Antica

Italians love their wine, and they’re not going to be restrained from drinking it at any opportunity, particularly when the time seems “just about right.” However, they also recognize that their wine is best when served with food. Piero Antinori of the famous Tuscan winemaking house of the same name knows this perhaps better than [...]

Standout Reds from Empson

Recently, we reviewed a bevy of outstanding white wines from Italy that Empson imports to the American market. That was a statement about the quality in whites coming from a country known for its red wines. As good as the whites are – and Empson leads the U.S. import market in proving how good Italian [...]

Merry Edwards Pinot Noir

For years, I have been fortunate enough to taste the wines of Merry Edwards. Although I didn’t know I was sampling her early renditions at the time, the wines I enjoyed from Mount Eden Vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains in the 1970s bore her stamp. Following that opening chapter of Edwards’ vinous life, she [...]

The Wines of Planeta

Sicily. What is the first thing that comes to mind? Volcanoes? Mobsters? Square pizza?  How about wine? Though often overshadowed by the big boys of Italy such as the Brunellos, Barolos and Super-Tuscans, the pedigree of wine from this Mediterranean island can be just as compelling. At a recent lunch with winemaker Alessio Planeta, I [...]

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. [...]

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