2017 Weingut Frischengruber Grner Veltliner Smaragd Ried Zanzl (Wachau): GV goes deep and complex, wearing tropical garb. $37 A- 2008 Rudi Pichler Wsendorfer Hochrain Grner Veltliner Smaragd (Wachau): Peachy creaminess, flinty freshness, electric everything. $NA A- 2018 Engelbrecht Ried Engabrunner Stein Grner Veltliner (Kamptal): Not blood from a ...

I'm still wading neck-deep in the book writing waters, but wanted to throw a quick update your way to let you know that I still haven't forsaken (not totally, anyway) those regions that were kind enough to host me on recent media tours. I've got two travel pieces recently published on the Napa Valley Wine […] Grab The 1WineDude.com Tasting G...

2017 Quinta do Vallado Tinto (Douro): Peppery purple passion and possibility. $23 B+ 2017 P+S Prats & Symington Post Scriptum de Chryseia (Douro): Bursting at the seams this vintage, oozing dark and spicy richness. $27 B+ NV W & J Graham's Six Grapes Reserve Port (Portugal): The only reservation you should have here is whether […] Gr...

As if I wasn't behind enough on my ramblings here on 1WD (I've still got several Sicily updates to share with you, after all!), I'm going to put myself even further behind! Overachiever here! Here's the skinny: it's going to be light on the feature content here on 1WD (though I expect to keep up, […] Grab The 1WineDude.com Tasting Guide and ...

2017 Buchegger Moosburgerin Reserve Riesling (Kremstal): Apples, apricots, and an aggressive attitude. $36 A- 2017 Weingut Stadt Krems Grillenparz Riesling Erste OTW Lage Reserve (Kremstal): Austere, glassy-eyed gazes seldom come with this much soulful depth behind them. $44 A- 2017 Weingut Nigl Ried Hochacker "1OTW Privat" Riesling (Kremstal): Dig...

In the Austrian region of Krems, they know a thing or two (or two dozen) about winemaking; few wine-growing areas have its kind of historical depth, even when measured by European standards. Grape production in Krems dates back to the 3rd Century AD (during the reign of Probus); mentions of specific vineyards can be fond […] Grab The 1WineDu...

NV Quinta do Vallado 10 Year Old Tawny Port (Portugal): Freshly-baked caramel-coated pecan pie, anyone? $35 A- 2014 Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez Tinto Pesquera Crianza (Ribera del Duero): Showing much of its age, but also a good amount of it's wisdom. $35 B+ NV Drusian Spumante Brut Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore (Veneto): A sprinkle of almond,...

A quick update about wine competition judging… while I'm on the road, coincidentally, heading out to judge at the 2020 McMinnville Wine & Food Classic Wine Competition! [ Editor's update: Unfortunately, I had to bail due to a heinous stomach bug :-( ] My latest piece for the Napa Valley Wine Academy is now live, […] Grab The 1WineD...

NV Boizel Brut Reserve (Champagne): Lots of green apple, brioche, & almond, but maybe even just a little more purity. $45 A- 2016 Chateau de Cary Potet Premier Cru Les Burnins (Montagny): A peachy, hedonistic, seabreeze-feeling and seaside-view sipper. $48 B+ 2018 Pieropan Soave Classico (Veneto): Fresh, friendly, and just plain f*cking good. $...

It's time to wrap up 2019. Actually, it's past time to wrap up 2019, but I'm dealing with the post-holiday hangovers just as much as you folks, so this particular wrap-up is a few days late. And I've already decided that I'm drinking wine again tonight… ok, maybe I'm not quite finished with the holiday […] Grab The 1WineDude.com Tastin...

2017 Dutton Goldfield Van Der Kamp Vineyard Pinot Noir (Sonoma Mountain): Open for immediate payoff of earthy delights, or don't for delayed payoff of even earthier delights. $68 A- 2017 Dutton-Goldfield Fox Den Vineyard Pinot Noir (Green Valley): Sometimes love comes in the form of rhubarb. $62 A- 2017 Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot [&...

Hopefully your holiday spirits, dear readers, will be in full swing this week and thus you'll indulge me a bit of (non-partisan) political commentary. During the most recent 2019 debate of Democratic party Presidential contenders, a rather sizeable hullabaloo was generated when, during the course of the proceedings, it was mentioned that Mayor Pete...

