It’s always interesting to taste wines with a winemaker at hand to ask questions – the J Vineyards Pinot Gris ($16) from the Russian River valley struck me as full bodied, fragrant, floral, and volumptuous.The reason, I discover, is that Bursick was able to add this fullness and tropical fragrance in the course of fermentation. MORE >>

One of the advantages of living in the new millennium - for wine students, at any rate, is the opportunity to compare tasting notes on the Internet and even connect with winemakers. Recently I tasted 2007 Kanonkop Pinotage with an eye on how I would know it was a 2007 South African Pinotage if I had to identify it blind. MORE >>

This week I've tasted some excellent wines! 2007 Wilson Winery Petite Sirah. 2007 Dierberg Syrah Estate Grown Santa Ynez Valley (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley). 2007 Star Lane Vineyard Merlot. 2006 Wilson Cabernet Sauvignon. USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley). finish length is med+. MORE >>

At that dinner we drank a great bottle of Lafarge old vines Aligoté and I was excited to find out whether it would be that wine or the fantastic Alice and Olivia de Moor Aligoté that would stun everyone at the tasting. What better way to find out than to convene the Brooklyn Blind Tasting Panel and get into a few bottles. MORE >>

Recently my friend and I were enjoying blind tasting a wine as is a typical practice at dinner. After a few moments of careful examination, it was safe to concluded it was from the Old World, likely a 2007, and a Pinot Noir. In the end, we were surprised to find it was 2007 Domaine Billard Bourgogne Millane. MORE >>