Has this ever happened to you? It’s Friday evening, the end of a long, hard week. That morning you’d grabbed some meat from the freezer to thaw for dinner—let’s say bone-in chicken breasts. On the way home from work, you picked up some broccoli, a ripe red bell pepper, some
A blue-white stillness, frozen many times over. The soft sweeping and pattering of branches bowing against the ice, as a giant bison scratches against the trunk of a conifer tree. Somewhere, far off, the ice can be heard cracking; struggling to retain its dominance against the disruption of moving, warm
Dark cherries and a touch of mesquite smoke on the nose. Cherries are fresher, more tart, on the palate. Smoke and cola come through on the mid-palate. Acids really drive this wine, searching for a rich fats or gravy to challenge. Drink with bacon-wrapped figs or duck with gravy. Recommended.
The nose is very pretty, magnolia flowers and baked apples with a sprinkle of cardamom. Apples and just-fresh white peaches lead on the palate, barely sprinkled with cardamom and freshly grated nutmeg. Light acidity comes in the flavor of sweet Meyer lemon. Off-dry and creamy, this would contrast beautifully with
The nose is full and sweet, with blackberries, boysenberry, and a drop of caramel. The palate is filled with a melange of dark fruit, from deep mulberry to crisp blackberries. A hint of smoke peeks out on the palate, blossoming into a bite of espresso and unsweetened chocolate on the
One of the most controversial topics about Californian wine—and thus, one of the most widely discussed by wine lovers—is how much Napa Cab has changed over the years, or whether it has truly been altered. Every time I go to Napa and Sonoma with a group of wine writers, we
A true low-alcohol Bourgogne for half the price of a tooth-staining California pinot, this shows true balance and minerality. Strawberries, some raspberries, and damp black earth shoveled over hot coals show on the nose. On the palate the fruit is more muted, hinting at a resting phase calling for a
The color is light and bright with a slightly green tint. Aromas and flavors are very clean, and just slightly off-dry, opening with a blend of soft and tart citrus flavors, tangerines and lemons. White pepper shows on the mid-palate. Acids are bright and food-friendly. Drink with a mixed summer