NV Andre Jacquart Vertus Experience Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Extra Brut (Champagne): Pretending to be much pricier than it is; and largely succeeding brilliantly. $39 A- 2016 MacPhail The Flyer Pinot Noir (Sonoma Coast): Youthful and friendly facade belying earthiness and and a potent punch. $50 A- 2017 Sokol Blosser ‘Bluebird Cuvee' Spark...

Apologies, right off the bat, for the headline clickbait: not only are we not talking about Champagne, we're not even talking about sparkling wines. In fact, we're really only talking about one grape – Grner Veltliner – from one spot: Austria's Traisental. Because, well, sometimes I can just be that kind of dick on […] Grab The 1...

2018 La Valentina Pecorino Colline Pescaresi (Abruzzo): An extra shot of citric joy for your dining life. $14 B NV Fratelli Lunelli Ferrari Metodo Classico Brut (Trento): Low on drama, high on elegant refreshment. $26 B+ NV Bibi Graetz Testamatta ‘Bollamatta' Spumante Rose (Tuscany): Artsy label; artsy presentation; down-to-earth substance. $...

Presumably because its polite residents haven't yet learned their lesson, I've been invited back to Oregon to help judge the 2020 McMinnville Wine & Food Classic Wine Competition, to be held January 11. It's been the better part of eighteen months since I've had my boots on the ground in that fine state, so I'm […] Grab The 1WineDude.com...

NV Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve (Champagne): A bubbles portrait, classically framed. $69 A- 2019 Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages Nouveau (Beaujolais): Eschewing bubble-gum for lively, floral fruitiness. $14 B 2017 Renato Ratti Ochetti Langhe Nebbiolo (Piedmont): More of the plummy earthiness that you want, with less of the tannic assault that...

This year I once again had the honor of judging alongside several of my wine biz cohorts at what has become one of my favorite weekends all year: the San Francisco International Wine Competition, held at the swanky and suave Hotel Nikko in downtown SF. The 2019 SFIWC incarnation took place November 9th through November […] Grab The 1WineDude...

2017 Domaine Jean-Jacques Girard Savigny-les-Beaune (Cote de Beaune): Might be too much lemon curd for the hipper crowds, but that will just leave more for you, after all. $49 A- 2018 Viticultori Associati Canicatti ‘Aquilae' Catarratto (Sicily): Flints, flowers, and… banana? Yep, all in a gulp-ably refreshing mix. $NA B 2018 Viticultor...

With tomorrow being the single most important day of the U.S. calendar year (yes, I'm talking about Thanksgiving… also, please take down your prematurely, poorly-timed Christmas decorations you noob), I thought it decent timing to train your attention on some potential holiday shopping recommendations, as culled from my cache of mostly-inedib...

2018 Weingut Stift Klosterneuburg Hengsberg Gruner Veltliner (Wagram): Veggies, minerals, and fruit… so basically the entire garden is on display here. $24 B+ NV Weingut Stift Klosterneuburg Klostersekt Brut (Niederosterreich): Peaches and cream, Austrian style; which means a sprinkling of austerity throughout. $NA B+ 2017 Weingut Tom Dockner...

Long-time 1WD reader and tirelessly inquisitive wine guy Bob Henry recently asked for my thoughts on an article published by wine data maven David Morrison, titled The perilous state of the US wine industry?. Go read it; it's important. My first thought about said article is that I love said article; it's well-written, interesting, and […] G...

2018 Troon Vineyard Grenache (Applegate Valley): Hearty and Meaty meet Floral and Lovely. $35 A- 2017 Mettler Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (Lodi): Manly, but with a penchant for fresh garden herbs. $25 B+ 2017 Mettler Family Vineyards Petite Sirah (Lodi): One of the most potent, palatable, and potential-filled incarnations of this burly grap...

A quick note today to let you know that my latest piece for the Napa Valley Wine Academy has been published, this time focusing on Furmint (you can check out other NVWA articles here). The once-kingly-then-humble-and-now-up-and-coming Hungarian Furmint grape variety has had a wild ride the past few years. While it seems like only yesterday […...

2012 Tenuta Carretta Cascina Bordino (Barbaresco): The more feminine Nebbiolo that kind of forgot its feminine side. $60 B+ NV Palmer & Co Rose Reserve Brut (Champagne): Sweetness and vivacity that never quite get into harmonious tune. $65 B+ 2018 Domaine Blain Soeur & Frere Brouilly (Beaujolais): Fruity, peppery, round, and basically perfe...

