Bordeaux | San Diego Wine Guru

Top 20 Reds Tasted During 2022

by Tom Gable | Dec 31, 2022 | Argentina, Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Classics, France, Spain | 0

The news media and various entertainment, search engine and research websites are currently featuring their “Best of 2022” lists, with occasional predictions for 2023. In the spirit of sharing, here are my Top 20 Red Wines...

So Many Wines, So Little Time

by Tom Gable | Nov 30, 2022 | Argentina, Australia, Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Chile, Classics, Discoveries, France, Germany, Italy, Rhone, South Africa, Spain, Values | 0

Readers often ask where I get my wines, particularly after posting tasting notes on some great values from around the world. Start with the big box stores (e.g., Costco) and local wine merchants. For expanding my horizons and to...

Beyond the California Cult Fruit Bombs – Classic Wines from Napa

by Tom Gable | Feb 28, 2022 | Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Classics | 0

Having followed the evolution of the California wine industry since 1972, I’ve seen many changes in winemaking styles to appeal to new markets and critics whose rankings drive sales. In the past two decades, one trend is for the...

Favorites from 2021 — Classics and Values

by Tom Gable | Dec 31, 2021 | Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, Classics, Discoveries, France, New Zealand, Oregon, Rhone, Values | 0

It’s always memorable to go through our tasting notes for the year. We recorded the notes during a wide range of tasting experiences, from trying new wines at home, to dinner parties with friends, to trade tastings, industry...

Do California Red Wines Improve With Age?

by Tom Gable | May 31, 2021 | Bordeaux, California, Classics, Discoveries | 0

Can fine red wines from California age, most notably the Bordeaux varietals? Even those far below the cult-level wine prices? It depends, of course, on too many variables to list here. But, in general, many do improve with age....

In Search of Good Red Wine Blends — Traditional to Creative

by Tom Gable | Nov 30, 2020 | Argentina, Baja California, Bordeaux, California, Chile, Discoveries, France, Italy, Rhone, Spain, Values, Washington | 0

One strategy for calibrating your palate is to taste wines made from the same varietal grape and decide on styles you like. This is best done blind, where a co-conspirator buys the wines and another puts them in numbered brown...

Bordeaux: Introduction to Second Labels, Second Wines and Petit Chateau

by Tom Gable | Jul 31, 2019 | Bordeaux, Classics, Discoveries, France, Values | 0

Confused about second labels, second wines, third labels and petit chateau in Bordeaux? Mary...

32 Wines Under $23 for Spring Sipping, Picnic and Party Fun

by Tom Gable | Apr 30, 2019 | Argentina, Australia, Bordeaux, California, France, New Zealand, Oregon, Rhone, Values, Washington | 0

The following wines rise to the top in price and value from among several hundred wines tasted over the past few months, from individual bottles with food at home to sampling through scores at trade tastings and industry...

Understanding Dry White Bordeaux

by Tom Gable | Dec 25, 2018 | Bordeaux, Discoveries, France, Research | 0

SommCon®, the annual conference and exposition for sommelier-level education and training of wine professionals and serious enthusiasts, returned to San Diego in November. The conference offers a strong educational component for...