Wine

Account of our first live group tasting in the Covid Era. The precautions, the experience, the lessons.

Could the worst wine we ever tasted, Purple Death (that’s the real name) be any different after living on a shelf for 23 years?

An “honest” Pinot Noir/Syrah mix named after ancient Persian poetry

Well regarded Bordeaux from an exceptional vintage can have long term staying power, in the order of many decades.

Discover, as I did, legends of the Camino, the ancient pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, grave site of Saint James, and how the scallop shell became a symbol of the saint. The French named their scallop dish, coquilles St. Jacques, after Saint James.

Creative, Impeccable food at a world famous Spanish restaurant, with a personal touch from the executive chef.

Richard Nixon is the only U.S. president with an avid interest in French wine since Thomas Jefferson. He was partial to
Chateau Margaux. Read a rarely told anecdote about his encounter with 1961 Chateau Lafite.

An up and coming wine region in Baja California, south of the border from San Diego, delivers a fine first impression.

A priceless collection of thirty year old Heitz Martha’s Vineyard Cabernets provokes stories about Joe Heitz, a Napa Valley pioneer.

Cheap American sparklers have the word Champagne on their labels. Isn’t that forbidden? “Champagne” is supposed to be reserved for only a specific region of France. How did the Americans get away with it?