Tag: Petit Verdot
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 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...
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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 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 MoreBBQ, Burger and Beef Loving Red Wines, $12 to $38
As summer fades to fall, most wine drinkers are on the hunt for robust reds to fend off any chills (inner and outer) and as a match for heartier dishes. This can range from a grilled burger to Mediterranean-style flatbread,...
Read MoreDueling Red Wines, Napa and Paso Robles Shoot Out
As noted here many times, blind tastings help calibrate your taste preferences (if you like it, it’s good, no matter what the experts say or how much it costs). This was reinforced recently in a blind tasting comparing...
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...
Read MoreIn Search of the Napa Nose; Style and Sense of Place
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...
Read MoreFavorites from 2021 — Classics and Values
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...
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