Yes, I don't always read all the labels when buying wine, especially when in the Italian section where this one was. One of the highlights of this year was barrel tasting, at Amy Cheatles persistence, the Damiani Syrah. Tried to convince her that I am not a Syrah fan. decided, since I'm here, why not give a few reds a try. MORE >>

Puns and cute labels helped make the wines fun and approachable. Or Cardinal Zin, a Zinfandel with a Ralph Steadman depiction of a cardinal on the label. He toned down the humor on his labels and has added graphic depictions of crystal formations that map the terroir of a vineyard on the Ca del Solo labels. Absolutely. MORE >>

The caché of the fickle pinot noir has led to a proliferation of low-priced pinots, which, by US law, must only contain 75 percent to state the grape on the label. SPIT: “pinot noir&#. Pinot or dunno? The court will likely hand down its decision in two weeks. SIPPED: “wine&#. NYTimes.com ]. SIPPED: wine in supermarkets. MORE >>

The lanky, California maker of pinot noir, chardonnay, and syrah told me at his Sonoma winery that he had his conversion in 2005, after returning from a trip to Burgundy and the Rhone. He tasted the pinot noirs and syrahs he had been making since starting his own label, Copain Wines , in 1999. Search for Copain wines at retail. MORE >>

Recently I met him in New York to discuss the Undurraga family’s new wine label, Koyle, a Chilean Indian name of the beautiful purple native plant that grows next to oak forests and blossoms with a much-demanded fruit. Kolye Reserve Syrah. Koyle Royale Syrah. Koyle Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Koyle Reserve Carmenere. MORE >>