What’s the difference between a wine that is alternately rated 4 of 5-Stars, 16 of 20 points and 88 of 100 points? The answer is: many things. I bring this up after spending time with the Ratings Conversion Chart created...

I picked up the new wine rating newsletter from VinTrust at the Recent Wine Spirits Magazines Top 100 Tasting. VinTrust finally announced the emergence of their new publication today in a press release via BusinessWire and this spurred me...

We’ve been waiting for this wine all summer. After the great 2004 vintage started to fade at the edges, TJ’s kept us panting for a spell, but now the heat wave has hit Sonoma County, and the 2005 is finally on the shelves to offer some chilled or maybe even ...

This Rhône quaffer features a classic Grenache nose of sage, herb de provence and cherries. With a robust nose, the wine is surprisingly thin in the mouth, with cherries, watermelon, raspberries, and a touch or barnyard. Coming after a sensation of such thiness in the mouth, the simple finish is ...

This wine has just a light fizz, not quite enough to tickle the nose as you take in the aromas of granny smith apples, kiwi, and lemon gelato, with just a wisp of Madera. (old barrels or maybe a touch of old wine blended in?) Tart green apples in the ...

Coincidentally enough, I got an email yesterday from a reader who asked to see more reviews in the under $6 category. In my reply, I pointed out the pitfall in reviewing too many of those wines, which is that as you go lower and lower on the price scale, there’s an increasingly good chance ... . There are some undrinkable wines in the $6 to $13 category, to be sure, but not so many. Above $12...

This wine isn’t bad as long as you don’t take a whiff. The nose offers cherries, black pepper, and tar, with more green bell pepper than I would like, as well as a whole bunch of volatile alcohol. It’s like sniffing brandy. In the mouth the wine is supple for ...

I have a soft spot for this wine because it’s named in honor of the the mediaval walls in Saint-Emilion, and I expect to be seeing them next year. Also, Iiked the 2003 version of this wine, for which I gave a score of 120%. I tasted the 2004 shortly ...

This Mendocino winery is better known, to me at least, for its brandy. They also make a little sparkling wine, though they really should be ashamed of themselves for calling it “champagne”. I think the place just sold, so maybe they will change that. The wine is deep purple, with ...

As a blogger, the vast majority of the emails I get are about wine availability, such as “Do you know where I can buy Chateau Whosis - my Trader Joes does not carry it.” Unfortunately, I have no knowledge about Trader Joes distribution and stocking, and I have no idea ...