Arturo Ciompi

As holiday bills begin to roll in, we look at a reasonably priced Cabernet Sauvignon today. Angeline, a division of Martin Ray Winery, is new to me. Their Cabernet Sauvignon from the western edge of the Paso Robles AVA is a delightful wine. It seems made in an “enjoy-me-now” mode, very forward and precocious. But […]

Why is Champagne (the real thing from the region one hour east of Paris) the gold standard? It’s not just meticulous selection, extended aging and a reputation to defend. It’s all about that chalky soil, which produces thin, astringent, fairly nasty still wines, but the finest sparkling wines the world knows. Prices are high, but then

Looking for a high-quality alternative to French Champagne? Many other estates within France itself, not to mention Spain, Germany, United States and even England are making just that! Ferrari, located in Trento, Italy, has been making “Metodo Classico,” (Italian for “Methode Champenoise” whereby the second fermentation to produce the bubbles is achieved within the bottle) since

Many people shy away from Bordeaux reds because they think they’re overpriced. But the selective work of Daniel Johnnes and Michael Skurnik Imports help bring about the world of affordability. Like anywhere else, there are hits and misses – but today’s wine, from the region of “Castillon-Côtes de Bordeaux,” is a delight. 2012 was a

I have a prejudice towards today’s kind of wine. Because I am such a fan, I am also a harsh critic if one of these wines doesn’t live up to its name. It’s Vino Nobile di Montepulciano. Today’s example is made with 100 percent of a particular Sangiovese grape clone, (Prugnolo Gentile) at the estate

It’s Prosecco time! But, when is it not Prosecco time? The popularity of this northeastern Italian bubbly continues to increase, and the producers are well aware. In short, there’s a lot more acreage dedicated to the fascinating Glera grape now, and not all of it is very good. Today’s example gives one, I believe, textbook

No global warming? Tell that to the intrepid German winemakers! They haven’t had an unripe vintage since 1991, whereas in the past, cold, cloudy summers were the norm as the grapes struggled to reach ripeness. Dryer Rieslings are now the best ever, because the grapes achieve the requisite ripeness to produce a wine with enough

Founded in 1986, Talley Vineyards has shown the way for glorious Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Arroyo Grande Valley/ San Luis Obispo region of California. Two of their sites produce very limited Pinot Noir bottlings: Rincon and Rosemary’s Vineyard. These are hillside sites located just miles from the Pacific Ocean. The impression both these

If you’re one of those people who wonder why Pinot Noir and Cinsault were ever combined to create a viticultural cross grape called Pinotage, join the club. No, seriously, this was once the dominant red wine in South Africa, and some past examples were a rubbery, stewed mess that sometimes smelled like drying paint! But

Years ago, there was a wine advertisement that stated: “If you can say ‘Gundlach Bundschu Gewürztraminer’ three times quickly, we’ll give you a free bottle!” I sometimes wonder how many people avoid drinking this fragrantly rich wine because they simply can’t get past the name? Sonoma County, California produces excellent examples, and this time of