Category Archives: châteauneuf-du-pape

Here it comes… Wine Spectator's Top 100

I know, I know, I said I don’t believe in the trophy lists of the wines of the year and such. But it doesn’t mean I don’t think they’re entertaining. Take Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list, a trophy that many a wine seller will display proudly to boost sales, in particular with the if-Parker-or-Wine-Spectator-didn’t-give-it-at-least-90-I-don’t- want-to-hear-about-it kind [...]
Also posted in California, Guigal, Ridge, Robert Mondavi, Santa Cruz chardonnay, Wine Spectator, wine | Leave a comment

How much alc./vol. is too much alc./vol.?

With better viticultural techniques and riper fruit comes, in an almost inescapable logic, wines with higher alcohol content. With big New World syrahs, grenaches and zinfandels reaching towards 16% alcohol by volume, and chardonnays and viogniers going for broke at 15%, a question almost inescapably comes to mind: how much is too much? My definite, absolute [...]
Also posted in California, Cigare Volant, Domaine de la Solitude, France, La Bête, Oregon, alcohol level, biodynamic wine, pinot noir, syrah, wine | 1 Comment