Piedmont's Finest Eating Destinations: 2019 Edition
Italy: Piedmont, featured, Vinous Table
, Sep 2019
One of the biggest challenges readers visiting Piedmont face is deciding where to eat. It's a good problem to have. I can’t think of any wine region – or indeed anywhere in the world – that has such a concentration of phenomenal dining destinations all within a 30-40 minute drive from pretty much any point. Readers visiting Piedmont will find a mind-boggling array of dining choices, ranging from simple wine bars to more elegant dining rooms, including many places that are bit farther afield. These are some of my personal favorites.
Cellar Favorite: 2009 Le Macchiole Paleo Rosso
Italy: Tuscany, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Sep 2019
I had a chance to taste a number of reference point 2009s during my recent tour of Bolgheri. Le Macchiole’s 2009 Cabernet Franc Paleo Rosso was one of the most impressive.
Cellar Favorite: 2009 Domaine Vincent Dauvissat Chablis
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy
, Aug 2019
We often focus on the rarest of the rare in our Cellar Favorites column. While it is undoubtedly fun to taste and drink highly coveted bottles, there is also a lot to be said for cellar worthy wines that consumers can find without spending a fortune.
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2016 Chianti Classico – A Modern Day Benchmark
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Aug 2019
I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about Chianti Classico and its wines. My July trip included a number of truly memorable estate visits, two unforgettable verticals, and the thrill of discovering a handful of wineries that were new to me. The top 2016s have turned out to be just as extraordinary as I had hoped they would be, and the 2017s, while less consistent, have plenty to offer as well.
Vinous Table: All'Osteria Bottega, Bologna, Italy
Vinous Table, Italy: North
, Aug 2019
Bologna is one of Italy’s temples of gastronomy. There are few better places to partake in its delights than at All’Osteria Bottega, an informal eatery that serves up a bevy of tried and true classics.
Cellar Favorite: Four From Domaine Raveneau
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy
, Aug 2019
I was inspired to write this article by my colleague Steve Tanzer’s superb retrospective on Raveneau’s Chablis Montée de Tonnerre and my own recent visit trip to Chablis earlier this summer. I have adored the Raveneau wines for a very long time. I buy them whenever I can for my own cellar.
Beyond Wine: The David Gilmour Collection
Beyond Wine
, Aug 2019
David Gilmour and Pink Floyd were a big part of my early musical education. I wore out my copies of “The Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall” (it was vinyl back then) in high school learning how to play all the guitar parts note for note. Needless to say, I was deeply intrigued when David Gilmour decided to auction off a large number of his guitars – including the instruments that had given birth to so many Pink Floyd classics – all for charity, further cementing his legacy of philanthropy.
2018 Napa Valley – First Impressions…
featured, United States: California
, Jul 2019
After a tumultuous, hugely stressful 2017, Napa Valley winemakers and owners welcomed an essentially trouble-free growing season in 2018. As I have done for many years, this past spring I tasted the new vintage from barrel to get a first look at the wines ahead of my fall tastings. Based on what I have seen so far 2018 looks like a strong vintage, although there were some challenges as well.
Vinous Table: TentaziOni, Bordeaux, France
France: Bordeaux, Vinous Table
, Jul 2019
After two packed weeks of tasting through several hundred 2018 Bordeaux en primeur samples, this dinner was a rare moment to simply relax and enjoy delicious food, superb wine and spirited conversation.
The 2019 Champagne Summer Preview
France: Champagne, featured
, Jul 2019
I tasted a wide range of wines during two highly educational visits to Champagne this year. Our Summer Preview includes everything from reviews of new releases coming into the market, from both grower domaines and grand marques, as well as notes on a handful of collectibles. The pace of change on the ground is dizzying, which makes Champagne one of the most dynamic regions in the world today.