just returned from Bordeaux where I had attended En Primeur, a week long tasting for international fine wine journalists to taste the new 2009 vintage. After the 2009 Margaux blind tasting, I discovered I too had given it top marks. Tags: News 2009 baron de brane Bordeaux brane-cantenac henri lurton Henri Lurton. MORE >>

Nights like tonight I usually go through my white wines, but for some reason, I just wanted, or better yet, yearned for a nice red and a Tapiz Malbec 2009 ( $12 ) that was in the fridge since January was just the ticket. Originating from the Bordeaux region of France, this grape is among the "big six" for red wine grapes. MORE >>

Cabernet Franc is not supposed to be this good. have been tasting more Cab/Franc this past year than any other red and although I had some that were very good, I would not have ever thought it can get much better. Tonight I dug into my modest wine vault and found a Ravines Wine Cellars , Cabernet Franc 2007. It has! Great Buy! MORE >>

Every year from 2000 – 2008 (2009 data are not yet in but look to continue the trend), per capita wine consumption rose. dissertation about the political economy of the wine industry in France and the US. Everyone’s looking back! The signal trend highlighted by Jonathan Ray is making pink wine acceptable. MORE >>

The Jura, in eastern France right near Switzerland, is only place I know of where Poulsard is grown. 2006 Domaine Tissot Arbois Poulsard Vieille Vignes , $18, Imported by Frederick Wildman & Sons. Poulsard grapes are large in size - think of those rubber super-balls that you can buy from quarter machines in front of the supermarket. MORE >>