Can America Save the Wine World?

W. Blake Gray
Features
4 min read
Picture a public tasting, an important one, held in Montpellier, France. People are tasting American wines. And grimacing. The wines are too sweet. Too primitive. And too funky. People want to like them, really they do, but these American wines just don't seem good enough to save the wine world,

2010 William Hill “Bench Blend” Cabernet Franc

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Aromas of red currants, Bing cherries, and tobacco leaf flow upward from the glass. Rich and full-bodied, the fruits turn into Black cherry and raspberry pie filling, kept grounded by tobacco leaf, vanilla, and spice box flavors. Tannins are dusty. This is a big wine married with big wood. Drink

Hardy VSOP Cognac

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Hardy ages its V.S.O.P. (Very Special Old Pale) Cognac for 8 years, twice the minimum permitted under French law. The eaux-de-vie comes from Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, the Cognac region's two finest crus. Packaging is very fine for the VSOP level, and pricing very reasonable.  The rich nose shows butter,

Hardy Noces D’Or Cognac

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
The youngest Cognac in this blend of 40 different Grande Champagne Cognacs is at least 50 years old. Butter, honey, and dried fruit waft up from the glass. The nearly bite-free palate has complex flavors including dried fruit, honey, coffee, citrus, spices, caramel and toasted oak. The finish lingers, revisiting

Hardy VSOP Cognac

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Hardy ages its V.S.O.P. (Very Special Old Pale) Cognac for 8 years, twice the minimum permitted under French law. The eaux-de-vie comes from Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, the Cognac region's two finest crus. Packaging is very fine for the VSOP level, and pricing very reasonable.  The rich nose shows butter,

2012 Rodney Strong Pinot Noir

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Dry, tart fruits and layers of flavors, in search of good food for pairing. The nose shows sherry stones, birch beer, and cranberry. Loads of red fruits, cherries, cranberries, and pomegranate, dry and tart. Tannins aren't overpowering, but clearly present, with a gentle but solid grip. Subtle undertones of licorice

2012 Giant Steps Pinot Noir

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
Cherries, cola, and dried strawberries show on the nose. Cherries and pomegranate are joined by pencil lead and sage. A root beer flavor comes out on the mid-palate. Tannins are gentle, acids are bright. This is light and fresh, a wine that will complement, rather than compete with, food. Drink

2012 Innocent Bystander Pinot Gris

David Honig
Wine Reviews
1 min read
The nose shows lime, apple, and white flowers. The palate shows the full, round mouth-feel you hope to find in a Pinot Gris. Peaches and white flowers lead, with very light flavors of sweet lime on the finish. Drink with fresh-caught trout. Recommended. 87 points. WHO: Innocent Bystander WHAT: Pinot