Archive - Palate Press

1 min read

Sweet pear and apple, backed by sour/bitter lime peel, are the dominant flavors on the palate from this German Grosse Lage (grand cru) vineyard. This is designated Grosses Gewächs, or great growth, for the best dry wine from a grosse lage vineyard. It is very bright on the palate with good

What We’re Drinking – Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

David Honig

Wine Reviews

1 min read

A beautiful, bright gem-like garnet color greets you in the glass. Black fruit shows on the nose, with a hint of tobacco from the tiny amount of Cabernet Franc sneaking out. Classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon cassis and a touch of blackberry come through on the palate. Six years out from

“We believe in Sagrantino”: The villas and vistas of Montefalco

Michelle Locke

Features

5 min read

In Montefalco, they’re bringing Sagrantino back and creating a new “must see” wine country. Ah, Tuscany... storied land of rooms with views, Florentine frescoes and home of the wine that Hannibal Lecter likes to pair with liver. But did you know that right next door in Umbria you get the

Is Provence more than rosé? Peut-être.

Roger Morris

Feature Stories

4 min read

I had never been to Provence before, so I was excited by the prospect of going there this past fall. As a wine writer of more than 30 vendanges, I find myself in France at least two or three times each year, sometimes on a specific assignment, but often as

Does “Gran Selezione” only mean “good with steak?”

W. Blake Gray

Features

4 min read

Why are wines inherently more valuable when they don't go with any food but steak? I got to thinking about this in Tuscany recently, where a helpful chart explains why "great" wines aren't actually as useful as ordinary wines. Here's the setup. Chianti Classicos are some of my favorite wines

A silver bullet to replace copper in the vineyard?

Simon J Woolf

Feature Stories

3 min read

When I first meet Dutch winemaker Stan Beurskens, I've already heard quite a bit about him. He's one of very few Netherlands producers farming organically, he's an interesting character, he likes to work with unusual grape varieties,and so forth. Our first exchange therefore baffles me: Me: “I saw there is

What We’re Drinking – St. Urbans-Hof Riesling

David Honig

Wine Reviews

1 min read

Guava, baked apple and sweet key lime show on the nose. The palate is marvelously soft, silky, and round. Complex layers of tropical and citrus fruits last seemingly forever, then fade gently to nutmeg and sweet lime. Drink with fresh grouper. Highly Recommended. 92 points. DBH WHO: St. Urbans-Hof WHAT: Riesling

End pinot racism: Skin color genetics and pink pinot gris

Erika Szymanski

Features

5 min read

You've likely heard that pinot noir and pinot gris (and pinot blanc) are genetically the same grapes. If you found that unsatisfying, you had the same reaction I did. Obviously they're not the same. Unless the interns go out and paint all of the pinot noir clusters purple at veraison,

Wine

Flying Saucer Wine: 2019 Bonny Doon “Le Cigare Volant” Red Wine of the Earth

A Surprisingly Versatile Pinot Noir; Affordable, Too

Ten Reasons to Drink Port Wine

Random

2009 Matchbook Dunnigan Hills Syrah

Spirits

Palio Wins San Francisco Dining after 35 Years

Wohlfert Distilling Craft Spirits Ride on Prohibition Heritage

Why Low-Alcoholic Wine May Be Increasing & An Adult Beverage Option; Even No-Alc can be Tasty

Random

CASA DEL SOL 11:11 ANGEL’S RESERVE TEQUILA

Travel

Hidden Italian Getaway Near Venice: Discovering Asolo’s charm, wine and history

A History of Wine near Venice in Six Families

Palio Wins San Francisco Dining after 35 Years

Random

Carta Coffee Merchant Shines A Kona Light On Coffee Cocktails

Hospitality

Palio Wins San Francisco Dining after 35 Years

Classic Chinese Fine Dining at Z&Y Peking Duck

Montréal Chefs Star in the Culinary World

Random

Top of the Mark Lounge in San Francisco Celebrates 85 years

What We’re Drinking – Dr. Loosen Erdener Treppchen Riesling GG Ale Reben

What We’re Drinking – Grgich Hills Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

“We believe in Sagrantino”: The villas and vistas of Montefalco

Is Provence more than rosé? Peut-être.

Does “Gran Selezione” only mean “good with steak?”

A silver bullet to replace copper in the vineyard?

What We’re Drinking – St. Urbans-Hof Riesling

End pinot racism: Skin color genetics and pink pinot gris