2016 Brunello di Montalcino: Radiance Personified
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Nov 2020
In this year of incredible stress, heartache and forced changes to the way that we all have to live, there is certainly a comfort in looking at past vintages that are only now being released. Never before have these wines been more like a time capsule. There is no other vintage or category of wine that I’ve been looking forward to more than the 2016 Brunello di Montalcinos. The big question is: Do the 2016s live up to our expectations?
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Cellar Favorite: 1999 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
United States: California, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Nov 2020
The 1999 Dunn Cabernet Sauvignon has earned a highly respected place in the cellars of collectors in the know, and we’re not talking about the more popular Howell Mountain bottling.
Trentino & Alto Adige: Worlds Apart
Italy: North, featured
, Nov 2020
As if engrossed in a Tolkienesque fantasy novel, we delve into the labyrinth of producers, varieties, labels, languages and the diverse terroirs of Trentino and Alto Adige. However, while traversing this realm where Italian meets Austrian meets German, it quickly becomes apparent that the effort we put in to comprehending its people and the array of fascinating and stimulating wines they produce is truly worthwhile. Together, let's take a trip down the rabbit hole to better understand two of Italy’s most under-the-radar regions.
Cellar Favorite: 2006 Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva
Italy: Tuscany, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Nov 2020
The fact is, the 2016 Riserva became one of my favorite wines to pull from my cellar year after year. Now, at fourteen years old, the 2006 appears to have fully peaked, but is holding strong.
Cellar Favorite: 2014 Tiberio Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colle Vota
Italy: Center & South, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Oct 2020
I clearly remember the first time I tasted the 2014 Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colle Vota from Tiberio three years ago. It was so tense and structured, taking hours to begin showing its layers and complexities. It was on day two that the wine began to reveal its inner beauty.
Vinous in the Kitchen: C Is for COOKIES
Vinous in the Kitchen
, Oct 2020
It had to happen sooner or later. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring cookies to Vinous in The Kitchen, at a time when families are home and projects with the kids make for a great way to spend quality time together. Even as someone who has been gluten-free for nearly a decade and stays far away from sweets, when my daughter came to me and asked if I would make her my “Famous” chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, I couldn’t resist. Because the fact is, even if I can’t enjoy them myself, I take great pleasure in sharing them and watching her eyes light up. Let’s face it, making cookies from scratch has become something of a lost art. We all loved the mom or aunt who made them and shared around the holidays, yet the average person seldom makes cookies themselves. My goal is to change that today.
Verdicchio – Italy’s Killer V
Italy: Center & South, featured
, Sep 2020
Verdicchio is one of the most versatile grapes in all of Italy. It can be vibrant and remarkably fresh, or crafted in a more serious style with the potential to mature for upwards of a decade. When harvested late, Verdicchio takes on textural depths and ripeness that balance wonderfully against naturally high acidity. Oak? It can handle that too, while still communicating purity. No matter what the expression, Verdicchio almost always makes a killer wine, and yet it still does not get the full attention it deserves.
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Vinous in the Kitchen: Welcome to the Dark Side: A Savory Chocolate Feast
Vinous in the Kitchen
, Aug 2020
Graphic artist, children's book illustrator, musician, designer, amateur chef and professional chocolate taster (you read that right); these are just a few of the talents that make Genevieve Leloup one of the most interesting people I know. However, what inspired me to invite her onto an episode of Vinous in the Kitchen is Genevieve’s ability to mix her passion for chocolate and cooking to create some of the tastiest and thought-provoking dishes imaginable. Now, if your mind has suddenly taken you to thinking of simple samples of fine chocolate and sweet dishes gingerly laid out for the taster’s enjoyment, STOP. Instead, imagine a meal centered on every manifestation of chocolate imaginable. Savory, salty, sour and sweet.
Vinous in the Kitchen: Some Like It Hot – Hot Wings, That Is
Vinous in the Kitchen
, Aug 2020
I must admit that the first time I made hot wings, I was quite intimidated. However, I was determined because with the world outside feeling upside down, I needed the comfort of one of my favorite foods. And so, I decided to make it all from scratch and figure out how to achieve crispy wings in the oven.
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The Grand Vin of the North: San Leonardo
Italy: North, Verticals & Retrospectives, featured
, Jul 2020
When we think of Italy’s highly successful experiments with Bordeaux blends, it’s often the coast of Tuscany that comes to mind. But what if I told you that one of the country’s grandest wines hails from the north instead, in the region of Trentino? I invite you to explore the past, present and future of Tenuta San Leonardo through one of the most riveting verticals ever assembled.