The so-called “Rhône Revolution” is running into its third decade here in California, and the star of the show is still Syrah, the red grape that makes the wines from the northern Rhône region of France. Wine collectors know and admire bottlings from such well-regarded places as Côte Rotie, Hermitage and their lesser known but...

In a slow but continuing climb back to full grace in California, this year’s versions of Petite Sirah edge closer to what might be called “brawny accessibility”. It matters not that massively tannic Petite Sirah can age for a couple of decades or more (a thesis we will test one of these days with wine from...

There is a reason why Grenache is so popular around the world. When made right, it is rich, fruity, accessible, fairly supple and delivers easy to enjoy raspberry/ripe strawberry flavors with good vinosity.
There is a reason why California has not made...

We take a look at a range of Mourvèdres, not so much because of what the grape has accomplished here in California so much as because of its important role as a blending grape to Grenache in the southern Rhône district...

This demonstrative wine from the northern Rhône, whose white wine offerings in partnership with Roussanne, is seemingly finding a home here in California. It is early days yet, and the majority of the exceptional efforts from this grape hail from one vineyard, the Krupp Brother’s Stagecoach Vineyard in...

It may be unfair to Roussanne to refer to it as the lesser sister of Marsanne, but its role in life as a lighter, brighter wine whose energy often lifts Marsanne to greater heights is hard to overcome. Still, in the versions...

The fomenters of California’s great wine revolution have grayed and are gone.  The first far-sighted iconoclasts such as...