cabernet franc – THE GRAPE BELT

Vive la France!

One of the beautiful things about wine is that it is an infinite subject. You can never learn it all. And, if you could, as soon as you did, there would be more to learn. Wine will always be too big for us to get our arms and heads around. But that doesn’t stop a […]

by Tom Riley

Can I Get You Some Wine?

While the weather in many parts of the country is beyond horrible right now, in not too many weeks we will be staring summer square in the face. We’ll start spending more time on the patio, in the backyard, at the beach, or around the pool. And we’re going to want something to drink. So, […]

by Tom Riley

To Love Wine Means To Love Learning

For the past three years I’ve had the privilege and pleasure to attend the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers. Now in its 11th year, the symposium, held at the Meadowood Resort in St. Helena, brings together writers at all levels of the global wine trade, from the famous to those just getting started. Along with […]

by Tom Riley

It’s Always Time To Visit Robert Sinskey Vineyards

I stopped in last week at one of my favorite Napa tasting rooms, Robert Sinskey Vineyards. Since moving to California almost seventeen years ago, I’ve come to know many fine wineries in Napa and Sonoma. Sinskey was the first, and remains a favorite. A review of my time there can be found at the American Winery […]

by Tom Riley

UPDATE Tasting Notes

Latest entries include offerings at various price points from the Finger Lakes, Napa Valley, Burgundy, the Southern Rhone, Washington State, and Corsica. Cheers! WHITE 9/26/12 2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling, Columbia Valley (11% abv., $9, Safeway): Moderately off-dry with a residual sugar of 2.23 g/100ml, this simple riesling is a blend of grapes from throughout […]

by Tom Riley

In A New York State of Mind

Despite spending the past 25 years in California and Connecticut, I’m a New Yorker through and through. And, as such, I tend to root for the home town team, wherever it might be found. In recent years I’ve tried my best to defend wines from New York’s major regions – Finger Lakes, Long Island, Hudson […]

by Tom Riley

2010 Chimney Rock Rosé of Cabernet Franc

PINK 4/28/12 2010 Chimney Rock Rosé of Cabernet Franc, Stags Leap, Napa Valley (14.2% abv., $19, Chimney Rock winery): A bright cherry color, almost like Kool-Aid, this rosé smells of strawberries and flowers, with hints of roses coming through; on the palate dried fruit and earth tones dominate. This wine is a bit on the […]

by Tom Riley

In The Pink

Have you ever had that situation where you get together with two of your friends who have never met each other? You figure that because you get along with both of them, then they’ll get along with each other. But when they finally do meet, it’s clear that they just don’t match up. Last week […]