As of last week, the results of the 2013 California State Fair Commercial Wine Competition have been fully revealed, and July 4th seemed an auspicious time to recap the (all American) Best of Show winners from the comp. (itself a bit of an American institution, having been established in the 1800s), and share my thoughts…
Category: kick-ass wines
Because It Takes A Philly Boy To Show You Californians How To Make Syrah (Kieran Robinson Recent Releases)
A few weeks ago I got an intriguing email from a California vintner; intriguing in that he was, he told me, originally from my neck of the woods (near Philly in Southeastern PA), and would soon be in town for a wedding. Could we get together over lunch to taste some of the wines he’d…
Out Of The Fire, Into The Spotlight (Paso Robles Cabernet Starts Coming Of Age)
Back in 2011, I wondered (aloud, in Internet terms) if Paso Robles wines were too boozy hot. Now, after attending (as a media guest) the 2013 Paso Robles Cab Collective’s CABs of Distinction tasting events, I’m wondering if they’re a bit too oaky. But I’m also now wondering when Paso wines will start being hailed…
Results Of The 2013 Wines Of Portugal Challenge
Last month, I was one of the International judges in the 2013 Wines of Portugal Challenge, an annual event that was recently opened up to include wine-type-folks from outside of Portugal in the judging pool. The results of that competition have just been published, and as their guest (okay, okay, and to make up a…