A few weeks ago, I visited San Diego for yet another stint of judging at the annual Critics Challenge International Wine Competition, now in its sixteenth year. As is always the case with CC, the organization, staff, and execution were all top-notch, allowing us critic-judge-types to give the wines their fair due under the palate…
Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For July 1, 2019
2017 Duchman Family Winery Trebbiano (Texas): Crowd-pleasing perkiness from where you might just have least expected it. $20 B+ 2017 Duchman Family Winery Viognier (Texas): Oily breadth, citric bounce, and floral breath. $18 B+ 2016 Pedernales Cellars Texas Albarino (Texas): Topping off your tropical fruits with candied ginger and honey? Count me in. $30 B+…
Texas Four-Step (A Deeper Dive Into Texas Hill Wine Country)
While I enjoy the thrill of the new, in some ways I am a creature of habit. Specifically, I have both a habit of getting invited to wine regions that don’t make the usual list of media darling locales, and I have a habit of accepting those invitations because, well, new. And so it was…
Wine Reviews: Weekly Mini Round-Up For June 24, 2019
2016 Pierre Amadieu Cairanne Les Hautes Rives (Rhone): Fruitiness, finesse, freshness, and a f*ck-load of fresh pepper. $20 B+ 2015 Pierre Amadieu Vinsobres Les Piallats (Rhone): Chewy smoked game meat, topped with raspberries, dried herbs, and spices. $20 B+ 2016 Pierre Amadieu Vacqueyras La Grangeliere (Rhone): Grab this bargain by the case if you like…