Last March I posted a press release on a new collection of artisan wines in an innovative attractive new package. An international wine collection with six brands and ten items packaged in a new exciting premium 3L wine cask from the Octavin Home Wine Bar ™. The Chardonnay was not impressive. Definitely a good party wine. MORE >>

** Disclaimer: I received these wines from Martellotto Wine s One of the benefits of writing a wine blog is the occasional UPS delivery of wine to taste and review on the blog. It can also be disappointing when the wine received is one that I don't normally drink or one that I have a hard time with. Now Cabs I have no problem with. MORE >>

Syrah has always been one to those wines I could take or leave it. Almost all that I had ever tasted were the Shiraz from Australia. While visiting Damiani Wine Cellars on Seneca Lake this past spring I tasted an excellent Syrah and I was sold. From that day on I was a fan. enjoyed the Syrah with Shirley's three bean chili. MORE >>

Oh yeah, for those who don't know, that wine was judged the most outstanding New York wine for 2009. OK, today I sinned again, at least according to some. took my list of New York medal winners to another local wine shop. Winner of the New York Wine and Food Classics's 'Governor's Cup.' Now, let me say something about my taste buds. MORE >>

When I hear all of this talk of the greatness of the 2007s, I do not so much start salivating about the new vintage, as I do begin to reflect upon the last three purportedly high quality vintages in the Rhône: 2003, 2000 and 1998. John Gilman, author of the newsletter The View from the Cellar , joins us again for a Q&A. think not. MORE >>