This Ruché (Roo-Kay) For Rookies

One Rare Italian Grape Ruché (pronounced in English (Roo-kay) is a red Grape variety from the Piedmont region. It is largely used in making Ruché di Castagnole Monferrato, a small production red varietal wine which was granted D.O.C status by presidential decree on October 22, 1987, and was granted the more prestigious Denominazione di Origine […]

I Practice What I Preach!

The 6Th Thoughtless Gift! I have said it over and over and will start saying it over and over again as we get into the Gift Buying Season. The reasoning that consumers buy Wines And Spirits that are commercially available in every single Restaurant and Retailer and the Reason the person you are buying for […]

This Ripasso Rings A “Bell”!

I Miss Being A Wine Buyer! Every so often since I am not the head honcho of Wine Buying, I get to feel like a Restaurant Sommelier again when aWine Supplier surprises me with a visit to taste me on some wines. Even better when it is an Italian Wine Broker who supplies ABC with […]

St. Emilion Is The Shining Star of 2015

2015 Vintage Is All About Saint Emilion Grand Cru As I continue to taste and review 2015 Bordeauxs as they trickle in, I am certain that will be a benchmark vintage for all of Bordeaux but I believe that the Right Bank Merlot based wines especially from St. Emilion will be the shining star of […]

Not All Wineries Sell To Big Factories!

I Cringe When Wineries Sell So far especially in the last few years, just when I thought there were no wineries that held on to the passion they had for the land they once farmed and the brand they built, when some giant mass producer waived a big 1/2 million dollar check or more in […]

PRIMA Wine Only Made In PRIMA Years

One Winery From My French Trip Our last stop on my whirlwind tour of France with Exporter Emilee Terrier and French Libation was in Bordeaux at Chateau Carignan. Another DUMP we had to stay at on our journey haha! We are talking a 14th Century Chateau here folks on the Right Bank Of Bordeaux. Château […]

One Day You’ll Grow Up To Be Brunello

Yes La Gerla Again! In case you haven’t read my 500 other reviews about a La Gerla Wine… Here we go again. Fattoria La Gerla, named for the large, old-fashioned, conical baskets that grape-harvesters used to carry on their backs, was founded in 1976 by the late Sergio Rossi. They only grow Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello) […]

You Don’t Like Syrah? Swipe Left!

It’s Not From Australia Only I am at my breaking point of close minded people who label certain grapes or countries as wines they will never try. Yes, the Syrah grape is known as Shiraz in Australia and yes they tend to be very jammy and spicy and high alcohol. California Syrah also tends to […]

His And Her Oregon Pinots…I Like Hers!

No More Cute Couples Pics I have written so many posts and reviews of the Cute Winemaker Husband And Wife Lovebirds Stewart Boedecker And Athena Pappas of Boedecker Cellars even I am getting tired of them hahaha. Even they like different styles of Pinot Noirs where Stewart likes them more subtle and lighter and Athena […]

This Cab Finally Validates Washington!

1200 Washington Wineries Where Are The Other 1190? As Captain Washington and not being in charge of my own Wine List anymore as in the Restaurant Sommelier Days, I have been touting the quality to price ratio that you can’t find anywhere in the world like Washington State. I am limited to offering what wines […]