Tag: Cabernet Franc
Paso Robles Wine Country Continues to Grow in Numbers and Quality
This blog idea came up after reviewing the results of a recent blind tasting by the Carmel Valley Wine Club, its 348th monthly tasting, featuring one white and seven reds from Paso Robles using varieties and blends in...
Read MoreExploring Chilean and Argentinian Cabernet Sauvignon
Major wine publications and respected critics have extolled the rise in quality across most wines from South America, particularly Chile and Argentina. Cabernet Sauvignon wines from the continent have recently received top...
Read MoreBest of the Best Global Wine Masters 2025
The Global Wine Masters Competitions began in 2013 as an offshoot of the Drinks Business, the world’s leading magazine for the wine and spirits trade. The goal was to use their collective industry expertise to promote the...
Read MoreFavorite Wines of 2025 – Bordeaux, California Cabernet, Italian, and Other Reds
As noted in the first posting of notes on my favorite wines from 2025, covering Burgundy and Pinot Noir, good values can be found from the top wine-producing regions of the world. The caveat: trust the best producers from each...
Read MoreWine Values from 6 Countries, 16 Appellations
I tag wines with a value designation based on their pricing relative to other wines in their category, and something I’m pleased to sip around the house as our vin ordinaire or with friends. This ranges from party wines of...
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Fine Wines on Display in Gaja Roadshow
Giovanni Gaja stopped by San Diego while on the road to leading markets in the U.S. to preview...
Read MoreLatest Finds in White and Red Wine Values
The following wines, priced from $15 to $33, emerged from recent tastings, offering fine values in what the French call vin ordinaire (we categorize them as weekday and party wines, saving the best and rarest for weekends and...
Read MoreDiscoveries at Napa Valley Vintners Road Show
Wineries, negotiants, distributors, regional and national associations, and even countries organize trade tastings to introduce new wines to decision-makers with bars, restaurants, chains, and wine writers in large markets...
Read MoreMaking the Case for Merlot; Quality Rising Worldwide
Merlot is a versatile and widely planted red wine grape that is popular worldwide, either on its own or as an essential component in blended wines. The rising quality is evident from the recent Global Master Merlot Awards. A...
Read MoreIs Terroir Just Marketing Hype or Real? Science and AI Answer
In 1990, Matt Kramer coined the term “somewhere-ness” in his magnum opus, Making Sense of Burgundy. For decades, other writers and scholars have explored the nuances and distinctions of wines that have senses of place, versus...
Read MoreTop 20 Reds Tasted During 2022
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...
Read MoreEnjoying an Old Favorite, New Discoveries in Paso Robles
Good friends had rented a house in Carmel for three weeks and invited us to spend a few days there and enjoy the town and golf at local courses. We thought we would turn it into our first road trip and tasting adventure since...
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