Rare Italian Reds

The label “rare Italian reds” could refer to the magnificent Tuscan wines from the late-1970s, or the 1980s masterpieces of Piedmontese winemakers like Angelo Gaja and the Ceretto family. Or it could refer to non-indigenous grapes like Cabernet and Merlot that Italian vintners have incorporated into their ever-growing portfolio of fine wines. “Rare” not because [...]

Tawny Port

  It seems that no dinner, in summer or winter, is complete without a short glass of Port to finish it off. That might seem like a selfish indulgence, but what part of wine enjoyment isn’t? If we take the time to find a good wine to go with the meal, why not pour a [...]

The Wines of Biltmore’s Bernard Delille

Perhaps it was simply providence that I tasted a Frenchman’s wines at French-themed restaurant Matisse (4934 Wisconsin Avenue, 202-244-5222), but the food and wine benefitted equally from the pairing. Bernard Delille, long-time winemaker at the Biltmore Estate Winery was in town to offer his wines for comparison. Delille has been working at the Biltmore Estate [...]

Sommelier Spencer Cruse of Drago Centro

  This week I interviewed Spencer Cruse, who is the relatively new sommelier at LA’s Drago Centro.  Spencer took the reigns from Michael Shearin, who continues to help Spencer with sourcing in his new capacity as an importer/distributor.  The first thing I noticed while perusing the Drago’s menus was the difference in prices between this year and [...]

The Fear of Bacchus in Me

More than a few friends have told me they want to learn more about wine so they are not embarrassed when handed the wine list during a business dinner or a date.  After all, knowledge breeds confidence, right?  Well, recently I had a revelation, or what Jules Winfield might call a “moment of clarity,” and [...]

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