We tend to value the idea of vinifying individual plots separately, as in Burgundy, and increasingly now in Champagne. love how the best bottles show an incredible intensity and focus while retaining every aspect of definition and clarity - these are big wines, and they are graceful and articulate too. Stirring risotto makes him happy. MORE >>

There are many answers to this question, but I decided that I would use basically the same approach that I use with Burgundy wine. In Burgundy it's this is relatively straight forward - the basic wines are regional wines, Bourgognes and the like. like the wines very much in general, but I'm still a bit intimidated. some do not. MORE >>

Of course it isn't always possible, and with the Vallana Spanna wines, there are questions and few definitive answers. If these wines were represented the way Burgundy wines are represented, as pure Pinot from one specific vineyard, that would be problematic. I've heard similar stories about Burgundy too, by the way. MORE >>

Of course, that could just be because Monte Bello is the only wine I drink consistently enough to know it when I smell it. Thus, the application of the traditional definition of terroir to anything but small vineyards in specific areas is oxymoronic. Perhaps if I drank La Tache often enough I would understand terroir differently. MORE >>

There were 7 people at this dinner and a whole load of wine and so about a third of each bottles of Sherry remained at the end of the night, allowing me to taste them over the course of the next several days. It's like beginning to learn about Burgundy by drinking a few bottles of DRC and old Leflaive. Excitement! MORE >>