It’s “Will-Amette— Damn-it”!!

Oregon Has A Cocky “Latitude” I know to many of my customers and friends this may be repetitive. I can’t help myself. I am a true Pinotphile!!! Only the people who grow this finicky, thin skinned grape and consumers who are seduced by the original home of the grape in Burgundy, France like myself, will […]

Don’t Lie To Me Argentina…!

Let’s start this blog off with the fact that I LIKE the wine I am reviewing today. The problem I have is the way they are marketing it. The Cuvelier Family At the beginning of the 20th century, Paul Cuvelier and his young brother Albert, anticipating the inevitable rise in « château-bottled wines » to […]

Beso! Beso Mi Washington Wine

Folks this is not bias. As you know my nickname is “Captain Washington” I have never been to the State. It is getting so difficult to review the wines coming from this area of the world because I have to be tougher on them than California. In Napa you expect overpriced and mostly a lot […]

Don’t Judge A Wine By Its Label !

I hear day in and day out, I am a Cab person or I only drink White, I hate Red. I don’t like Rose as it is too sweet. I hate Merlot. There are so many expressions of all of the grapes that make wines I think you will thank me if you stop making […]

“Syrah Is A Tough Sell”?? Nonsense!!!

Imagine you are a Red Wine Drinker. How does this sound for taste descriptors? Dark berries, plums, smoke, leather, tar, meaty, spicy, oak, long finish. Sounds like the perfect wine for a “Cabernet Drinker”. I am describing the various expressions of the grape Syrah or as they call it in Australia, Shiraz. Yes, Captain Washington […]

2015 Bordeaux. Is The Hype True??

The Wine Pundits Are Raving! I have seen it with 2010 Brunellos, 2012 Oregon Pinots, 2007 Chianti Classicos and 2011 Porto and the Douro to name a few. I haven’t seen the big reviewers in a long time go crazy over Bordeaux in years. 2015 is that year. Robert Parker Jr. said “There will be […]

Some Say “Saignée” Is Fake Rosé! I Say Not!!

15 Years! I Was There From Day 1 Ok we know they are a cute couple. Yes, I have written about Stewart Boedecker and His winemaker Wife Athena Pappas , a lot ! What can I say? I have been there from day one and a big supporter. 15 years from the days when they […]

“How Sweeet It is “!!

I know the wine snobs will ask: “Why is a sommelier talking about Sweet Wines” ? The answer is that this wine blog is not for snobs and for everyday people and many of those everyday consumers like sweet wines but are faced with the dilemma of low alcohol and a dislike for bubbles. I […]

3 Soil Types. 3 Grape Types 1 Great Wine!

I Love This Region Of Spain Most people when it comes to Spanish Wine think of 1- Rioja and 2-Ribera Del Duero both which are Tempranillo based. I have spoken about my favorite 2 areas who are very close neighbors in the Northeast corner of Spain 1- Priorat and 2- Montsant. These areas are shaded […]

Champagne Taste On A Cremant Budget!

I Love Veuve It’s Popular. It’s on every restaurant wine list. I CAN’T AFFORD IT…. but I can afford this VEUVE… Veuve Ambal one of the prestigious producers in Burgundy, France of Sparkling Wine made in the Method Traditionelle is not a Champagne but a Cremant De Bourgogne. What The Heck Is A Cremant Crémant […]