What made 2010 a special vintage in the Willamette Valley? I think that 2010 will prove to be a very special vintage for the northern Willamette Valley in particular. The summer was fairly mild and we had a long lovely Indian summer. The early weeks of October were surprisingly dry
2008 was a tough vintage in Ontario: a rainy spring and early summer and, after a bit of a sunny reprieve in July and August, more grey and rainy weather for most of the fall. Obtaining full ripeness and balance in red wines, even for the early ripening pinot noir,
Yesterday one of the most respected judges in the country penned the Federal Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals' decision on Indiana's alcohol delivery law, and it was not good news for retailers. Judge Richard Posner smacked down the latest challenge to wine shipping laws, rejecting a case that, in retrospect,
With the cold weather here, many beer lovers are turning to warming winter tipples. Although we generally avoid these hearty brews in hot weather, when the cold descends we happily seek out and sip strong, spicy Belgian ales, licorice tinged Russian imperial stouts, malty Baltic porters and wood-aged barley wines. What
We are very excited to announce our newest version of Palate Press, Palate Press: the eMagazine, an Apple Newsstand app for the iPad. With Palate Press: the eMagazine you get a whole month of Palate Press stories in Newsstand's great new magazine reader. Every edition of Palate Press: the eMagazine will also include additional
Blackcurrant leads on the nose, with background aromas of red currant and ground limestone. On the palate, the lead is a blend of black and red fruits, cedar, a tiny background touch of vanilla, and spices, including cracked pepper and rosemary. Tannins are dusty, drying, and sweet. This is very
Very light, almost clear, with a golden tinge. The nose is very pretty, subtle, with very nice white florals and tropical fruits with a background of sweet lemon. Tropical fruits and whit flowers show on the palate, too, leering with pineapple and key lime, trending toward Meyer lemon and ginger
Yesterday, January 15, 2012, Giuseppe Quintarelli succumbed to an extended illness. His loss is a loss for his family and his loved ones, and we mourn for them. It is also a loss for the whole wine world. In memory, we replay Lizzy Tossi's "The Secret of Giuseppe Quintarelli's Success,"