Classics | San Diego Wine Guru

In Search of the Napa Nose; Style and Sense of Place

by Tom Gable | Mar 31, 2022 | California, Classics | 0

Last month, I bemoaned the trend in California wineries toward making high-alcohol, thick fruit bombs out of Cabernet Sauvignon, with an accompanying loss of varietal character and sense of place. The wines secure high scores...

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...

Rioja Shines; Fine Red Wines from Spain, $15 to $156

by Tom Gable | Oct 31, 2021 | Classics, Discoveries, Spain, Values | 0

Ranking wines during blind tastings can provide some eye-openers, to coin a phrase, particularly with wines from different vintages and a wide range of prices. One group in San Diego, the Carmel Valley Wine Club, held its 302d...

Exploring New World Pinot Noir, $12 to $88

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

The following notes are from Pinot Noir wines tasted from the New World over the past six months and rated as good, very good and excellent. For background on Pinot Noir in the New World, versus its home in Burgundy, France,...

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....

Summer Whites: Easy Sipping Party Wines, Plus a Few Complex Classics

by Tom Gable | Aug 31, 2020 | Australia, Baja California, Burgundy, California, Classics, Discoveries, France, Germany, New Zealand, Oregon, Spain, Washington | 0

The following white wines rose to the top of our tasting leaderboard the past three months, scoring for overall quality of the wines and values delivered. Most are widely available, except for classics from the cellar and...

A Sampling of Fine Burgundy Reds from 1998 to 2011

by Tom Gable | Jun 30, 2020 | Burgundy, Classics, France | 0

In tasting some 100 Burgundy wines over the past six months and from eight vintages from 1998 to 2011, we’ve compiled our top 20. Each exhibited the wonderful characteristics of its climat, even in awkward vintages. In going...

Values in New World Pinot Noir

by Tom Gable | May 30, 2020 | Burgundy, California, Classics, Discoveries, New Zealand, Oregon, Values | 0

In seeking gastronomic relief from the high-alcohol fruit bombs attacking our palates from all over the world, we often turn to something more friendly with food – Pinot Noir. Wines from this fine red wine grape can be enjoyed...