montepulciano: Making Wine in The New Normal
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Oct 2023
Being a producer in Montepulciano is never dull. The last four vintages have ranged from classic to sun-drenched to waterlogged. However, the region continues to take each hurdle in stride and turn out wines that impress today but will also pay dividends in the cellar.
Tipping the Scales: New Releases from Umbria
Italy: Center & South, featured
, Oct 2023
Fans of big, robust, age-worthy reds and whites should note that producers in Umbria are pushing the quality needle from Montefalco to Orvieto. The region is determined to prove its worth on the international wine scene.
Making History: 21 Vintages of Leonetti’s Red Wine Reserve
Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, United States: Washington
, Oct 2023
Leonetti remains one of the leading producers of Bordeaux blends, not just in Washington State, but worldwide. Gary and Chris Figgins joined me for a tasting of twenty-one vintages of their Red Wine Reserve for this vertical.
Surpassing Expectations: New Releases from Sicily
Italy: Center & South, featured
, Sep 2023
It’s incredible how much Sicily has improved in such a short period. What was once a selection of hit-or-miss, over-stylized, oaky and often rustic wines has become one of my favorite annual tastings. Quality continues to rise, and prices remain fair, meaning consumers can now find some seriously world-class wines here.
Chomping at the Bit: New Releases from Abruzzo
Italy: Center & South, featured
, Aug 2023
Following my visit to Abruzzo in 2022, I cited a list of issues within the region that were holding producers back. Some even toyed with the idea of leaving the DOC altogether. However, the response from the Consorzio over the last few years, while not without its own issues, has been quite positive.
Rhônes on the Rise: Washington State Takes the Lead
featured, United States: Washington
, Aug 2023
It’s about time Rhône varieties in Washington State receive the recognition they deserve. In addition to high-quality producers making wines that can compete with established global benchmarks, I found a surge in unique, terroir-driven and unforgettable reds of the highest caliber on my most recent trip to the region.
Southern Italy: Diamonds in the Rough
Italy: Center & South, featured
, Jul 2023
Southern Italy struggles with several issues that have prevented it from realizing its true potential. The regions of Basilicata, Calabria, Puglia, Lazio and Molise each wrestle with their own challenges, yet there are many diamonds in the rough.