Just Like Chicken? Finding the Way to Oregon Chardonnay

Mary Cressler
Features
6 min read
“Chardonnay is like chicken." Years ago, while working for a small Oregon winery, a winemaker threw me off guard with this unexpected comment about his favorite wine.  It seemed strange to me, at the time, that someone who could chose from nearly any grape variety in the book chose Chardonnay as

Weinhaus Ress Riesling KM501 Dry

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
The nose has pleasant fruity aromas, pears, apples, and sweet Meyer lemon, with hints of Ginger Snap in the background. Lemon is far more dominant on the palate, sweet, with a background of pears, ginger, and a touch of saline. The citrusy zing will cut through oils, so pair this

2009 Guarachi Pinot Noir

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Pop and decant, for an hour of air will be well rewarded. The nose is pretty, showing cherry, strawberry, cola, ocean spray and some leafy herbs. Red fruits on the palate are darker and a bit more tart, with raspberry and cranberry joining black cherry, cola, marjoram and sage. Tannins

Getting to grips with grappa

Michelle Locke
Feature Stories
4 min read
In Friuli, the Nonino family makes grappa in a sophisticated spirit Earthy, rustic, fiery -- grappa's got a reputation as a real party animal, white lightning, Italian style. But did you know there are elegant, single-varietal grappas that can hold their own at the fanciest of soirées? Or grappa cocktails

2011 Scott Harvey Mountain Selection Zinfandel

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Soft, gentle, and balanced, this is a great ribs and coleslaw wine. Raspberry, blackberry, and allspice show on the nose. Lots of raspberry show on the palate, ranging from fresh tart berries to sweet berries in cream. It has a touch of vanilla and a pantry full of spice, including

2011 Jana Old Vine Zinfandel

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Old vines and fresh spices. Fresh blackberry, black pepper, and loads of cloves waft up from the glass. Blackberries are more jammy on the palate. Black pepper shows more and cloves less, and vanilla shows on the mid-palate. Tannins offer a gentle grip. The finish has plenty of spice. Drink

I’ll have some Roussillon, hold the Rivesaltes

W. Blake Gray
Features
4 min read
Today I take pleasure in upending one of the most common wine story tropes: the "disappearing underappreciated wine" story. These stories play the emotions like a zither: loss, urgency to act, the opportunity to be one of a special group of people who appreciate exotic beauty. I've written a bunch