Back in May (I know, I know…), I was a media guest for the 2019 Austrian Wine Summit, during which I was lucky enough to participate in a tour "along the Danube," visiting and tasting through Austria's classic wine producing regions. It was pretty much as awesome as that sentence makes it sound. Even so, […] Grab The 1WineDude.com Tast...

2016 Weinkultur Preiss Ried Brunndoppel Chardonnay (Niedersterreich): Peaches and jasmine, both with assertive personalities. $NA B+ 2015 Wein-Genuss-Gut Siedler Alex Spiegeln Chardonnay "Barrique" (Niedersterreich): The stone fruits are ripe, the vanilla is creamy, and the heat is on. $NA B+ 2015 Bodegas Ollauri Conde de los Andes (Rioja): Packed ...

By now, you will almost certainly have heard about the wildfires (once again) impacting Northern California. There are a few things to keep in mind regarding how these fires impact California wine country: Not all of CA wine country is ablaze. Yes, the impacts are horrifically devastating to many, and the situation is extremely fluid […] Gra...

2018 Heinrich Johann Grner Veltliner (Traisental): From veggies to citrus to nuts, this one has "classic" written all over it. $NA B+ 2017 Herwald Hauleitner Rosengerten Gruner Veltliner (Traisental): A floral tribute to its vineyard name, and it's deadly serious about it all, too. $NA B+ 2017 Alex Siedler Alte Setzen Gruner Veltliner (Traisental):...

In an attempt to whittle away at the growing pile of wine-related media samples that I can't drink (at least not without a blender and then a trip to the emergency room), it seems high time for another round of product reviews. Today, we have a trio of items, some of which might be worth […] Grab The 1WineDude.com Tasting Guide and start get...

2018 Weingut St. Urbans-Hof Nik Weis Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett (Mosel): Sweet pear and fresh lime, all hot for one another and making out in public. $25 B+ 2016 Georges Duboeuf Domaine des Quatres Vents Fleurie (Beaujolais): Pepper, violets, berries, and *substance*. $22 B+ NV Travaglino Cuvee 59 Brut (Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico): A ...

If that headline above looks as though it could have come right out of 2009… well, it totally could have come right out of 2009. Remember those good ol' days? When wine brands were all in a tizzy about a new wave on influencers (at that time, bloggers) operating almost exclusively online. How do we […] Grab The 1WineDude.com Tasting Gu...

2017 Brennan Vineyards Reserve Lily White (Texas): Cantaloupe, citrus, and copious amounts of captivating, crowd-pleasing capability. $25 B 2018 Rodney Strong Rose of Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley): Life's a bowl of cherries. And grapefruit peel. And rose petals. And fun. $18 B+ 2018 Rodney Strong Charlotte's Home Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc (Sonom...

You claret lovers just need to chill the F out… That's the major message in my latest piece for the Napa Valley Wine Academy blog, titled Calm Down and Drink Your Claret: Bordeauxs New Grape Approvals Arent All That Radical. Those of you reading this will most likely have heard the news that Bordeaux is […] Grab The 1WineDude.com Tasti...

2015 Freigut Thallern Student Rotgipfler (Thermenregion): If it's friends that you want to make, then by gawd, with peachy goodness like that, it's friends you shall receive! $NA B+ 2017 Alphart am Mhlbach Zierfandler Ried Otzler (Thermenregion): Hello, dad… Hello, mom… I'm your l-l-l-l-l-LEMON bommmmmb! $NA B 2016 Weingut Stadlmann Man...

The word rowen – which is of Middle English ancestry, from an Old Northern French variant of regain, and almost certainly will have your phone's auto-correct annoyingly trying to change it to rower – almost literally means to make hay. Well, technically, it means "a second growth of grass or hay in one season" – […] Grab Th...

2016 Weingut Piriwe Pinot Noir (Thermenregion): Spices right from the garden, delicately nuanced. $NA B+ 2015 Weingut Schwertfhrer 35 Pinot Noir (Thermenregion): When you want your secondary to outshine your primary, in good ways. $NA B+ 2016 Weingut Schwertfhrer 47er "Top Edition" St. Laurent (Themenregion): Balanced between power and poise, fresh...

There's nothing like a good scandal to encourage a hit of the reset button. Or, in the case of Sonoma's venerable Flowers Winery, it's more akin to just hitting the next-phase button. Flowers has always seem to operate a bit under-the-radar by upper-tier California wine brand standards; which makes sense, considering that founders Joan and […...

