Then you learn aphorisms like "good producers make good wine in all vintages," and perhaps you focus more on terroir and producers. beginning with the first ever vintage of 1997, and including 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2004. Thanks to my then girlfriend, now wife BrooklynLady, sometime in 2004 I rediscovered wine. not Turbido! MORE >>

What happens when a reviewer tastes a good bottle, but some consumers buy what appears to be a completely different product? Think it couldn’t happen? Guess again and behold the saga of Sierra Carche 2005. He awarded it 96 points. The suggested retail price was $40; Wine Library was offering it for $29.99. opened my first one this weekend. MORE >>

As an example, I did not know during the tasting that Roland Velich of Moric is a superstar that Peter Liem compared to the wine maker at DRC in his ability to coax greatness out of his terroir and his grape. Schiefer also poured his 1999 Blaufränkisch Reihberg and I loved it. This was a challenging tasting for me. was a clean slate. MORE >>

One of the highlights of attending En Primeur in Bordeaux this year for me had been the opportunity to taste the new vintage of prestigious, historic Chateau Cheval Blanc, famed for nearly two centuries for its unique terroir. If you have great terroir you try to express that. Messrs. Work in the winery is more like fine tuning. MORE >>

Drew Noon takes the podium, showing videos that explain the area's terroir and winemaking techniques. 1999 Grenache Solaire, Winery East Vineyard is a late harvested grenache -- color is a brighter garnet, lighter from age, with nose of deep concentrated perfumed fruit. McLaren Vale is an area with very complex soil. alcohol. MORE >>