Wine Wednesday

Lightning in a Bottle

Those who know me well are aware that I have a “soft” spot for Chenin Blanc. And maybe that word is the key. There’s a softness, sometimes hidden in very dry versions, that reminds one of honey. Head down to South Africa, and you’ll find that Chenin Blanc is one of their oldest and most

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The Meat Lovers’ Choice

Some of you may be familiar with “Bistecca Fiorentina,” Italy’s version of Kobe beef. Both these items have one thing in common: Neither country has much land for grazing, and beef needs lots of land. That’s why, in Italy anyway, beef is a rarity. It’s a treat for meat lovers, which begs the question, “What

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Old-School Oakville Cab

“What’s new?“ seems to be the talisman for all California wineries; blink, and you’ll miss the latest showstopper estate – with a price to match. This is sometimes to the detriment of more established wineries, and front and center stands Mondavi. I have drunk the “Oakville” Cabernet Sauvignon bottling of Mondavi in numerous vintages; even

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A Sparkling Perennial Pleaser

What better wine thought after Labor Day than a hard-working, domestic sparkler, this one a California bubbly of class and color? The big news in the late 20th century was the investment that French Champagne estates made in California. Roederer, Moët & Chandon and Mumm were among the big names that put down west coast

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A Red Sparkler from Italia!

Who doesn’t like a good bubbly on a hot afternoon or evening? But have you ever tried a true red wine bubbly – one that’s been enjoyed for centuries? I’m talking about Lambrusco from the Emilia-Romagna province of Italy. (Think Rimini on the east coast and Parma to the west.) As sometimes happens, a middling

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