Opinion
Posted on: February 2nd, 2015
by Tom Peiffer
The 2013 vintage was a repeat performance for 2012 for California winemakers, sunny days with good fruit and lots of it. Very little rain is a cause for concern, but...
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Posted on: January 25th, 2015
by Taryn Jeffries
More often than not, when you check out a restaurant’s menu, you’ll find that there rarely is an option that is unfamiliar; chicken, fish, pork or beef are the standards and...
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Posted on: January 20th, 2015
by Tom Peiffer
Of all the wines that are favorites to stage for side-by-side tastings, Albariño whites don’t normally top the list. But when Arizona’s Wilhelm Family Vineyards started offering their own version of Albariño...
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Posted on: January 5th, 2015
by Tom Peiffer
If you happened to be touring in the Napa Valley during late October 2012, you may remember the beautiful fall touring weather plus the sounds & scents of a well-timed...
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Posted on: January 1st, 2015
by Taryn Jeffries
It’s not often that one has the opportunity to sample absinthe, let alone make a batch of their very own. Ryan and Melanie Belshee, the masterminds behind Bootleg Botanicals, have long been...
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Posted on: December 23rd, 2014
by Tom Peiffer
Although not a “newbie” to the American wine market, this little Rioja (based on the Tempranillo grape) has been missed by many who enjoy Spanish wines. Priced right around $15, “Dios Ares”...
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Posted on: December 5th, 2014
by Tom Peiffer
Zarpara Vineyards Mark Jorve says that to be in the wine business you need to run a vineyard, a tasting room and a winery. Hey, sounds reasonable, but when he...
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Posted on: November 18th, 2014
by Tom Peiffer
When big Napa Valley name-brand estate wines start getting close to the $10 level, it is grounds for a double-take. One of those consistently on the value watch list is...
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Posted on: October 22nd, 2014
by Taryn Jeffries
If your house is anything like mine, you probably have a multitude of tastes. For example, I have one, Thing Two, who is pretty much a garbage disposal. He will...
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Posted on: October 22nd, 2014
by Tom Peiffer
When tasting Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, there is one important thing to keep in mind, get ready to mentally sort through the relative merits of all kinds of dark fruit combinations. ...
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