Browse using the new Vinous website now. Launch →
Never a Dull Vintage in the Northern Rhône
featured, France: Rhône & Beaujolais
, Dec 2022
It’s an interesting time for wineries in the Northern Rhône valley. On the one hand, demand for their wines, especially for small-production, single-vineyard bottlings, is higher than ever. On the other, nature hasn’t been playing nice for the last several vintages. Luckily, the best producers have handled the increasingly challenging conditions with aplomb.
2022 – The Year in Review
General Interest, featured
, Dec 2022
Two thousand twenty-two was quite the year. Looking back at the last twelve months, it is pretty amazing to think about how much things have changed, some for the better and some maybe not. As we get ready for our tenth year, though, I am incredibly excited about what the future holds.
Review of 2022
General Interest, featured
, Dec 2022
My aim, every year, is to get to the end in one piece. Mission accomplished. The 2022 vintage is definitely one of the best in recent years. I recount the last 12 months month-by-month, at least the publishable aspects, and as has been tradition for almost 20 years, offer a selection of the best wines and finest music.
2018 Brunello di Montalcino: The Rubik’s Cube Vintage
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Dec 2022
Was it hot, was it cool, was it dry, was it rainy, was it balanced–is it classic? These are all questions surrounding the 2018 vintage in Montalcino. I’ve watched the 2018s evolve for years, and now, they are ready to hit the market in January. But will consumers be running out to add them to their collections? It’s time to find out.
Italy's Love Affair with Sparkling Wine
featured, Italy
, Dec 2022
Whether sparkling wine is a casual aperitif, celebratory beverage, revelatory experience or favorite holiday gift, it pays to think outside the box. I can think of no better place than Italy for sparkling wines that overdeliver.
Spirits: The Tip of the Iceberg
featured, Spirits, Fortified Wines & Spirits, Fortified Wines and Spirits
, Dec 2022
It all started innocently enough. Over the last few years, I have seen a marked increase in spirits made by winemakers. I thought it would be fun to taste them and write them all up. That was the genesis for this report. But then more and more samples arrived, and before I knew it, the article had morphed into a broad survey of spirits of all kinds. This article is clearly not comprehensive to any one category, but rather intended as a collection of spirits I think Vinous readers will enjoy.
Piedmont Within Reach
featured, Italy: Piedmont
, Dec 2022
Piedmont is full of excitement these days, more than I have ever seen in 25 years of visiting the region. The rapid escalation of prices and dwindling availability of the region’s top wines can be discouraging, but it needn’t be, as Piedmont has so much to offer beyond the most highly coveted Barolos and Barbarescos. This report covers a wide range of wines that deliver plenty of Piedmont soul at prices that are accessible.
Sancerre Sees Red
featured, France: Loire
, Dec 2022
Prices of red Burgundy seem to show no sign of easing. In the search for an alternative, wine lovers may head east toward Germany or further afield to New Zealand and Oregon. However, a mere two-hour drive from the Côte de Nuits lies an often-overlooked Pinot Noir region, sitting on coveted ground.
Umbria: Taking It to the Next Level
featured, Italy: Center & South
, Nov 2022
Umbrian wines have always communicated tremendous potential; however, except for a short list of producers, these wines have often been underwhelming. I have long looked forward to the day the region would begin to deliver the best quality possible. That day may be just over the horizon.
Dealing with the New Paradigm: Burgundy 2018
featured, France: Burgundy
, Nov 2022
So, the 2018 Burgundy vintage was too warm to bestow tensile Chardonnay and transparent Pinot Noirs, yes? Well, not exactly. I tasted more than 400 whites and reds blind at the annual Burgfest to see how the vintage is shaping up. Expect the unexpected!