Vinous Table: New Year Lockdown
Vinous Table, United Kingdom
, Jan 2021
Surviving until the end of this wretched year felt like something worth celebrating, so we decided upon a Japanese-themed evening. Given that we were isolating in Guildford rather than Tokyo, we had to make some compromises on the food front.
Sonoma Preview: 2021 Edition
United States: California, featured
, Jan 2021
January always means a stream of new releases from Sonoma and neighboring appellations. As we have done in the past, this year we present our Sonoma coverage in a series of installments.
San Luis Obispo: Excellence Hiding in Plain Sight
United States: California, featured
, Jan 2021
It’s an ongoing mystery to me that, aside from a small handful of producers, San Luis Obispo hasn’t received the attention it deserves for its almost universally high quality wines. In the excellent 2018 vintage, SLO’s wineries outdid themselves.
The Power of Three: New Vintage Rosso di Montalcino
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Jan 2021
Rosso di Montalcino took a bit of a backseat this year due to all of the excitement over 2016 Brunello di Montalcino, but now it’s time to focus some attention on these wines. The three vintages currently in the market all have their merits, and also provide some insight as to what might be in store for Brunello.
Cellar Favorite: 1961 Taylor’s Very Old Single Harvest Port
Portugal, cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites
, Jan 2021
After half-a-century, Taylor’s have just released a 1961 Very Old Single Harvest Port. The 1961 growing season was no write off.
Napa Valley’s Thrilling 2018s & 2019s, Part 1
United States: California, featured
, Jan 2021
Napa Valley experienced two stunning back-to-back vintages in 2018 and 2019 the likes of which I have never seen. Both vintages produced a bevy of breathtaking wines that will thrill Napa Valley fans. The 2018s are refined and vibrant, while the young 2019s have a bit more depth and energy.
New Releases from the Tuscan Coast
Italy: Tuscany, featured
, Jan 2021
The Tuscan Coast is one of the most idyllic, evocative regions in Italy and beyond. Breathtaking landscapes dotted with striking vineyards influenced by the nearby Tyrrhenian Sea give birth to compelling wines that run the gamut from daily drinkers to highly coveted, age-worthy reds that stand with the very best wines from around the world. This report focuses on 2018s and 2017s that are in the market now, along with a handful of entry-level 2019s.
Cellar Favorite: 2012 Domaine François Raveneau Chablis Blanchot Grand Cru
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Burgundy
, Jan 2021
It’s always a pleasure to pull a bottle of Raveneau from the cellar. These are among my favorite wines from anywhere in the world. Of all the domaines I once covered but have since handed off to other critics at Vinous, Raveneau might very well be the one I miss visiting most, as the wines are so often transcendental.
2020: The Year in Review
featured, General Interest, United States: New York
, Dec 2020
My Year in Review article is usually a greatest hits of the past twelve months, a write up of fabulous meals, wines and tastings. Obviously, there was not much of that this year. I almost did not write this article at all, but 2020 has its own vibe and story. Ultimately, I thought that should be documented…
California Vineyard Series: Bedrock Vineyard
United States: California, featured, California Vineyard Series
, Dec 2020
First planted in 1854, Bedrock is one of the most historically significant vineyards in Sonoma Valley’s Central Corridor, a stretch of land that runs northwest from the town of Sonoma and includes a number of notable sites, including Serres Ranch, Old Hill, Pagani Ranch, Beltane Ranch, Wildwood, Kunde and others. In my view, these are among the most pedigreed vineyard sites anywhere in the world.