Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc Is a Lavish, Balanced Wine
I’ll never forget the first time I tried Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc. I was much younger, and at the time a complete red wine evangelist. I sneered at white wine and drinkers of it as an inferior class. As it turns out (unsurprisingly) it was me…
‘What’s a Wine?’ Part VI: Getting to Know Your Wine Grapes 2.0
While every single wine is different, and their flavours dependent on a multitude of factors, the type of wine grapes used generally has an enormous impact and can provide deep insight into the wine you’re drinking. It shouldn’t be taken as gospel truth, but rather…
Antinori Pèppoli Chianti Classico Makes a Pefect Meal Pairing
There are some who argue that wine is meant to be had with food. Others (including myself) believe some wines are best consumed solo. But, on occasion, a wine like Antinori Pèppoli Chianti Classico comes along that pairs so well with a meal, you wonder why you…
Pol Roger Brut Champagne: A New Treat for a New Year
Every New Year’s Eve I treat myself to a new Champagne (as good an excuse as any to spend far too much on a bottle of booze), and give it a review. This year, based on numerous recommendations, I opted for Pol Roger Reserve Brut…
What’s a ‘Wine’? V: When to Send Back a Bottle
When you order a bottle of wine at a restaurant, the accompanying ceremony can seem a bit silly and unnecessary. You are presented with a small sample to swirl, smell, sip, and – inevitably – affirm as, “Excellent, thank you.” What’s the point? I mean,…
Mulderbosch Faithful Hound: A Love Story
Some wines you drink because they taste amazing. Some wines you drink for the nostalgia value – there’s a special memory or association attached to it. And sometimes, there’s that magic combination of both, something I’m pleased to have found in the wonderful Mulderbosch…
Bear Flag Smooth Red Is Solid Throughout
The use of “smooth” right in the title immediately had me worried. Smooth is the ultimate booze buzzword, which more often than not means “we didn’t even taste it, but we could likely justify it as smooth.” Nonetheless, once again, I was suckered in by…
Watch This Wine: Viognier is In Vogue
It wasn’t until I’d polished of my bottle of Route Du Sud Viognier that I thought, “Damn, I should really drink more of this stuff.” My next thought was “Damn! Everyone should drink more of this stuff!” I’m of course referring to the varietal known as…
Revolution Red is the Perfect Party Wine
Smoth’s Rating: PartyTime/10 I’m not sure if the vintner of Revolution Red would find my assessment of his/her wine flattering or insulting, but regardless here it goes — Revolution Red is a straight up party wine, as appropriate for a red Solo cup as for a crystal glass. But…
Sipping With Smoth: Visiting Nicholson Ranch Winery in Sonoma
Let’s say you’re vacationing in California. A trip to the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma is basically a foregone conclusion, so the only real question is, “Where do I go to drink some damn good wine?” Let me help you out with one solid tip:…