2018 Flora Springs Soliloquy White Wine (Napa Valley): New blend, but classic mix of the rich, friendly, serious, and flowery. $50 A- 2017 Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Chardonnay (Sonoma County): Like Stacy's mom, it's got it all going on. $38 A- 2018 Sidebar Kerner (Mokelumne River): Quaffable enough to quench your thirst; unforgettable en...

Every year or so, I receive an unsolicited email blast from wine auction services that makes me want to Hulk rage. The 2019 incarnation of this comes my way from online auction house WineBid, is titled "16 Years of Burgundy vs. The Stock Market – and WineBid Auction Results," and which I will only link […] Grab The 1WineDude.com Tastin...

2015 Assaf Winery ‘4 Seasons' Pinotage (Golan Heights): Chewy, tangy, leathery, smokey, tasty, zesty, pretty, and unexpected! $37 B+ 2013 Tabor Single Vineyard Tannat (Golan Heights): Madiran and Uruguay, as a couple, vacationing near the Mediterranean. $37 B+ 2013 Tabor Marselan Single Vineyard (Judean Hills): Spicy, plummy, fruity, grippy, ...

During the past couple of weeks or so, an online kerfuffle ensued after wine writer and author Jamie Goode posted an eye-opening article on his blog detailing the massive size of some of the wine worlds largest industrial-size producers. They are, interestingly (and in a sort-of-capitalism-run-amok fail), all owned by one company: Gallo. Goode's ta...

2016 Golan Heights Winery Yarden Gewurztraminer (Galilee): Shrugging off its ‘semi-dry' tag with a racy, focused, impeccable demeanor. $20 B+ 2011 Alexander Winery ‘Alexander the Great' Grande Reserve (Galilee): More like ‘Alexander the Very, Very, Very Large and Oaky.' $150 A- 2013 Golan Heights Winery Yarden Malbec (Galilee): Of...

Earlier this year, I happened to get invited to the 2019 Austrian Wine Summit because, well, I'm just that kind of lucky fellow these days. Since one should almost always begin with bubbles, it seems apt that my first foray into an Austrian wine feature would be about the official changes to their sparkling wine […] Grab The 1WineDude.com Ta...

2015 Recanati Winery Carignan Reserve (Judean Hills): Where Geeky, Tangy, and Fantatic all happen to intersect. $45 A- 2016 Covenant Wines ‘Blue C' Viognier (Israel): The vines might back up to barbed wire, but there's no negative tension in this floral, delightful batch of peachy-ness. $28 B+ 2017 Domaine Seror Claude Seror L'Or Rose (Israel...

It's in Israel‘s north, along the borders with Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan, where you realize that you're definitely not in Kansas anymore, Toto, viticulturally-speaking. Actually, let's correct that – it's not just viticulturally-speaking, it's just-about-everything-speaking. Certainly the rocky hills in the Golan Heights and Galilee sp...

2015 Moshin Vineyards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir (Sonoma County): Hitting a lively stride, with juiciness on the one foot, and earthiness on the other. $42 A- 2016 Iris Vineyards Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley): Busting out more smoked meat than a Slim Jim commercial. $23 B+ 2018 Wente Vineyards Niki's Pinot Noir Rose (Arroyo Seco): […] ...

In the words of Iron Man, "I've missed that giddy optimism." In this case, the Steve Rogers yang to my Tony Stark ying is Emetry CEO Paul Mabray. I've been fortunate enough to call Paul a friend for several years running, and not just because I dig on his penchant for Star Wars-related references in […] Grab The 1WineDude.com Tasting Guide a...

2017 Domaine des Bosquets Cheval Long Cotes du Rhone Blanc (Rhone): Floral and serious, eschewing edginess for round, supple, delicious comfort. $NA B+ 2016 Famille Brechet Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas (Rhone): A bargain in the waiting for those who like their beef jerky with plenty of plums. $29 A- 2017 Yaffo Winery Sauvage Rose (Israel): […...

The virtual ink is barely dry on the previous edition of a wine product review roundup, and yet I find myself compelled to offer yet another (consider it a bonus?) roundup for the month of August, with the pending release of the 8th Edition of The World Atlas of Wine (Octopus Publishing, 416 pages, about […] Grab The 1WineDude.com Tasting Gu...