Merlot Masters

Too many Sideways fans have pushed the debate on wine in the wrong direction. Not that there’s anything wrong with a decent Pinot Noir, but these people have tried to convince the wine-loving public that all Merlot is insipid plonk. Well, maybe some of it is, and that’s the reason this reasoning has gotten traction. [...]

Love Those Baby Blues

  I first met winemaker Kenny Kahn in 2008 at Bassin’s annual charity California Barrel Tasting event in Washington DC. In a room full of Cabernets toting triple-digit price tags, Kenny’s $20 Baby Blue blend from Sonoma was the highlight of my evening, and I have been a fan of Blue Rock Winery ever since. Kenny’s [...]

Dow Red Wine Hits the Mark!

With the food of Spain, Italy, and France serving as long-standing markers for fine food in the U.S., Portugal is one European nation that is too often overlooked by Americans. But that land is a treasure trove of succulent dishes, including many beef-oriented preparations that highlight the subtleties of Portuguese culinary skills, and exquisite dishes [...]

Cabernet with — Cooler Air!

  With temperatures breaking thermometers – let alone records – and the Weather Channel refusing to report the next forecast, the thought of anything sizzling on the grill sounds like a scene from a Stephen King horror story. So most of us have huddled inside our homes where the air conditioner groans under loads that [...]

Winter Foods and Côtes du Rhône

When the temperatures take a dip and humidity slides back to the bearable range, wine lovers turn their attention to red wine. And it’s the same time that food lovers open their cookbooks to oven-baked dishes and casseroles. Few recipes fit this season better than cassoulet, a soulful French dish that easily counters the Gallic [...]

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